A Different Bike Everyday

[Joel]

So, when all of this COVID, lockdown stuff started, I promised my wife I would not venture out on long rides too far from home.

The result is an out back course that has one part of it ridden twice. It's the same course every day. Now that could lead to being super bored, super fast. It's a beautiful ride, through golf courses and lakes but same every day!

Since we were also cleaning up a bunch of stuff during lock down, my wife asked (again) why do I keep all of those bikes in the garage - shouldn't I sell a couple since they don't all get used.

Brilliant idea! I'll use them all! Of course that meant some heavy restoration work, but heck, wasn't doing much of anything else anyway.

Fast forward a few months and all the bikes have been updated and are now used on a rotating basis. Here's what rolls, in order of year and a bit of background on each.

1973 Raleigh RRA - Simplex Super LJ. This was my dad's race bike when I was in high school. He willed it to me when he passed.

1980 Team Raleigh - Campy Nuovo Record. My race bike in college. Parts off of a '75 Raleigh pro.

1982 Bob Jackson Super Tourist - Suntour Superbe. Also from my dad. His touring bike.

1985 Cannondale Black Lightening - Campy Nuovo & C Record mix. Crit bike.

2001 Serotta Legend Ti - Campy Record 10 - Custom build for me. Was in the air flying out to Denver on 9/11 for a fitting when it all happened...

2015 Colnago Master X Lite - Shimano Dura Ace 11 - Mapei!!!

All of the bikes have speedplay zero pedals and all run conti gp 4000/5000 23's.

Good fun!

Joel

[tuxbailey]

We need pictures of the rotation

[reuben]

I see a problem. 7 days in a week, only 6 bikes.

I trust that you can solve this problem on your own.

[Allcarbon]

Originally Posted by reuben

I see a problem. 7 days in a week, only 6 bikes.

I trust that you can solve this problem on your own.

Yeah, sorry, but you're going to need to get one more bike to bring it up to 7.

[Spaghetti Legs]

That’s a nice collection Joel. Here’s an idea for you:

A couple of years ago I decided to have a competition between my bikes. There was an 11 mile loop that was part of most of my rides, so over a couple of weeks I would do timed laps of this loop with my different bikes. The loop included a 3/4 mile climb and a couple mile false flat downhill that I included for timed intervals.

The fancy Colnago EPS was the winner, as expected but, not by as much as I’d have thought and my mid 80’s Tommasini was the fastest climber (42 tooth small chainring might have had something to do with that). It took a second try from the EPS to best it’s time.

[jamesdak]

Hence one of the reasons I have and use so many different bikes. Same base 25 mile loop each day with other routes thrown in on it to increase the miles. Been pretty much riding something different each day for years now and have enough bikes to never need to repeat duing a one month period.

Silly, I know....

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Allcarbon

Yeah, sorry, but you're going to need to get one more bike to bring it up to 7.

But, but... his wife want him to have two rest days....

I have been rotating quite a bit of late. Fun part of having a few.

More often that not, the one that just got those new tires with yet another 20% less rolling resistance get favored.

But rotating to break the boredom is one way, but a better way is get lost in the boonies. Or both... My best therapy these days.

[Joel]

Oh! I've got a great idea from this!!!

6 Bikes 7 Days.

Why it's the perfect excuse for....

Wait for it...





N+1

Ok, really I never seem to make a full seven days in a row - something always comes up...it's all good fun anyway!

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Joel

I never seem to make a full seven days in a row - something always comes up...it's all good fun anyway!

I picked up a Di2 battery yesterday. Met seller for the deed. Parked my car about 1/2 way and jumped on my 585. So 12 mile out and back.

Wife loudly said, I thought you said today was a day off the bike. I said 12 mile doesn't count...

She was the one that had to hear me whine about the heat headache I had for hours after the previous day ride. The one I decided 82-4^ is too hot for my MIPS Smith Overtake. Back to the bee incursions I guess...

[Elefantino]

Some people here need more days of the week to ride all their bikes!

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Elefantino

Some people here need more days of the week to ride all their bikes!

Admittedly, I am about a two weeker, and too weaker too.

[reuben]

Originally Posted by robt57

Wife loudly said, I thought you said today was a day off the bike. I said 12 mile doesn't count...

Exactly. Like all of her shoes/earrings/dresses/whatever that she hardly ever wears. We all have our vices/weak points. Cyclists are no exception.