Do many of you guys have a wet weather bike ?

VTech

Just a thought really as I was planning on a ride with the local club today but the weather is bleak with loads of snow so have decided against it for 2 reasons. 1) due to not being confident enough in the weather yet and 2) due to not wanting to damage the bike.
So, how many of you have several bikes for different conditions ?

JackPozzi

I suspect most cyclists do. Personally, the first road bike I bought was relegated to winter hack bike status within 6 months when I decided I wanted something a bit nicer. The poor thing is still my main winter bike 6 years later, kitted out with mudguards and occasionally a set of panniers, very rarely gets a proper clean and most of the components get replaced with items several levels below what I would use on my best bikes when they wear out.

slowbike

I have now - got a cx for the extra clearance so I can fit mudguards. Before that it was just extra cleaning

thegreatdivide

MattC59

Yes, my old bike. There's no point in buying another just so that you can fit mud guards, fit them to your existing bike.
Likewise, I don't see a great deal of point in buying a specific bike for the turbo trainer. Just buy a cheap back wheel and cassette. In fact, my best bike is on my turbo a the moment, and the old bike is in the garage with mudguards on it. Until I bought the latest bike, the old one was best and just had guards fitted as needed.

imposter2.0

VTech wrote:

and 2) due to not wanting to damage the bike.

what 'damage' do you think you might do to the bike, by riding it in the wet?

Froomes Edgar

Imposter wrote:

VTech wrote:

and 2) due to not wanting to damage the bike.

what damage do you think you might do to the bike, by riding it in the wet?

MEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLTTING

marksteven

my pompetermine with 8 spd alfine , wet nasty weather & commuter bike . got 6 bikes in all

VTech

Wow, sarcasm is rife this morning.
I'm just following on what people with a sports car would suggest, you can have a nice car for summer weekends and one for commuting. Just like a bike for summer leisure and training and one for winter that has less value in case you fall off or damage it.
After all, you guys contradict quite a lot and I'm more about saying it how it is. You need only look at the adds section and ebay etc for plenty of adds quoting "never been out in the wet" so either people are saying one thing and meaning another or just plain lying ?

imposter2.0

VTech wrote:

Wow, sarcasm is rife this morning.
I'm just following on what people with a sports car would suggest, you can have a nice car for summer weekends and one for commuting. Just like a bike for summer leisure and training and one for winter that has less value in case you fall off or damage it.
After all, you guys contradict quite a lot and I'm more about saying it how it is. You need only look at the adds section and ebay etc for plenty of adds quoting "never been out in the wet" so either people are saying one thing and meaning another or just plain lying ?

I've got a winter bike - I just wanted to know why you think riding in the wet would damage any bike?

VTech

Imposter wrote:

VTech wrote:

Wow, sarcasm is rife this morning.
I'm just following on what people with a sports car would suggest, you can have a nice car for summer weekends and one for commuting. Just like a bike for summer leisure and training and one for winter that has less value in case you fall off or damage it.
After all, you guys contradict quite a lot and I'm more about saying it how it is. You need only look at the adds section and ebay etc for plenty of adds quoting "never been out in the wet" so either people are saying one thing and meaning another or just plain lying ?

I've got a winter bike - I just wanted to know why you think riding in the wet would damage any bike?

For me personally I think it comes down to lack of skill and getting to learn how to cycle safely. I have a fast bike and don't feel I should take that for granted. I often work on cars that are way to powerful for customers and the best investment that can get is to get driver training in a lesser powered car so likewise I feel especially in wet conditions people should try and get experience in a lesser machine.

imposter2.0

VTech wrote:

For me personally I think it comes down to lack of skill and getting to learn how to cycle safely. I have a fast bike and don't feel I should take that for granted. I often work on cars that are way to powerful for customers and the best investment that can get is to get driver training in a lesser powered car so likewise I feel especially in wet conditions people should try and get experience in a lesser machine.

Not sure what you mean when you say you have a 'fast bike' ? Usually, a bike is only as fast as the guy who pushes the pedals. You still haven't really explained how riding in the wet would damage a bike?

Ber Nard

Imposter wrote:

VTech wrote:

For me personally I think it comes down to lack of skill and getting to learn how to cycle safely. I have a fast bike and don't feel I should take that for granted. I often work on cars that are way to powerful for customers and the best investment that can get is to get driver training in a lesser powered car so likewise I feel especially in wet conditions people should try and get experience in a lesser machine.

Not sure what you mean when you say you have a 'fast bike' ? Usually, a bike is only as fast as the guy who pushes the pedals. You still haven't really explained how riding in the wet would damage a bike?

From his OP, I gather that if he's not confident riding in the wet then there's are far greater chance of him crashing the bike. And taking a bike out in the rain isn't great for the drive train unless you keep on top of your maintenance.


I have a winter bike and I'll soon have built up a wet weather summer bike, but that's because I hoard bike parts rather than sell them, not because I think it's necessary.

Rob

danlikesbikes

JackPozzi wrote:

I suspect most cyclists do. Personally, the first road bike I bought was relegated to winter hack bike status within 6 months when I decided I wanted something a bit nicer. The poor thing is still my main winter bike 6 years later, kitted out with mudguards and occasionally a set of panniers, very rarely gets a proper clean and most of the components get replaced with items several levels below what I would use on my best bikes when they wear out.

^-^ Same as.

Bough a sparkly new bike then after 12 months did some upgrades to wheels & components and with a little extra bought a cheap frame and had a winter hack.

There might be an element of additional wear & tear on your summer bike if riding through the winter, however with proper maintenance and cleaning you'll be fine.

Only thing I'd add is if the weather is really poor & no mudguards you might find your asked to ride towards the rear of the group, or do so just out of courtesy. Though I'm sure that you will very quickly find out what the done thing is in your group as there is no hard and fast rule.

VTech

Imposter wrote:

VTech wrote:

For me personally I think it comes down to lack of skill and getting to learn how to cycle safely. I have a fast bike and don't feel I should take that for granted. I often work on cars that are way to powerful for customers and the best investment that can get is to get driver training in a lesser powered car so likewise I feel especially in wet conditions people should try and get experience in a lesser machine.

Not sure what you mean when you say you have a 'fast bike' ? Usually, a bike is only as fast as the guy who pushes the pedals. You still haven't really explained how riding in the wet would damage a bike?

Only listening to what I've read here and in magazines so excuse me if I'm wrong but apparently there is a difference between bikes and from riding the AR4 after a cheap £250 unit I can confirm that peddle for peddle the Felt feels quicker so to answer the question fully, I'm lacking experience and after a run in the dry last week I found that with so much to concentrate on I really dot need the added pressure of wet weather for a while until I feel more confident.

Nik Cube

Short answer to the op - yes I have a Ribble winter training bike - proper mudguards

I bought it as a commuter knowing that the mudguards would stay on all year round so she's ready for most weather conditions it also has heavier tyres on. In the snow I use an old mtb which I'm considering converting to single speed.

My best bikes come out on dry days, no mudguards (no clearance for them either) better rubber but not as puncture proof, and yes they are faster to ride.

Unlike some I maintain my winter bike pretty well cleaned/lubed weekly at least, but then it gets ridden pretty much everyday and I hate squeaks and rattles.

VTech

Nik Cube wrote:

Short answer to the op - yes I have a Ribble winter training bike - proper mudguards

I bought it as a commuter knowing that the mudguards would stay on all year round so she's ready for most weather conditions it also has heavier tyres on. In the snow I use an old mtb which I'm considering converting to single speed.

My best bikes come out on dry days, no mudguards (no clearance for them either) better rubber but not as puncture proof, and yes they are faster to ride.

Unlike some I maintain my winter bike pretty well cleaned/lubed weekly at least, but then it gets ridden pretty much everyday and I hate squeaks and rattles.

Exactly the answer I was after. Thanks.
Out I curiosity, what bike did you go for ?

bernithebiker

Imposter wrote:

VTech wrote:

and 2) due to not wanting to damage the bike.

what 'damage' do you think you might do to the bike, by riding it in the wet?

Well I hate to revive an old thread, but if it's a Pinarello, it would seem you will 'damage' the headset!!

Here's my wet weather bike;

Nik Cube

VTech wrote:

Nik Cube wrote:

Short answer to the op - yes I have a Ribble winter training bike - proper mudguards

I bought it as a commuter knowing that the mudguards would stay on all year round so she's ready for most weather conditions it also has heavier tyres on. In the snow I use an old mtb which I'm considering converting to single speed.

My best bikes come out on dry days, no mudguards (no clearance for them either) better rubber but not as puncture proof, and yes they are faster to ride.

Unlike some I maintain my winter bike pretty well cleaned/lubed weekly at least, but then it gets ridden pretty much everyday and I hate squeaks and rattles.

Exactly the answer I was after. Thanks.
Out I curiosity, what bike did you go for ?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/road- ... BRW&bike=1

Mines got campagnolo groupset

twoshots

I have a wet weather bike, but it's also my dry weather bike, Sunday morning bike, group ride bike, TT bike and as seems to be the case at the moment, my snow bike! I just ride it and clean/lube it weekly. I like it but it's not precious, it's replaceable.

pride4ever

NO, I have a specialized Cronk for work and all my spare money goes on my Bottecchia which I ride all year round and treat like a beautiful woman. A winter bike is just money better spent on your No1 bike.

stueys

Struggle with why this question brings out the normal sarcastic responses. I've a bike I use for winter, wet, turbo. It's my Spesh allez which was the first bike I had. My rationale is that (a) I keep guards on it, I don't really want to put guards on my best bike, (b) an off is far more likely in slippery winter conditions, replacing Alu and Tiagra is a lot cheaper than carbon and dura ace.

To me that made a lot more sense than the £200-300 I'd have made selling the Spesh. In summer it stays on the turbo with a turbo wheel on (unless its raining)

smidsy

VTech wrote:

Nik Cube wrote:

Short answer to the op - yes I have a Ribble winter training bike - proper mudguards

I bought it as a commuter knowing that the mudguards would stay on all year round so she's ready for most weather conditions it also has heavier tyres on. In the snow I use an old mtb which I'm considering converting to single speed.

My best bikes come out on dry days, no mudguards (no clearance for them either) better rubber but not as puncture proof, and yes they are faster to ride.

Unlike some I maintain my winter bike pretty well cleaned/lubed weekly at least, but then it gets ridden pretty much everyday and I hate squeaks and rattles.

Exactly the answer I was after. Thanks.
Out I curiosity, what bike did you go for ?

He told you already

You will get the hang of all the makes and model some day.

boogi11

At next years bie show I wii be buying my new summer bike, and my bianchi will become my inter bike, I can't wait

Sir Velo

To answer the OP then yes I have winter and summer bikes. But if I had only one then I would definitely ride it in all weather but I would invest in two sets of wheels. So despite what others say about "what damage will you cause?" I feel that wear on wheels is considerable, grit/salt/water is not in my view favourable on rims. Winter wheels would also have tougher tyres and you are more likely to hit a pothole in the wet as some may be covered in standing water (and it is not always possible to ride around ever puddle.

Just my thoughts.

SV

jgsi

Sir Velo wrote:

To answer the OP then yes I have winter and summer bikes. But if I had only one then I would definitely ride it in all weather but I would invest in two sets of wheels. So despite what others say about "what damage will you cause?" I feel that wear on wheels is considerable, grit/salt/water is not in my view favourable on rims. Winter wheels would also have tougher tyres and you are more likely to hit a pothole in the wet as some may be covered in standing water (and it is not always possible to ride around ever puddle.

Just my thoughts.

SV

Sold my Allez as needed the cash flow to flow a bit in 2012, and was always tempted to spend more and more money on it... because thats what you do with bikes.
Now the racebike is 1 for all... well for 2013 anyways.
Yes, I do have a new set of carbon race wheels on order and I have a spring rebuild for before season starts... but with SKS long blades on it and steady eddy fulcrum 5s it is out and about Shrewsbury tmrrw on a 60 miler reliability thrash.

atakd

I think it's difficult to rationalise a second bike for winter. If you want to ride a decent bike, whatever you see that as, then why not do so all year? The cost of buying and maintaining a hack works out more than replacing even high end components and you spend 1/2 the year on something you think of as substandard. If you just like bikes and want more than 1 then fair enough but there's no economic logic behind it.

philwint

atakd wrote:

I think it's difficult to rationalise a second bike for winter. If you want to ride a decent bike, whatever you see that as, then why not do so all year? The cost of buying and maintaining a hack works out more than replacing even high end components and you spend 1/2 the year something you think of as substandard. If you just like bikes and want more than 1 then fair enough but there's no economic logic behind it.

Isn't it more that most of us buy Road Bike No.1, enjoy it for a year or two, then upgrade to Road bike No.2. bike No.1 gets mudgaurds and becomes the winter hack because we can't bear to part with our old pal?

atakd

philwint wrote:

Isn't it more that most of us buy Road Bike No.1, enjoy it for a year or two, then upgrade to Road bike No.2. bike No.1 gets mudgaurds and becomes the winter hack because we can't beat to part with our old pal?

Yes, it probably is, although I was glad of the £ for my 1st bike to go towards my new one, plus I didn't want storage hassle. My point is that it is an emotional thing rather than a rational one - though none the worse for that.

sigorman85

Started of in November first road bike with a giant defy 4 to get the feel of road bikes few month in to it and bought a pinarello full carbon so the giant is for work and wet horrid days and the pinarello should be ready for summer if it comes this year

lawrences

I have a commuting bike but it's been ridden into the ground so hard I wouldn't want to go far from home on it. With a good service and alot of wheel trueing it could become a winter bike but I just don't see it being worth the effort.

Considering the n+1 bike is a TT bike I don't see myself joining this winter bike crew anytime soon.

It rains in the winter and it rains in the summer so what's the difference?