How Many Bikes Do You Own?

[BentBierz]

It would be interesting to know what other bikes, if any, that you own but for a different reason than you might suspect.

I have just become a new member of the Cruzbike community (Silvio 2) and have part of my bike assembled but still waiting for parts to arrive to finish it. Once finished, it gets set up in my indoor trainer so that I can get all the adjustments dialed in and start getting back into shape. Once my back surgeon gives me the okay, I'll take it out on the road and begin the process of learning to ride it.

Herein lies the reason for my interest in what all is in your stable. From what I have read on this forum and on BROL, I have seen more than a few people say that even after they mastered riding their Cruzbike, any extended period of time riding a non-MBB recumbent seemed to have a negative impact on their MBB abilities. Admittedly, no one stated that it undid all their months of training but there still was a refamiliarization period and a case of the wobbles that they thought were long passed. This would lead me to believe that you might be less inclined to ride other formats (a trike might be an exception...I will always own a trike) once mastering your Cruzbike

Has this been the case with those of you that have/had more than one bike at a time or do Cruzbike owners still follow the N+1 philosophy?

 

[MrSteve]

Bikes?

After I bought my Sofrider, well, the Sofrider is my bike.

I've rebuilt a friend's mixte 10-speed D.F. and test-rode it,
and that's the sum-total of my post-Sofrider purchase, HPV, non-FWD MBB experience.
My impression of the experience?
Bicycles are fun;
wow, these D.F. frames are tall;
the steering is telepathically light, without my legs' weight up front;
wow, these D.F. bikes are tall;
speeding over the tarmac face-first -as opposed to feet first- is really scary.

Interestingly enough, I test-rode an old Honda 600cc Silver Wing motorcycle
for my brother in law.
At the time of the test-ride, I had about a year of experience on my Sofrider.
For about a mile into the motorcycle test ride, the bike was weaving down the road.
What was happening was, my muscle-memory was fooled into thinking that
it was on my Sofrider and the weaving was caused by my compensating for
the pedal-steering that I was not doing: you don't pedal a Honda Silver Wing!
Pretty funny.
After all, I used to test-ride motorcycles for a living....

My Cruzbike is my only bike.
It's fun, fast, fun, climbs, fun, carries stuff, fun and paid for and dependable and did I mention that it is fun?!

Other observations....

-Mastering your Cruzbike means, among other things, that you master an efficient pedaling technique.
Your other bikes, if any, will be more efficient because your pedaling technique will have been honed on your Cruzbike.

--Unless your other bike(s) are both very stiff and very light, your Cruzbike will always be a better climber.

-In my personal opinion, the N+1 philosophy is flawed.
You can only ride one bike at any given moment.

 

[Ian Smith]

Quality

I must admit I'm in transition from DF to bent. Currently our household consists of:
Me: CB conversion that isn't set up that well and is a challenge to ride (It's like an old boxy Volvo - you can leave it unlocked with the keys in it and no-one will try pinching it). In addition to this I've got an orange/silver 2007 Giant TCR A2 Alliance that is in the shed waiting for me to service it.
Missus: A mid range Haro MTB (early 2000s) and a 1940's Bullock delivery bike that is awaiting restoration. She would like a trike because it's easier to get on and off.
Daughter (6): 2012 Micargi Jetta (pink!)
Son (2): $1 training bike and the hand-me-down buzz lightbulb k-mart bike from the daughter.

I'm wanting to get the Silvio 2 and scale down my commuter bike. I do have my eye on a 1945 Super Elliott track bike with an original flip-fop hub for the annual Tweed Ride though. A trike and the Silvio would require the sale of the Haro and the Giant. N+1 still exists.

 

[thebean]

My Silvio has made me

My Silvio has made me stronger on my RWD recumbents. I own the following:

Bacchetta Ti Aero 24
Cruzbike Silvo 1.0
Two Bike Friday SatRdays w/hardshell seats
RANS Vivo Mtn Bent
Bacchetta Cafe (for sale)

I am not sure why, but I pedal more efficiently on the Silvio. One legged pedaling reveals a much more even stroke. When I ride my Silvio and then go to my Ti Aero, I am a beast. Moving between the two is seamless. But there is no question I am a stronger rider now since owning the Silvio.

 

[Andrew 1973]

I have two bikes

Cruzbike Silvio
Cannondale Quick SL 3

 

[Jeremy S]

For a while I owned two

For a while I owned two bikes, a Cruzbike Sofrider and a Bianchi Volpe. I switched back and forth during my learning period on the Sofrider, which might have slowed me down but did not prevent me from learning to ride MBB. I used the Sofrider for longer rides, and the Bianchi for quick rides into the city where I was nervous about traffic. Now I own two bikes, a Cruzbike Silvio and the same Bianchi Volpe. Probably the same pattern will continue, now with the added factor that I don't want to leave the Silvio locked up anywhere for too long since it's more expensive than any bike I ever thought I would own.

I have never noticed a negative effect on my MBB abilities from riding my DF, but who knows... I could be a better MBB rider and maybe if I had abandoned riding the Bianchi, I would be.

One time after some intensive riding/training on my Sofrider, I hopped on the Bianchi and promptly fell off... this could be attributed to my body adapting to MBB, or to my riding with no hands, around a corner, hunting in my jacket pocket for gloves.

 

[noahvale]

Silvio 2.0
Bacchetta

Silvio 2.0
Bacchetta Corsa
?TW-Bents Trident trike
Homebuilt LWB Xclone

The Corsa is rock stable, it doesn't matter how hard I mash, it tracks like an arrow.
The Silvio is much less forgiving, you really need to spin rather than mash. Spin to Win!!
I find that I am running a higher cadence on the Silvio, so that's a good change.
Now if I can just get used to starting off without going all over the road, I'll be fully acclimated.

 

[bladderhead]

I have a conversion kit, of

I have a conversion kit, of which I will get rid when I get the Silvio. I have a Grasshopper which I will keep. I plan to own fewer than three human-powered vehicles.

The only thing I dislike about the Grasshopper is it's lack of speed.

Over the years, I have had some serious bikes stolen. What kind of fool am I?

They stole my Claud Butler. Not Falcon, but an old one. Best DF I ever had. The tubes were as thin as my little finger. None of this indexing shifters nonsense. Two levers on the downtube. Sachs. When the bottom bracket gave up the ghost I had a special bottom bracket extractor made. I got run over on that bike. The worst one to have stolen. I still miss it.

My first bent was a HPVelotechnik Streetmachine. I lost that after about 6 months. I replaced it with the Grasshopper, and have somehow kept that for nine years. They don't seem to want it.

About 6 months ago I was talking to someone who had a racer. I got on and fell off. They say you never forget how to ride a bike, but the Grasshopper has done something to my cerebellum. I haven't managed to fall off the conversion yet.

 

[russtaitai]

N+1

The correct answer to how many bikes one needs is N+1. I just sold my Giant OCR 2, so am now left with my Sofrider, a Bacchetta Corsa, and a Fuji Absolute 1.0. My thoughts are surprising me about which bike to think about next. I had in the back of my mind that I would upgrade to a Silvio, but I'm actually leaning towards a Surly steel bike.

 

[currystomper]

Mmm a few..

Hi Have a few and use all my bikes at different times:-

Cruzbike conversion - my long day out and camping bike.
Wilier Triestina Diamond frame road bike for out with my son (who rides Time Trials - a very British sport!!) and the local bike club.
Pacific Reach Folding bike for commuting, around town/short distances and for bike/car stuff. (I have done over 80 mile in one run on it!!)
MBK 1980s Road bike for winter use. (just done this up as it was rusting away!!) - now with a nice Brooks saddle I inherited.

..and I want to add a Silivio 2.0 to the collection this winter

Will I use the Silivio a lot (you bet ya!!) will it be the only bike I ride -- probably not.

I also ride motorbikes and have no trouble going from my 'cruz to conventional bikes and back again, however in the first year or so of having a 'cruz is was my ride 90% for the time it as it does take some time (for me anyway) to get the hang of it.


CS

 

[Bruce B]

1+a frame

Silvio 1.0
My old 1987 Hujsak frame (Columbus SL) with a mixture of Cinelli, Shimano 600 and SRAM. components, san wheels, is hanging on the wall.

 

[COBRA GT]

No problems

Silvio needed work so I rode Rans X-stream for 2 months. Silvio repaired and rode with no problem.

 

[Tarmac Terrorist]

My Stable

Well actually, I have two stables, one here and one in the Netherlands.

My Australian stable consists of a my WarpCruzier (conversion) a MTB converted to a Beach Cruiser / Shopping Bike, my TREK Madone 4.7 carbon road bike, an Apollo Girls MTB and a Raleigh Cameo girls tourer for the ladies in my life. My Amsterdam stable consists of a Gazelle Metro touring bike, an ESP shopping bike and a Old Dutch bike, both of which I share with my daughter who lives there, my wife rides a Sym scooter in Holland, which are allowed on bikeways and allows her to keep up with me on the tourer. I don't have a recumbent in Holland but I am considering a fully faired recumbent trike for there once I retire and spend more time there.

 

[baov]

Here's my work horse in light

Here's my work horse in light touring outfit. I call it l'Omelette du Fromage. It's a beauty if i do say so myself. Even if one day i'll be good enough to not risk dying on a cruzbike, i'll always be keeping this DF just for the looks.

Asside from that, i converted my mom's 25$ 24" lady bike just to try out the ergonomics. Right now it's single speed with only a rear brake. Gonna put a sturmey-archer 8 speed gear hub with drum brake on the front. I'm getting better at this FWD thing and will be moving the kit to a v2k next summer. Mom can keep the sturmey as a bonus.

 

[scabinetguy]

The list

I have a Vendetta, Silvio 1.5, Silvio 2.0 ( ordered ), and a Quest 3.0. My 3 DF bikes are hanging on the wall where they belong.

 

[BentBierz]

True Believer

"I have a Vendetta, Silvio 1.5, Silvio 2.0 ( ordered ), and a Quest 3.0. My 3 DF bikes are hanging on the wall where they belong."

Well, there can be no doubt that you are a Cruzbike believer!!!

 

[tmctguer]

As you can see, I need

As you can see, I need professional help............

2012 Cruzbike Vendetta
2010-ish Cruzbike Silvio
2007 Trek tandem
2006 Specialized fixed gear
2004 Specialized Roubaix Pro
2002 Cannondale CAD 5
1996 Bianchi Eros
1980-something Colnago 12 speed
1980-something Pogliaghi 12 speed
1980-something Eddy Merckx time trial bike
1970-something Eddy Merckx Kessels fixed gear
1910-ish track bike (fixed gear) with wooden rims
Velotron indoor trainer

 

[John Tolhurst]

tmctguer .. you have

tmctguer .. you have encapsulated the history of cycling in your (large) garage.

 

[tmctguer]

I am missing a unicycle, a

I am missing a unicycle, a banana seat bike from the 1970's, and a tricycle.......

 

[ReklinedRider]

The ever evolving list

Giant Rapid 1.0 hybrid-- plan to sell. DF. Need i say more?

Hase Kettwiesel (delta trike)-- will never sell. More fun than is legal in some states.

Cruzbike Sofrider v 2-- will most likely never sell

Bacchetta CarbonAero 2.0-- sold. Definitely faster than the Sofrider but the Sofrider is so much more fun that the lovely Team
Bacchetta-Blue CA2.0 was just going to waste in my garage. Altho I am finding even the heavy Sofrider climbs better than the CA.

Silvio 1.5 frameset (to replace the Bachetta as a 'fast bike'), awaiting time and funds to build up.

i don't notice any difficulty switching from one to the other in terms of phantom pedal steer etc.

KM