[Closed] N+1, at what point does it become ridiculous?

That's the whole point of n+1.

It never becomes ridiculous.

No such thing. I'm at 6 bikes for me in the house. thankfully my wife has 4 so i can get away with it.
But my only constraint at the moment is that of space.
Otherwise i want a fat bike and a cx

Luckily you can't see the 8 frames as well.
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/15566122039_d2cfd3a1b0_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/15566122039_d2cfd3a1b0_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Or the crates of spares
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7524/15567173300_bf61382356_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7524/15567173300_bf61382356_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

DAMN, that's tidy !

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Wow! My hero.

If you haven't ridden it in a year it's time to get rid.

This is at about 5 bikes for me. One will get left in bits/never getting ridden.

Edit: Man cave jealousy above.

I want to pop round for a cup of tea MrO 🙂

BRAVO MRovershoot. That sir is dedication to the N+ brigade right there.

Mrovershoot I want your babies

That's beyond a Man Cave. That's Nirvana. Can't you just stack them like everybody else

Hmph, my garage may be an absolute mess and I've had to move 2 bikes indoors so I can get at stuff, but at least I can take photos in the right orientation 😛

Oh its my escape place from all the trouble in my life
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Though its connected 🙂
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Ok DesB I'm sorry they were taken on my phone

MrOverShoot, could you let me know what that floor covering is? Standard Lino or something different. Looking for similar for my shed. Thanks.

Oh....all that and you're using Windows!?......Fail

Buy the bfe, sort it all out then sell it to me at knockdown price. Sorted.

feed, it looks like this stuff below...I used to have some down. Really hard wearing. You can get thick and thin versions. The thick is worth the extra.

http://www.rubberco.co.uk/rubber-bathroom-flooring-c-63.html

I bought mine from here.

http://www.jaymart.co.uk/

HTH

MrOvershoot, you have just become the posterboy for much that is good about bicycle culture. Those are some beautiful facilities you have there. Well done!

No pictures of my cycle storage which is a complete mess, but I* currently have 13 cycles which are pretty much complete and rideable, though I haven't ridden 2 or 3 of them in the past year. Currently on the lookout for a couple more on ebay.

*which are mine, 4 more belonging to kids and mrs aracer

At what point does n+1 become too much?

When this statement:

I'm pretty sure I spend more time tinkering with bikes than riding them.

Starts to ring true...

I'm holding at four bikes currently with a strict [i]'one in, one out' [/i]policy and general budgetary constraints, having previously peaked at seven.

Riding more than tinkering, just about, so four is the magic number for me, YMMV of course...

+1 with the shed envy (shenvy?)...

Bloody hell [u]seavers[/u] its not that expensive!!

[u]feed[/u] its like this [url= http://www.vinylflooringshop.co.uk/burts-vinyl-flooring-napa-funky-dots-076-blue/38218/ ]funky-dots-blue[/url]

Now the firm I bought it from was in Durham but not that name!

it was available in 1-2-3 0r 4 meter widths in 0.25 meter increments.

Oh I only get to ride the bike once a week due to caring commitments but I can at least go and fettle every day
Even better I can make a friends little lad happy his bike is safe 🙂
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Just for reference the old garage was at a point where every move resulted in a set of bars up your arse!!
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So Ninkynonk off here gave me a hand to demolish it
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Then this was built
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And floored
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After that I spent quite a lot of time fitting it out.

I do strictly 2 proper mtbs + 1 novelty MTB, +1 commuter, +1 Other. Which at the moment is a Bird T-Pro that I never ride. One in, one out. N+1 is the way and the light but I'm an accumulator so it can't be allowed.

And every time I pat myself on the back for my restraint, someone says "Why have you got 5 bikes? That's mental!"

It becomes ridiculous when you don't actually remember how many bikes you actually have! I tried counting a few years ago and over the course of a week a few appeared that had slipped my mind. At the moment I couldn't tell you (I should mention that this is everything from a frame to a full bike and everything in between).

At what point does n+1 become too much?

at +1 😈

am i really the first to mention n = S-1...?

where 'S' is the number of bikes that triggers divorce.

so the maximum number of bikes you should have, to maintain a happy relationship, is found with the equation: n = S-1.

I suppose it depends on what you like to ride. You could argue that a good trail HT would do everything you could ask of it, whether it's a potter out on a Sunday morning, tooling about at a BMX track or a trip to wherever to ride up or down the local hills.

That said, me and my bf have got a couple of bikes each (HT and FS) and I've got a jump bike in bits that I'd like to build back up soon. I could do everything I do on my HT though, albeit slightly slower and a bit sketchier!

Three. Anything more than three bikes (all different) is ridiculous. But then a hybrid might be nice for pottering about on so maybe four, then there's the BMX for being a bit rubbish on so that'd be five... oh... I dunno 😆 Maybe it only gets ridiculous if you can't afford it or you've run out of space to store them all 😀

Also depends how many other hobbies you have and how much time, space and money they take up. I seem to have hobbies that needs lots of space (cycling, motorbikes, hiking, bikepacking, bushcraft, other outdoorsy stuff, tinkering in the garage etc)

Currently at 4 bikes - hardtail, rigid, cross, flat bar singlespeed road hack

I'm seriously struggling with space in my garage and shed

We currently have 11 bikes in our garage. Ok so two of them are too-small kids bikes and are going to be sold on as soon as I take pictures.. and hence four of them are not mind.

Earlier this year I set myself a limit of 20. A couple of weeks ago I had to dismantle a bike in order to keep to that limit. Once dismantled it's just a pile of bits, right ? Not a bike any more.

(FWIW the newest is 2010 and most are scruffy retro bikes worth <£100, I'm not rich !)

I think Mr Overshoot is my hero today seeing that!! Serious bike cave envy!!

I just convinced hubby I needed N+1 by influencing him to buy N+1 as well, so that S-1 wouldnt reasonably apply 😀

Mr O, where do you live - could you please come round, I've got a... project I could do with some help with! 🙂

I have four, and to be honest that many does my head in what with space and maintenance requirements. But I don't see how I can reduce it any further (first world problems!).

1. Commuter (gets left outside so can't use one of the nicer bikes below)
2. Winter road
3. Summer road
4. MTB (hardtail)

two road (commuter and best)

two mtb (XC29er and 140mm FS/enduro)

about right I think, although I do sometimes fancy a DH bike...

I'm pretty sure I spend more time tinkering with bikes than riding them.

Unless the tinkering is a major part of what it's all about for you, then at this point it's gone too far.

Keeping a couple of bikes in great rideable condition and occasionally improving them is very doable. At a point, you're just firefighting mechanical problems and cannibalising to keep things going. It's time-consuming, expensive, and (again, unless the tinkering is an end in itself) sucks out some of the fun. My two penn'orth anyways.

And chapeau MrO on the staggering shed-works!

🙂

Currently 4 in a family stable of 8. MUST. GET. BIGGER. SHED.

I definitely have too many:

MTB:
El-Mariachi
Fatty

Play bikes:
Country Bikes Park BMX
Dialled Bikes Holeshot

Road bikes:
Falcon Strada 531 SS
Claud Butler super Dalesman tourer
Cannondale CAAD4 racer

Miss's bike:
Giant BSO

In bits:
Chumba HX1 (for sale, make me a sensible offer, it'll be significantly cheaper and lighter than a BFE)

Currently at 6.5 (the 0.5 is a cheap old BMX that came with the house I keep meaning to play at the skate park on).

The other 6 seem to get used, although I've been operating one in one out to avoid having anything that won't get used recently. Got rid of singlespeed as it didn't really do anything much differently to the hardcore HT, and I hadn't used it much, plus new trails (or more importantly the spin to/from them from new house, and the fact that MTB has become my gentle ride after a week of commuting) didn't suit a SS - got a reassuringly overweight full sus instead.

"nice" road bike was getting a bit old, so when bike for work came around I decided to get rid of that too.

3 road bikes consist of nice, commuter (guards and rack), and track bike.

I would quite like a DH bike (and the time to get a decent amount of use out of it), and a cyclo cross bike (and the time to go race it) but they would sit gathering dust mostly at the moment. A cargo bike with kiddie seats would be nice, but I have at kiddie trailer that does the job OK.

I think I have a tinkering addiction at least as strong as the riding, I need to find something else more constructive/lucrative as the cost is getting silly.

I have five and am now operating a one in one out policy. The wife has three bikes so she's understanding.

Steel hardtail (my proper MTB)
Fat bike
Jump bike
Geared roadbike
Singlespeed roadbike (probably gets the most use of all).

I ride them all but am finding the maintenance can start to take too much of my time - I'm quite particular with bikes running well. Five is a good range.

I think my Fatty may have to be sold shortly to make space for something else.

It becomes ridiculous at n+n, where n is greater than the different number of cycling disciplines you ride.

Currently 4, the Trance and Solaris get ridden the most at the moment (torn rotator cuff means no dh or pump/bmx track). The Trance was built for xc and trail/enduro riding, but now with the addition of the solaris, the trance has stickier/tougher tyres and all the better for it.

XC 29er: Solaris
Trail Bike (Trance)
DH (Morewood Makulu)
4x (Morewood 4x)

Currently running at seven.
My 27.5 handmade by me HT with 140 forks
My Gary Fisher hookooekoo
an old retro Saracen Conquest
My beloved Pashley speed 5
Two raleigh pro burners and a 24" Diamond back cruiser.
All get ridden the BMX's are a weekend laugh the Pashley is my commuter, and when I feel like riding with the wife.
My 14 year old daughter already has 3 bikes, my son has a 29er and a bmx. my workshop is a busy place.
Way cheaper than a mistress!!!

The most spectacular example I've seen is a chap I used to work with had 64 in varying states of build. 14 of them were Alpine Stars Megas!

I'm currently on 6.5, the 0.5 being a unicycle. I'm debating another one but really, for the first time, in a while I'm happy with my fleet.

Re. S-1, I reckon I've got another 2 or 3 in the locker before I get to that.

If you count the unicycle as 0.5 I have 1.5....

For me its N=L-1 were L is the number of bikes that will trigger eviction by my live in landlord.

Currently N=6

The Perfect one
The Pretty one
The Versatile one
The Fat one
The Fast one
The Winter one

If I had my way there would be a Downhill one as well.

For me its N=L-1 were L is the number of bikes that will trigger eviction by my live in landlord.

the other version of that is N=D-1 where D is the number that leads to divorce

owner of 3, in a pile of 8, in a space that would suit a max of 4

by my math i should be able to get that SSRigid29r i cant stop considering

Main MTB
Old School MTB
MTB in bits
Road Bike
Hybrid
Pub / lock up in town and not care about bike

Still fancy a few more.

I a have 14 bikes. I have today decided there will be a number 15. I hope diverse is not the result but either way number 15 is being bought cervelo s5 or look 785 aerolight. I may have to sell a couple of old mtb's just to help fund it but I am loath to do that even though I don't ride them much simpler because they are so nice to ride.

Three different sussers for varying degrees of gnar and three different commuters for varying degrees of commute! Plus small bikes, plus KTM, plus that random bmx. I do not have a problem

I have-

LT HT - Main MTB
SS MTB - Not ridden in a while
Cross/gnarmac - As close to a road bike as I'm going for now.

Kind of toying with going down to two, I've had more bikes in the past but like having less choices. I'll stick some forks back on the SS and see if it still has that spark.

It gets ridiculous when 'n' is the number of sheds you have.

[quote=andylc ]If you count the unicycle as 0.5 I have 1.5....

On that basis I'd have 11 rather than 13, but given the 0.5s get ridden more than the others that seems a bit unfair.

[quote=kayla1 ]Three. Anything more than three bikes (all different) is ridiculous.

You appear to only be thinking about off-road flat bar style bikes there. 3 bikes only gets me a road bike, TT bike and MTB - so what about when I want to ride on the road in the winter without ruining my best bike, race CX, or take my kids on the back?

I think having seen Mr O's facilities I want a new man cave more than a new bike...
I think tinkering and building has as much appeal as riding for me, n currently being 3 is the lowest it's been for a while with fully built bikes and I've been paid for one Ive sold so new frame is approved! Problem is now I think it would be more sensible to buy a fatty or crosser, or maybe all 3...

I'm glad there's no SO to get these past!

So long as each bike does something different its fine. Its more effecient having a tool fit for purpose.

So
Nomad - summer riding and gnar.
Pp shan - winter riding and slightly slower gnarr
Giant Anthem -fast xc stuff.
Boardman Carbon -for the etape each year.

Mrs has a stumpjumper(for mtb) and an allez (for road)

I also have a part share in a trials bike 🙂

So all different so all fine.

Ridiculous would be having 2+ similar bikes

I like last 10 months I've bought 3 bikes

(I did sell one though)

I still feel I need a cargo bike (ute or big dummy) and a brompton, just because

It'll be 9 bikes in our household when I pick up my new CX "cycle to work" bike on Saturday. Would have been 10 if the wife hadn't sold her old road bike last week. 8 live in the mess that is the garage, however her new Roubaix lives in the house. I suspect it's going to be getting my side of the bed and I'll be relegated to the spare room.

My share of that lot comes down to:
Road bike (Cube Peloton Pro)
Mountain bike (29er HT Cube Attention)
Old mountain bike (26er FS Kona Kikapu)
Hybrid for shopping/pub/touring duties (Spesh Sirrus)
CX (Revolution Cross Sport Disc)

So my lot is worth less than the wife's new road bike. Think this needs to be addressed

At what point does n+1 become too much?

Right away. As soon as biking becomes about owning more things, you've lost. I'd rather own a single bike and have limitless time to ride it than an ever-expanding box-ticking exercise in futile ownership. Don't get me wrong, I can see why people want more than one bike, but the whole glib N+1 makes me feel a little nauseous. YMMV etc. 😐

but the whole glib N+1 makes me feel a little nauseous

do you prefer having 1 bike and the term "quiver killer"?

do you prefer having 1 bike and the term "quiver killer"?

Na, I just like riding. It's not so much that I think there's something wrong with owning more than one bike, it's the whole slavering consumerism that 'N+1-ism' seems to encapsulate. You know, 'I already own 375 bikes, but it's only natural to want 376... so I'm using after a 650b+ rigid singlespeed made from wood'. It's taking mindless consumerism and applying it to bikes.

I'd almost rather be an audaxer...

I'd rather own a single bike and have limitless time to ride it than an ever-expanding box-ticking exercise in futile ownership.

I think most of us would - but buying bikes doesn't cost us riding time, and not buying them wouldn't automatically give us a few extra days off a week. I wish it did!

As Stevemuzzy says - it's all about being able to do things. All my bikes are very different, which allows me to ride differently and really appreciate it. It's not about consumerism either as I hadn't voluntarily bought a new bike since about 2006 until last November, when I bought a frame. On clearance... like every other bike.

I like different kinds of riding. I like doing rocky difficult stuff fast, I like doing long adventures, I like racing, I like road riding, I like track riding, and I like riding to work.

Nige,your man cave is a thing of infinite beauty, top,top job and one worthy of further inspection --- I'm off to search for good bottle of red or smokey single malt 😀

Be good to see you Paul, no need to ply me with drink unless you have an odd request 😉
In fact I did a bit of a tidy & put up a load of hooks on one wall so now have all the spare frames hung up.

The whole project has been good for me as a way of escaping without being away from home.

N+1, at what point does it become ridiculous?

When you start to think...

I'd almost rather be an audaxer

*Goes shopping for number 7*

aracer- you misquoted me 😉

"Three. Anything more than three bikes (all different) is ridiculous. But then a hybrid might be nice for pottering about on so maybe four, then there's the BMX for being a bit rubbish on so that'd be five... oh... I dunno Maybe it only gets ridiculous if you can't afford it or you've run out of space to store them all."

The paragraph is meant to be read all together, not chopped up to be deliberately argumentative. Although, to be honest, I couldn't give two shiney shites what bikes you need.

Munqe Chick and I have 13 between us.

Currently shopping for a tandem, and I'm fat-curious...

And for the sanctimonious, I drive a 20yr old car (when I do drive, I commute by bike), my mortgage is peanuts and will be paid off several years early despite being a basic rate tax payer, and because I don't get infinite free time to ride (especially with MC, we are on near opposite shift patterns) I like owning bikes that perform/excel when I do get to ride.

How many? Enough that you can keep riding, even when stuff brakes/needs servicing/warranty

Both mtbs were down last week, as cranks being warrantied on the SS and forks servicing/front wheel being rebuilt on the other.

Fancied an off-road ride, so used the crosser, which also doubles as a road bike with a tyre change.

I also have a commuter.

So, 4 - i think it depends on how many disciplies you ride.

I would probably have 3 if I didn't commute or ride on the road or ride SS but it's useful having a back-up because the bike industry is still pretty poor at sorting stuff quickly when it goes wrong imho

Only got into biking/cycling a few years ago and n+1 seemed ridiculous...

Now I have an enduro, road, commuter/hybrid..but I need a CX, perhaps a HT..

That's one impressive shed MrO. What are hook things called that hold the bikes up against the wall?

I only have 4 in the workshop. I guess technically I have 7 but the 3 in the barn don't count. Actually 8, I forgot one.

But I have more motorbikes than bicycles, so that's OK.

Hang on... Crap I only have 8 motorbikes. I guess I need to buy a another one now or I might get mistaken for a cyclist.

When you wake up one morning and realise you've been running a bike shop for 20 years instead of getting a sensible job.

OK, I've Googled it and I'm still non the wiser. At the risk of probable ridicule... what's N+1?

N = number of bikes you own

Number of bikes you want is N+1

N+1 is the number you need I believe, not want! 😉

No, n+1 is just what happens. Need and want don't come into it.

penster - Member
That's one impressive shed MrO. What are hook things called that hold the bikes up against the wall?

I got mine years ago from On-One IIRC Flinger is the make but they are pretty similar to [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/360798532332?adgroupid=13585920426&hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=kwd-119183065266&adtype=pla&ff3=1&lpid=122&poi=&ul_noapp=true&limghlpsr=true&device=c&chn=ps&campaignid=207297426&crdt=0&ff12=67&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff14=122&viphx=1&ops=true&ff13=80 ]THESE[/url]

it's functionality overlap for me - I really can't understand why anyone would want multiple hardtails, but whatever floats your boat.

btw - there is no excuse for having a hybrid, lack of critical thinking 😉

Should I get rid of the pool or the trampoline first? :-)[img] [/img]

Mr O - impressive shed (but far too tidy ffor me, you run the risk of being able to find things in there)!