Advantages to keeping old road bike after getting a new one? (medium-length)

[Mr. Bloom]

Yea! on getting a new bike!

I still have my first road bike (trek 1000), but it was not really "sell"-able because it was wrecked but still ride-able.

I like having it for bad weather rides, back up when the other is in the shop, a bike to share with a friend (of a similiar size). I've gotten a little playful with it by doing things that I wouldn't do to my "real" road bike, like putting silver streamers on the handlebars

Hmmm...she didn't mention the biggest advantage.

The advantage of keeping your prior bike:

So your spouse/significant other (aka "SILVER") can scavenge the components for her bike

[Pedal Wench]

ALWAYS keep the old bikes... always!

Rain bike, parts bike, winter bike, night-time bike, trainer bike, travel bike, loaner bike...

[Ana]

ALWAYS keep the old bikes... always!

Rain bike, parts bike, winter bike, night-time bike, trainer bike, travel bike, loaner bike...

Oh, I didn't think of travel bike....hmmmm

[tride]

I bet we could come up with quite the long list on reasons to keep all of your bikes! Before you know it you will be like me and countless others and having to downsize because you can't get more than 5 bikes on the top of your car *it's the 'real' reason, whether I will admit it out loud or not, I will only move with five right now!*

I know a guy at the lbs that I work at that has over TWENTY in his stable...

[TxDoc]

ALWAYS keep the old bikes... always!

Rain bike, parts bike, winter bike, night-time bike, trainer bike, travel bike, loaner bike...

Not to mention the obvious advantage of keeping the old one while buying the new one: 2 bikes is always better than 1, correct? And 3 better than 2, 4 better than 3... and so on.

[Pedal Wench]

Not to mention the obvious advantage of keeping the old one while buying the new one: 2 bikes is always better than 1, correct? And 3 better than 2, 4 better than 3... and so on.

10 better than 9, 11 better... well, you know the drill.

Bike rack bike when doing a ride that someone else is driving too, might rain bike, might be dusty bike, climbing bike, heavier training bike. Or, can't bear the thought that something might happen to it bike. That's the one that gets me.

[Cataboo]

I keep 2 road bikes - one at my bf's, one at my house. It's just a pain having to bring a bike with me everywhere just in case I might spur of a moment decide I want to ride (he lives about an hour away from me)... and then worry about the bike getting stolen from the car, etc. But that also means when one bike is having issues or needs to be fixed, I have a spare bike that I can ride. One of my bikes is carbon, so I'm always worried... what if I crack the carbon? and then I'm bikeless till I can get a new frame.

I have a 3rd bike that's basically a flat bar road bike which is my commuter, ride into the city bike... it's also got fat wheels & fenders if I want to do the towpath or gravel roads. It is also the bike that I lend friends if they want to ride with me... Just because, it's flat bar and not too intimidating. I've got a rack & panniers on it so I can haul stuff or grocery shop on it....

So I'd recommend keeping your old bike if you like it and it fits and is comfortable. I have sold old bikes that I hated it and didn't fit right. But it's often hard finding a bike that you really like.

[amartha]

I regretted selling an old bike years ago after I bought a new one. The new bike was too precious for city breakfast rides. If I stopped with the bike club to go into a trendy Manayunk restaurant for breakfast, the new bike might attract a lurking bike thief, who has been watching with his ever-ready bolt and cable cutters for such an opportunity.

So use the new bike for rides in the open country and keep the old bike for urban adventures.

The time to sell comes when you must upgrade your living quarters to make room for another bike. Then sell the bike that stays under wraps in the basement or the garage that you may ride just once or twice a year.