How many bikes is too many?

[estuche]

Being kinda angry at myself for failing to resist the temptation of ordering a frame for a new "project" I asked the internet the good old question: How many bikes is too many? I came across this interesting article:
https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/...ou-really-need

An excerpt:
"Bikes are kind of like kids. If you have one or two, people won’t bat an eye. It’s perfectly normal and manageable. If you have three, it’s a lot, but still reasonable. You’re just on the high side of average. But accumulate four or more and that’s when people start raising eyebrows. This is not to say you can’t have more kids… er, bikes than three. But to regularly ride and take care of that many, you need to be truly exceptional. You’ll probably end up stretching yourself too thin."

Do you agree? What's your ideal number? I'm thinking of challenging myself to have no more than 3, but we'll see how it goes :P

[Blue Jays]

My bicycles make me happy. They all get ridden. No unused basement queens.

[rogerspam]

I would like to go Mike Brady but I got to wait till the kids bikes get moved out (ie graduate HS). I had 2 but then my MTB got stolen and I just ride my wife's bikes for around town commutes and my road bike otherwise.

[carlucci1106]

...They are masters at it. Because if I need to pare it down, I need bikes that do more than one discipline. Surprise: You still need a new-to-you bike.

Mid-travel Full Sus? Don't need that, but what I do need is a hardtail and a Fatbike. Can a Fatbike do everything my hardtail can? Sure, it can do it, just not the best match for most summer MTB I do.

Commuter: You're going to leave one of these bikes locked to a pole, or do you have a nice office nook where you can watch it all day?

IMO, I need at least 5 bikes. I currently have an extra hardtail, that can make a nice shoulder season commuter, or loner/friend bike.

XC
Fat
Road
Gravel Road
Commuter (for me, fixed gear)

[jimcav]

and that is a space issue. When I had a garage and basement it was 12-14 with 8 built and the rest frames.

I "must" have 2 of each type: 2 MTB, 2 road; the reason being, my mental health seems tied to exercise, and for well over a year post-covid heart issues have made real jogging impossible. If I have a mechanical issue, I can grab the back-up and still get a ride in. I don't have the same energy, or even time if I did, to get the primary up and running.

I have an old 70s Masi, and keep it b/c I love it, but am on the hunt for wider vintage bars. My AC Joints don't like the 38's on it anymore.

I have my black sheep frameset. keeping it for no real reason, but am considering making it a 1x or dingle speed for the neighborhood rides with my wife down the road. Need more fitness and flexibility though right now the front end is too low unless I go fredly on the stem

[AngryScientist]

I have too many bikes. I won’t bother with a number as it’s a silly number and I don’t even know how many really.

That said; the quote in the OP is dumb. In no way are bikes like kids. I have bikes that have been locked in my garage untouched in many years. They don’t need to be fed or cared for or loved. Bikes are at the end of the day just things.

[Nomadmax]

I have a dozen bikes, all get ridden, and I only stopped by here while looking for another one.

[madsciencenow]

I have 4 bikes. This said, I could easily live with just two.

[lorenbike]

I have 4 bikes, the goal this year is to get to 3. 2 would be ideal but when you also bike commute I feel like you always need a practical, cheap townie.

2 road (1 modernish, 1 from the 80s)
1 commuter/gravel/hybrid
1 hardtail MTB that doubles as a winter basket commuter in rigid SS mode.

[witcombusa]

Why does this keep coming up?

There is no right answer for everyone obviously. Do what's right for you.

Plus the poll is flawed... no 50+ or 100+ catagories

[old_fat_and_slow]

N + 1 is always the correct number of bikes. So therefore,

N + 2 is too many.

[sg8357]

When you have a house your wife doesn't know about, stuffed with bikes.
Or maybe it was the vintage car in the that house, for sure it was the tandem trike.

The above is why people start restoring vintage aircraft, hangers are out
of sight and out of mind. Anyone have a sleeve valve kit for a Napier Sabre ?

The above doesn't represent any person I may or may not have known.

[R3awak3n]

I have had 5 as the max and now have 1. I don’t ride too much now a days but its nice to have a spare bike or 2 if you ride a lot so although I am loving just having 1 bike for many reasons I can see why having more than 1 works for some. And also yes to having a mtb and a road bike (and for some gravel bike)

[Dave]

Three is the most I've ever owned at once and what I have now. It's really one too many, but these three may see me through until I either have to quit or get an e-bike to get up the steep stuff. I only ride road. No multiple disciplines.

[cuda]

3 bikes, 6 wheelsets