The last of a stable, which do you keep?

[Trikeyohreilly]

You mean if I got rid of her instead, I could not cull these and instead buy another?

Hum, the settlement should allow a whole new…. and maybe even an unheard of 14 speed hub gear.

I would miss the children though.

[hubgearfreak]

You mean if I got rid of her instead, I could not cull these and instead buy another?

I would miss the children though.

if you got rid of her, you'd be free to fill your bachelor flat up with bikes, dozens of bikes.

but you've heard of the law of diminishing returns?

anyway, giving up your children is even more unreasonable than expecting a chap to have only one bike. giving up 5 of the 7 is meeting her more than halfway, but put your foot down about the last two

[AlanD]

I say that Eddie should tell Mrs Walking that he will only keep one bike, so long as she agrees to only keep one handbag, one dress and one pair of shoes.

[eileithyia]

I say that Eddie should tell Mrs Walking that he will only keep one bike, so long as she agrees to only keep one handbag, one dress and one pair of shoes.

I did think of some of these myself, how much wardrobe/shoe space would she be willing to give to up to accommodate his bikes

[Edwards]

I did think of some of these myself, how much wardrobe/shoe space would she be willing to give to up to accommodate his bikes

I am wondering what else she might decide to remove in the way of his pleasures . I do not imagine you being so cooperative if you were asked to do the same.

If you only keep parts would that count as a bike. You know spare frame wheels forks handlebars drive train rack and other needed spares

[ersakus]

I only have 2 bikes but, I'd keep the 700C tourer. Infinitely useful and versatile..

[jawaka]

Definitely agree that the tourer is the best all rounder; if i had to reduce the bikes to one I wouldprobably keep the Dawes Horizon which I use daily and for touring but I also have a very basic univega mountain bike which I use occassionally off road in summer but have equipped with studded tyres for the winter and have been very pleased to have done this. It also makes a small package with wheels off and handlebars detached and hanging alongside the frame so it fitted in the car for a holiday in skye. It is a quill stem so comes on and off simply. My wife wouldn't drive with a rack on the back.
Actually this old mountain bike has eyelets for mugguards, a rack and front panniers and with narrower tyres could make a satisfactory on or off road tourer / commuter/bike. If I really had to go to one one I would seriously think of this option

[blackbike]

The obvious solution is simply to go back on your word.

Allow her a certain amount of moaning but warn her if it goes on too long you'll buy another bike.

[Trikeyohreilly]

By a strange twist of fate things have changed quite a bit.

Our relationship has come to a close, I can indeed now have as many bikes as I want but it's not worked out that way.

Unwilling to put a deposit down and rent a place I am having to sell even the last two. The Super Galaxy went on ebay this morning.

But I did buy myself a new one anyhow. With the summer nearly upon us I'm off to take the long tour I have always dreamed of. Aware that it going to be nothing like I had dreamed and anticipating a good amount of crying initially to go with the times of joy. The proverbial journey of self reliance and discovery. Bolsted by Alastair Humphreys excellent Moods of Future Joys I head off on my Street Machine recumbent on the 4th of March to be, well cold and wet at first I would have thought. But the weather will I’m sure improve and I get around the U.K. eventually during the summer. Then south for the winter.

You never can tell what’s around the corner, I certainly didn’t see this coming when I posted the original question.

[horizon]

Thanks for sharing that eddie and all best wishes.

[MartinC]

Eddie, all the very best. Hope things work out well for you. Come back and tell us about the trip.

[drossall]

...an early 2000 well known 700cc 531st tourer....

Bet that shifts a bit up the hills

[Gearoidmuar]

I've done more than 60 tours and in that time have toured on

British Eagle Touristique..
Coventry Eagle Touristique
Dawes Galaxy
British Eagle Shadow (a 531 rigid MTB)
Peugeot Aluminium Hybrid
Moulton APB
Trek FS MTB
Giant FS MTB with Hydraulic brakes and suspension switch off.
Thorn Raven Tour.

The earliest of the tourers (can't remember if British Eagle or Coventry Eagle) had a double chainset with a wide range, but inadequate for REALLY steep stuff.
The Dawes Galaxy was more stable than the other two but died of a fetlock fracture after 13 years.
The BE Shadow was a great touring bike. Unburstable wheels, great gear range, very stable but slight downside of straight bars with bar ends.
The Peugeot cracked after a year and a bit.
The Moulton was a terrific tourer but a bit limited on the low gear side. Very comfortable. Baggage a bit awkward as it took a minute or two to get at anything.
The MTBs were good but the REAL breakthrough was bullhorn bars on the Giant. I tried these after a hand-injury and I'm not going back.
The Thorn has them. The Thorn with the Rohloff is the best, but if you don't want a Rohloff I think that a rigid MTB, or FS with suspension switchoff, bull bars and V-brakes (Hydraulics are great but not if they start leaking in the middle of nowhere) is THE best touring bike. You have an unbeatable combination of gear range, great brakes, variable hand position, stability and strong wheels.

[Trikeyohreilly]

The Thorn has them. The Thorn with the Rohloff is the best, but if you don't want a Rohloff I think that a rigid MTB, or FS with suspension switchoff, bull bars and V-brakes (Hydraulics are great but not if they start leaking in the middle of nowhere) is THE best touring bike. You have an unbeatable combination of gear range, great brakes, variable hand position, stability and strong wheels.

I would have to agree, not about the Thorn or Rohloff as I sadly have no experiance. But the rest for sure. I went for a rigid MTB in the end only because I do like to have full mud guards and struggled to fit them to a FS. I used buterfly bars to a similar effect.

[konaboy2275]

Keep one bike and then a spare frame, wheels, forks etc... If storage is an issue you could always leave the 'spares' at a friends / work / in the attic / boot of the car. Maybe this could be assembled into a roughly bike shaped storage configuration to save space?

I've 5 at the mo and probably enough spares to build 2 more... Those on-one frames are tempting me!