Difference between winter/summer bike

jamie4759
jamie4759 Posts: 117
edited September 2013 in Road general
Hi all, I wanted to pick your brains in respect of some differences I have found between the set ups on my summer and winter bikes. My winter bike has a head tube 2 cm taller than my carbon road bike. I have the same make and model stem and bars on both bikes, but due to the carbon bike having a 1 cm longer effective top tube, I have a 1 cm smaller stem on that bike. The reach (tip of saddle to centre of bars) is almost the same minus 2-3 mm or so, but due to the larger head tube on the winter bike, the bars are around 2 cm higher than that on the carbon bike. I can't get the stem any lower on the winter bike because of the head tube, and on the summer bike I can't get it higher as the tube has been cut. Both bikes are comfortable enough for long club rides and commuting. I know some people say that both bikes should be the same, but most people I talk to seem to think that the winter bike should always be a little more upright. What do you all think?

Comments

  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    It's fine. Go ride your bikes.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Summer bike has slick tyres, a rigid frame and fork and drop bars, the winter bike has front suspension, flat bars and big fat knobbly tyres because roads stop being a fun place to ride once the nights and winter weather set in.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Winter bike = one of my 'summer' bikes but with mudguards. Sorted.
  • Mikey41
    Mikey41 Posts: 690
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    Winter bike = one of my 'summer' bikes but with mudguards. Sorted.
    ^^ this

    I bought a new "best" road bike and now just leave the mudguards on the old one permanently. It's got a brace of lights on it now for winter commuting too.

    They don't have the same saddles, bars are different, shifters are different, one is carbon one is alu, position is slightly different on the new one.

    Neither are uncomfortable over a long distance, so I'm not worrying about it :)
    Giant Defy 2 (2012)
    Giant Defy Advanced 2 (2013)
    Giant Revel 1 Ltd (2013)
    Strava
  • Simon-R7
    Simon-R7 Posts: 59
    Mudguards and more lights :roll: other than that its the same old bike
  • jamie4759
    jamie4759 Posts: 117
    Thanks Luke.
  • Radial
    Radial Posts: 7
    The convention seems to be that its usual to have a more relaxed geometry on a Winter Trainer. Not really sure why this is. As it happens my own Winter Trainer also doubles as an Audax Bike, where a longer headtube leads to a more upright riding position, and more comfort during longer periods in the saddle.

    Don't recall any difficulties making the transition early this year from this to my race bike which has a much more agressive geometry.
  • BrandonA
    BrandonA Posts: 553
    Would the geometry differences you talk about be due to cheaper bikes having a less agressive setup as they are aimed at a larger market?

    I upgraded my bike and the cheaper one will now be the winter one. The more expensive one is far more aero than the first.

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