It's begun, n+1

[rh100]

Finally got another bike for the stable.

Second hand, to replace the crap steel MTB Halfords flogged me years ago, we've been having a continued effort at cycling for the last few months so thought it was time to get something more suitable.

The Raleigh has been replaced with a Trek 7100FX alluminium hybrid - fixed fork, 700c wheels. A few years old I guess, but the frame seems OK, and the rest of the gear can be serviced or replaced.

I needed a bit of help from the LBS to true the back wheel, but it still has a flat spot he couldn't fix - so new wheel on the wish list. He also adjusted the mech hanger, and gave me some good advice re: sorting the gear/brake cables.

Spent the day today replacing pads, swapping the lights over and the panniers, pedals (don't ask) and saddle. Treated it to a new Cateye front light now i'ts dark on the commute - already had a Smart on the back.

We went out tonight for a short spin - and wow what a difference, so much faster on the flat and a bit easier up the hill. So hopefully my average will go up to something a bit respectable, and maybe get the mileage up.

Felt a bit guilty spending money on a new bike when I have one already - but hey I took the car off the road and rarely use the bus - if the car packed up I'd have a bigger bill than the cost of a second hand bike.

The old raleigh looks a bit sorry for itself, no pedals or saddle, bless. Will put it straight again and then decide what to do with it.

 

[Garz]

I used the work van so little lately it got a flat battery! This wasnt helped by a holiday period but got as much bike use permitting what weather I got given.

Would love an n+1 to kit out, glad you have one sorted!

 

[Arch]

The old raleigh looks a bit sorry for itself, no pedals or saddle, bless. Will put it straight again and then decide what to do with it.

Keep it, if you can. Then you'll always have a backup bike, or something toride when the weather is really crap and you don't want to get the best bike out.

You sound pretty handy already, but stripping the old bike down and rebuilding it is a good way to learn how to do your own servicing etc. You could even do that, get it good as new-ish, and then pass it onto someone deserving who needs a bike...

Also, you know, n+1 doesn't end at 2, don't you....

 

[rh100]

Keep it, if you can. Then you'll always have a backup bike, or something toride when the weather is really crap and you don't want to get the best bike out.

You sound pretty handy already, but stripping the old bike down and rebuilding it is a good way to learn how to do your own servicing etc. You could even do that, get it good as new-ish, and then pass it onto someone deserving who needs a bike...

Also, you know, n+1 doesn't end at 2, don't you....

Not a bad idea, could practice on it before working on the Trek. n+1 is a problem though - we bought Mrs rh a new 2nd hand one aswell, so we now actually have 4 - one of them has to go. I would say get rid of her old Apollo, but if we kept one as spare, it would have to be the Apollo as she could never get on the Raleigh, as it's a 21 inch frame, hers is a 15.

I'm not overly worried about taking it out in bad weather - I'd rather have the most reliable one under me in those conditions TBH. But I'd be stuck if the main one had a major failure though.

I thought I was going to need another shed, but she said when the decorating is done - we can park them in the dining room on cardboard - result!

 

[John the Monkey]

Those old steel MTBs make great beaters, they really do. Mrs Monkey has my old Raleigh Pioneer - no lightweight, but we toured Belgium with it, and it makes a nice, comfy shopping bike too. The only upgrades we've done on that bike are adding a rack, changing the Cantis for Vs, and the levers and shifters for modern ones. It still has the original 7 speed drivetrain, which is in good nick and very reliable.

The Rivendell Reader sung their praises in issue #41;
http://www.rivbike.com/assets/payloads/75/original_RR41_web.pdf
(page 18 et seq)

Almost every mid-to-high end CrMo steel mountain bike made between 1983 and 1989 will, even in fifty years, continue being a mountain bike or a city bike, or a tourer or commuter or a magnificent grocery hauler, or whatever else you want to convert it to.

Did you get rid of yours? Too bad, shouldʼve kept it, because they truly donʼt make bikes like those anymore.

 

[Norm]

Mrs Monkey has my old Raleigh Pioneer - no lightweight...

And how does Mrs Monkey feel about being called "no lightweight"?

Also, you know, n+1 doesn't end at 2, don't you....

My n+1 = 4 at the moment. New road bike and new-ish MTB are dedicated to their design purposes, then I've got a 1970s "racer" which is used to leave places that you wouldn't want to leave a new one, and a late '80s MTB which has road tyres and is used as the workhorse. Looking for a Spesh Sirrus next.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

My n+1 = 4 at the moment. New road bike and new-ish MTB are dedicated to their design purposes, then I've got a 1970s "racer" which is used to leave places that you wouldn't want to leave a new one, and a late '80s MTB which has road tyres and is used as the workhorse. Looking for a Spesh Sirrus next.

you can't count

n=4, so in your case n+1=5…

 

[John the Monkey]

And how does Mrs Monkey feel about being called "no lightweight"?

Pretty angry with you Norm, tell the truth. I wouldn't like to be in your shoes.

My n=3;

Giant SCR2.0 - My first "proper bike" formerly a do-everything bike, now more of a weekend fun bike. Upgraded to full tiagra drivetrain, with FSA wing bars, longer stem, SPD-SL pedals.

Surly Long Haul Trucker - Paid for by the nice lady who hit me with her car in October 2008. Commuter, tourer, load lugger.

Brompton S6L - Most recent acquisition. My commuter for the days I don't fancy a 30 mile round trip, and an errand bike when I'm not sure of the bike parking at the other end of the journey.

 

[Norm]

you can't count

n=4, so in your case n+1=5…

OK, I was thinking of Arch's n+1 doesn't stop at two. The +1 would indeed make it five.

 

[Arch]

My current n is 4, three of which live at the flat (one downstairs, two up here with me), and one in a lockup, a recumbent trike. I'm toying with a +1 shortly, although it will be a replacement for the trike, which I should be able to sell, so my n will fluctuate briefly.

After that, my target +1 would probably be a Brompton.

 

[TheDoctor]

Hmmm, where to begin...
Carbon Uberbike
531 ST single speed
Hack MTB
Ribble flat-bar commuter
Brommie M6R
4 speed hubgeared hack with a pringled back wheel at present.
Deawoo Shuttle
n=7. I just want a 'bent now...