How often do you have to ride a bike in order to justify keeping it?

[XXtwindad]

I realize the automatic response for many members is “never” but I’m really trying to thin the herd. Interested in other people’s perspectives.

[nmrt]

Rode one of my bikes in July 2023. Now it's been hiding in the basement that I cannot even find it.

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

I realize the automatic response for many members is “never” but I’m really trying to thin the herd. Interested in other people’s perspectives.

[robt57]

Being in denial, I can not participate... Used to be one year though, but I'm past on that....

[dmitrik4]

I have a real hard time getting rid of bikes; their carrying cost is basically zero, so. But I’m thinking of doing it to make room for others, so the question will just be “does this one still make me happy?” and/or “is this one still useful for what I need a bike for?”

I’ll probably sell my Roubaix, which I haven’t ridden in a long time and road riding is less of a thing for me now. But it was my first “real bike” and the one that got me into cycling, so I have a soft spot for it. But of all my bikes it’s the one that really doesn’t have a place anymore.

Meanwhile I have a hybrid single-speed conversion bike with fenders/racks that I’ve had forever, and is super useful for errands and brewery runs, etc. I’ll keep that one because nothing else I have will do that. And nobody wants my old bike with brewery stickers all over it anyway.

[bicycletricycle]

Never

I have bicycles I have never ridden

I will not keep bikes that aren’t my size

[fourflys]

if it doesn't have some special sentimental value, until I get tired of seeing it or playing around with it.. my issue is I think I'm too quick to get rid of a bike sometimes..

[bigbill]

My track bike from 1987 is hanging in the garage. I haven't ridden on the track since 1994. The only bike I want to ditch is my father in law's Schwinn (Walmart) mountain bike that takes up space in my garage.

I have bigger issues than bikes, I still have the 1967 Mustang Coupe I bought in 1983. I guess it fits.

[Clean39T]

You guys keep bikes?

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

You guys keep bikes?

Seems ludicrous, don't it..

[mhespenheide]

To stay in the fold, a bike has to either get ridden somewhat regularly, fill a perceived future need, or have some strong sentimental attachment. At least one of the three.

The second point, though, gets me into trouble, because it's really easy to invent possible future needs in my head.

[bironi]

How often do you have to read a book to justify keeping it?

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by bironi

How often do you have to read a book to justify keeping it?

BAM!!! You are my new hero! Until I have more bikes than books I will no longer entertain thoughts that I might just maybe have too many bikes.

Gotta be a couple of hundred books in this bookshelf alone.



And only 30+ bikes around right now, so I have no problem.

[alexihnen]

Originally Posted by bironi

How often do you have to read a book to justify keeping it?

This is the only correct answer.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by alexihnen

This is the only correct answer.

More books fit in same space though...

We donate books, guitars and bikes... not so much.. ok, once in a while.

[Turkle]

For me, if a bike has sentimental value, it stays.

But, on the other hand, I had a gravel bike I simply never rode. Turns out... I'm just not rad enough to ride gravel. Never even got the thing dirty. So I sold it.

Anyway, I guess most of this has to do with how much storage space you have than anything else. I have 6 bikes in this house (including my partner's 2 bikes) and we don't have any room for more, so if I get another one I have to ship one out the door.

(Well, maybe I could squeeze ONE more in here...........)