Winter Hack Bike

gattocattivo

I'm coming to the end of my first season racing (or first season racing after a gap of 18 years) and thinking it would be a good idea if I had a bike for training in the winter so I can protect my trusty road bike. I haven't got a turbo trainer (and don't have space for one) so all my riding is done out on the road - inevitably that means the bike getting wet, gritty, muddy and salty during the winter (which can't be good for all the bits and pieces).

I don't want to spend much money (say £500 tops). I'm not sure whether to look for something second hand or try to get something new. The problem with second hand is it might be a bit tricky to find something the right size and it might be that some of the components haven't been looked after too well and will need replacing. I've got my old, old road bike (from 1990) at my parents' house, but I've decided against using that as I can't be doing with the gear levers on the down tube - too much hassle now I'm used to them being up with the brake levers.

I'm thinking I want something with proper mudguards (i.e. full-length ones that should protect the components, not just my back or the rider behind me). I probably want more wintery tyres (so 25 ro 28mm width and a bit more tread).

Any suggestions?

ride_whenever

do you actually want gears? a nice singlespeed is very winterproof and will serve you well.

Slow Downcp

Ribble winter builds (although slightly more than £600 this year) always get good reviews.

Don't write off the old bike though - as I updated in another topic I've put my Raleigh Triathlon back in service this weekend for the total cost of £18.33 for chain, bottle cages, and cable end caps. Everything else was in various boxes in the garage (Reynolds 531 F&F, Shimano 105 downtube shifters, even biopace chainrings). Took it for a 15 minute blast this afternoon, just to check gears, brakes etc, and the DT shifters aren;t as big an issue as you'd think.

Failing that you could do the other thing I thought of doing (assuming your old frame is okay) and buy a cheap groupset (Veloce or Tiagra), pair of wheels for £80, reasonable finishingkit for £500.

Gav888

My Saracen Tour 3 is for sales for £400, and you can fit mudguards to it... under a year old so still warranty on the frame / forks.

Not Another Hill

Agree with Slow Downcp. I use a 1987 Raleigh Kelloggs Pro Tour. Full 'guards. Down tube shifters. New tiagra compact crankset. Cost nothing. Done one winter and hopefully this as well. Handles and brakes like a barge but then it's all about steady riding for me in winter. Got it off a guy in the club so I knew the owner.

Most reasonable new cheap winter bikes are about £600 new unless you go for single speed/fixed then you might get cheaper. Surosa Bikes (Oldham) do a winter bike that's well rated (similar to Ribble's). And Tifosi do one. Racelight T and Tk are very well rated but that's nearer to £1000.

Full mudguards are essential for winter riding IMO.

gattocattivo

The Ribble ones look very tempting. I might have to splash out a bit more than I was planning to.

ex-pat scot

+1 for the singlespeed/ fixed option.

I've built a fixed up, primarily for use over winter as a commuter.

I'm planning on 23mm tyres and full SKS chromoplastic guards.

I've a 1-in-6 hill and can manage it on 42 x 16, and spin nicely at 19-21 mph on the flat.

Your old road bike could well make a great singlespeed donor, perhaps with a bit of tweaking depending on dropout alignment.

Otherwise, my "old" winter bike has down tube levers and I'm fine with them. Simple and reliable, and they have a friction option so I don't worry about indexing probs.