Serotta Ottrott - Keep or Sell - Don't Hurt Me...

[Twilight228]

Good Morning Everyone,

I followed this forum heavily 10+ years ago, and was an avid cyclist at the time. Against the advice of those on this forum, I purchased a Serotta Ottrott shortly after my daughter was born (2nd child), with good intentions. As projected by at least one person one here indirectly, she has sat in my garage for the better part of a decade. I've never had the nerve to sell it, mostly because the fit is literally as good as it gets.

I think it has been time to let her go for a while, but know that I'll likely not find another one should I try to do so.

Would the consensus be that I have been selfish to hold it for so long, or keep it? It has nothing to do with the money, it's hard to watch it sit.

Full transparency, I am a terrible lurker. Never really had the confidence to post on this forum unless I was asking a question I couldn't find an answer to.

Thanks as always, Jay

[Twilight228]

Oh. I did not purchase the bike on the forum, I picked it up locally in DC. It is not likely a frame known to the forum. The groupset is from here.

[nmrt]

If it is not about money, and there is a snowflakes chance that you will ride it once-twice-thrice a year, keep it.

But if you do not ever see yourself riding it, save the geometry numbers, and let it go.

Later in life, use those geometry numbers to have yourself built another bike. Hard as it might be to believe, there are other nice(r) bikes and bike makers in our world.

[prototoast]

Sounds like your daughter should be getting to the age where she could be going on some bike rides with you. I say keep the bike, get her a bike, and go for some rides together!

[AngryScientist]

I understand that having a bike around that doesn't get ridden regularly bothers some people, but not me.

If you don't need the money, or the space, why not just keep it. Who knows, maybe one day you just wake up on a sunny Spring day and just want to go for a ride? Maybe that ride sparks you to ride more and more. You just never know. I see no reason to get rid of a great bike unless you need to, and it doesn't sound like you do.

Selfish to keep it? That viewpoint I can not see at all. You bought it, it is yours to do whatever you want with it.

[LouDeeter]

Have you completely stopped riding? If you are no longer a cyclist and have no intention of becoming one again, I would sell it. If, on the other hand, you are undecided about future cycling, keep it.

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by LouDeeter

Have you completely stopped riding? If you are no longer a cyclist and have no intention of becoming one again, I would sell it. If, on the other hand, you are undecided about future cycling, keep it.

agree 100% with this.. it doesn't cost anything (except some space) to keep it..

[kiwisimon]

if it's your only bike keep it. If you have another one you ride more, sell it.

[Twilight228]

Thanks for the replies guys.

@LouDeeter - I haven't been on a road bike in couple years. We fell pretty far into the Peloton world during Covid. We were riding indoors and outdoors pretty extensively during and in the wake of Covid.

Regarding reentry into cycling. I've moved more to weight based exercise in recent years, and am likely on the heavy side of the cycling spectrum at the moment (220 lb). It's certainly not out of the question, there is a lot that I love about riding. I don't love the traffic on the roads these days, and my wife treating a few cyclists struck cars every year doesn't help. [I have no intention of starting this debate, I'm sure it rages elsewhere in the forum]

@prototoast: Regarding the kids: Both kids have bikes, and we ride very very casually. There are four of us, and seven bikes in the garage...Kids ride mountain bikes, I couldn't convince either to get a road bike.

[Twilight228]

I can't process thoughts quick enough to keep up with you guys, really appreciate the input.

@angryscientist - I have no idea what, but I remember your screen name, and have ready a ton of your posts. Appreciate the input.

@kiwisimon - It is not my only bike. My first road bike way way back in the day was a Lemond CdF, which has a Dura Ace groupset on the shelf for it. Building it up would be a Saturday morning project.

I did start to ride the Lemond more as I got heavier, but mostly out of fear stemming from not knowing how the Ottrott carbon was designed/built. She has always felt pretty stiff, but once I move past about 210 I stopped riding her. Definitely more stiff than the Lemond.

[fried bake]

Originally Posted by nmrt

If it is not about money, and there is a snowflakes chance that you will ride it once-twice-thrice a year, keep it.

But if you do not ever see yourself riding it, save the geometry numbers, and let it go.

Later in life, use those geometry numbers to have yourself built another bike. Hard as it might be to believe, there are other nice(r) bikes and bike makers in our world.

Seconded

[veloduffer]

If you don't intend to do more road riding, I would sell it and get something like a hybrid or mtb to ride with your kids for occasional rides and trails. You'd probably get a bit of money back from the transaction as well.

On the other hand, the Ottrott was one bike that I regret selling as it was one of the most comfortable frames that I've ever owned.

[Twilight228]

I failed to count the the mountain bikes my wife and I have...my count was off by two bikes. We have nine among the four of us. I have two road bikes and a mountain bike. No hybrids in the garage, but not overly deliberate.

I think she's going to stay in the garage. I seriously got up this morning with the intention of listing it, but the consensus seems to confirm fear of sellers- remorse.

[kiwisimon]

Originally Posted by Twilight228

I think she's going to stay in the garage. I seriously got up this morning with the intention of listing it, but the consensus seems to confirm fear of sellers- remorse.

take it for a ride and check it still floats your boat. Not every good bike is a good match at any given time.

[Fat Cat]

Doesn't seem like the bike lites any particular fires for you. Flip it. Make two people happier.