what winter bike?

rossgalway

Hi

I'm looking a winter bike for club runs. Can anyone recommend one £500 max? So far i've seen the ribble, dawes audex sport and ridgeback horizon.

Cheers

reefman

I bought a 2007 Giant SCR ltd (full tiagra compact groupset) for £430 (retails at £650) and fitted mudgaurds.It is a top quality training bike and very very comfortable.
It will also take's a rack so could be used for light touring.
The only thing I have changed is the rear wheel buils from straight pull to having it rebuilt 3 cross.I have also dropped the bars by moving the spacers (Loads of adjustment available)

I also have a Ridgeback Horizon as my work/commuting bike,these are ok but come with sora components,dreadfull wheels and the most uncomfortable audax style bars I have ever used. The bottom bracket was rubbish and dead after 800 miles of wet commuting Having said all that the frame is very nice.
However mine now sports an old 8sp 105 groupset i had hanging around a Tiagra compact chainset , decent mavic rims on a rear tiagra hub and an ultegra dyno hub up front. A Brooks saddle, cinelli Via bars.
As you can see although the Ridgeback initially cost £499 the upgrades as stuff quickly wore out could cost a shed load.I now have a very nice commuting bike which without the pannier rack would be a top training bike.

If you can get a 2007 Giant scr ltd or 2 from somewhere like Winstanley bikes go for it they are heaps better value in the long term if you only have space for one wet weather/commuting bike.

Reefman

a_n_t

I went for the ribble, hard to beat for the money. You watch the summer turn up as soon as its delivered!!

redddraggon

I built a ribble up myself with Veloce and old Centaur bits, cost me about £450.

passout

Ribble or Trek 1000