Winter Bike recommendations

amaferanga

rich164h wrote:

Wheelie Bin wrote:

Sorry, I just don't get the winter bike thing.

You're not the only one. All it requires is a bit more regular cleaning and some of those Crud mudguards and that's it. One bike, all year round.

Get's a bit tedious cleaning your best bike if you ride every day though. If you only ride once or twice a week it's different.

TomBombadil

Hi,

Add a little money and go for Titanium. I went for this option over three years ago. The bike still looks as good as new. And I use it all year as my main trainer. I do at least 5-7 000 miles a year on it. I have worn out wheels, chainsets and saddles but the frame is impervious and the ride fantastic. Often these Titanium frames have a lifetime guarantee so you cant go wrong. Pound for mile it's fabulous and I can say I feel it was a great choice that I have never regretted..

I recommend Fatbirds - they give a great service. Just had a look and they have a few bargains at the moment. They will build to your spec so you can chose cheap build to start with. You can always start with low spec components and then put better components on it as you find them on ebay

I chose the Van Nicholas Yukon as it allows mudguards to be fitted - although to be honest I just use a clip on mudguard when the weather is really bad - I got that from ASDA for a fiver and has been better than loads of other mudguards that I have tried costing much, much more including race blades - it has a lovely little cam to fit it to the seat post that means I can take it off and on the seat post in a couple of minutes.

I have three bikes -Carbon out and out racer, Alu sportive bike with a triple and the Titanium – If I had only one bike it would have to be the Titanium – they really are that good. A good balance between comfort, toughness and stiffness. Only a couple of weeks ago I used mine for a time trial put some tribars on it and knocked a minute of my TT PB.


Good luck with your choice - Tom

Chip \'oyler

rich164h wrote:

Wheelie Bin wrote:

Sorry, I just don't get the winter bike thing.

You're not the only one. All it requires is a bit more regular cleaning and some of those Crud mudguards and that's it. One bike, all year round.

You sure? What about all the extra chain cleaning, cassette cleaning, salt corroding your alloy etc

You can ride your best bike all year round, but expect to replace parts and probably even the frame more often

nmcgann

Chip \'oyler wrote:

rich164h wrote:

Wheelie Bin wrote:

Sorry, I just don't get the winter bike thing.

You're not the only one. All it requires is a bit more regular cleaning and some of those Crud mudguards and that's it. One bike, all year round.

You sure? What about all the extra chain cleaning, cassette cleaning, salt corroding your alloy etc

You can ride your best bike all year round, but expect to replace parts and probably even the frame more often

Yeah, the corrosion is the real problem. A couple of years back when I rode regularly when the roads were being salted it siezed a brake caliper, ate spots through the lacquer on a chainset and destroyed a rear mech. It was ok since they were cheaper parts, but it wouldn't have been funny if it was a top range groupset.

I might of got away with it if I had fully washed the bike every single ride, but that's just not practical.

Velonutter

I used to have a Ribble Winter bike, but have to admit that it was heavy, clunky and not really a great pleasure to ride, but it did it's job.

I ride about 5-6000 miles a year and I don't always want to ride my best bikes, so I took the plunge after so many recommendations and bought a Kinesis Granfondo....Wow

Not cheap but a good compromise on a titanium which I couldn't stretch to.

Made from Scandium, the frame weighs about 1400g which is excellent for a winter bike.

Have a read of my review here, says it all really: -

http://www.velonuts.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1281536719