It started in 2008 with a 20-year old mountain bike, a Peugeot if memory serves me right with a Biopace chainset, all the rage back in the early 90’s when it was last used.  

Within a couple of months this was to be replaced by a £40 Halfords special, parts missing, mountain bike – with the cost of the extra parts a total investment of around £80. This bike weighed a tonne but did have slick tyres and I added basic lights etc – it did the job for training but wasn’t going to be a long-term solution. 

Within six months I was on to my second purchase, third bike, a Carrera Virtuosa, again from Halfords for the princely sum of around £150 – I was getting the hang of this bargain hunting. This was the bike that I continued all my training and racing for the next couple of years, I probably racked up over 10,000 miles within three years in total. It was basic it was a 9speed cassette, giving me 18 gears in total – perfect beginners bike for triathlon. The feeling you get when you are on a cheap bike flying past bikes costing ££££ is priceless. This bike got me through my first half Iron distance race and Full Iron race. (You can do it on any bike)

The thoughts of “Free speed” soon came into my head – first it was getting lighter parts, more aerodynamic, then my thoughts turned to TT bikes …. At this point I decided that the best course of action would be Aero bars on the road bike, just to see if I was comfortable in the aero position – I purchased some second-hand flip down ones from Ebay – from the first moment they were on I loved it – the difference was immediately measurable – my next bike would be a TT bike. 

So after months of scouring the internet I found a bargain on Ebay, brand new Merida Warp, clad with Ultegra for less than half its original RRP of £1,700 – note this was back in around 2011, I paid around £750 – I remember going to collect the bike, it was snowing and the roads were not great, I had to travel around 75 mins each way, traffic was bad and I had sneaked off from work early to do it – I had to make sure I was back home before the misses arrived home so I could hide my purchase in the garage…. I hadn’t exactly told her I was buying a new bike. That was bike number four.

Bike number five was soon to arrive, in the following summer – the Virtuosa was showing signs of wear and neglect so I decided to dedicate it as a winter bike and purchase another summer training bike – a friend of a friend was selling a Carrera TDF in bright yellow – I decided that would be my summer training bike … 

Bike number six, it was time to spend a little more on a summer bike, my only option was cycle to work scheme – I decided to purchase a Willier Treistina 00 – It wasn’t fully carbon fibre but did have carbon forks and stays – This opened my eyes to what a bike should be – I love this bike, black and red and clad with Campagnolo components, beautiful.   

Bike number seven was another heavily discounted Carrera, this was a single speed workhorse, it was to be my bike to cycle to work on – I think the cost was around £150 – Riding fixed gear is a joy, it connects you more with the bike, just watch out when you come to junctions, I had several “incidents”, including smacking my knee on the bell leaving a huge bleeding hole. 

Bike number eight was an impulse purchase while at an overseas event – another bargain at less than half the retail price – Cervelo P2, Ultegra clad carbon TT bike, my first fully carbon bike and after many years of saying I would never buy a “popular mainstream” bike I had done just that. I couldn’t help myself, it was a bargain, it handled much better than my Merida – also it was shiny and new – 

Bike number nine, A second hand Ebay purchase, Dolan Pre Cursa Fixie – I had to travel around three hours each way to collect this one, but it was worth it – Can’t remember what I paid – I rode this on club rides and Saturday morning socials, it was much easier to ride and faster than my other fixed. 

I didn’t have much space left for bikes, so decided to have a clear out – The Carrera Virtuosa was first to go – up on Ebay it went and I received bids of over £80 – not bad considering I only paid £150 new and the bike had covered thousands of miles and was now several years old – The next bike to go was the Peugeot MTB – this went to the tip – later that year the Carrera TDF also went on Ebay – I received around £80 – another great workhorse gone but recouped some money. 

Bike number ten, another Cycle to Work Scheme bike, a replacement mountain bike, this one would hardly get any use, but is there for when needed. The idea was Sunday social cycles with pub stops or lunch stops, but this never really happened. 

Bike number eleven, A fully fledged racing bike in carbon fibre, my pride and joy – another bargain to boot, this time from Planet X, The Viner, clad with Ultegra – a great bike and a huge improvement on the Alloy Willier – This was the bike to train on in the summer – the Willier was relegated to Winter bike with the additions of mudguards et al. 

Bike number twelve, I needed another bike to cycle to work on, the Carrera was on its last legs, after much searching I decided on the Genesis Day One, this is a solid workhorse weighing in at around 17kg, It is an 8 speed, with mudguards and rack – I fitted front dynamo wheel and lights – its self sufficient riding, for cycling to work. I also use this in winter from time to time. 

OK so what’s next you say ….. well bike number thirteen is what it was, now more than a year old another Viner – I kind of like the way these ride, stiff and racy, yet smooth. This was purchased in case I wanted to compete in draft legal races or when my interest goes to towards cycle racing for fitness – my excuse for purchase, I didn’t want to ruin my other racing bike… 

In ten years I had owned thirteen different bikes, I think I have a problem or so I am told ….. A few of these have now gone but some still remain, at the height I had nine bikes at one point, I could justify each and every one of them, though over time I have had to whittle them down by a few – I believe you can own as many bikes as you want or need, the limitation lies on the space you have to store them, the cash you have tied up in them and the desire you have for a new bike.  Each bike has a purpose or so I tell myself so they are all justified.

It has been two years since my last bike purchase and for now I am content with my lot, this is not to say that in the coming months another new steed may enter the stable……