Is now the wrong time to buy a road bike with winter looming
peyroux
Posts: 50
The more time I spend on this forum, the more it seems the the serious (and perhaps more flush) cyclists amongst us have a winter bike to go alongside their main bike.
I'm on the verge of buying my first road bike (a specialized allez elite or simular - £1000 budget) and I'm currently riding a kona mountain bike which is okay to get from A > B but I'm living in london and want to join a club so really need a road bike.
Is now the wrong time to buy such a bike as we move into winter? Should I just keep my mtb for ploughing through the frost and whatever else gets thrown at us in the next few months and get the new bike at the start of spring? Or should I go ahead and get the bike I want knowing that I might not get to ride it all the time but can enjoy it on those crisp winter mornings. Or am I being dramatic, could I just put a more hefty pair of tyres of the new bike and ride it all year round happily?
Apologies for another rookie post, but any advice will be gratefully received.
Tom
I'm on the verge of buying my first road bike (a specialized allez elite or simular - £1000 budget) and I'm currently riding a kona mountain bike which is okay to get from A > B but I'm living in london and want to join a club so really need a road bike.
Is now the wrong time to buy such a bike as we move into winter? Should I just keep my mtb for ploughing through the frost and whatever else gets thrown at us in the next few months and get the new bike at the start of spring? Or should I go ahead and get the bike I want knowing that I might not get to ride it all the time but can enjoy it on those crisp winter mornings. Or am I being dramatic, could I just put a more hefty pair of tyres of the new bike and ride it all year round happily?
Apologies for another rookie post, but any advice will be gratefully received.
Tom
0
Posts
I don't have a MTB but I had been riding a loaned hybrid around for a couple of months before getting my road bike - three whole weeks ago. And you know what? I'm really glad I got it. The pleasure from riding the road bike in comparison, is out of all proportion to my expectations.
As a newly created expert in these things, I would say this:
If you've made your choice, you want it, you can afford it, and you aren't going to cause a load of marital strife by getting it, then get your a*se down the shop and hand over the cash with all speed
Wiliers: Cento Uno/Superleggera R and Zero 7. Bianchi Infinito CV and Oltre XR2
It won't break in the winter (just wash it after a wet ride s'all)
Secondhand prices are better as the winter months loom - except for dedicated winter bikes of course!
Needless to say I am really tempted to get it, but having not owned a road bike before I'm still hesitant on how much of a beating they can take. Or even what the routine is - "if it rains...you gotta dry it off/if it snows...you can't use it full stop/in ice... etc etc.)
loads of bargains at the moment
I'm not clear what your actual concerns are. There will be quite a lot of days where the roads are dry. You suggested restricting your riding to those days. What damage do you think is going to happen on those days? Especially if you wash it once in a while.
Then, buy some Crud Racer 2 mudguards to go on it. You could even buy some wet weather tyres, but you dont really need to.
So, you've now got your bargain bike with Cruds on = Keep it clean and Well lubed, ride it all year.
09 Canyon Ultimate CF for the Road.
2011 Carbon Spesh Stumpy FSR.
Test rides tomorrow!
I'll probably regret saying this, but British winter weather is generally fairly mild (in London anyway).
If you go out in the wet, it can be a bit of a pain. Last posters recommendation I would fully endorse - fit a pair of Crud guards (about £20-25/ pair) which keeps you and the drivetrain much drier from road spray. After you have been out, ideally each time, dry off the chain, cassette, etc and lube. Also wipe off the rims and brake blocks - the grit picked up off the road turns pads into brillo pads which scours the rim braking surface and shortens the life of the wheel.
If it is either icy or snowy (or both) don't even think about going out on a road bike - you will be messing with bad luck playing that game!
Don't let any of the above comments put you off - I use a road bike to commute all year round with no problems and I fail to get the winter/ summer bike thing (albeit, slight hypocrite, I do have a bike I tend to keep for the weekends!). Go for it.
Peter
Replace a 105 cassette is what £25 quid? A dura ace cassette is £130+.
Dura ace cassette is lighter and offers a better shifting performance...but DA stuff is overpriced..you could put a ultegra cassette on a DA drive train and never tell the difference...and the ultegra is £50 to replace.
Giant make their own mudguards to specifically fit the Defy. Don't know what they are like as I haven't seen any.