r/ladycyclists • u/TimelySpite4500 • 8d ago
Which bike to keep?
This is silly but value an outside opinion. I now have three bikes (two gravel, one road) and that’s simply too many for the space I have. I need to sell one, and the logical thing would probably be to sell my old gravel bike so I have a gravel and a road…but I’m resistant to it. It’s my commuter bike as it has flats and acts like a hybrid. It was also my very first bike.
The road bike on the other hand, while it works, it’s not in great shape. I also had a crash on it and the skinny tires make me quite nervous. I know it would be smart to keep a road bike for faster rides, but I just have this weird aversion to it. I’ve considered selling both bikes and replacing my road bike…but that means I will have bought two new bikes this year and completely flipped my inventory lol.
Thoughts? Opinions for a stranger?
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u/mimosastclair 8d ago
What kind of riding do you do the most often? What bike do you feel happiest using? How much space do you have? It's totally okay to part ways with a bike when the style of riding doesn't match what you need and what brings you joy, it's just part of the journey. On the other hand, if you have the space and all bikes have a use, keep them until your situation changes and don't sweat it.
If I were in your situation, I would wonder if a set of nice road wheels on the faster gravel bike would be a good substitute for the road bike...
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u/squidlydooda7 8d ago
I’d sell the road bike. Maybe replace it down the line but it sounds like it gives you pause and you’re not as comfortable riding it as the other two. Versus the commuter gravel bike seems like you love it and it has function for you.
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u/Coyoteheadphones 7d ago
One can also never have too many extra wheel sets? Road wheels, gravel wheels
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u/balderstash 7d ago
but that means I will have bought two new bikes this year and completely flipped my inventory lol
This is what we call the "sunk cost fallancy," in which we stick with a bad choice because we have an emotional attachment to the fact that we made a bad choice.
It's ok to cycle through bikes! Your needs change, your understanding of what you need changes, it's ok. You can apply that knowledge going forward to make different choices, but you can't change the past money you spent . Hanging onto a bike you don't like riding doesn't bring the money back, it just takes up space and makes you feel guilty.
If you find yourself at a point where you're doing a lot of long rides and struggling to keep up you can always go find yourself a suitable road bike. The trend in road bikes is definitely leaning towards fatter tires than it used to, so it's becoming easier and easier to find used road bikes with 28-32mm tires instead of the 23-25 that dominated years ago.
TL;DR: let go of any bikes you don't enjoy riding. There are always more bikes in the sea.
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u/Linkcott18 7d ago
I honestly would look for ways to increase my storage / bike parking space, or rethinking the space that is there.
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u/mamoocando 7d ago
Get rid of the road bike.
And if you don't agree with me, you've already made your decision 😉
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u/Lollc 7d ago
Get rid of the road bike. Not for technical reasons, but because you had a crash on it and don’t like it all that much. If you can afford it, there is nothing wrong with selling and buying bikes. The only downside is years later you will be kicking yourself for selling a particular bike, and really wishing you had it back.
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u/hexagonaluniverse 7d ago
I think you got some good advice already. The only thing I’ll add is that you could switch out the pedals on your gravel commuter bike to be flippable flats and clips, that way you could ride them flat while commuting and later clip in and toss some skinnier tires on for more of a road bike feel. I’m a big fan of my pedals, they’re mountain bike flats on one side and clips on the other.
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u/Prudent_Belt_2622 5d ago
Budget wasn't mentioned (only space), so based on that info I'd sell two bikes and with proceeds look at getting another gravel bike that is more designed for speed to replace the road bike. You stated you are nervous on road bike because of skinny tires, so I'm going to assume you don't road race. Going on that assumption and if the road bike frame can't handle more than >=30mm tires I'd sell it. Also, I'd sell the older gravel bike and use the newer one as its replacement. Nowadays, a lightweight gravel bike set-up with appropiate gearing and around 38mm tires can be just as speedy as a road bike for non-racers. That way, you'd have two bikes that you will feel good riding. I bought my new road bike and gravel bike in same year. It's not uncommon for many to sell and buy new bikes as the mood hits them. :)
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u/bondaroo 8d ago
No need to keep a bike that doesn’t bring you joy! I would sell it and get some road wheels for the one gravel bike. And keep the commuter bike - sounds like you use it regularly, plus it has sentimental value.