Need manly advice...
Comments
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jonesy124 wrote:what are the main reasons for having a winter and a summer bike? (other than the obvious change in tires to cope with wet surfaces)???
Winter bikes usually have clearance for mudguards; the trade-off is a slightly longer wheelbase so they're not quite as nippy for racing, hence the shorter-wheelbase 'guard-less summer bike for competing on [1]. Mind you, SKS and others now make mudguards that do fit racing frames, though they don't give quite so much protection against the wet.
Also, winter bikes are often lower-geared and/or more likely to have a triple chainset to make life easier for knee joints etc. when slogging uphill in colder weather. Plus, winter club runs tend to be slower, more social affairs, so you don't usually need to be a speed merchant on those rides! One more thing - as McBain has said, they tend to have cheaper lower-end parts; that way you don't feel quite so bad about components suffering a winter of rain, muck and salt (depending on whether or not the council needs to grit the roads).
David
[1] It's not just an excuse to own an extra bike. Honest.
"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
The biggest factor in deciding whether you want a winter bike or not is whether you want to take the bike you've got out in rain/snow/slush and worsrt of all salt! Also, a lot of road bikes have very little clearance for mudguards, so you can either a) buy another bike with full mudguard capabilities, b) fit race blades (like mini mudguards) and have a dry backside but very soggy feet, or c) put up with a cold wet everything!
Also - if you're out and it's frosty/icey you have to accept the risk that you may come off and trash various sticky out bits of whatever you're riding at the timeHas the head wind picked up or the tail wind dropped off???0 -
Grrrr - need to type faster
Still, having two fingers strapped together after a cricket related incident is my excuse! Has the head wind picked up or the tail wind dropped off???0 -
McBain_v1 wrote:Agree, seems you pay a little more for fancy Italian styling versus Japanese functionality
Depends on the individual bits; looking at the price lists of Parker International and the like, some Campag groupset items are cheaper than their Shimano counterparts (e.g. Ergos cost less than the nearest equivalent STIs) - and vice versa, of course (e.g. chainsets).
David"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal0 -
The main reason is to stop using your precious summer racer in the nasty grimy winter roads you get in winter (I live in the Pennines). You don't feel quite so bad as the cheaper components start to suffer.
Mudguards are also an advantage.0 -
Owning a winter bike is also a great excuse to get a fixed wheel bike.
The justification is that with no gear mechanisms there's far less to get rotted by salty winter roads. Fixie chains last practically forever too.
Of course, the real reason is that all the cool kids are doing it John Stevenson0 -
If you want to go really fast and look really good, a packet of Bic Disposables should do you 0
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wotbus@ wrote:If you want to go really fast and look really good, a packet of Bic Disposables should do you
I personally use a Venus withe aloe gel, smooooooth 8)
So in the winter(as i am SKINT) should I get an old second hand road bike and put on some okish wheels?
I really cant afford another x hundred pounds on a bike.0 -
My winter bike is a MTB. For the period begin-Nov-mid March, I put the shiny bike away and get out the muddy one.0
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Come on jonesy, we want to know what you're going to spend this £150 on.
Oh, shoes again.... :roll:<hr>
<h6>What\'s the point of going out? We\'re just going to end up back here anyway</h6>0 -
I think you first have to decide "how serious is my sport/hobby".
Everyone raves about salted winter roads dissolving bikes within seconds.
If the roads are so bad they have to be salted you must question your sanity to take to two wheels under these conditions :shock:
Ordinary wet/cold winter weather is OK for any bike - it's just a bit more maintenance intensive. Riding in the wet without mudguards is the pits. It's possible to fit abbreviated versions to the rear of a road bike (clamps to seat stem), and a flat bit which clamps to the down tube. It doesn't look particularly good and would probably send all the posers rushing to the bathroom to shave their legs, but they keep most of the muck off and is better than nothing. The only other thing I would consider is perhaps wider tyres which are winter specific and of course winter clothing.
Are your existing wheels is a bad condition or have you fallen into the "must have for no real reason" trap?
It's a fact that wheels fitted to new bikes are often inferior to the rest of the equipment (just to keep cost down). If you are having problems with alignment etc, then consider replacing them, but other wise save your money for decent winter clothing.
You don't need a winter bike unless you commute daily to work etc.0 -
I'm with John - good excuse to get a fixed.
I also would support buying more groovy clothing. Nothing like a new bit of kit to make you feel good about yerself and get out riding. Depends what look you're after but perhaps a bit of Rapha or Assos or Gore glothing?
Personally, I've just lashed out £170 on a new Garmin Edge 305 GPS bike computer - cos I'm a bloke and I like thingswhich have buttons! Sadly, the delivery company has tried to deliver twice now but both times I've been delayed at work and unable to receive it. Can't tell you how frustrating it is. I want my gadget and I want it now!0 -
Right ok....
I think that I should buy some new wheels and fit my current tyres on the new wheels. I will then buy some wider tyres with more grip and fit them on my old wheels.
I am left with one set of smooth little tyres on a lovely set of wheels for summer riding, and a set of tougher tyres on my heavier wheels for the winter?
Along the way I will probably invest in some jazzy jerseys, a mud guard and some fake tan to keep my legs bronzed during the winter.0 -
I've got to use the fake tan, it's the only way I can lower my skin albedo to a point where it doesn't reflect sunlight :oops:
As for the wheel switching you are proposing, sounds a good interim measure. I'd love a Cyclo-Cross bike for use in winter, I just think they look the business with their knobbly 700c tyres - can't persuade myself to part with another £800 or so just yet though.
What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!0 -
wotbus@ wrote:I think you first have to decide "how serious is my sport/hobby".
Everyone raves about salted winter roads dissolving bikes within seconds.
If the roads are so bad they have to be salted you must question your sanity to take to two wheels under these conditions :shock:
Ordinary wet/cold winter weather is OK for any bike - it's just a bit more maintenance intensive. Riding in the wet without mudguards is the pits. It's possible to fit abbreviated versions to the rear of a road bike (clamps to seat stem), and a flat bit which clamps to the down tube. It doesn't look particularly good and would probably send all the posers rushing to the bathroom to shave their legs, but they keep most of the muck off and is better than nothing. The only other thing I would consider is perhaps wider tyres which are winter specific and of course winter clothing.
Are your existing wheels is a bad condition or have you fallen into the "must have for no real reason" trap?
It's a fact that wheels fitted to new bikes are often inferior to the rest of the equipment (just to keep cost down). If you are having problems with alignment etc, then consider replacing them, but other wise save your money for decent winter clothing.
You don't need a winter bike unless you commute daily to work etc.
Don't need a winter bike? Clearly you must live in a clement part of France.
Here in Huddersfield the roads are being gritted from November to April (if lucky), and if you value your summer bike, there's not a lot of choice...
Fixed is not an option either, I'd never be able to get back up to the house!0 -
What you can do is buy a crappy old 80's road bike for peanuts off somewhere like ebay and use that as your winter bike - the older bikes normally have mudguard clearance, you can slowly replace parts from your good bike as you upgrade them, and most of all you get to find out how bikes go together if you're new to cycling.
I ended up getting an old mountain bike for £40, and slowly replaced bits here and there. The result is I have a hard wearing winter bike with mudguards and panniers, along with 700c wheels and dropped handlbars - perfect for the winter months, leaving my Campag clad road bike needed only for sunny pleasant days Has the head wind picked up or the tail wind dropped off???0 -
I was thinnking about that - there is an old peugeot road bike in my local paper for £20. Could make it my little project.
I am a bit worried about buying another one at the moment as I may not have room to store it when I move in sept.0 -
I have that exact same worry! The landlord has our flat up for sale together with the shop below it, so there's a strong chance that whoever buys it might want to live above the shop they work in, problem is i've acquired 3 bikes......how the hell am i going to find a new place that i can fit 3 bikes in. They might have to live in my bedroom!
At the minute i'm really lucky that the cheap commute bike can live outside as there's a padlocked deivery area (which the flats entrance is from) behind the shops i live above but finding a new place is going to be a nightmare!
Perhap i should have thought about this before i bought them :roll: :oops:0 -
Don't do it!!!! just ride your good bike all year round. I've never seen the point in shelling out money for a decent bike and then only using it when the sun's out. What a waste!!0
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McBain_v1 wrote:I have a winter bike (Olmo Giro ChroMoly frame w/Shimano105 throughout, full mudguards); an Autumn bike (Reynolds 531c frame w/Shimano 600 throughout, no mudguards by 25mm tyres); a Summer bike (Enigma Esprit Titanium w/Shimano Dura-Ace throughout), and; a Spring bike (Reynolds 631 frame w/Shimano Ultegra throughout).
The main differences I find are that my Winter and Autumn bikes are comparably heavy beasts with lower spec components on. However, they both get the same level of care that all my other bikes do. It's just that the winter bike in particular is kitted out with permanenty affixed mudguards, lights and rain-tyres since these are the conditions it typically finds itself in.
The Summer / Spring bikes are lighter and more responsive and are there because by summer I am supposed to be edging towards peak physical fitness and should be able to get the most out of them!
Of course, it could just be that I like owning 5 bikes (my other one's a mountain bike)
4 bikes!! Is it seriously un-cool to only have 1 bike? I feel like a minority! Does anyone else here only have one bike? Am I the only one that doesn't feel embarresed using full mudguards in scortching sun? I guess I've never had disposable income yet to spunk away on a bike for every season. Have you got el nino/ la nina seasonal specials?
Surely a clean once a week is enough to keep a bike on the road in all conditions?0 -
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:oops: Regional colloquialisms I'm afraid! Apologies for any offence.0
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McBain_v1 wrote:I have a winter bike (Olmo Giro ChroMoly frame w/Shimano105 throughout, full mudguards); an Autumn bike (Reynolds 531c frame w/Shimano 600 throughout, no mudguards by 25mm tyres); a Summer bike (Enigma Esprit Titanium w/Shimano Dura-Ace throughout), and; a Spring bike (Reynolds 631 frame w/Shimano Ultegra throughout).
The main differences I find are that my Winter and Autumn bikes are comparably heavy beasts with lower spec components on. However, they both get the same level of care that all my other bikes do. It's just that the winter bike in particular is kitted out with permanenty affixed mudguards, lights and rain-tyres since these are the conditions it typically finds itself in.
The Summer / Spring bikes are lighter and more responsive and are there because by summer I am supposed to be edging towards peak physical fitness and should be able to get the most out of them!
Of course, it could just be that I like owning 5 bikes (my other one's a mountain bike)
The thing is, with the changeable weather in this country it can be like autumn or winter in April or July. Sometimes, when the sky is lead grey and the wind is blowing the rain sideways, only the condition of the trees – leaves, blossom or leafless – can remind you what month you're in.
I have more MTBs than road bikes, but that's partly because MTB technology has moved on faster than road bikes.0 -
Whilst I'm sure some idle rich people might spunk on their disposable income, I ain't one of 'em :x Anyway, the whole subject of spunking on bikes probably belongs on other less salubrious forums.
Nowt wrong with only owning one bike (especially if it's a Stork CD0.9 with Tune finishing kit from PoshBikes) - as long as you've got a ride. I just like bikes so I have more than 1. Prior to purchasing my Enigma all my bikes were 2nd hand. My Enigma is my pride-and-joy, but I'd never get rid of my other bikes, it's just too useful having a few to choose from - and of course there's heaps more bike fettling that you can do as well!
Erm, jonesey124, you do appear to be attracting rather a lot of odd posts - it must be that little picture of yours
What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!0 -
Erm - about the tyres.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned them yet, but my first upgrades would probably be tyres and brake blocks. I'm not sure what sort the bike came with but according to the blurb Conti Ultra sport, and probably xenon's own respectively.
£50 for a set of tyres that won't last terribly long may seem like a lot of money but I really think you will notice the difference for something smooth rolling, lighter and better handling. I'm thinking Maxxis Equipe Legere or older stylee but brilliant Veloflex Pave.
I would try them first and then see if you think the wheels need upgrading too!
There aren't many brake blocks that wouldn't be improved by swapping for Koolstops.
[A while back Jonesy was talking about keeping the old tyres on the new wheels for Summer use and Ii think you could do better].I\'m sure I had one of those here somewhere0 -
I go along with Hugh's advice about KoolStops - excellent brake blocks, got them throughout my stable of bikes
What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!0 -
jonesy124 wrote:Right ok....
I think that I should buy some new wheels and fit my current tyres on the new wheels. I will then buy some wider tyres with more grip and fit them on my old wheels.
I am left with one set of smooth little tyres on a lovely set of wheels for summer riding, and a set of tougher tyres on my heavier wheels for the winter?
Along the way I will probably invest in some jazzy jerseys, a mud guard and some fake tan to keep my legs bronzed during the winter.
Ah now you have to be careful with chain wear if you swap wheels on same bike
You chain might wear in on one then when you change them you may have to replace chain, but if you do not do high mileage you should be ok.
Personally I agree with Ste_ in that upgrade to £150 wheels will make no difference.
Cyclist a too fashion concious
I would love to test 100 riders on here, give them bikes to test ride and not tell them what the bikes are!!
If you told them campag record and carbon wheels they would say "great ride" tell them it was cheap gset and wheels the say "crap"
I bet half would not notice if you gave them same bike twice
personally I am rubbish at noticing.
recently I put bike in car and must have pushed the brake pivot because the brake pads were tight on rim.
I rode 40 miles club run, got dropped and thought it was a bad day Then when I put bike in car I noticed front wheel not turning !!!
Even worse, recenlty I was in Ital for a fondo and I removed chain for flight, then refitted hastily in Italy to go riding.
Somehow I threaded chain over the rear deraileur guid instead of over the jockey wheel !!I noticed a clicking and thought it was tension problem until I got back and saw chain on outside !!
Gues cycling wont ask me to review bikes
I have a 531 for turbo, 853 with 105 for winter and full carbon with dura ace for summer and racing but to be honest I cannot tell much difference between any of them
By the way are our roads good enough for £1000 carbon wheels? I do not know but going to get them on my new bike so will know soon 0 -
Winter bike for winter, summer bike for er summer, and TT bike...you guessed it!
A winter bike is usuallu a cheap thing that you fit mudguards and ride in crappy weather and dont mind getting dirty. Summer bike is the nice shiny latest carbominium with featherlight top of the range shimgnolo components. None of which makes you go that much faster, but looks nice I'd say save your £150 and spend it on Guinness, you'll get better VFM that wasting it on another set of cheap wheels, and probably enjoy the experience more.
Unless you're buying winter training wheels, then anything less than £300 is probably a waste of time when upgrading even an entry level bike.0
