How Many Bikes Can You Have Before You're Considered A Hoarder?

[Rebecca19804]

My partner and I have finally reached saturation point with 10 (6 mine, 4 his). Two of mine really need to go, one being a city bike that isn't suitable now that I live in hilly Bedfordshire, the other being my road bike now surplus to requirements with the recent arrival of the custom road bike. If I can find good homes for them soon, that'll leave the custom road, the vintage road, the commuter cross bike and the Brompton. Those 4 get regular use and I can't think of anything else I need.

My boyfriend has 3 road bikes, plus the tandem (which I consider more his than mine as he uses it at least once or twice a week as a cargo bike). His road bikes all overlap in purpose but get used for different situations: one is the year-round commuter that gets all the abuse, one is his "best" titanium bike, and the other is a decent aluminium-framed Specialized that can pinch-hit for either of the others. He toys with selling the Spesh, but it does fill in nicely for those long-distance rides where he may have to lock up his bike out of sight and doesn't want to worry about his best bike.

We're planning our first cycle tour. It's obvious which bike I'm taking but he could take any one of his 3. Which makes him think maybe one should go. So we could be down to 7 by the end of the year.

Plus, the 2 teenagers each have a bike -- which never get ridden anymore. So still a garage-full.

In fact, we found out from a local boy that we're known as "the house with all the bikes". Doesn't help that our garage door is often open just when the local bus goes by! So we've installed multiple sets of motorcycle anchors (in cement) and 19mm thick chains throughout the garage to secure all the bikes.

[ny biker]

We have a nonprofit bike shop here that teaches bike maintenance to kids and lets them earn bikes by working in the shop. They also sell used bikes to raise money. So it was easy for me to get rid of my old road bike when I bought a new one -- they were very happy when I donated it to them.

I'm in the minority here. I have two bikes, both get ridden though the mountain bike does not get ridden very often. I have no need for any more bikes, no place to store any more bikes, and plenty of other things to spend my money on.

[TrekDianna]

I have not yet reached the point where I feel I have too many bikes. I do have two houses and some of my bikes are there. I can't carry them back and forth all the time. I watched others ride the fat bikes this winter and I think I need one of those. I am also sure I will need a touring bike in the future.

[shootingstar]

I can't carry them back and forth all the time.

This is why we have bikes in 2 different..provinces. And yes, I deliberately and happily gave away my 5th bike (which I rode for 14 yrs.) to a sister in Toronto. I borrow it whenever I visit my extended family there. Think of this solution, if you want to give away a bike and visit a friend/relative often in a different city far away AND someone in the family is the same size as you, consider the option also.

[SheFly]

Oh - you are FAR from hoarding status my friend! Wahine said it best - n+1 (says the woman with at least 18 bikes in the two person basement). They all get ridden/raced, and all have a purpose! I do feel a bit badly that the brand new Cannondale Evo I bought in August last year has seen fewer miles than my Charge Cooker Maxi (fat bike), but I intend to rectify that if we ever get spring/summer in New England .

SheFly

[Owlie]

I have 3. The road bike sees the most use. The CX bike was largely purchased as a rain/nasty surface road bike, and there's the Iguana, which is supposed to be a commuter/grocery-getter/casual ride bike. I haven't had time to ride much of late (CX bike's on the trainer, road bike is gathering dust) and I haven't ridden the Iguana at all. (Godzilla needs some TLC, you see.)