On downsizing (and the 1 bike, and 650b)

[drew]

Say you had a hunqapillar, a Sam and a couple vintage bikes. But mostly the hunq and Sam got ridden and you felt like you lived a really nice bike life. Then let's say you were trying to have a kid and you lived in a small house and bike room could no longer be bike room. Let's also say that a few extra dollars would be somewhat helpful.

Would you-

-sell all but the hunq because it is your favorite, despite the fact that it's not the best for city road riding, which is likely more and more the type of riding you'll be doing, and you never took it on dirt as much as you dream about taking it on dirt anyway. But that's ok, maybe you should embrace a more cruiserish build, and this one could be cool.

-sell all and buy a 650b Atlantis which, in your head, feels somewhere between Sam and hunq. You never were quite convinced about big 29er tires on a 54cm hunq frame anyway, and this 650b thing looks like it's gonna stick....though you've never tried it. Maybe you could get a custom color and a couple extra braze ons and it would be fine to take on trails and tour, and when not there, it wouldn't feel too sluggish on the road either.

-keep all until shit hits the fan and you need to unload as things come up.

-realize that the one bike hypothesis is not practical and ignore all problems in your life.

[Deacon Patrick]

Congratulations on preparing to grow a family, Drew! Awesome! 

Option 1, though I do not fathom why the Hunqa is "not the best for city road riding." Cushy, smooth tires, fenders, favortie handlebar set up, all set! Add panniers and you've got the ability to run errands galore.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Christopher Murray]

Howdy,

I definitely would not buy another bike-- experience has taught me that this is rarely the solution. I'd keep the Sam and the Hunq and sell everything else. Two good bikes that will cover everything but road racing. If the time comes (financially or otherwise) to sell one of the two then so be it. If you sell them now how long will it be before you have the financial freedom to repurchase them? Kids are expensive and $2,500-$4000 bicycles probably won't be a top priority.

Let us know what you decide.

Cheers,
Chris

[Keith Muller]

So I have 5 bikes at the moment.

Hunqapillar w/ bullmoose bars
Atlantis w/ albastache bars
Appaloosa w/ albatross bars
Salsa Vaya Travel w/ drop bars
Salsa Colosal Ti w/ drop bars

My Hunqapillar is by far my favorite bike I own/have owned! Every time I get on it, it just feels so magical! Taking my Hunqapillar for a ride erases a bad day! I always say if I could only have one bike, it'd be my Hunqapillar. I would say keep the Hunqapillar and Sam and sell the other ones if you have to. Maybe us the Sam as a display in the baby's room. 2 birds 1 stone.

Selling bikes sucks! Especially with the circumstances.

Congrats on the baby coming.

Keith

[Tony DeFilippo]

I'll second the congrats on your growing family! I'm 11 months in with my daughter and it's been truly wonderful. Biking related I'm using the 'need' for a dedicated front kid seat bike as justification for one of my (not n=1) bikes...

I've entertained many scenarios like your #2 and while I love musing about it the logistics of selling a large amount of used bikes and equipment at prices I could stomach never seemed to support a quick fleet change over like that. I still like the idea, sounds like you've got some well founded curiosity about the 650B Atlantis. Or maybe it's just that I to really like the idea of a 650B Atlantis...

[dougP]

Drew:

Congratulations on your growing family.  In a couple of years you'll be making bike choices based on "kidability". 

To your question, I endorse option 1.  I can see the Hunq handling things like kid seats, trailers, trail-a-bikes, etc., better than Sam. 

Option 2 is a bit aspirational.  You mention having a few extra dollars being helpful.  Unless the vintage bikes are unusually valuable, selling all will likely fall short of funding a new 650B Atlantis, assuming a standard Riv build. 

Option 3 assumes you can sell bikes immediately should the need arise.  This is of course possible but you'll likely get better pricing if not under serious time pressure.

Option 4:  When you have children you have less time for non-family riding, so one bike is realistic.  The versatility of the Hunq covers everything for a long time.

Best of luck.  These are good puzzles to work out.

dougP

[Jonathan D.]

I would keep the Hung and the Sam since that will probably fit all your riding situations absent road racing. Which bike will you set up for the kid? I currently have the Joe setup with a bike seat and it rides fantastic. I have a dropbar Romulus that I can take out without all the equipment. I also have two other bikes I don't know what to do with but that is another story. It is hard for me to want to ride anything but the Rivendells.

As someone said, I think chasing the perfect bike is a rabit hole I would be hesitant to go down with the great options you have. Try both for 3 years. Of course that doesn't keep me from wanting the Sam that was just posted but a 2 year old kid would not allow me another purchase already. Also doesn't hurt to watch for a deal on an Atlantis.

[drew]

I don't think keeping both is in the cards, at least not for the long haul. I could hold out, but eventually the Sam is gonna go.

Hunq in the city is comfy and fun, but can be hard to keep up with friends on roadier bikes. Big 29er tires and wheels can make stopping and starting and climbing a bit of a boar. Minor complaints, I know. Keeping it is definitely the thing that makes the most sense.

I'd like to think that a complete Sam, a hunq frame + extras, and 2 complete vintage bikes would more than cover a new Atlantis frame. Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but that option doesn't seem like such a stretch for my mind.

Chasing the dream bike does seem dubious. I do need reminding of that.

[Justin, Oakland]

You could always build a nice city wheelset with a fat and fast tire on it. That way the hunq can stay. You're going to have the same speed issue on the Atlantis if you keep the same tire and wheel type. 650b wheels be tiresarent magically better due to the diameter, everything else being equal

-J

[Joe Bernard]

It sounds to me like you think the Hunqapillar is great, and would be even better as a slightly less stout 650b bike. That's the Atlantis. Sell everything and buy the one bike you want.

[Belopsky]

Everyone seems to have answered your questions, so the only one I have to add/answer is:

How roadie are your friends bikes and the rides?

[Les Lammers]

Why not try something like the Continental Basketball tires on the Hunq? I'm not sure a 650B Atlantis would help with keeping up with the guys on road. If that's important wait and see what the Roadini looks like.

[EasyRider]

I'd keep the Hunqapillar. You will have so much fun pulling a trailer with it. Sam might be more versatile but it'll be easier to find and fund a Sam if you later regret selling yours. Or just store everything else at the homes of friends and relatives. :)

Btw, what are the other two bikes?

[Philip Kim]

throwing another option out there sell all and get....an appaloosa?

i've had the hunq, chev, and sam. none of them hit the spot for me, so i ordered a custom, but then got intrigued by the appaloosa. so i got an appaloosa for a brief moment and that thing rules. with bosco bars it felt like a quick cruiser, i'm sure with a dirt drop stem and drop bars it would be capable as a road bike. also can fit about 2.2 knobbies and ride some trails.

unfortunately, i was kind of in the same boat as you. studio apartment didn't really afford me space, and saving funds to make some non-bike related purchases to take next steps in my life. once that is over and done with, and i move into a place with more than 300 square feet, i would love to buy an appaloosa again.

[RichS]

Hi Drew. Best wishes on your planned for growing family. If possible, keep both the Sam and the Hunq and your bicycle needs will likely be met for years to come. In my experience, your riding may diminish a bit for awhile but YMMV depending on your family situation. I don't think the single bike option of having an Atlantis would give you anything a Sam or Hunq by itself would provide - especially since you're not doing the hoped for dirt riding.

Best of luck!

Richard

On Monday, May 29, 2017 at 9:55:17 PM UTC-4, drew wrote:

[David Banzer]

I had my first kid nearly a couple years ago, and the second is due shortly. My biking priorities and types of rides changed drastically with an infant. I think the Hunq would be great as a kid hauler/city-commuter.
If you're going to do road rides, I'd suggest keeping the Hunq, sell everything else, and maybe consider a more road-specific frame like the Black Mountain Road.
If you had to only have one bike though, I do think a 650b Atlantis would be the most versatile.
All that said, Option #3 - keep all until shit hits the fan - is what I typically do when it comes to need to sell bike-related stuff.
David
contemplating front & rear child seats on a Clem in River Grove, IL

[Patrick Moore]

My response, learned late after many other responses, would be  to sell any that you are dissatisfied with but keep any that you really like, even if you haven't used them much recently. IME, as soon as you sell something you like, you'll find that you really, really did want it and will go out and get another one like it and spend more money than you made selling the one sold. OTOH, if you keep something you really don't care fore, you'll later if not sooner sell it anyway,  and probably replace it, too.

As to 1 keeper or more than one, if you've already acquired 4 bikes, I suspect your riding needs would not be well satisfied with just one.

Tastes and wants change. I've been through enough bikes in my life that I now know what I want and what I don't, and my wants are 95% satisfied with my present 4, but even I have 1 more that I'd like to get.

Storage would seem to be your biggest problem, but you can store many bikes in surprisingly small spaces. My next door neighbor has one of those small-house (we're a neighborhood largely of duplexes; nice duplexes in a bosque infill) 2 compact car garages; he's got stuff stored at front and west side; and he manages to store 7 bikes (at last count; he may have bought another one since I last counted) including a partially disassembled whatchamacallit, one of those bolt on long tail cargo bikes, while still storing a VW hatchback and a small Lexus. I hang 4 bikes vertically from my east wall and have shelving and hanging tools and big plastic waste and recycling bins on the westside, and in the past I've squeezed 2 cars (old Taurus and even older Voyager) into the garage, though it was like threading a fine needle.

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[Patrick Moore]

Keith: how do you like the Colossal Ti? What sort of riding do you do with it -- is it pavement only?

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[Deacon Patrick]

How much would a set of the Snoqualmie Pass ELs mitigate the challenge of overcoming the acceleration inertia of a larger tire? Or convert the Hunqa to 650b and put the Switchback Hills on there? The frame isn't the issue, the wheel/tire size weight is the issue. Several ways to mitigate that and have the Hunq, which will give you many more long term options over your cycling need life.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Surlyprof]

I'm with Justin on the two wheelset solution.  I have that with my Hillborne and it provides a lot more versatility.  Lighter weight 32 hole Synergies with Barlow Pass ELs for the road and 36 hole A719s with 45 Smart Sams for trails.  If I was in your situation, I'd probably keep the Hunq.  As much as I love a big descent on the Sam in road mode, a Hunq would provide better mixed terrain capabilities (although I have ridden big trails on the Hillborne, it's not ideal).  You may want to get a set of CX-50 brakes for quicker wheel change out and something like this (designed by one of my past students) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/409839826/offset-bicycle-wheel-storage  I can relate to the reduced space for bike storage.  It can become a tough issue requiring some creative solutions.

As for 650b, I agree with you.  I've tried the 650b Homer, Clem and Hunq at Riv and think it is the perfect size wheel for my size (5'10").  I've always thought 700 was unwieldy on trails but 26" were too small.  I think 650b would be perfect without losing much on the road.  The problems with converting is it would require moving the canti posts and a repaint and it lowers your bottom bracket (pedal strike).  I talked to Will and Roman about this for the Hillborne.  At that point, buying new becomes more appealing but wipes out any gains from your sell off.  Maybe keep the Hunq, buy a second set of lighter wheels and get the 650b later?

Tough decisions but at least it's for a great reason.  Congratulations and good luck.

John

On Monday, May 29, 2017 at 6:55:17 PM UTC-7, drew wrote:

[Kieran J]

Congrats on your burgeoning family, Drew. I don't have any kids so I don't have first-hand experience with that journey but I DO know that I like having a quick bike in addition to my commuter-type one. 

I might echo David's thought on keeping the Hunq and keeping/adding a fasty bike? Even a cheap old Trek or some such might be a nice thing to have around. Even if you're strapped for time with a baby, a 15-minute toot to get some air might be nice. Dunno what vintage bikes you already have that you don't care about keeping - so maybe it's a moot point anyways. 

KJ

[Orc]

On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 8:14:18 AM UTC-7, Surlyprof wrote:

 The problems with converting [to 650b] is it would require moving the canti posts and a repaint and it lowers your bottom bracket (pedal strike).

Yes and no.  I converted my Trek 1000 to 650b a few years ago and have ridden it almost exclusively (I there was a week after a sidewall tear when I had to use a H*tr* until the next shipment of Confreries arrived from xxcycle) with 32 & 25mm tires -- maybe 5000 miles? -- and I think I've maybe had two pedal strikes.    If the plan is to embrace your inner fatbike, what the ERD took away will be given back by the tire diameter.

And moving the canti posts is just a hour or so with hacksaw, file, torch, and a new pair of posts because hacksawing the old posts off destroys them (or you could pay a framebuilder to stick the new posts on instead.)

-david parsons

[Pondero]

I also like Justin's extra wheelset idea.  Brilliant!  The Hunq is versatile, so why not take full advantage of it?  Sure, it is easier to grab a different bike for a purpose, but changing out wheels is a relatively simple task.  I'm convinced I could (if forced) to get down to a single bike, but I'd probably beg for at least one extra wheelset.

Chris Johnson

Sanger, Texas

[Justin August]

Chris-

Which Bantam built machine would you choose? Rambler or Adventure bike?

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[Eric Karnes]

I'm actually in the process of pairing down to one bike at the moment due to space constraints. I live in the city and don't do any significant rugged trail riding, so a rig very much like Chris's Rambler is perfect for all my riding. But if I rode more rough stuff, the Hunq with two wheelsets would be on my shortlist.

Eric

[drew]

All good advice. While i had considered a set of different tires, a totally different wheelset+tires seems like it would do more to access the bike's versatility in a convenient way. and then i'd have an excuse to experiment with compass tires... interesting. 

In reality, the sam may be better suited to my actual needs, but i love the hunq more, and i find that touring with a bike leaves me deeply sentimental about our relationship and time together, even if it isnt the most practical in non-touring times. Selling it, i fear, would be almost immediately regrettable. 

ill try to answer some of the questions.

-my roady friends aren't super roady, but a few have invested in nice carbon or titanium bikes. when we ride, it isnt for speed or time, but i have felt like im slowing them down. 

-i also have a 1985 trek 870, and a miyata mixte.... also a 91 stumpjumper frame. none of them are essential or get ridden very much.

[Justin August]

Drew-

While I tend to advocate for not buying new things, making what you have work, etc…

You could also:

Sell everything.

Buy a new 650b Atlantis

2 wheel sets:

1) 36hole Atlas Rims with 650b x 2.1 tires

2) 32hole Pacenti brevet rims with 650b x 42/48 tires (Compass EL)

Then you get a new bike, new wheels and the versatility that you desire. 

-J

[Brewster Fong]

I don't understand having only one bike, especially if you commute, tour or just ride a lot. I guess if a person is on top of maintenance and things don't break, it should work. However, I found that one bike, even with several wheelsets isn't enough. I have had things break when I'm ready to go out and didn't have time to look at my bike the night before. Unless space is an issue, having a second bike provides security by having a backup and also some versatility as you can even have more than one type - a commuter/tourer/all arounder type bike for everyday use and maybe a weekend bike for go-fast rides or off-roading. 

As a roady, my bikes then to lean towards the "go-fast" route and weigh between 15 to 19lbs. However, being the "fat guy" in the group, it really doesn't matter how light my bikes are as the engine is still weak. But I'm working on it.

Otherwise, if you really can't have more than one bike, I agree that two or more wheelsets is the way to go!

Good Luck!

[Surlyprof]

The CX-50s, or any brake that clears the forks and chainstays completely, will help a lot with wheel change out.  I've got older Tektros and have to deflate the fatter tires every time I swap wheels (which I do pretty often).   I'll definitely get some when I feel more financially flush and wear out my last pair of replacement brake shoes.

John

On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:45:25 AM UTC-7, drew wrote:

[Orc]

If space is more important than money, strip the Hunq down to the frame and tuck it into the corner (or hang it in the closet, or on a wall) for later when you've got more time, space, and mental energy) and then look at the other 3 bicycles for weeding down to one.

The 650b do-it-all is not a completely ridiculous idea.  A comfy frame with room for 2" tires -- as long as it doesn't have an insanely low bottom bracket -- will also let you put narrow tires onto the thing and play discount roadie.    (A machine with 650x25b tires is visually indistinguishable from a 700x25c machine until you either get up close or have it alongside the 700c machine.)   If you used tandem-style quick-disconnects for your brake cables (and shifter cables if you're using bar-end shiftters) you could even have a mustache (or flat) bar, a set of cruiser bars, or even drop bars that you could flip in and out with almost as little effort as it would take to pop one wheelset and put in another.

-david parsons

On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:45:25 AM UTC-7, drew wrote:

[Patrick Moore]

Brewster: If you care to post photos and brief descriptions of your bikes, I'd be interested in looking at them.

I used to have 1 bike with 3 wheelsets: 50 mm off road, 32 mm commuting, and 22 mm gofast, all with the appropriate cassettes. Sure, it all worked, but I was still limited by one bike: a bike that is optimized for dirt isn't optimized for road, and vice versa, and a bike optimized for commuting is not optimized for dirt bashing or gofast riding (Jan will disagree, but I disagree with him, and the long-term existence of mountain bikes and racing bikes backs this up). I finally decided that I needed a road bike, and got one (that was the 1992 XO-1, set up as a gofast).

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[Patrick Moore]

Visually, but certainly not in serviceability! Your 650B wheels will leave your bb 3/4" closer to the floor. Much more to the point would be 650B X 42s which are about the same diameter of 700C X 25s.

Also, a bike designed to handle well with 42 or 50 mm tires won't handle as well with 25s, at least that is my experience with roadified mountain bikes that handle well with 50s and lousily with 25s.

[Ray Varella]

One other thing to consider and it may have already been mentioned.
If you go with two sets of wheels, consider having the width of the rims very close or the same as each other.
If you have to completely readjust your brakes every time you make a wheel swap, you won't be as likely to get all the added utility that "one" bike was intended to offer.

Ray

[Orc]

On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 11:28:18 AM UTC-7, Patrick Moore wrote:

Visually, but certainly not in serviceability! Your 650B wheels will leave your bb 3/4" closer to the floor. Much more to the point would be 650B X 42s which are about the same diameter of 700C X 25s.

    Yes.   So don't try to shred the gnar with the 25s;  for that, pop in your wheelset with 2" tires.

 

Also, a bike designed to handle well with 42 or 50 mm tires won't handle as well with 25s, at least that is my experience with roadified mountain bikes that handle well with 50s and lousily with 25s.

    How do you mean lousily?   The only difference I've noticed with larger (fsvo "larger" -- my idea of fat tires are the 38mm Pari-Motos on my sweet fixie and mountainhack) tires are that they spin up slower and don't get bounced around as much on loose gravel.  But at speed on pavement I'd find it hard to pick any handling differences that don't point back at the length of the front triangle instead of the shape of the contact patches.

   -david parsons

[Bill Lindsay]

Drew offered a multiple-choice scenario, based on various motivations and constraints, and asked 'what would you do?'

Of the choices given, my honest most-likely choice would be:

-realize that the one bike hypothesis is not practical and ignore all problems in your life.

Assuming that's not what you are going to do, I will add that I think the 650B Atlantis would/will be a great bike.  

BL in EC

[Wayne Naha]

Congrats on your upcoming bundle of joy!  It's the start of everything.  But back to bikes, I'd sell two of them right off just for the sake of domestic tranquility, the two vintage bikes.  Buy a nice crib and dresser with the proceeds.  If you don't really need to sell, but just have no place to put the bikes, perhaps you could improvise some outdoor storage?  It doesn't have to fancy, just enough to keep the weather off, and keep them secured.  If not, I think you are headed towards the 'one bike solution.'  In my experience, nothing got my dear wife as ready to blow her top as barking her shins (again) on some MKS Touring pedals.  Also, the bike as an 'objet d'art' in the living room didn't fly in my house.  Small house + no alternative storage = one bike, at least for me.  Now which bike should you pick?  Tough choice.  Clearly it's either the Hunq, or the 650b Atlantis, and you can't really make a bad choice here.  650b Atlantis, though. NIce.
 

[Jonathan D.]

Orc,

Do you have any pictures of the tandem style cabling? I would be curious how that works to easily swap handle bars.

I like the two wheel solution but to Patrick's point you are probably not going with a 23mm and 50 mm option. Maybe 40mm and 50mm? I would say with a new born you run out of time to fiddle with a bike setup. I would say keep the Hung for now and keep your eye out for a 650b Atlantis if a deal
Comes up. You are in a position to be patient.

[Jonathan D.]

I would add that I think the Appaloosa would be a great solution as well for one bike and the long chain stays have been nice with a bike seat.

[drew]

i think that, in all foreseeable likelihood, i wont be running a tire under 40mm... especially on the hunq. right now it has 700x2.25 tires and feels somewhat monstrous on the 54cm frame. the vintage trek has 26x2.2 tires and it feels almost too nimble. so the idea of splitting that difference with 650b is appealing. 

if sticking with the hunq, it would probably be a snoqualmie pass situation for city and something 2.1ish and tougher for tour and trail. i think i could use a similar rim width for both those. 

Aesthetically, 29er wheels on a smallish frame sort of bugs my eye too. 

[REC]

I'm not that knowledgeable about bikes in particular, but the hung is your "favorite"  and it's obvious from your follow up replies that  it brings you so much joy.  I wouldn't sell anything that brings that much happiness.  After that, you can decide if the Sam (no more monetary layout) or the Atlantis or another bike would be a good 2nd. 

I have one of those wall leaning bike racks, so I can store two bikes in the space of one in a narrow breezeway.  Both are available any time I want to ride AND I get an upper body workout putting a bike on the top tier.  :)

When I was selling, I'd say "buy what you love."  In this case, I say "keep what you love."  It will cost you less in the long run AND make you happier AND with some creative storage solutions, give you space.

Congratulations on the new baby.

Roberta

On Monday, May 29, 2017 at 9:55:17 PM UTC-4, drew wrote:

[Garth]

Drew, I ride my Bombadil pretty much 99 percent on road as I simply don't have any bike trails around my home, just mostly brutal not frequently used atv paths. I prefer road riding anyways, it's not so jarring(usually !). I also have nice custom sport touring bike with 35mm tires that rides smoother(thx Reynolds 531ST), but it is not any "faster" than my Bomba with the 38-42mm tires I ride with. It would not matter even if was percieved as "faster" since I ride slow and slower anyways. If I had to have one bike I would keep the Bombadil simply because I feel so darn "united" within it, for lack of a better way to put it. I am perfectly "centered" within the bike, unlike most any bike I have ever owned or ridden where the front-center was never long enough, the head tube high enough, and bb height low enough.

I never was very much into keeping with the Jonses anyways even when I could, ahahahaha ! Riding to me is very much just like surfing, no one to keep up with and nothing to overcome, just being in the flow of the moment.

[Pondero]

Justin asked..."Which Bantam built machine would you choose? Rambler or Adventure bike?"

Fortunately, my Rambler is pre-Bantam, so I think that means I am exempt from answering such as ridiculously difficult question, right?  Besides, this thread is for Drew's dilemma.  It is much easier to coach than to do.

Go, Drew!

Chris Johnson

Sanger, Texas

[Patrick Moore]

50 mm tires versus 1" tires, actual width 22-24 mm depending on rim; both on NORBA era mountain bike with drop bar. The bikes I have in mind were notable for their very neutral -- very sweet -- handing with 2" tires, but put on a 26 X 1" tire and the handling was neither stable in a straight line, nor even in a turn; lousy. That's why I went back to a road bike, even if my road bike as a roadified '92 XO-1. 

Even with 35 mm Fatboys the handling on these bikes -- '90 SJ Comp, '91 SJ Team, '89 or '88 Bikeology higher end mtb; possibly used narrower (35 mm) tires on the early '90s DB Axis Team -- was less stable and turned in less evenly. This with at least 4 bikes so converted, perhaps 5 -- can't remember if I ran anything but 60s on the last one, but I do recall being struck by how well it handled compared to other setups with 60 mm Big Apples.

Even my early '95 Riv Road custom was somewhat twitchy with 26 X 1s and handled best with (26") 1.25 Paselas (this was pre-Elk Pass or Kojak) (the later ones handled exquisitely with 23s and with 35s).

Perhaps the change is due to front centers or contact patches; who knows. The point is that swapping tires does not always come without penalties.

And a 3/4" drop in bb height can be problematical if you start with a 10 1/2" bb; less so if you start with a 11 1/2" or 12" bb. Even a 10 1/2" high bb leaves you prone to pedal strike if you don't coast in corners and with very narrow Q (130, 170 mm length) and low profile pedals (RX-1s Keos, X-2s), as I know from experience.

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[drew]

Oh man. You have a rambler and an adventure bike? Why would anyone need another bike?

[Patrick Moore]

There are certainly other reasons than the Joneses to have more than 1 bike!

Drew: If you put a gun to my head and told me, "Choose just one," and if you weren't going to use fat tires, why not the Sam? Though an Atlantis would be Riv model #2 on my list, after the Roadeo, if I had a Riv list.

On Tue, May 30, 2017 at 6:05 PM, Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:

I never was very much into keeping with the Jonses anyways even when I could, ahahahaha ! Riding to me is very much just like surfing, no one to keep up with and nothing to overcome, just being in the flow of the moment.

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[Ian A]

I would say keep the Hunq and at least one of the other three (a back-up commuter is an essential for me). You could always have the canti mounts moved on the Hunq to the 650b position, questions of BB clearance, but that's often solved by running a wider tire. I have a frame and fork with the frame builder right now going through 650b to 26" canti surgery. It's a small investment to customize a bike to fit your personal needs entirely.  The paint trauma is localized and can be touched up tastefully. 

One normally loses money selling a bicycle and a new bike, although a worthwhile investment, often adds up in price, not to mention the time it takes to compile the parts and build everything together.

IanA (Desperately trying to organize a three bike maximum, but somehow always ending up at four).

[Patrick Moore]

NEVER mind. I see you said "under 40" and not "over 40".

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwixk9GC8ZjUAhXKwVQKHaZFAnkQ3ywIKTAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DV3FnpaWQJO0&usg=AFQjCNHPlGQEyIRumeF2Nfwx1-9qlur4eA&sig2=BkqcKK7ATbUoV_ECglT9Sg

[Pondero]

Drew said..."Oh man. You have a rambler and an adventure bike? Why would anyone need another bike?"

To answer his question, and sort of aim back at the original one bike idea, let me say that I don't need another bike...but I also have a Quickbeam. Any one of my bikes could be a "one bike" for me (not that I am seeking that currently). I enjoy each of them that much. So my advice on the downsizing thing is to keep one that speaks to your soul, and accessorize to broaden the experience. Keep the stoke alive until it comes time to n + 1.

Chris Johnson
Sanger, Texas

[Orc]

On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 2:53:20 PM UTC-7, Jonathan D. wrote:

Orc,

Do you have any pictures of the tandem style cabling?  I would be curious how that works to easily swap handle bars.

No pictures, but S&S sells them @ http://www.sandsmachine.com/ac_cable.htm

-david parsons

[William deRosset]

Dear Drew,

It really depends on how you use your bikes.

For example, if you own no car (or lack access to it during the week), commute farther than easy walk/run distance, and do not have good access to transit, then having two machines that at least overlap in this vital function is a very good idea.

If you are not riding a bike, and you do not have space for it (wax+apartment decoration? Consider the possibilities of all that wall space...), and you have no real emotional attachment to it, then sell it. If it later turns out you Needed That Bike, then you have your lost treasure. It is good to have one or more that get away.

The One Bike solution works well enough if you can find one that is good enough at everything you do on a bike. Most enthusiasts (and I tried hard to settle on one for years) end up with at least two, especially if they both do practical stuff and ride in pacelines.

Best Regards,

Will
William M deRosset
Fort Collins CO

[René Sterental]

I can't really add anything meaningful regarding which bike to keep/get. My personal preference is 100% Atlantis over Hunqapillar, but I'm not you. 

What I would recommend is for you to ask yourself. "What will I regret the most?

Selling the Hunqapillar to get the Atlantis or keeping the Hunqapillar?

The answer will probably become obvious to you fairly quickly. It's not about what you want most or reasons for wanting it, but what you will regret the most in the future. 

René 

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[LeahFoy]

Everybody stop talking. I know exactly what needs to be done here.

1. Keep the Hunq which is your TBBITW (The Best Bike in the World).

2. Buy one of these: http://www.tagabikes.com. You know, under the guise of a gift to the new baby, and all.

You're welcome. My work here is done.
Leah

[christian poppell]

I believe Jobst Brandt had only one bike and he went everywhere! I think you can satisfy want and need all in one shot. You want an Atlantis and at that point you only need one bike! Done!

Optimization is the enemy of opportunity. I've had more fun using the "wrong" bike than using what would be considered the "right" bike. I think a 650b atlantis in your size with the right tires would get you a lot of places. Heck! You don't even really need knobbies unless its super muddy. I would sell all and get some 42c slicks and ride them till they're worn through. Go for the Atlantis!

[Ian A]

One bike + a home workshop.

[Eric Douglas]

I just want to second the idea of getting two sets of wheel for that one bike and to make sure that the rims have the same width--will make wheel changes much easier.

[drew]

Eric, your point is acknowledged and agreed with.

[Surlyprof]

Drew, 

How tall are your ceilings?  http://www.businessinsider.com/stowaway-bike-storage-system-2015-12

John

[Brian Campbell]

Sell everything but the Sam and buy northing else. Chances are you will be just fine, since the Sam can do all of the riding and eventual kid hauling (Congratulations!) that you will likely do. Set it up with new bars/saddle/rack if you need to.

I have 2 bikes my AHH and a 1989 Trek 950 mountain bike. I have divested myself of bikes in the double digit number range and I love the simplicity of it. If it is not single track riding, AHH. If I am riding trails, Trek.

Swapping wheels, while not complicated is an added complication. When little ones arrive, your "free time" tends to get taken up pretty quickly, completely and often times, unexpectedly. Anything that adds an additional layer of management makes it more complicated than it has to be. It is just one more possible impediment to actually riding when your time is not your own anymore.

[drew]

that ceiling thing actually looks kinda promising. there is a subtext of unspoken wife expectation that im either feeling or imagining, and actually, i think Leah's bike suggestion would do a lot to assuage them. 

i do agree that the sam would probably be a totally adequate 1 bike. The problem is that i like the hunq much better. Now my weird mind is actually thinking about a 56cm 650b hunq. i need to stop. 

[Orc]

Then keep the hunq and purge everything else. What's the BB drop on the thing?

-david parsons

[Brewster Fong]

I don't understand this statement -  "Swapping wheels, while not complicated is an added complication."  So you're recommending this guy "sell everything" and just ride. I get that. But then what happens if he breaks a spoke or something happens to his wheels?!  Shouldn't a spare/backup/extra set of wheels be available?!  Otherwise, if something happens to his one pair, he's out and can't ride at all?! 

Further, I don't know the OP nor do I know his mechanical abilities, but swapping wheels is not complicated nor does it add any kind of complication. After all, he has to take off and put on a wheel if he gets a flat?! As a single parent having to raise two girls, by myself since they were 6 and 8, there were times I couldn't get to the bike. Having a backup set of wheels or 3 ;)  was very helpful when I did find time to ride and found a broken spoke. Of course, YMMV!  Good Luck!

[Bob K.]

This is always an interesting thought experiment, if nothing else. I've decided that n=2 for me: a Sam (with 42 Soma Shikoros) and a Surly Troll (with 3" WTB Rangers). I'm going to roll with this combination for the foreseeable future--maybe even take DP's advice and do three years--that seems like the minimum amount of time one would need to practice contentment. As an interesting connection, my stable "ballooned" from one to two bikes after my daughter was born. She's 2.5 now, and the Sam has proven to be capable as a kid hauler, but I'm happy to add the Troll to take over that role.

That said, in your situation, with your bikes, I'd sell what I have and buy the Atlantis and two wheelsets. As the father of a 2.5 year old, I don't think that swapping wheels is that big of a deal. If you've got cantis or v-brakes (or any other brakes) it's a super simple process and while it might add a few minutes to you getting out of the house, if that amount of time is going to affect whether or not you can go for a ride, you probably shouldn't be going in the first place. Also, it's not like you can't commute on big nobbies--or ride trails on slicks--if the three minutes to swap wheels is really going to make or break your ride. 

So yeah, I'd say get the Atlantis. I would've bought one back in 2009 when I bought my Sam if I could've afforded it, and even though my two-bike stable more than takes care of everything that an Atlantis can do (and more), I still covet one. 

Good luck!

Bob K. in Baltimore

[Lee Legrand]

I think using what you have and adding what is needed or used is all we should have.  The accumulations of bicycles is nice but you cant just ride them all, all the time and justification for having them lessen the reason to have them.  I read or heard that the late comedian Robin Williams had many bicycles because he loved how each of them ride but if he were alive, I doubt he could have ridden all of them to justify having so many.  So many options to pick from bicycles that ride well and give enjoyment but at the same time, do we need that many bicycle?

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[Tony DeFilippo]

I love the idea of multiple wheelsets and executed it for my wife's 52cm Clementine. I've got two nearly identical velocity synergy/shimano w/ dyno wheelsets one with Fatty Rumpkins and one with Nobby Nics.  Now the hassle I've found is not the actual swap b/c the brake offset is identical but it's in the fender/lighting situation.  In order for two wheelsets to really offer different riding experiences generally one of the two won't support fender installs.

On my Saluki I've got one wheelset right now and my dyno lights (Rear) and rack (front) are all integrated into my fender install.  It would be a 45min disassembly and possibly longer reassembly to swap out and in the fenders and when I was fenderless I'd loose my rear lighting and have to install a wiring disconnect of some sort.  I guess I could redesign my lighting integration to make it quicker to disconnect.

On my wife's Clem once I first swapped out the rumpkins for knobby I've never reinstalled the fenders... it's been about 3 months.  Maybe I'm unusually lazy.  Anyone of you multi wheelset advocates have a good system for going from slick/fender/dyno light to knobby?  I'd love to have 42mm BSP EL and BG RnR wheelset's to swap for my Saluki...

Tony

[drew]

i can change wheels. And now with paul motolites, i don't even need to deflate. 

[drew]

im no dynamo expert, but, could you put one of those quick connector things near the light and a connector near the hub and swap in the middle section, be it the fendered wire or just regular wire?

[EasyRider]

FWIW, I live in a very small house, have a young kid, and built an 8x10 shed to avoid the problem discussed here. I don't know if that's an option for you, but my shed easily holds my four bikes and a sizable workbench with repair stand. Plus the rest of the junk of modern life. Dunno if that's an option for you but throwing it out there.

[Daniel Jackson]

Run your Hunq with large Schwalbe slicks (e.g. Big Ones or the latest version of this tire) and you'll never notice a difference between it and a 650b Atlantis. Really. You know your Hunq fits and you love it.  

[Geeter]

I have three small ones and "some" bikes.  I love my Hunq and will likely not ever get rid of it.  My suggestion is to keep the Hunq, and buy a cool kid carrier.  I have a Workcycles Bakfiets and in all honesty, it often gets the most road time of all my bikes.  I get to be out with my boys, take them places, run errands, and get a legit workout.  It is heavy, but it makes you a better rider, allows you to enjoy your other bikes in a different way, and gives you time with the kids that you can't spend with them in a trailer or even a rear mounted seat.  Yeah, its expensive, but so are most worthwhile things in cycling.  Rivs ain't cheap and we all agree they are worth it.

[Philip Kim]

banana connectors?

[Orc]

On Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 11:32:26 AM UTC-7, Tony DeFilippo wrote:

 Anyone of you multi wheelset advocates have a good system for going from slick/fender/dyno light to knobby

All of my wheelsets have dynohubs, so in my case it's just a matter of popping one wheelset out and dropping another in.   But my tires range from 25-38, so it's just a matter of setting up the fenders to clear the largest tires and not minding the gap when I stuff a tiny-tired wheelset under the bike.

-david parsons 

[Max S]

So, Drew, what did you end up doing?..

[drew]

Sam was sold and the Hunq is going to get packed up and shipped out this week.  My bike right now is an 84 specialized expedition, but i have a 650b atlantis (in hunq green on order) and ill sell the expedition once it comes. Then i'll be down to one bike, other than one that lives in another city. gonna see if i can keep it that way for a while. 

[Max S]

Congrats on resolving the dilemma!.. and the resolve to carry through!

(As I lay convalescing, suddenly I feel old and infirm. If / when I ride again, I wonder if just getting a Clem L is gonna be my ticket. Just make life easier. I don’t need to go fast or look like I could go fast, I just need a comfy bike to stick to the dirt roads...)

[Max S]

Drew, how is the 650b Atlantis working out?..

- Max “maybe 27.5x2.2 is fat enough, and who needs a MTB?” in A2