New Year's Goals and Resolutions

It's time to think about goals for 2017, including resolutions related to my bike collection. I think this is the year of back-to-basics.

1. Focus on maintenance, not acquisition: the idea here is quality and condition over quantity. I have plenty of bikes, probably too many. So the goal here is simple- focus on keeping what I already have clean, oiled, aired-up, and ready to ride. This should take up more time than finding, buying, and building new acquisitions. Ideally, I'd like to not buy any bicycles this year, and to spend my time appreciating what I have already.

2. Downsize, if possible: this is hard - to reduce the collection down to a core of riders that I really like, and sell off anything I am not riding. I do think I have graduated fully to riding utility-type bikes: 3,4 and 5-speed roadsters and light roadsters. I think I will sell my 1950 Columbia ballooner. I bought the bike quite a few years ago, but I rode it only a couple of times in 2016. The utility bikes are just that much better.

3. Consider building and selling parts: I have done well to reduce and focus my parts bins on just the stuff I need. I don't have a whole lot of extra stuff. What I do have that is extra, I'd like to build up into full components (e.g., wheel sets rather than having rims around) and either keep them or sell them.

4. Ride as much as humanly possible, given my schedule. This one is the most fun of the group, but you need to make the time to ride when you have the opportunity and good weather. Don't waste daylight or a nice day indoors... ever. Life is too short to be browsing the internet or watching YouTube when it's 75 degrees and sunny out.