Why do people have a winter bike?

MattJohnson
MattJohnson Posts: 32
edited July 2011 in Road beginners
I've seen a lot of people posting about their "winter bikes" and having a second bike.

What is the difference in a winter bike and a summer bike?

I've just purchased a Focus Cayo 105 Ltd, should I not ride this in the winter?
2011 Focus Cayo 105 Ltd
2009 Specialized Rockhopper Expert Disk

Comments

  • ollyridesfirst
    ollyridesfirst Posts: 486
    I've just bought a single speed bike for winter...

    I have made the choice basically for 2 reasons....

    1. It will get me fitter during winter as it's a single speed
    2. My normal bike is carbon and i believe there is more chance of coming off it during the wet/frosty/icy winter mornings when i ride to work, so i'd rather come off and scratch/break a steel frame than a carbon one. It's also easier to clean when it gets all gunked up.

    Them's my reasons!
  • LeicesterLad
    LeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    MattJohnson wrote:
    I've seen a lot of people posting about their "winter bikes" and having a second bike.

    What is the difference in a winter bike and a summer bike?

    I've just purchased a Focus Cayo 105 Ltd, should I not ride this in the winter?

    It varies, a winter bike is usually just your old best bike that you downgraded when you bought a new one, many will use their old bikes in winter to save their 'best' carbon bikes from all the sludge, grime, muck, winter wear and tear.

    Companies like Ribble etc now make specific winter bikes, usually allowing for decent mud guards, etc etc
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  • mowflow
    mowflow Posts: 212
    A winter bike is usually something that has mudguards or at least has space and fixings for them.

    Most people also don't want to ride a £2K+ bike in the winter with all the grit, road salt and pot holes that appear. It's not good for any part of the bike.
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    Not a question you'd ask if you rode in a group in the pouring rain!
  • MattJohnson
    MattJohnson Posts: 32
    Thanks for the comments guys they all make perfect sence... I guess my mountain bike is my "winter bike" as I dont wanna scratch my new carbon beauty :D
    2011 Focus Cayo 105 Ltd
    2009 Specialized Rockhopper Expert Disk
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I could only afford / justify one bike, so I went for a Racelight Tk which is a winter trainer. Run it in winter with full guards and take them off for the "summer". It's a pretty light and racy frame tbh.

    I don't commute, but I do ride it all year round. 105 kit still running smoothly after 3 years; just needs a bit more TLC in the winter.
  • geoff_ss
    geoff_ss Posts: 1,201
    keef66 wrote:
    I could only afford / justify one bike, so I went for a Racelight Tk which is a winter trainer. Run it in winter with full guards and take them off for the "summer". It's a pretty light and racy frame tbh.

    I don't commute, but I do ride it all year round. 105 kit still running smoothly after 3 years; just needs a bit more TLC in the winter.

    Yes, I very nice frame. That's the same as mine except I leave mudguards on all year and I have straight bars which emulate riding on the tops of drop bars. You get very dark looks (and words) riding in group if you don't have a mudflap, never mind 'guards :lol:

    I used a Winter bike (or trike) mainly because of the havoc regularly riding on salty roads wreaks on a bike.
    Old cyclists never die; they just fit smaller chainrings ... and pedal faster
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I'm thinking seriously about putting the guards back on before I go out tonight. Went out on Tuesday night after a downpour and spent too much time dodging the puddles which would otherwise have filled my shoes. Still managed to spray the bike with filth.
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    As said, I use my old (and first) road bike as my winter bike now, too keep my carbon jobbie for summer.

    Reason...more chance for an off in winter, plus salt/grit wears down gears etc quicker, so you want parts you dont mind replacing more often.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    I don't give a monkeys about rain it's the bloody salt.
    My mate uses a motorbike all year round like i use a pushbike and he has a salt bike that he uses through the winter, whether it's £5000 of pushbike or £12000 of motorbike you still want to look after them.
    Obviously it's down to money, if you can't afford one you just get on with it and just clean the living daylights out of it after every ride.
  • Thebigbee
    Thebigbee Posts: 570
    Simple answer - the weather is generally shite in winter, cold, rain/ snow, grit and salt on the road. Therefore you ride a bike that you are more happy to take the abuse of nature and the elements.

    I only have a £600 Spesh road bike but would not dream of taking it out in the wet.

    Then again - I have a £600 Scott hybrid that I will take out in all weather but having mudguards protects the majority of it.

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