a bike to do all YOU want?

The thing is, this is about fun and getting out. It’s not about most efficient or appropriate tool for the job.

Exactly. I am a one bike person and most importantly have the mentality to suit having one bike, i.e. pick the type of bike I like to ride (very light at <7kg, no gears etc,.) and then ride that everywhere. It is probably not the best bike for the situation 80% of the time but I don’t care, I just love riding it.
However, if you don’t have the mentality for it then you won’t enjoy it and should have more than one bike.

Personally I don’t think swapping wheels is a good solution as the gear indexing, drive train wear and brake pad alignment will need constant adjustments.

Been doing this for 2-3 years between gravel wheels and road wheels on one bike with no issue. Same hubs and rotors helps.

Ton….be honest with yourself.. you’ve had them all over the years and just keep going round in circles as I suspect you ,like me you enjoy thinking about,researching and buying stuff as it gives us a buzz but never really satisfies in the long run. That’s the issue Imho .No new fancy name,frame material or gimmick is going to relieve the issue or not for long! I know you won’t take any notice but there’s a lot to be said for being satisfied with something that’s “good enough” and it’ll keep a lot of cash in your pocket.It’s an expensive addiction albeit less harmful than many.cheers
Bill

Bill
I think you are probably right mate. I just love bikes and riding em. and I still have a long list of bikes that I want to try.
but for the time being I am going to try and stick with one bike, the ecr. I ordered some schwalbe big apples earlier, for road based touring. so we will see how I get on.

Tony, can I ask why one bike ? for practical reasons (space to store them for example ?) or some kind of penance/weido thing 😉

this week so far I’ve ridden a straggler, a fargo, an ecr and a vaya, and pretty much all on the same trails, I enjoyed riding each one for its differences from the previous one, none of them are the perfect bike apart from when I’m riding them, then it’s the perfect bike for that day ….

It strikes me that you’ve ridden virtually every big blokes bike thats out there from the mainstream manufacturers and most from the not so main stream as well, the one thing I’ve never known you ride is a full custom build from someone who really knows their onions, maybe time to rectify that and put that question to bed ?

Steve, a few reasons i want to try and stick with one bike. i always feel like i am on the wrong bike, if i only have one i will just have to get on with it.
i also feel i have spent far too much money on bikes over the years. if i had spent the same amount on drugs or beer i would have been long dead.
i also can no longer be bothered with cleaning and keeping bikes running. one bike easier to keep going.
and as i said earlier, i feel that if i go with a custom bike, and i dont gel with it, the risk of selling it at a great loss may be the out come. for now i am comfy on the ecr. it is steady like me. i managed a 100 miler on it last year. i wont ever be riding any further than that i a day. it feels good offroad, and with a slick should be good for touring.

rhings may change, but hopefully they wont

I have a Marin Pine Mountain 2

https://www.biketart.com/uncategorised-c212/marin-pine-mountain-2-2018-p45733/s129773?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=marin-pine-mountain-2-27-5-2018-purple-19-quot-colour-purple-size-colour-purple-size-19-a-1426a-c1-19&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo4DS9PLh4AIVBLftCh1oEw6REAQYASABEgIVCPD_BwE

With two sets of wheels: 27.5+“ 2.8 tyres for mountain biking, 29” 2.4 tyres for zipping around fast. Makes a great bikepacking bike too.

I wouldn’t want to be without a full suspension bike though.