"Dry miles only": really?!?

jonny_trousers

I've been on the lookout for something lighter-stiffer-blingier second-hand and I've seen several eBay ads for carbon framed bikes that say things like, "Only ever ridden in the dry" or, "Sunday best only" and it's actually put me off. We live in the UK FFS! Do people really spend 3 grand on a bike they're scared to use because of typical British weather? Is carbon really that fragile? Or are the sellers telling fibs? Maybe I should be looking at ti or posh steel instead!

DavidJB

I'm selling a bike that has only been ridden in the dry. Why? Because I've only raced on it and all of those days its been dry

nochekmate

Some of it may be stretching the truth somewhat but have you considered that some people may well have more than one bike?

My best bike may be best described as 'dry miles only' and I've had it nearly three years - the reason being that if the weather or weather forecast is for rain then I take an alternative bike out that is equipped with Crud roadracers. That's not to say that I've never been caught out in the odd shower on my best bike but I would happily describe it as 'dry miles only' if I was selling on the basis that it's not been an everyday ride.

thegreatdivide

My best is a dry miles bike as is the Colnago Master. There's a wet bike for the worst and a training bike that's allowed to get caught in the rain.

2oldnslow

I lived, until recently in Cyprus so in the case of my "best bike" hand on heart yes.

Bozman

My Look has only ever been used in the good weather, it may have been caught in the odd shower but if it looks like rain I use my Izalco.

smidsy

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

We live in the UK FFS! Do people really spend 3 grand on a bike they're scared to use because of typical British weather? !

Yes.

Edit: You should look at motorcycles too. People spend 30k on something they will only ever use in dry conditions, or even NEVER RIDE.

pkripper

there's only been one occasion in 3 years that my BMC has got wet whilst riding, and that was purely due to a shower in a sportive. But as above, I have other bikes for inclement weather.

So, in answer to your question, people do spend more than £3k on a sunday bike. Considerably more in some cases.

iPete

My best, aka race bike has only done dry miles. It's not even that expensive, I just get bored of scraping gunk out of cassettes with a fork, London eh!

Rode it this morning because the weather said dry but lots of standing water on the roads + race tyres = inevitable puncture :evil:

gavbarron

My best bike usually only gets ridden for races and I usually get lucky with weather so it's rarely seen rain. Only once I think. It's nothing to do with the carbon being fragile, how often do you see a huge pile up in a pro race and they jump back on? It's more that cleaning a bike and chain is an arse ache and time consuming if you want to do it properly. Much easier/cheaper to have a cheap training bike that you can just dump in the garage after a ride and clean it every once in a while.

Also, don't look at TT bikes, they are used even less than an expensive road bike.

nochekmate

gavbarron wrote:

My best bike usually only gets ridden for races and I usually get lucky with weather so it's rarely seen rain. Only once I think. It's nothing to do with the carbon being fragile, how often do you see a huge pile up in a pro race and they jump back on? It's more that cleaning a bike and chain is an ars* ache and time consuming if you want to do it properly. Much easier/cheaper to have a cheap training bike that you can just dump in the garage after a ride and clean it every once in a while.

Also, don't look at TT bikes, they are used even less than an expensive road bike.

But that's precisely why TT bikes can often make excellent secondhand purchases - bought a Felt B2 Pro/SRAM Red with Zipp 404 & 808 wheelset off eBay some time ago. It was immaculate and I paid only about 30% of the retail price of a new version :shock:

Triathletes, like overpaid middle-age cyclists (I only qualify on two of those descriptors), just love an upgrade!

Bozman

smidsy wrote:

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

We live in the UK FFS! Do people really spend 3 grand on a bike they're scared to use because of typical British weather? !

Yes.

Edit: You should look at motorcycles too. People spend 30k on something they will only ever use in dry conditions, or even NEVER RIDE.

My mate has 3 motorbikes, winter hack, commuter and Sunday best, the similarity between the owners of M-bikes and push bikes has come up a few times.

rolf_f

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

I've been on the lookout for something lighter-stiffer-blingier second-hand and I've seen several eBay ads for carbon framed bikes that say things like, "Only ever ridden in the dry" or, "Sunday best only" and it's actually put me off. We live in the UK FFS! Do people really spend 3 grand on a bike they're scared to use because of typical British weather? Is carbon really that fragile? Or are the sellers telling fibs? Maybe I should be looking at ti or posh steel instead!

FFS! Most days it doesn't rain and, if it does, I'm not an idiot FFS - I use the Ribble which has mudguards! FFS why would I choose to ride the Look which doesn't have mudguards when it is likely to rain FFS?!

FWIW, the dry bike thing isn't really about the frame anyway. A bike only ridden in the dry will suffer minimal amount of mechanical wear - it's the wet days that age bikes.

Mccaria

I think I can honestly say that my bike has only ever been taken out in the dry. Unfortunately in recent weeks its got into the nasty habit of coming home in the pxssing rain.

jonny_trousers

Rolf F wrote:

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

I've been on the lookout for something lighter-stiffer-blingier second-hand and I've seen several eBay ads for carbon framed bikes that say things like, "Only ever ridden in the dry" or, "Sunday best only" and it's actually put me off. We live in the UK FFS! Do people really spend 3 grand on a bike they're scared to use because of typical British weather? Is carbon really that fragile? Or are the sellers telling fibs? Maybe I should be looking at ti or posh steel instead!

FFS! Most days it doesn't rain and, if it does, I'm not an idiot FFS - I use the Ribble which has mudguards! FFS why would I choose to ride the Look which doesn't have mudguards when it is likely to rain FFS?!

:shock: Um, no offense intended.

I'm not accusing anyone of making stupid decisions, I'm just surprised that people will spend a lot of money on a bike they love and then be forced to restrict how much they use it. If you're into racing then I totally get it: you want the best equipment you can afford for the job and don't want to risk damaging it in wet conditions. If you can afford a second, wet weather, bike that excites you almost as much as the first, then why risk harming the posh one? Sadly I can't really, and the idea of me owning something really nice, yet having to go out on my heavy old Equilibrium because I live in the UK and it looks like it might rain saddens me. It's certainly made me have a rethink.

jgsi

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

If you're into racing then I totally get it: you want the best equipment you can afford for the job and don't want to risk damaging it in wet conditions. k.

Actually you have it slightly wrong in this respect.... training rides .. turbo if it's wet and nasty.. on the road if it's fair.
Racing... well as that's priority and I have spent on a race entry... we just suck it up and race in anything unless so bad it is called off by organiser.

The bikes are constantly being fettled, cleaned and or repaired as I enjoy that aspect of cycling.