Newbie winter riding advice required

Chalen

Hi all, I've recently bought my first road bike (Boardman) which I love. However, I'm wandering whether it's realistic to commute on it throughout the winter? Commute is about 14 miles round trip on typical London main roads.

Specific questions are:
Are 700x23 tyres too skinny for any real chance of puncture protection and is grip an issue when it gets frostier?

Will I "ruin" the bike by using it when the salt starts going down?


I also have a cheap(ish) heavy hybrid (which I ran last winter) but using that is out the question as the vastly increased weight seems to give me knee pain.

Cheers!
Alan

bobtbuilder

Hi Alan,

All your questions are subjective, so I'm sure you'll get plenty of different opinions.

IMO - you can use 700 x 23 tires throughout the winter, but 700 x 25 will improve your grip. I don't know what effect it would have on puncture resistance. Personally, I would suggest that getting a good quality p*ncture resistant tyre (there's a thread on these in Beginners) would be more beneficial.

Salt can damage your frame & components, but cleaning the bike after every ride should help avoid this. I managed with one bike for 6 years, until buying myself a lovely Orbea Orca this summer, and relegating my old Trek Madone to the role of winter bike.

Chalen

Thanks for the reply Bob, not sure there's clearance on the Boardman for 25's, but agree about upgrading the tyres.

A daily clean is an unlikely prospect if I'm being honest with myself!

macondo01

I've just switched back to my old heavy hybrid (40mm tyres) from my road bike (with 23 wide tyres) to commute. I didnt think I would but... I do feel safer on the leaf strewn paths and going through unknown puddles (how deep!). Also find it easier to do the over the shoulder look. I didnt think I'd go back to it but what has made a difference is having a decent pump and making sure the tyres have a good pressure in them. Are you sure it is the weight of hybrid hurting your knees and not the set up? Are you going up hills/hammering it?

I guess its a toss up of saving your nice bike, your knees, safety and making the most of your nice bike! If you do go back to your hybrid it will be such a good feeling when you get on your Boardman at the weekend

Chalen

Issue is that I find it impossible to restrict myself to cycling slowly - so yes I probably am hammering it!

Don't think there's a problem with the set up.

Most sensible option is of course to buy a light weight hybrid if I can't (or shouldn't) realistically use the boardman over the winter. My wallet would rather I did not pursue this option!

skyd0g

You could use your current hybrid on the really poor days?

Chalen

I guess occasional use is probably fine. GF not keen on having 2 bikes hanging around in the flat though (1 in basement normally - and not easy to access).

Flasheart

Chalen wrote:

I guess occasional use is probably fine. GF not keen on having 2 bikes hanging around in the flat though (1 in basement normally - and not easy to access).

The GF or the bikes?


I ride hybrid to work and local errands and road bike for pleasure. The hybrid gets wet and dirty as it's a workhorse and more practical. I also only ever go out on my road bike in "roadie" kit. :roll:

Chalen

Yeah I should have re-read that before posting!

bice

I do the same sort of distance and would not use a good bike for commuting. Occasional use only. A workhorse hybrid, or flat bar road conversion, is a better bet for London commuting. I do use a road bike, but I go too fast and brakes/ drops etc are not best for traffic