Winter bike - help me decide what to buy...

zoid

Since riding again through the summer I've been looking for a new bike (budget £2.5k) however after a few recent weekend rides I've quickly realised that a second winter bike with full guards is essential (at least for me).

Current bike is no good, its an old (and I mean old) steel frame with down tube shifters and big gearing 52/42 and 13/21 7-speed cassette, the plan is to buy a cheaper winter bike now, decommission the current steel bike, and then decide what higher end bike to buy for the summer.

Budget is around £800’ish, my shortlist is…

Scott Speedster S35

http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/bikes- ... -2011-p595

It's not listed on the scott website but I believe it's the same spec as the s30 but with the addition of eyelets and guards..

http://www.scott-sports.com/us_en/produ ... 735/218118

Trek 1.5

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/

Ribble 7005 Audax / Winter

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/publish.a ... n&page=1rw

The Ribble is significantly cheaper (best part of £300), however I assume the frame set and wheels won't be as good? Also I'll have to buy blind on limited sizing information as opposed to buying from a shop and being fitted, so it boils down to cheap mail order, or more expensive shop fitted brand name bike, what should I do?

Many thanks in advance!

rc856

Don't know about the others but you can't go wrong with the Ribble.
That was my first bike on returning to cycling about 6yrs ago. Cost about £500 with a Xenon groupset.
I've kept it clean and maintained and it's still working just as well as it did when I first got it.

iplod

Bought the ribble about a month ago used the size guide on yhe site and it fits fine. Nice looking bike,with mudguards already fitted. " Does what it says on the tin"

StanwaySteve62

I fancy spending a bit more on a Condor frattelo £1110 though

danlikesbikes

I just bought a Kinesis winter frame and the LBS moved wheels and running gear from my summer bike. That way am keeping the cost down on the winter bike and the money saved is going towards so good upgrades for the summer bike.

I know lots of people who ride Kinesis winter bikes and none have any bad things to say about it & for the money spent get a pretty good bike for my buck.

micken

+2 for Kinesis, have just built a TK up for me and a TK2 for the wife. Have done same as Danlikesbikes and used a lot of stuff off our summer bikes.

FransJacques

You want mudguards, you want the ability to run 25 if not 28c tyres. The Dolan Dual is £800 for carbon frame and fork.

For some reason they went with reg drop brakes which IMO is a bad call, if you're going in the winter beater direction, go all the way - I'm not talking Surley LHT - but at least give people the option for some clearance.

To me it looks like a great basis for a bike that you'll probably end up riding on a really wet sportivse in the summer by swapping in nice wheels - maybe some Fulcrum Zeros or Dura Ace CL24s.

All the above said, I've not seen one on the road - ever. If someone has one, would they mind posting a pic please?

Nuggs

Another vote for Kinesis. I ride a TK and love it

Scrumple

save up and buy a titanium, such as a Sabbath September.

FransJacques

Seeing non-stop Sabbath this and Enigma that I racked my brain to think of other Ti options, since this is the benefit of our lovely capitali$t system:

- Setavento (if they still exist)
- Airborne/Van Nick
- Lynskey / Planet X
- Merlin
- Litespeed
- On-One (29er)
- Seven
- IF
- Serotta

What more could a person want? Cheap Ti is never a good option. Going downmarket on anything pricey is never a good option: Porsche tried with the 914 many years ago (VW engine in a Prosche chassis), then again with the 924. Failures both.

In the 90s there was a spate of cheap ti - it was Russian sourced CP or commercially pure which means it didn't have any alloying elements in it like Vanadium etc. These frames are not on the market these days.

cougie

I'd go with the Ribble to be honest. Dont spend too much dosh on a bike thats going to get the crappy weather. Save the £300 for a nice bike trip to the alps or sommat.

The Ribble would be an upgrade on your current bike for sure, but if you spend much more money on your winter bike - you'll struggle to see the difference between that and your best bike !

Whatever you get - make sure its compatible with what you want your summer bike to be - so compatible groupset etc so you can swap wheels over - handy if you bust a spoke or flat before your ride.

d70ar9

Has to be the Verenti Kilmeston
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-kilmeston/
Great reviews, good spec, mudguards, rack mounts and in budget

FransJacques

Wow, £749 for that Verenti is good. Won't be as light as a Spin with tuned Super Record components and Lew wheels, but hey!

http://www.spin-system.de/rennrad.htm

d70ar9

Or as an alternative to the Verenti there is the Dolan Cross which comes with guards, has room for 35mm tyres and is in budget
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/cyclo-cross?product_id=83