Why 2 bikes? (winter & summer)

ohlala!

Hi folks,

just a quick question. Why would one have a winter training bike and one summer? And usually the winter bike is heavier than summer one. :?:

cheers,

Slow Downcp

Winter bike has mudguards, usually cheaper compenents so salt and wear isn't so much of an issue.

I do agree to a point though that the right bike could be used all year round - I have an Enigma Etape for winter with the same compenents as my "summer" Kuota. I could use it all year round, but a change is nice sometimes 8)

brownbosh

2 bikes???? couldnt get by with out any of my 6!

redddraggon

Why not have 2 bikes?

Pokerface

redddraggon wrote:

Why not have 2 bikes?

Spent enough on bike 1 without having to spend more on another one. Or so the theory goes.

But because bike 1 is so expensive - I don't want to ride it much in the winter (outdoors). Definitely will be looking to get me a winter bike this year. Probably a mountain bike for something completely different.

STEFANOS4784

Because i joined this forum and believed that as soon as a bike hits rain it dissolves :roll: . However my 'summer' bike will shortly become my year round bike as i believe a bike is made to be ridden.......to death :twisted:

Then when it dies, many years from now, i'll get another

They more than pay for themselves with saved bus fair

amaferanga

Salt corrodes components. How bad the salt is is obviously going to depend on where you are in the UK. Down south the roads will see much less salt than up in Yorkshire, which will probably see less than northern Scotland,....

Seems daft to have a nice bike and let the salt eat away at it.

Good bike with expensive components lasts a long time if you don't use it on salty roads.

Less good bike with cheaper components doesn't last as long, but components cheaper to replace.

My winter/commuting bike is a Specialized Tricross Single that only cost £180 and there's obviously not much to go wrong with it. Seems a small price to pay when compared to the cost of replacing wheels worn out my grit, etc. on my good bike.

If you only ride a couple of times a month though there's no need for 2 bikes as you can just wash your bike after every ride.

jthef

On my winter bike the rear wheel has only lasted 1 year due to all the salt and freezing weather (ok and that I am a big guy as well does not help never mind the pot holes).
So when I get my summer bike it can be a bit more special and then I will chose the day when to ride it or not.

ShaunL

I have a focus Cross disc for winter/wet days and a Giant TCR for fine weather days.

The wider grippy tyres give you a much surer ride when the road is icy or wet compared to the thin slicks on the Giant.

Then again I do quite a few miles per year.

giant_man

ohlala! wrote:

Hi folks,

just a quick question. Why would one have a winter training bike and one summer? And usually the winter bike is heavier than summer one. :?:

cheers,

Cos it's the law see :roll:

zedders

I guess the set up of the bike is quite important? More comfy seat, wider tyres. No messing with lights, mudgaurds and stuff. A winter bike is more suited to urm.... winter!

Another valid reason is you dream / summer ride will last longer, and not wishing to come across as a pessimist, on wet or icey roads, or dark nights theres more chance you bike will get trashed should you have an off, or come a cropper to an BMW X5 driver? And should your winter bike get damaged (whilst its repaired) you'll have another instantly ready to go again?
You could also hook the summer bike to a turbo in the winter, and not have mess about with changing the rear wheel etc, with your winter ride ready to go anytime.

It all sounds perfectly sensible to me. If you had a porsche or a ferrari would you take it out on a horrid wet, cold november day? Most wouldn't - why should your best bike be any different. Its only MO but I doubt most bikes could hack a british winter or two?

CiB

I'm not convinced. A year's riding should see approx 3-4000 miles under the wheels, which means a new chain is due and with it rings & cassette, and a bottom bracket whilst I'm at it. Wheel bearings can be refettled at the same time and a new set of cables put in place but the frame won't need much attention if it's been looked after throughout the year. So come January most of the moving parts are due for replacement anyway and the bike then feels like new again.

I've never quite got the idea that it's a good idea to ride a worse bike than you'd really like to just because it might wear out a bit quicker. Planned maintenance that would happen regardless will keep it in shape, and if the worse should happen I can't think of a better excuse to go out and spend a wodge on a new bike if the old'un is knacked.

Just my view.

Zedders - which end of the county are you? Inkleh, or coville, or in the city maybe? Hinckley's my bit from long ago. I've held off but have to say, I like your icon - I've had shirts with similar on

nasahapley

zedders wrote:

Its only MO but I doubt most bikes could hack a british winter or two?

Also only IMO, but I think that a bike with higher-end components will hold up to crappy weather quite a bit better than a cheapo winter hack. Like Stefanos, from reading bike forums I expected my ultegra-shod full carbon steed to be seriously shabby after a winter's riding, but it's now been through two (in Yorkshire) and is just fine; maybe they just build 'em better than they used to? I think the idea that winter will destroy a bike may comes in no small part from the fact that people do tend to use cheaper componentry in the winter, which does indeed wear out quicker.

There's no right or wrong answer, but if you want to keep a bike in as-close-to-pristine condition as possible, then sure, only use it on dry sunny days. For me, the pleasure I get from riding a really nice bike all year round far outweighs any extra wear n' tear that winter might cause, especially as in my experience it really isn't that much.

AGNI

I have been pondering the same thought after getting my new bike 3 months ago. I had not been on a road bike for over ten years.

I do love the bike and feel quite bad about taking it out in poor weather. That leaves me with the problem of not being able to get out as often as I would like. I also have contemplated commuting to work a few times but my bike is just not set up for it as it wont take mudguards or a pannier.

After only owning the bike for a week, I was already looking for another bike that I could give a bit of "stick" and not worry about the wear and tear of. Still not got one yet but I guess I will have to as the winter months draw near.

Bhima

Salt dissolves in water, so would disappear if you wash your bike after every ride with hot water (which I do, even in summer).

As for salt in the movng parts, while riding, from my experience, it's more of a problem in the dry, as the dust off the road is more free to move about and can get flung all over the place by the tyres. I've noticed that my chain has been getting full of dust recently and has a few stiff links because of it. I'm certainly having a harder time cleaning the thing in the dry. :?

You could always get a chainguard, which is cheaper than a whole new bike.

(Looks silly though )

ohlala!

I agree on chainguard looking silly on road bikes. I thought people have 2 bikes because of performance related matter, but it looks to me that it's more of preserving the precious one.

cougie

Makes sense to have a winter bike for me :

1. You have a backup if your good bike breaks.
2. You can afford to not clean as thoroughly as you'd otherwise need to. My DA groupset finish really wouldnt like salt left on it for much time at all.
3. You can have the winter bike set up for night rides - lights and reflectives.
4. Winter bike gets mudguards on for comfort
5. Its an extra bike - whats not to like ?
6. Winter bike is cheaper and I'd be happy to nip to the shops on that, rather than my race bike.
7. My winter bike is a fixed - so v different ride to my geared bike
8. Winter is lots harder on a bike than summer. Easy to clean a fixed.
9. Having the two bikes means that the expensive bike lasts a long time. I've never had to replace chainrings on my DA bike and it must be 8 summers old or more now ?
10. Of course you COULD ride yoru best bike thru winter - but the wear and tear on it would proba cost you more than a cheaper winter bike.
11. Lots of winter bikes are the previous best bikes that have been relegated so the owner can justify a new bling bike !

giant_man

cougie wrote:

Makes sense to have a winter bike for me :

1. You have a backup if your good bike breaks.
2. You can afford to not clean as thoroughly as you'd otherwise need to. My DA groupset finish really wouldnt like salt left on it for much time at all.
3. You can have the winter bike set up for night rides - lights and reflectives.
4. Winter bike gets mudguards on for comfort
5. Its an extra bike - whats not to like ?
6. Winter bike is cheaper and I'd be happy to nip to the shops on that, rather than my race bike.
7. My winter bike is a fixed - so v different ride to my geared bike
8. Winter is lots harder on a bike than summer. Easy to clean a fixed.
9. Having the two bikes means that the expensive bike lasts a long time. I've never had to replace chainrings on my DA bike and it must be 8 summers old or more now ?
10. Of course you COULD ride yoru best bike thru winter - but the wear and tear on it would proba cost you more than a cheaper winter bike.
11. Lots of winter bikes are the previous best bikes that have been relegated so the owner can justify a new bling bike !

All justified imo. Particularly points 5 and 11. Makes perfect sense! :P