[Closed] Down to zero bikes!

= :87o

Same boat here OP.

Intense offered me an ex demo Primer at a good price. Sold my Recluse fast and cheap to fund it six weeks ago but Intense still haven't produced the Primer.

I'm an awkward height for modern geometry bikes at 6' 2" Large too small XL too big. I'm having pangs about sinking a lot of money into something that doesn't fit properly.

Perhaps a bit of time off the bike will help us decide if we miss it or not?

Glad it’s not just me then. Pretty skint at the moment too and thinking how the money might be better in savings. Just weird knowing how giddy I normally get when it comes to looking for a new (or new to me) bike.

Thing is I don’t like road riding and can’t get to proper trails. That just leaves towpath, local forest and cycle paths. Hard to justify having a bike just for that type of riding. That’s not a sentence I’d normally type either 😂

Yes I know what you mean.

My eldest is due to start uni in the Autumn so sinking £3 - £4k into a bike that is anything less than perfect is hard to justify.

Again, similarly, there is only one trail centre within reasonable distance of me. Hard to justify an expensive bike for going round the same place like a hamster every week!

My eldest is due to start uni in the Autumn so sinking £3 – £4k into a bike that is anything less than perfect is hard to justify.

There is not a trail centre in the country (world?) that needs an expensive bike. The thought of someone not wanting a bike at all makes me sad though 😥

Dunno Simon.

I still have my old 26er Titus Motolite. I definitely can't climb as well on it as the Recluse. I'm not saying I "need" the more expensive bike but it definitely made things less arduous.

I can't imagine not having any bike. Even after my nice (and only at the time) bike got stolen at uni and I was properly skint, I got a FS BSO, just to get out.

I've been out for 9 months injured now, (not ridden in anger in over a year) and selling bikes simply hasn't entered my head. In fact I've been upgrading for when i get back to it!

That just leaves towpath, local forest and cycle paths. Hard to justify having a bike just for that type of riding.

All of those are better than nothing surely? Your kids will grow fast and you'll want to be taking them out on rides before you know it so something like a rigid HT with full mudguards would be a good all purpose bike to keep you going until time becomes more easily available.

Dude. I was in a similar state last year. I bought myself a Kona Shred. It was cheap enough to justify the purchase but not so cheap as to be useless on rough ground. I tend to just cycle out the front gate and ride as far as time between parental duties allows- that can be up the local hills, or over the bridge or a mild canal bimble. Sometimes the shred sits in the shed for weeks untouched but it's always there when I need it. The shred wouldn't suit everyone but it's just right for me and it sounds like a similar whip would suit you. For the love of God man - don't quit now when a therapeutic ride will be needed the most.

Nope, N-1 does not compute. Yeh it's hard with little ones and work - went through a period of 6-9 years of not riding as much (had 3 bikes), but as kids got older, I had more time - currently at 5 bikes but need to get rid of the fixie commuter road bike as given up on road (bad RTA). 1 road bike on turbo, 1 custom built road bike (not selling) and 2 MTB's.

Don't feel you are being forced to ride - even a quick hour is good for exercise and mental health, so don't give up. A HT will be fine for most stuff.

I would get a decent lightweight XC hardtail, or a gravel bike if I had to stick local (similar terrain here).

Even if it's just for the exercise, it beats staring at a wall in a gym for an hour. Also, try not to force yourself to go out if you don't feel like it. The bike will be there when you fancy it/have the time.

Don't feel guilty having a bike sitting there, it'll wait patiently for you to be ready 🙂

I've got a toddler and a 2nd arriving soon, currently have 5 bikes on the go (#ENDURO, hardtail with WeeRide, road, CX/Gravel and turbo/winter) and don't see that changing any time soon.

Yes the Enduro bike doesn't get used as often now, but I'm about to get a Shotgun/MacRide seat and start taking the lad out on that (and also occasional child free stuff of course). Hardtail will also be used for toddler duties, especially when the 2nd child gets WeeRide sized but it'll tow the trailer before that. Road bike gets used on mid-week or early morning club rides, CX/Gravel used to sneak in quick rides from the house and some racing in winter.

Are you working silly hours?

Working long(ish) hours and the job is getting me very down which is killing my motivation tbh. It’s the first time not having a bike has crossed my mind. Very strange feeling to not be watching loads on eBay or searching the net for bargains.

If you can't appreciate "local forest" then maybe it's time to just stay indoors sat on your arse eating shite watching TV and getting fat 😉

Good riding is where you find it. If it's flat ride harder or get a singlespeed.

N-1 isn't good!
I've not long come back to mtb since riding them in my late teens. Just got my first ever full sus bike. Also just got 2 week old daughter!
At 45 with work and kids it's hard to find time for everything for sure. Do try and get out on the bike though, sometimes when the stress of everything else gets a bit much even an hour of thrashing about will do you good.
No bike would be a regret for sure.
I'm already looking forward to getting this wee one on two wheels, though I will have to wait some time.
Just keep fit for a while spinning about when you can. Bike is for life. You will miss it!

If you can’t appreciate “local forest” then maybe it’s time to just stay indoors sat on your arse eating shite watching TV and getting fat 😉

Ha ha... it’s currently recovering from the storms a few years ago. Watching TV sounds decent though 😉

What are you doing instead of riding a bike?

All work and no play is never good, especially when it’s not like you’ve got a peaceful household.

It's really tough with young family and work, I frequently wonder why the hell I still have my bikes as in reality I'm a 'virtual' cyclist at the moment, not many actual miles pass beneath my wheels.
However if you love bikes and cycling Thet can always be a positive in your life, maybe just in a different way than previously.
I would buy something secondhand and cheap and that makes you happy, something that maybe you thought was incredibly cool 10 or 20 years ago and cost a fortune then but is cheap as chips now.

I used to love borrowing my sisters kids and taking them for rides. Her bike had one of those seats that goes above the rear wheel, and we’d ride for miles, have a drink in a cafe then return home. I’d bet her to sing for me as I was pedalling along. Sometimes she’d even fall asleep on our longer journeys.
Cycling changes as you get older, but not cycling at all should never be an option.

Low cost + no time = BMX

BMXs are cheap and smash yourself around a pump track or skatepark for an hour a week is a full body work out. Skateparks have a added advantage of being open late i.e. after kids have gone to sleep

Sell the bike if you must but make sure you keep getting outdoors for your wellbeing.

We'll look forward to a "which bike for returning to riding" thread next year, probably.

What are you doing instead of riding a bike?

Bit of indoor bouldering with my eldest. Boxing, well the training part anyway and just general body weight stuff. Oh and playing on the Switch 😉

I've got two boys, 5 and 3 (tomorrow). The time has flown, I've just got back into biking properly but I've never been without a bike. I've always managed to get out, bought a trailer when they were little. Eldest will beg me to take him out 'to play on our bikes' and he'll do an 8-10 mile canal/railway ride. Sure, you're not hitting double blacks, but you're out on your bike and annoying anglers to boot 😂. Littlun will complain loudly if I don't put his seat on and take I him too, so there's your excuse for a hardtail right there!

I've been in that boat. I bought a cheap Cove handjob and used it for everything when I could. On road, off road off to the shop. I sold it 4 years on at a profit and have just bought a second hand nukeproof scout as my eldest is now 7 and wants to go riding together.

The Cove was great though and I may buy another as a pub bike!

If I lived somewhere without good trails I’d probably buy something that isn’t so good at going off-road but still let me play about - maybe singlespeed, certainly rigid, fast but not grippy tyres, but a dropper post because I like them. Something I could commute on too.

Sounds like you need to get a new job. I was in a similar position a couple of years ago. Then 6 months ago I finally chucked in the job the was killing my family, social and exercising life.

Took a big pay cut but now cycle to nursery to drop of the oldest, hop on a train to get near the new job, cycle in then cycle an hour home. It’s not an awesome ride but it’s quiet and gives me time to think and feel the outdoors. And my wife says it makes me much nicer to be around.

Don’t quit the bike. Quit the job.

I’d love to but it’s not an option unfortunately. Not got any real qualifications and I’m the sole earner at the moment. A pay cut would leave us in a very bad place financially and I can’t see me finding a job that pays what I’m on now.

I'm also a biker struggling with young family, job etc. While giving up seems like an option getting no exercise or space isn't going to do you, your family or work any good.

For me long half day rides or day rides are out of the question at the moment. I built my old HT into a singlespeed and now I can reduce myself to a wreck in just 1 hour of riding. My only real target is to get out once a week for 1 hour. Anything else is a bonus but I still enjoy it.

It's shit but I feel lucky I can ride at all. Plenty folk don't have the health or means so if you do make the best of it.

Working long(ish) hours and the job is getting me very down which is killing my motivation tbh. It’s the first time not having a bike has crossed my mind. Very strange feeling to not be watching loads on eBay or searching the net for bargains.

Have you thought about cycling (part way) to work? My commute is only short (3-5 miles depending on the route) but I feel better when I've cycled in.

i can't imagine spending 3-4k on a bike at all, and I don't have kids to pay for. We spent a fair bit on a new tandem, but you can't get cheap tandems that will stand up to the mileages we do (already put over 500km on it since it arrived in March). I might justify 1500 or perhaps even 2k on an MTB for Mrs NBT, but twice that? not gonna happen. I've only just put suspension forks on my 29er, I've been riding rigid for the past 7 years. Find a new challenge, don't just splash cash

Was in a similar situation last year. Young family, major house renovations left no time for riding. I missed the entire summer last year and did think about selling the bike to fund some of the work.
Fast forward a year and most of the house stuff is done, the kids are enjoying riding their bikes and I'm back out on my bike (only once a week) and knowing that Thursday is 'biking night' is something I really look forward to.
The other half knows that Thurs is when I go out so schedules her things around that.
I can't imagine not having the bike in the shed now..

Good riding is where you find it. If it’s flat ride harder or get a singlespeed.

To be honest, N=1 (really nice SS hardtail) is plenty for me and I could manage for a bit if N=0 but I'd be doing a [i]lot[/i] more walking and running. Mental health, innit. Work a lot less, play a lot more.

[b]Zero Bikes[/b]

Good name for when Sick do their rebrand/relaunch 👍

Bit of indoor bouldering with my eldest. Boxing, well the training part anyway and just general body weight stuff. Oh and playing on the Switch 😉

We are all wired differently but when I was at your stage of job stress/young family I found hillwalking to be an amazing de-stresser. I think that just spending some time in the outdoors at your own pace has been pretty much proven to have psychological benefits. Walking is certainly cheaper than cycling, especially if you think that you need to spend £3k or more before cycling becomes worthwhile.

I'd make the effort to create some time for yourself and some relaxation outside whether that's on two wheels or two feet.

OP - I don't think you've mentioned how old your kids are but any parent will relate to how your world feels very small and centred around your family when they're young - and really that's how it should be but it does change rapidly. By 1.5-2yrs they'll be ready for balance biking and some kids are pedalling at 3 or before. Nothing encourages them like seeing mum and dad enjoy an activity.
My boy is now 7 and riding off road with me. We did an 8 mile ride just round the local fields and woodland yesterday in the pouring rain and he loved it.

Keep a bike, make it a simple, low maintenance bike that you can jump on for half an hour without getting all kitted out

Peak STW!

I'm still on the full susser I bought 18 years ago. 2 growing kids, eye watering mortgage, static wages, aging car, family holidays.... I can forget about dropping cash on a new one. My 12k swimming a week went out the window soon after 1st was born as did the regular kayaking. But I kept up weekend rides when possible, and this weekend I had a great time discovering a makeshift jump park in woodland with my eldest, and later we took kayak down the local river for a couple of hours paddling. Its hard to adjust to loss of freedom when a family begins, especially being faced with nappies and screaming babies, but if you keep up a sport or 2 you can pass on your passion when the kids are old enough, and it's rewarding in a different way to the heroic cycling exploits you enjoyed in past. Keep a bike, you'll need it again one day

Hardly done much in the way of MTBing in the last year, but no way would I let the Bronson go.

I keep fit with lots of running, so when the notion takes me it's not an issue. If you don't really do any other fitness stuff, and only ride occasionally, it won't be fun.

In case it helps...

In my ideal world I probably wouldn't bother with a bike. I'd live at the base of some mountains somewhere, ideally with some rocky peaks that demanded very basic climbing, and I'd run straight from my doorstep over as many as I could whenever I had the time.

I'd probably spend a lot of time dancing as well, some sort of acrobatic improvised contemporary style stuff. And climb trees.

But the reality is that with all the injuries I've had the past couple of decades, biking has been the one thing I've consistently been able to do. And I live in a city, and a bike gets me into the moors or some relatively empty woods within an hour.

Don't get me wrong, I do find biking a lot of fun. But in an ideal world I'd do something cheaper, simpler, less materialistic, and more grounded.

Not sure if this helps...

N-1 here.
Even tried to buy back the bike before last but no joy even though its been sat in the boxes I shipped it in over a year ago.
So £150 banger off ebay or 10 weeks for a new ti frame to be made and delivered.

I can’t imagine having no bikes... they’re a big part of life. That said I completely get that having a young family changes the type of riding you can get out to do. I’ve realised for me that it’s really just getting out on some form of a bike most days that really matters, but it can be for just getting around the place I live, ferrying kids to school or a canal path blast. I love mountain biking but actually don’t miss it much now I’m not getting out. But I really notice it if I don’t get out for any type of riding during a week. Good for the soul, innit, and being on a bike puts a smile on my face.

I’ve recently had both my (decent) mountain bikes nicked from the garage and won’t be replacing them with another mtb for now...

Don’t know if I’ve typed something odd, but just to clarify I no longer have a bike (sold it) and would never consider spending more than £1.5k maximum on one if I actually had enough cash. Second hand is my purchase method of choice.

Just meant the original post as it’s the first time I’ve been without one and not actually that bothered by it. It’s an odd feeling for me as usually I can’t wait to buy the next bike. Work is an arse, but boxing is a great stress reliever. Better than cycling I reckon.

My eldest (five) is not remotely interested in cycling. I still got out quite regularly when he was younger and took him with me so he’s always been around bikes. Doesn’t register with him though. Bigger interest in climbing and anything ball related. Which is great. Littlest one is eighteen month and only interested in Hey Duggee and anything that flies 😂

My commute most days is walkable so not much call for a bike. I’ll give it a couple of weeks, see if I start getting the bike itch. If not there might be an Asgard bike shed on the classifieds soon

Don’t know if I’ve typed something odd, but just to clarify I no longer have a bike (sold it) and would never consider spending more than £1.5k maximum

I think some of our more enthusiastic put-down merchants have conflated you with another thread contributor here.

If not there might be an Asgard bike shed on the classifieds soon

How much to post to Mcr?

How much to post to Mcr?

Lol - I need a couple of weeks as the bike bug may return! If not I’ll let you know.

In your situation I'd go for a posh(ish) hardtail, secondhand. Definitely doable under £1k.
Great for that local trail centre, but not awful to ride on those canal paths etc on your own or with a trailer or weeride thingy if you just want to get out in the fresh air, and good if you want to go out and thrash yourself for an hour to work out some frustration. Won't really hugely drop in value or "go out of date" for a few years now the head angle and wheel size things have stabilised.

If I didn’t have a bike I think I would be in a bad way. And really heavy.
All I do these days is ride local woods ,towpaths, b ways & cheek from home or work. I’m lucky ,I get a few 2/3 hours a week &do it on a cross bike the most.
Try that or a lovely light weight hardtail maybe.
My son often asks me why I go on my bike, I tell him riding bikes makes me happy. Today we did a lap of Trent park, some trail clearing , climbed trees , had a picnic & a packet of sport mix!
He told me riding bikes made him happy.
I got dust in my eye.
Anyhow, just saying....
Or there’s always more Netflix. 😊

Yep - to echo the above, you'll find you have a bit more time to ride before you know it. For several years the most mileage I got was on a Brompton, and I went down from four or five bikes to a single 29er hardtail that I used for everything offroad, including some vaguely sizable Lakes, Brecon Beacons and BPW stuff. I built it up on the cheap (I think less than a grand all in, including brand new Rebas and a new Hope wheelset) and it was a joy to ride. I have a bit more dosh and time now, and I'm as glad I kept the biking up as I am sad that I let keelboat racing fall by the wayside. But that's another story, and there's an Optimist Dinghy in the garage waiting for the Udderlets. Don't let cycling go because it looks a bit bleak right now - keep yer hand in on a cheap bike and rediscover how much fun it can be just to ride a bike.

OP - Is part of the problem also that once you have been off the bike a while, getting back on seems like a bit of an effort? If so, i get like that a fair bit. If ive been off the bike for a few weeks (been busy or been ill or crap weather) then i find i become quite apathetic to the idea of riding.

Takes a few short spins to get me motivated again.

Thinking on it that could be one of the issues. Especially going out for a proper ride. I’ll give it a couple of weeks and see how I feel. Maybe buy a cheap hack.

I have 2 young children, 4 and 11 months. When the youngest was born last summer I found it hard to get out on the bike and after a couple of months without much riding it was hard to get motivated again. I set myself a challenge in January to do the South Downs way in a day in July. This has kept me going all year. My commute is only 2.5 miles but I leave early and get around 25-30 miles in 2 or 3 times a week and then get up early on 1 day of the weekend and do a longer ride. This way I don't lose out on family time but I still make time for myself and without it, I would be miserable and fat, especially with a stressful job too. My bike is even coming on our family holiday so I can carry on training. Again I'll be out and back before breakfast with the family.