Winter Bike Advice

Andrew_J

Morning,
Looking for recommendations for a winter bike that will take mud guards, I know it's early yet but may need to do some saving to get one.
I currently have a Bianchi c2c ultegra which wont take full mudguards, local team requires full mud guards for winter meets.

Any suggestions, I’m currently looking at Planet x, and Ribble.

Budget haven’t got one so around £600 I guess.

ridieboy

I've just ordered myself a Planet X SL Team Alu as a training bike. I'll probably use it over winter by attaching clip-on mudguards; if set up correctly, these can work really well.

redddraggon

Giant SCR1 will take mudguards, a friend just got one for £625 at Wiggle, although they don't have them now, other places still have the SCR1 at similar prices.

dodgy

Pinnacle have something they call MGC (MudGuard Compatibility). Check out their site to see which ones have it.

softlad

Ridgeback Horizon - sold as a light tourer, but ideal as a winter trainer. Just swap the triple for a compact, fit your favourite bar/stem/saddle and away you go....

dodgy

Not bad that Ridgeback Horizon, not sure if I could be arsed changing to a compact though (and I'm not a fan of triples).

cougie

Are you sure you cant get guards on there ? The clip on race guards are a good step and better than spending £100s on a winter bike.

Typically the winter bike is the race bike of a few years back enabling you to spend the money on the new race bike....


If you do go down the new winter bike route - dont splash out too much money - especially not on groupsets - the winter salt knackers them.

keef66

Kinesis racelight? Have a look at Epic's website

Edit:- just looked at prices, bit over your budget. They are designed as a winter trainer though. I have the TK and use it year round.

andyrr

Raceguards don't provide the same level of protection as full guards.
I've run both and full ones, with flap on the front one, is way better than eht race guards. These are much better than nothing but for me they are nothing like as good for commuting etc as proper ones. Calipers aren't protected, front and read wheel coverage is poorer, section from rear caliper down to BB isn't covered - so, for me, not a winter commuter option - others are happy with them, having used both I want my winter bike to take full guards.

softlad

dodgy wrote:

Not bad that Ridgeback Horizon, not sure if I could be arsed changing to a compact though (and I'm not a fan of triples).

It's a good bike for the money. I bought a secondhand FSA omega compact c/s for mine - from ebay - about £20 I think....

Andrew_J

cougie wrote:

Are you sure you cant get guards on there ? The clip on race guards are a good step and better than spending £100s on a winter bike.

Typically the winter bike is the race bike of a few years back enabling you to spend the money on the new race bike....


If you do go down the new winter bike route - dont splash out too much money - especially not on groupsets - the winter salt knackers them.

race blades arent an option unless i want to sit on the back for the whole of winter, which dosent sound the best option

dodgy

Andrew_J wrote:

cougie wrote:

Are you sure you cant get guards on there ? The clip on race guards are a good step and better than spending £100s on a winter bike.

Typically the winter bike is the race bike of a few years back enabling you to spend the money on the new race bike....


If you do go down the new winter bike route - dont splash out too much money - especially not on groupsets - the winter salt knackers them.

race blades arent an option unless i want to sit on the back for the whole of winter, which dosent sound the best option

It has its advantages :twisted:

TommyEss

I bought a Giant Defy 3 in January for just that - was £600 with the guards.

The guards aren't perfect - they have cut-outs around the brake callipers, and I can't get anything bigger than 23mm Contis in there, but other than that it's been great.

It's only got a Sora groupset, with Tektro brakes and FSA chainset, but it's plenty for winter - I didn't want to spend a heap of cash on a bike for trashing in winter - and it's actually had quite a few run-outs this "summer" as well!

andy162

How about a Ribble winter/audax? I have had mine about 2 months spec'd with Tiagra, Aksiums etc. It cost £ 606 delivered. I had a Giant Scr2 prior to this but never got on with it, it felt like a barge compared to the Ribble.

I use mine for a 20mile commute and it's great. It came fully setup and has not needed tinkering with since I had it delivered( in good time too...that's another story/thread).

I've got a Scott Addict r1 as my usual weapon & although a winter hack is not going to be substitute for such a thing I honestly prefer the ride to work on the Ribble and save the Scott for training/racing. It is very good.

Any colour you like as long as it's blue.

Had no bother from Ribble either.

Andy

keef66

I was considering one of the Ribble winter specials till I upped my budget to get the Racelight

jrab

Surosa Audax - £600 Sora compact, £700 Tiagra Compact. Good review in Cycling Weekly I think.

Carrera Vanquish under £500 if you can bear to ride a bike from Halfords.....

Edinburgh Bicycle Revolution Cross / Raleigh Airlite U6-X / Spesh Tricross plus a change of tyre. Versatile - can also race 'cross, tour, commute. Different enough to Bianchi to justify getting another bike?

Old steel frame built up with spare bits and eBay raids (my solution!)

Richard

passout

Ribble are hard to beat on value but I do love my Tricross - if you can take the (mainly good natured) abuse off roadies! It takes guards, racks and wide tyres if you need them. Pearsons told be that they'll be selling some off cheaply soon, although it might just be the single speed version. In fact I got the SS version from them about a year ago for about £280; a bargain. It makes a fantastic commuter and a good winter trainer. They reviewed the geared version on bike radar recently...wait for the discounts though.

kingrollo

A club insisting guards is extreme IMO - I recall chatting on our club run last winter, that some bikes with guards were chucking up more spray - than some without.

I use clip ons - not even blades - they do a fine job for me. Is so
meone at your club going to check that you have proper guards and not clip ons ? - its only a different method of attaching?

TommyEss

Full guards are recommended in our club, but by no means will you be castigated for turning up with just race blades.

Although the poor sod who ends up behind you may not be quite so kind at the cafe stop if you've not even attempted to fashion some sort of guard at the rear...

You can always get Salmons to fit if nothing else...