Winter Bike Advice - Use my CAAD9 or get a dedicated bike?
zoid
Posts: 101
Hi,
Started riding again last spring on an steel colnago with downtube shifters, then I bought a Ribble Winter Audax which took me through the winter, sold that and bought a second hand CAAD9 (for £600) which I've been riding throughout the summer.
Now while the Ribble was good value for money it wasn't really a great winter bike, yes it had eyelets for mudguards but that was about it, but other factors like a short headtube (11cm vs 12cm on my CAAD9) and limited tyre clearance reduced it's overall suitability.
Currently I'm considering the following options...
1. Stick some crud guards on the CAAD and use it for winter with the plan to buy a supersix for next year.
2. Buy a dedicated winter bike and keep the CAAD for my main bike for a while longer and just upgrade the wheels next year.
3. Buy a dedicated winter bike and keep the CAAD and if I do end up buying a supersix just sell on the CAAD.
What would you advise as 1. I feel the CAAD is a little too nice to ride throughout the winter and 2. it would still limit tyre and mud guard choice?
Started riding again last spring on an steel colnago with downtube shifters, then I bought a Ribble Winter Audax which took me through the winter, sold that and bought a second hand CAAD9 (for £600) which I've been riding throughout the summer.
Now while the Ribble was good value for money it wasn't really a great winter bike, yes it had eyelets for mudguards but that was about it, but other factors like a short headtube (11cm vs 12cm on my CAAD9) and limited tyre clearance reduced it's overall suitability.
Currently I'm considering the following options...
1. Stick some crud guards on the CAAD and use it for winter with the plan to buy a supersix for next year.
2. Buy a dedicated winter bike and keep the CAAD for my main bike for a while longer and just upgrade the wheels next year.
3. Buy a dedicated winter bike and keep the CAAD and if I do end up buying a supersix just sell on the CAAD.
What would you advise as 1. I feel the CAAD is a little too nice to ride throughout the winter and 2. it would still limit tyre and mud guard choice?
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Comments
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I think you need to go get the winter bike.
You say yourself that you think the bike is too nice to ride through winter ?
You can decide about selling the bike on or upgrading the wheels at a later date ?0 -
Definitely get a winter bike, I recently bought a Caad10 105 specifically for this purpose!
Seems fine so far with Crud 2's fitted.
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Greetings Zoid - Nice Bike (Stealth look)
Ive always had a winter bike - Suppose its personal choice at the end of the day.
My Good Bike is a Carbon Colnago i would never dream of riding it after October. As i said on a previous blog about winter bikes it kinda depends were you live as well - your on the south coast so you wont see as much snow and salt in winter on the roads. I live in Nr Edinburgh and they start putting salt on the roads from November as soon as it rains or its slushy the salt melts and gets in everywere and you have to wash the bike ASAP but sometimes your knackered from your run on the bike you leave it in the garage by this time the salt is getting to work on the chain,spokes.hubs,brakes etc - Maybe am "Old Skool" but ive always liked a HEAVIER winter bike as come March/April when you get on your good bike it feels like your going 10mph faster and you feel the benefits of your winter miles. for what it`s worth you can pick up a cheapish frame and parts on EBAY etc and know that your good bike is tucked up for the winter. good luck with the choice
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