Commuting on 'summer' bike

phreak

I've recently bought a new bike and it's pretty dreamy compared to my old one. My flat however only really has space for 1 bike and at the moment I have my winter bike here to commute and do weekend club runs with, whilst my new bike is at my parents house (few hours away by train)

So my question is, will commuting regularly take the shine off the new bike so to speak? Is it worth wrapping it in cotton wool except for events or should it be fine to ride it all the time during the summer?

Wooliferkins

Commuting will take it's toll on the P&J. There are storage solutions that may help depending on how understanding your landlord is. This hangs it from the roof and this hangs it on the wall. Would he complain if you mounted a 50" plasma on the wall?

phreak

Looks interesting. No doubt a silly question, but what does P&J stand for?

crankycrank

Yes I think commuting usually is a little harder on a bike mainly because it gets locked up and/or left alone to the cruel world of being jostled around by other numpty's using the same bike racks, co-workers in the office etc. You can get some clear adhesive film to cover the most vulnerable parts of your frame and cranks, I believe you call it helicopter tape over there. There are other bike specific brands as well but are usually more expensive. Have you looked at purchasing a wall rack so that you could keep both bikes in your flat? Here's just one example. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28862

phreak

Not fussed about it once it gets to work as it's stored in the office on its own. Just don't want it getting too bashed about on the London roads, or perish the thought, getting bashed into by a white van.

Wooliferkins

P&J = Pride and joy too many TLA's I fear

Mossrider

Its the wet rides and inability to dry it off at the office that i find takes the toll.

phreak

I'm going to fetch her this weekend so assuming I don't find somewhere with room for both bikes I shall be riding the summer one all the time until winter.

shmo

Must be a bedroom in your flat, keep your best bike in there. Unless it's a studio flat, in which case I feel your pain as I lived in one of those for a few years.

I really wouldn't want anyone to be subjected to the pain of seeing a bike, identical to their expensive superbike which they love and care for, ridden by someone commuting to work in the rain on the pavement with their baggies and a backpack. It hurts, I know, it happened to me.

Eat My Dust

I use my carbon road bike all year round. It has been through 2 winters and it's fine. I've had to replace the cassette twice, chain twice and the large chainring once. I think this is OK as I've done over 12k miles on it, so even if I had kept it for weekend rides, at that milage some parts would have needed replaced regardless of getting wet etc. BTW I've never dried a bike, they're waterproof!

shane515

Eat My Dust wrote:

I use my carbon road bike all year round. It has been through 2 winters and it's fine. I've had to replace the cassette twice, chain twice and the large chainring once. I think this is OK as I've done over 12k miles on it, so even if I had kept it for weekend rides, at that milage some parts would have needed replaced regardless of getting wet etc. BTW I've never dried a bike, they're waterproof!

Totally agree, just replace the parts that wear out and enjoy your bike

Shane

nasahapley

I agree too! Like EMD's steed, my full carbon bike's been through two winters and has done is fair share of commuting (though I've only done about half the miles he has), and is still sweet as a nut. Total parts replaced so far: a chain, brake pads, 2 cables. When I pull my finger out and give it a proper clean it still scrubs up really nice too. I think a good quality bike will be much more durable than you may be lead to believe; take a bit of care to keep the rims clean and the chain lubed and it'll cope with commuting no problem, and since you'll be riding a bike everyday you may as well enjoy it as much as you can!

fooshnicken

I agree too. I bought a new bike before Christmas, a lovely Orbea Fleche, I also upgraded the wheels to Shimano RS20's. I use this as my daily commute and while it's sad to see it get scratched and dinged when locked up in the bike shed, it's just great to be able to ride it every day

dazzawazza

crankycrank wrote:

Yes I think commuting usually is a little harder on a bike mainly because it gets locked up and/or left alone to the cruel world of being jostled around by other numpty's using the same bike racks, co-workers in the office etc.

It never ceases to amaze me how careless some numpties are that use the cycle racks at work. Now that the fair weather commuters are out in force it’s only going to get worse.
We have wheel bender racks at work, which combined with a numpty in close proximity, can lead to a disastrous outcome. I try to get to work early and lock my bike at either side of the rack so the bike is leaning against the wall and locked through the back triangle to the rack using a long armoured cable lock.
However even out of the way I have found my bikes in bad positions at the end of the day. The worst being flat on the ground.
When late, I’d prefer to leave the bike unlocked rather than risk the wheel benders. The racks are in the basement of the building through a security guarded gate. There’s still risk though. We have been promised decent cycle racks, but it’s been a year now with no action.