New Bike: Need or Want?

Dollars vs Space

N+1 is the accepted formula for bike ownership, right?  Do you need another bike? Or do you just want another bike?  What does your bike do best and is that enough?

Your bike might crush chunky rock gardens and drops, but pedals uphill like you’re dragging a trailer. Perhaps your usual rides last a couple hours and are on rolly terrain with occasional techy sections and no steep drops. Maybe your rides are mostly shuttles with a few park laps mixed in for variety. Is one bike okay for all those rides? Yeah, but chances are you are compromising somewhere. How many bikes do you need?

The phrases “one bike to do it all” or a “quiver killer” is like a bad pizza: it doesn’t exist. I need more than one bike.  When you boil it down, there are only 2 factors that limit the N+1 equation: space and dollars.  

In my garage there are currently 6 bikes that I use on a fairly regular basis. Those range from the commuter (ridden almost every day) to the park sled (pretty much only for a week or two at Whistler) and include a road bike, a gravel bike, a hardtail and my full suspension daily driver. My point here is that  I can always find a reason to build up another bike, but I’m limited on where to store it.  My wife and kids have bikes too, so, if the “next project” is going to get done, something has to go. Adding on is not a viable economic option, and all these bikes are stacked in the most efficient manner possible – there just isn’t any more room. Your situation may be different, you might have more or less room for the +1.

This brings me to the 2nd factor, available funds. How much you can drop on the next bike is personal.  Some will sacrifice sustenance for the latest frame, or shock, or wheels, and some can plunk down the platinum, order the dream bike up and have it delivered.  Everyone’s threshold is different.  Being a self proclaimed frugal tinkerer, I like to find the most economical route, which is usually scouting for quality pre-owned items that can be built into something useful, and leveraging my industry discounts when I can. That helps me stay within a reasonable budget;  remember “laissez faire” from econ class? In any case, how much you have available to sink into your quiver is up to you.  

Allegedly, the late great Robin Williams had over 80 bikes when he passed away in 2014. Safe to say he had the loot and the space to support his two wheeled passion. Whatever the number of bikes your N represents, try to use them as often as you can.