well until recently i was (true confessions) a one bike guy. so not as addicted as some. and now only with two, the whole-bike collection addiction is still not huge. but the addiction then manifests in a different way - parts....parts....parts..... i live and breathe for them.....for the nice mr postman to delivery the latest 'hot mod' on one or the other bike....the latest wear and tear-replacement part that of course is a 'must buy'....the constant scouring of ebay for oem and aftermarket parts to suit....the lying in bed at night pondering when to get this, to try that.
its not all aimed at making them the fastest bikes around, but just a plain and simple cargo cult addiction to shiny new things arriving at doorstep. i know now how those papua new guineans felt a hundred years ago when we lobbed up with shiny machetes and billies and buckles and the like......manna from heaven......literally.....and so.....want.....want.....want......
and of course the pure pleasure of looking forward to the weekend to slink off to garage for the magical 'installation ritual'. open the treasure chest that is the toolbox, stanley knife open the plastic packaging in which the treasured object comes lovingly encased, free it up for first look and feel......then gentle but determined insertion in the annointed place on the machine.
am i not wrong in perceiving some break in the clouds at the moment of last wrench turn, the sun's plentiful streaming in, background orchestra unleashing its joyful cacophony......you get the picture.
the addiction comes in all shapes and sizes.