Winter Training Bike

Diego Murphy

I know it's a bit early to be talking about winter training bikes but I'm out injured with a broken hand until October. Anyway, looking at the weather today, it's probably good timing.

Can anyone recommend a sub €1,000 bike that would be suited to winter/wet training spins. I've got a carbon but want to protect it from the elements. Saw this on ribble which seems quite good http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbg/road-track-bike/ribble-winter-training-audax-bikes?sub=conf_BBRW&type=RIBMO

DirkVoodoo

It's hard to look past the ribble, getting one myself as a commuter/winter bike.

Fitting for full mudguards, a rack yet still quite aggressive geometry. It certainly won't win any beauty contests but lots of people who buy them are more than happy with them.

Plus, not being a looker you won't mind it getting dirty/chipped and speccing a lower end groupset means that spare parts will be nice and cheap.

Just a shame it doesn't come in any other colours. I'd prefer a matte black or graphite coloured frame.

Plastik

Are you looking to use the BTW on it? If not, second hand would be the way to go in my opinion. I picked up a Boardman Comp last year for the same purpose with 105 for about half your budget. Not the most aggressive geo and I don't like riding it half as much as the Planet X Sl Pro, but with a set of Crud Racers fitted it does the job just fine.

G rock

i cycled an on one pompino all through the winter, and will be getting it going this winter too

cheap, fairly practical, nothing much to go wrong with it.

canti brakes are a bit pants though

if it's solely for commuting i'd go with something like that.

comfortable over longer distances too if you fancy it!

lovingitUA

Diego Murphy wrote: »

I know it's a bit early to be talking about winter training bikes but I'm out injured with a broken hand until October. Anyway, looking at the weather today, it's probably good timing.

Can anyone recommend a sub €1,000 bike that would be suited to winter/wet training spins. I've got a carbon but want to protect it from the elements. Saw this on ribble which seems quite good http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbg/road-track-bike/ribble-winter-training-audax-bikes?sub=conf_BBRW&type=RIBMO

I managed to pick up a colnago master Olympic frame for 145 euro on eBay. I have it fully built now nearly with campy record and some centaur parts...buying old zipps for it Friday. Fair enough I might look like a ****head but my thinking is it will motivate me to get out more during winter. I've managed to buy it all for about 800quid so for less than a grand, all new parts bar wheels, frame and shifters I don't see the reason not for a nicer bike and fully customizable.

Diego Murphy

Plastik wrote: »

Are you looking to use the BTW on it? If not, second hand would be the way to go in my opinion. I picked up a Boardman Comp last year for the same purpose with 105 for about half your budget. Not the most aggressive geo and I don't like riding it half as much as the Planet X Sl Pro, but with a set of Crud Racers fitted it does the job just fine.

My bike to work has been used so not getting it on that. Where would be the best place to find 2nd hand? Adverts.ie?

billyhead

Diego Murphy wrote: »

My bike to work has been used so not getting it on that. Where would be the best place to find 2nd hand? Adverts.ie?

Whats the problem with using the carbon bike during the winter. Can you not just clean the groupset when it gets wet or full of muck etc? I was thinking of using my carbon bike all year round for training. Would others posters thing I should just get another bike for the winter training spins?

DirkVoodoo

billyhead wrote: »

Whats the problem with using the carbon bike during the winter. Can you not just clean the groupset when it gets wet or full of muck etc? I was thinking of using my carbon bike all year round for training. Would others posters thing I should just get another bike for the winter training spins?

Do whatever you are happiest doing. The advantage of a winter-specific frame like the ribble is the eyelets on the frame and fork for full mudguards. Not raceblades.

Also, depending on your carbon frame, it may not be able to take anything wider than 25mm tyres.

It's all personal really.

Plastik

Diego Murphy wrote: »

My bike to work has been used so not getting it on that. Where would be the best place to find 2nd hand? Adverts.ie?

Adverts and Donedeal were the two places I looked. Personally I prefer Adverts because of the questions/posting in the ad for all to see.

There's no particular reason to use a winter training bike over your carbon bike in the poor weather, the carbon won't disintegrate. But there's no particular reason why you shouldn't buy a winter training bike to use if you have the means either. I bought mine as a bike to use for any time I commute work, to leave mud guards mounted all year around for bad weather spins, as a bike to be less 'concerned' about. Once the weather turns properly :rolleyes: I'll give the good bike an extensive cleaning and put it away to keep it as good as possible. Extend the life of the (more) expensive tyres, (more) expensive brake pads, (more) expensive group set, (more) expensive wheels.

Personal preference, but I wouldn't be without mine.

Diego Murphy

Plastik wrote: »

Extend the life of the (more) expensive tyres, (more) expensive brake pads, (more) expensive group set, (more) expensive wheels.

That's exactly my thinking.

lennymc

i bought a giant defy bottom of the range thing as a commuter, and while i really dont particularly care about it, its really growing on me as a go anywhere, lock it to something, it doesnt matter if it gets scratched or dirty and i dont have to clean it bike. it rides quite well, ive done a few 50 odd k commutes on it, with rack and pannier, and full mudguards, and its comfy, fast enough and nice enough to cycle. cost about 600 quid. I dont like riding my good bike during the winter, as the roads are salty and thing get coroded, so i figured it would be better to buy a cheaper bike, with cheaper bits, than have to replace the bits on the expensive bike.

Diego Murphy

will keep an eye on done deal and adverts. Not much on it at the mo but that might change after the summer.

fat bloke

Just saw on the bargain thread that the canyon roadlite is going for 899!! You won't do better than that.

Diego Murphy

fat bloke wrote: »

Just saw on the bargain thread that the canyon roadlite is going for 899!! You won't do better than that.

Have heard they're decent bikes alright so might consider one.

Diego Murphy

Diego Murphy wrote: »

Have heard they're decent bikes alright so might consider one.

Just checked and most sizes are sold out unfortunately.