Winter bike - why?

bogmanfan

This might seem like a very stupid question, but I'm in the process of buying a road bike and I've read lots of people saying that they have a winter bike, usually older and lower spec. Why is this? Are higher end frames/groupsets more fragile or prone to corrosion?

xz

nah, people are just too lazy to clean their bikes after every spin in the Winter

Raam

It's more just to keep the good bike in as best condition as possible. The elements do eventually take their toll on a bike.

Edit: and wot XZ said.

thebouldwhacker

So your nice bike stays nice:)


Edit: and wot XZ and Raam said.

xz

EDIT : It's for this reason, that I have a Winter bike :rolleyes:

ROK ON

Its a nice idea, but given the weather patterns in this country it hardly seems necessary.
Rain is as likely in July and August as it is any other month, just that a little bit less falls in July Aug. The main damage comes from the dirt that accumulates on the roads in winter (grit, mulch from decaying leaves etc).

Instead of having a winter bike, maybe buy a set of hardwearing wheels and put on thicker tyres if clearance allows. Buy a good chain cleaner and lube. In winter I clean the chain regularly, but I couldnt be arsed wasting time cleaning the frame.

ISTR that statistically the driest months are April and May, and wettest are Jan, Mar and August.

thebouldwhacker

Of course it can be a reason to buy another bike

morana

the original idea was to have a heavier bike for training and get more benefit when you switch over.

I know of a few riders who had panniers and put stuff(heavy stuff) in them to make it that bit harder. How about a 30 lb bike for training on? Also some guys I know used dynamos (bottle type)on the wheels for that extra bit of friction.

Now I could race on my winter bike easily and not notice a huge difference.

Lemag

For the reasons stated above. It's easier to come off the bike during wet/icy conditions.

I've just got to get me a winter bike now. Anyone mind if I start another 'what bike' thread

chakattack

MUDGUARDS

Tonyandthewhale

Lemag wrote: »

I've just got to get me a winter bike now. Anyone mind if I start another 'what bike' thread

Blah blah blah, cycle to work scheme, blah blah blah no you don't want a hybrid, blah blah blah, canyon blah blah blah. There job done. Everything you needed to know about 'what' bike.

Cork24

for the winter or during week days i just use the Turbo Trainer..

Beasty

I use the same bike for commuting/training all year round (and racing during the summer). Maybe I need a new bike;)

ashleey

It's so you can turn up at sportives on your Canyon/ Planet X/ Focus and be overheard to shout loudly 'of course this is just my winter hack and I do find these Cosmic Carbone s a touch on the heavy side'

Captain Havoc

I wouldn't use my good bike in the winter for fear of coming off and damaging it.

blorg

ashleey wrote: »

It's so you can turn up at sportives on your Canyon/ Planet X/ Focus and be overheard to shout loudly 'of course this is just my winter hack and I do find these Cosmic Carbone s a touch on the heavy side'

I bought a Planet X, full carbon, full Ultegra as my winter bike. At €1,100 at the time it barely cost more than an entry level aluminum Sora/Tiagra bike from an Irish shop. I have a compact on it which is a nice option to have for sportives. Wouldn't be using the Carbones on a hilly sportive though, don't you know they are a touch on the heavy side.

aquanaut

Why buy a winter bike? Being boards, I know I will be sounded out if im wrong but I would think 2 reasons - 1) heavier and maybe bigger gears to build up strength, also heavier puncture resistent tyres, maybe alu incase of crashes due to ice 2) good bike would need cleaning the second you get home as salt rotts stuff and winter sh1t gets everywhere - about right?

C3PO

Am I the only one who's honest enough to admit that I hate the thought of my immaculate "pimp-mobile" getting wet (except when I'm washing it!) never mind getting it covered in salt, muck and grime during the winter months?

blorg

RPL1 wrote: »

Am I the only one who's honest enough to admit that I hate the thought of my immaculate "pimp-mobile" getting wet (except when I'm washing it!) never mind getting it covered in salt, muck and grime during the winter months?

No, that is the main reason for me, and most people I imagine. 'Heavier bike to build strength' is nonsense, a lighter bike is more fun to ride and you can just cycle faster. I would use wider tyres (tourer/cross/MTB) if the roads were seriously bad (ice/snow) but most of the winter 700x25 is fine.

07Lapierre

Winter Bike

Summer Bike

Spot the difference?

Pigeon Reaper

The winter bike is generally a old yoke found in the bottom of a skip to which you can fit lots of lights, full mud guards, panniers and a nice comfy saddle. It doesn't matter that it's covered in mud or if you drop it on ice. The big tyres will help with grip and having puncture resistant ones on are great when your hands are too frozen to fix a puncture. The heavier the bike the better as this makes you work harder so you might just warm up a little bit so you no longer feel like you're on scotts last expedition.

Lumen

ROK ON wrote: »

The main damage comes from the dirt that accumulates on the roads in winter (grit, mulch from decaying leaves etc).

Yes, but that "dirt" is evil stuff. During the last two winters, with all the grit/sand/salt being put on the roads, the bike is caked in the stuff in one ride. It didn't wash off the roads until about April.

The thought of all that grit grinding away through my overpriced groupset was quite upsetting.

I was up until 1am last night working on my new winter bike project. Watch this space...

07Lapierre

aquanaut wrote: »

Why buy a winter bike? Being boards, I know I will be sounded out if im wrong but I would think 2 reasons - 1) heavier and maybe bigger gears to build up strength, also heavier puncture resistent tyres, maybe alu incase of crashes due to ice 2) good bike would need cleaning the second you get home as salt rotts stuff and winter sh1t gets everywhere - about right?

I would still clean a winter bike when its dirty. Salt, muck, grit etc. is bad for any bike, winter or summer.

edit: not sure if i agree with the "heavier and maybe bigger gears to build up strength" bit

blorg

07Lapierre wrote: »

I would still clean a winter bike when its dirty. Salt, muck, grit etc. is bad for any bike, winter or summer.

I clean my winter bike certainly but not as often as my summer bike. Every couple of weeks maybe.

The harder gears thing, certainly not. There is even a tradition that in winter you go into the small ring and don't come out of it until spring, to develop your cadence and pedalling style.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

There is even a tradition that in winter you go into the small ring and don't come out of it until spring, to develop your cadence and pedalling style.

Heavy bikes, small ring in winter, fixed gear for improving pedalling style. That's the sort of thing practiced by mad old fellas. Sure, they rode the Ras back in the day on a 4 speed straight through cassette wearing a string vest and shoes carved out of spuds, so they must know what they're talking about.

07Lapierre

Lumen wrote: »

Heavy bikes, small ring in winter, fixed gear for improving pedalling style. That's the sort of thing practiced by mad old fellas. Sure, they rode the Ras back in the day on a 4 speed straight through cassette wearing a string vest and shoes carved out of spuds, so they must know what they're talking about.

There bikes were fithy too!

aquanaut

aquanaut wrote: »

1) heavier and maybe bigger gears to build up strength - about right?

Bad wording on my part - maybe not intentionly heavier but I bet there is no-one on boards who has a heavier summer bike than their winter bike! As for the gearing I stand corrected. I know that myself this winter I will be working on leg strength and cadence and not worrying about distance too much. Also, I do clean my bike through the winter and would also clean my winter bike if i had one.

blorg

Cheaper bike that you aren't so concerned about would be better wording; they are only heavier as they are cheaper.

iregk

Right lets summarise for the OP.

Do you need a winter bike? Is it the new must have? No.
Can you use the same bike all year round? Yes.
Should you feel embarrassed pulling up beside a bunch of carbon jockeys on an alu frame and then proclaim it as your winter rig (its the only bike you own), despite it being July? No.

So why have a winter bike?

Well for me this is this reason. I've the high spec carbon for racing and longer summer rides/sportifs. The lower tiagra spec alu frame carbon fork machine is my winter bike. That said I also use this throughout the year. Its a fantastic machine and I've done the odd 160km sportif on it also as its a different gearing option to the carbon baby.

The reason I have this is because when I bought the new bike I didn't bother getting rid of the existing one. So its not by reason or design its just 'feck it sure why not'. I've a spare winter set of wheels which have wider 25 tyres on them that i can swap onto either machine for slippery winter spins. Current wheels on both have 23 gator skins on them.

So should you spend money and get a winter bike? No. Spend about €250 if you like get a reasonably good set of wheels and put wider tyres on them and the same rear cassette thats on your current one and you've a set of wheels for winter! Even cheaper just spent 50 on wider tyres and change them when winter rolls around.

ashleey

iregk wrote: »

Right lets summarise for the OP.

Do you need a winter bike? Is it the new must have? No.
Can you use the same bike all year round? Yes.
Should you feel embarrassed pulling up beside a bunch of carbon jockeys on an alu frame and then proclaim it as your winter rig (its the only bike you own), despite it being July? No.

So why have a winter bike?

Well for me this is this reason. I've the high spec carbon for racing and longer summer rides/sportifs. The lower tiagra spec alu frame carbon fork machine is my winter bike. That said I also use this throughout the year. Its a fantastic machine and I've done the odd 160km sportif on it also as its a different gearing option to the carbon baby.

The reason I have this is because when I bought the new bike I didn't bother getting rid of the existing one. So its not by reason or design its just 'feck it sure why not'. I've a spare winter set of wheels which have wider 25 tyres on them that i can swap onto either machine for slippery winter spins. Current wheels on both have 23 gator skins on them.

So should you spend money and get a winter bike? No. Spend about €250 if you like get a reasonably good set of wheels and put wider tyres on them and the same rear cassette thats on your current one and you've a set of wheels for winter! Even cheaper just spent 50 on wider tyres and change them when winter rolls around.

Me too! and as Captain Havoc says, if you slip off on your 'old' bike you aren't as upset, so you are more likely to use the older bike in your fleet if it looks more slippy outside. (plus of course you have the opportunity for moving up to a platinum customer if you have more than one bike to upgrade bits on)

07Lapierre

Maybe a "Winter bike" is a bad description. It should be called a "All year/general purpose bike".

I use mine in Winter (it has mudguards/lights) and I use it for cummuting purposes (winter and summer).