Why So Many Bikes?

[lemmy]

I notice on the forum here that many people have several bikes, e and otherwise.

I just wondered why someone would have more than one bicycle. Is it enthusiasm, collecting, horses for courses?

I have 2, a Kalkhoff Tasman and a Brompton folder. The Kalkhoff is for longer distances and taking my heavy old cameras and tripod without the hassle of parking problems and so on in London, a workhorse. My Brompton I take on holiday in the car and on the train for getting around central London or other towns I visit, more recreational.

I greatly enjoy riding both, the e-bike especially for just gliding past traffic jams and its 7 league boots feel, the Brompton for seeming an extension to your legs, just pick it up and take it anywhere, manoeuvres lightly and intuitively through city traffic.

I'd be interested to hear why folk have several e-bikes and other types, how they use them differently. Not a survey, just idle interest!

 

[Alex728]

I've noticed the same phenomenon with normal push bikes, people get a MTB, a racer, a knackered old bike for riding to the pub in dodgy areas etc, then some folk also have specialist bikes like recumbents etc..

And many commuter cyclists keep at least two so you have one to ride when the other is being serviced...

when it gets to more than 2 I think its simply because bikes (even ebikes) are comparatively cheap compared to all other vehicles, don't take up much room and do not need dangerous flammable fuel or normally discharge oil everywhere, so can also be kept in parts of buildings normally out of bounds for other vehicles (you wouldn't normally consider hauling even a moped up a set of steps!)

I have a Powacycle Salisbury, a Wisper 905SE, a Raleigh Pioneer hybrid and a Dawes Horizon (this last one being in a rather sorry state at the moment, I keep meaning to overhaul it and get it back on the road)

 

[eddieo]

we have the two bikes in the hall.....I would like a crankdrive, something like the emotion as well, but simply cant justify it as wife hardly uses hers......

If I was commuting and saving money, I think I could then justify as second bike. although a lightweight kit based bike for my motorhome touring would be nice.

 

[flecc]

I gradually reached three bikes after going from single unpowered bikes to e-bikes. A Giant Lafree all rounder at first, then a Torq 1 for high speed fun, then added a Quando for local utility use and in car boot ability.

Converted the Quando to all round functioning, sold off the Lafree, then the Torq, so only my Quando based Q-bike left now.
.

 

[simonbarnett]

I can't afford the space (what with 4 pushbikes and the wife's trike) to keep the PCS for long after I get the Wisper, let alone the cash.

 

[CeeGee]

A Powerbyke Shopper to carry all my shopping home, slowly but surely. Not a lot of fun to ride but perfect for what it was designed for.
A Wisper for getting around on and for having fun.
They both have there own "tasks" and I would miss either of them.

Colin

 

[DebbieAC1]

I have a Powacycle Salisbury for commuting and a non electric moutian bike for messing around off road at the weekends.
I use both bike alot but for different things.

 

[Vikki]

I have a Wisper and a non-electric KMX trike. Both very different animals.

SB (the Wisper) is the cheetah and Trikey is the stealthy prowler. Trikey is used more than SB at the moment. Not sure if that will continue into the winter

Trikey is used for recreation and exercise and fun

Vikki.

 

[Bob_about]

By way of comparison....

Kayakers can be just as bad, if not worse!

Its not uncommon to have a small freestyle boat for mucking about and doing "tricks" in, but never to paddle any significant distance; a larger boat for river running, but still sharp enough to manouver and play on waves; and then a larger volume creek boat for more full on rivers, steep creeks and waterfalls. You can then add to that a specialist light weight surf shoe for playing in the waves on the sea, a long sea kayak for island hopping and a whole variety of open canoes for lakes!

Most paddlers end up with at least two, and many have more than that!

Back to bikes, I have one powered, 4 unpowered, and may shortly be buying a "family moped" in return for getting shot of one of the cars! I`d also like a new unpowered bike for cycle touring next year and those trikes look jolly good fun......

 

[Vikki]

Eating fish and chips while parked with your butt parked in a trike seat, magic

Talking of which, my appetite has seriously increased since riding without power. 14 miles three days a week and a 20-30 miler at the weekends. Yeah, my body is demanding building material, sigh

 

[Pedalo]

I have only one bike, the Cytronex Trek 7.3fx which I use for everyday commuting.
It's the only full size bike I can fit in the house.

I've also got a Brompton on order which will become my spare bike for when my other bike is out of action. I might also use it for recreational purposes. I plan on converting it to electric if the motors I've ordered ever turn up.

I'd love to have lots of other bikes (mountain bike, fast road bike etc) but I simply don't have the space.

 

[timidtom]

Eating fish and chips while parked with your butt parked in a trike seat, magic

We (Joyce & I) have
1) Viking Tarantino tandem - needs a magic wheel to get up the hill
2) Dawes 301 hybrid
3) Two Brompton folders - old but in fine fettle
4) Her Ken Bird road bike
5) My Elswick-Hopper touring bike.
6) His & Hers Juicy Classic pedelecs - recently purchased, rained every day since!
7) Recently parted with the Powabike 6-speed
8) Just sold Honda ANF125.
Theres just a tiny space in the shed left for ...?

Combined ages (us, not the bikes) 175 yrs. Mental age -0, IQ + shoe size.

Happy biking!

 

[flecc]

Like others, space is a serious problem for me, hence going back down to one e-bike only. Shuffling three bikes and the cars was just too much of a nuisance.
.

 

[Beeping-Sleauty]

yup...same here

....yes, i too have a shed-load of bikes,

a twenty-five year old Alan Dural, much loved, very light, for those local sunday jaunts,

a Marin MTB, tough as a rock, solid Grimeco wheels for the bad streets of London.

my main e-bike, a Chinese steel frame, 35kg monster, which i use for traffic baiting.

my backup e-bike, Eco-Brand Whirlwind, just in case.

always nice to have a choice.

 

[Mussels]

I now need to aquire a lot of bikes so I can justify the £135 I just spent on a bike stand.

 

[HarryB]

I am a serial buyer of ebikes but I usually change for a reason and cannot justify keeping them (money and space). I do have a 30 year old Dawes Galaxy for trips to the shops/pubs and when I am out with the kids. It is surprisingly nice to ride and nobody would want to steal it.

PS money no object I would have a super light carbon bike but I am not sure if it would be powered, but I could be tempted by the Cytronex SuperSix or whatever it is called.

 

[Cyclezee]

Like Harry and several others I suspect, I am also a serial buyer of e-bikes
Still searching for that perfect bike that doesn't exist

J hn

 

[fishingpaul]

Like Harry and several others I suspect, I am also a serial buyer of e-bikes
Still searching for that perfect bike that doesn't exist

J hn

That perfect bike that does not exist,is the main reason to keep purchasing them,and if i had the spare cash i would have probably owned many more than the five to date,never had more than two bikes at the same time though,i could not justify all the battery life being wasted away.

 

[eddieo]

Well.......This has got to be close. Flyer X-Series


YouTube - Kanal von bikesportnews

 

[CheKmx]

Brompton for the same reasons as you lemmy and by far the best bike I have ever owned.

Kmx cobra with through the gear e drive which seemed like a good idea at the time but has turned out to be a bit of a pain.

Dahon cadenza another disappointment as it creacks either at the joint or the bottom bracket.

Plan now is to add a flyer s which is on order, sell the kmx and build up bike from the cadenza part on at MTB frame.

This will give ebike utility, folder utility and one fun MTB/ fun bike. Hopefully this will be enough.....


It will never be enough