Thinning The Herd
I’ve been trying to downsize when it comes to my bicycles for several years now. We currently have less than half the bikes we did at one point but I want to downsize even more. With Nova retired now it seems I’m spending less time tinkering with the bikes. Also we’re planning to get a new vehicle in the near future and I want to make more of a buffer around it in the garage.
Some bikes have been easier to let go of than others. I’m down to a point now where I’m having a tough time deciding what to get rid of next. Of course I don’t need this many bikes but they bring me joy and as long as I can store them in a practical manner, I want to keep multiple riders around. Below is what I have currently narrowed it down to and why I want to keep each one. All but 2 of these get ridden pretty regularly. I’d like to go down at least a couple more. A few of these overlap in style and function.
John Deere themed Schwinn.
One of the very first custom bikes I put together 16 or 17 years ago. Single speed, coaster brake and a basket. It’s fun and comfortable to ride. It can be used for errands. People like it and it’s a conversation starter. I have somewhat of a sentimental attachment to it.
Schwinn Stingray.
I picked this up many years ago at a garage sale for no more than $20 from what I recall. It almost never gets ridden but it represents the bikes of my childhood and I’ll never come across one again for that price. It’s stashed out of the way under the stairs in the basement. Seems a shame though to keep it hidden and not ridden.
Specialized Crossroads Cruz hybrid
Nova found this one abandoned in rough shape. She drug it home and gave it to me for my birthday and I did the needed repairs to get it road worthy. 21 speed, rear rack and front basket. This bike has been more miles and places than any other bike I currently have. Not too long ago I put money into it installing a new drive train. It’s just a good all around bike and has sentimental value being the gift that is was and all the places it’s been. I’m not fond of the color though. I’ve considered painting it or having it powder coated but can’t bring myself to do it.
Schwinn Heavy Duti
Single speed, coaster brake and a rear rack. I like the simplicity. It’s really comfortable. The rear hub was beefed up and gifted to me by Coaster Culture.
Dumpster Bike
I found this cheap old Roadmaster MTB in a dumpster. I modified it and the only thing original now is the frame and fork and I painted those. It’s another simple single speed and coaster brake bike with a rear rack. It rides pretty decent. This bike and the Heavy Duti are probably too similar in style to justify keeping both. I mostly want to keep this one due to the color scheme. Maybe I could paint one of the other bikes this color?
Schwinn Cantilever
Rim brakes, 7 speed derailleur, rear rack and front basket. Another really comfortable and somewhat practical bike. I’ve thought of removing the rack and basket though and making it more klunker-like to ride on singletrack if and when I ever do. I’ve also thought of moving the wheels, brakes and drive train to one of my other klunker style bikes.
Tall Bike
The only bike I currently have built up that I’ve chopped up and modified. As fun as it is to ride, I rarely do. I’m just not comfortable with the attention it draws. If I could ride it without being chased down and photographed and honked and hollered at etc… I would ride it so much more. I just can’t stand to part with it though.
Diamondback Haanjo
A “gravel” or “all road” bike. This was my first drop bar bike in years. 700x40c tires. I would consider this my “road bike”. Probably the easiest to ride on pavement and against the wind. It does well on gravel too. The basket makes it more practical.
Salsa Journeyman
I bought this shortly after Nova bought hers. I found it was such a comfortable fit. Nova’s is 700c but I opted for the 650b. It’s also a gravel or all road bike. I probably don’t need this and the Diamondback and I would definitely keep this one if I have to choose. I think if I had to go down to just one bike it would be this one. I shudder at that thought though lol.
Swap Rat
I built this up from a Rollfast frame I was given at the swap meet earlier this year. It has a 2 speed kick back coaster brake hub, a front rim brake and a basket, It’s pretty practical for running around town. I love the patina on it.
CWC
Made by Cleveland Welding Company and was probably badged as a Western Flyer. Skip tooth, single speed, coaster brake, This is my “old bike” for our monthly old bikes ride the Bluz Cruz. Yes some of my other bikes are old but they are built on old frames with an assortment of newish parts. We do have a all original Western Flyer, same frame as this, but I plan to get rid of it as I like the patina of this one and don’t want to keep both.
Monark
Built up from a Monark frame this is another ratrod, klunker style bike. Single speed, coaster brake, front rim brake and a rear rack. It’s a fun bike to ride. It’s pretty similar to the Rollfast though and I probably don’t need both. This bike seems to get more attention than my others on Instagram.
Some of my recent bikes you may notice missing that are tore down and stashed away…
DIY cycle truck : I just didn’t use it enough to justify it taking up space especially with the bigger basket that I added. A lot of our grocery shopping we still do by car and what is done by bike we are able to haul using many of our other bikes.
Fuji Marlboro folding MTB i: It’s just not that practical or good riding of a bike.
Swing Bike : I just never ride it anymore.
Bronco Bike : I only rode it in the St Patrick’s parade and I no longer have an interest in riding parades.
20 inch Fat Bike : It’s fun to ride short distances. It needs a higher bottom bracket and longer crank arms to make it a more practical rider.
I’ll probably get rid of the above bikes at the swap meet next spring if not before.
I still have a few other frames, wheel sets etc.. stored away and will probably continue to build up other bikes or swap parts around if I get bored with things as they currently are.
Hard decision. Most practical keep. Most valuable keep. Or bu8ld a shed.
We had so many bikes years ago we did rent a storage unit. We do have a small shed but it barely will hold one bike along with all the yard stuff. Having multiple bikes does keep me motivated to get out and ride. Guess I’m trying to narrow it down to the most practical of my fun and ratty bikes.
Keep them..really don’t matter if you ride them much..they mean something to you…I rent a storage unit which I have bike “Junk” and of course other stuff…had some stuff for years..if you can find the room … remember where I got most of the stuff..maybe someday ?
We used to rent a storage unit years ago just for bikes. We’ve come a long way as far as downsizing bikes since then. That was back when I somewhat collected bikes and hung on to them whether I rode them or not or if I was attached to them in anyway or not. Trying to downsize everything in our lives a little at this time but yeah I’ll have no problem keeping a couple even if they are not ridden as long as I’m not stumbling over them or constantly having to move them. As always thanks for reading and commenting.
Randy, what an amazing collection! I know bikes mean a lot to you. If you have the storage, then keep them all! For me – and by no means is this a suggestion for you – when I got over the sentimental attachment piece, I relaized that bikes are just things, and we all have too many “things”. This is how I parted with my Miyata touring bike and I know i could get rid of two more, should we find ourselves with less storage space.
Thanks. Seems silly looking back now to when we had so many more bikes than this. I even had specific bikes for holiday, themed group rides and parades. I’m probably just kidding myself if I think I’ll be content with this current line up though. I imagine as it cools off I’ll find myself back in the garage tearing one bike down and building up another. I definitely don’t want to go up in numbers though. Just now thought, I need to post Nova’s bikes. Thanks for the input.