All this talk of winter and summer bikes

John37

Hi, I am waiting for deliver of my first full carbon road bike. I spent more on it than I expected to so it will be something I really need to make last. I do have another bike but it is a mountain bike which I love getting nice and muddy on

Anyway - I have noticed people talk about their 'summer bike' and 'winter training bike'. In for sale ad's i have seen people write about their bike 'never being ridden in the rain' etc. My LBS told me it's good to have a cheaper bike for bad weather days and then your 'special' bike for dry weather riding.

Is there something bad about taking your prized road bike out in the rain? It's not the end of the world for me as I have my MTB to play with but I would love to know what this is all about. Road bikes don't melt in the rain do they?

Bigus

The only potential weakness I see is the bottom bracket and it's replaceable ....so go ride !

billyhead

Its just an excuse for another bike. As long asa you keep the components clean and look after them you can use the good bike all year round. Don't seea problem with getting a carbon bike wet and mucky. A good clean down should keep it in top condition.

TheBlaaMan

You're right, lots of guys have a aluminium or some such second bike for the winter, but by definition it is likely to be a 'lesser' bike to their good carbon /titanium bike, and from my viewpoint, I need to know that I'm going to enjoy the ride fully, and that means riding my pride and joy, not some compromised lesser bike.

Why buy a great bike only to leave it locked up for half the year? Get some tools, familiarise yourself with how best to look after your bike - and ride it, lots !!

Give it a rinse down with a hose after each winter spin to get off the grit/other crud and carry out a good strip down and clean/lube every month, and you'll be just fine.

On the other hand, if you get the chance to buy more bikes, all the better - then you can become an advocate of the other approach:D

chakattack

And the headset....give it some fresh grease every 6-8 weeks.

Dowee

Don't know about everyone else but I tend to get wetter in the summer than the winter these says so the concept of a winter and summer bike needs to be flipped!

Seweryn

Get the best bike you can, keep it serviced regularly and just ride it and enjoy it.
Why would you want to spend extra cash on something that is less enjoyable to ride?

Raam

Anti winter bike people, stop ruining it for everyone else.

kincsem

You also need Spring and Autumn bikes.

Seweryn

Raam wrote: »

Anti winter bike people, stop ruining it for everyone else.

Lads, get on yer bikes and start riding them, instead of looking at them .

C3PO

My white bar tape would be destroyed if I rode my "good bike" in the rain ... not to mention my white Sidi shoes ..... no thank you!

Seweryn

C3PO wrote: »

My white bar tape would be destroyed if I rode my "good bike" in the rain ... not to mention my white Sidi shoes ..... no thank you!

So how many times per annum you can ride it?

Seweryn

Bigus wrote: »

The only potential weakness I see is the bottom bracket and it's replaceable ....so go ride !

All components wear out, but you just need to keep the bike serviced regularly, that is all. I found that, for example, my Look Keo Max 2 pedals go regularly. They were replaced three times on warranty already. Their axle seals are not good enough for the conditions the bike is used, as the water destroys the bearings, when it finally gets in there. It is a design fault after all.

StaggerLee

I'm about to buy a "nicer" bike, probably carbon. Still mulling over the nice carbon frame v aluminium frame with better omponents headwrecker at the moment. Anyway, I have Giant Rapid that I'm very fond of. I was going to sell it to help fund the new purchase, but I think I'll keep it as my "hack" as some folk call it. For the new bike, whatever that may be, I dont fancy lugging around the big lock, leaving it exposed to vandals outside work etc.
Not too bothered about getting the bike dirty, as someone said, quick spray down and it will be sorted.

t'bear

In the same boat, drooling over a Canyon at the moment, a good 'summer bike' for special days out in the saddle.

The logic is plain to see for everyone surely , except my wife doesn't seem to get it!

kuro_man

Falls are more likely in winter, which wouldn't be nice on a $$$ frame

Saves you changing wheels if you want to keep your deep dishes for events

Short distances with a heavier/slower bike = better training

AstraMonti

You just need another bike.

Dermot Illogical

I'm going to need to move my autumn and spring bikes into a spare room to make space for these summer and winter ones I've been hearing about.

John37

Sorry for reopening this thread but I was wondering do most posters here use a second bike for commuting to work/college. I received my carbon bike and used it over the last few weeks to comutte to work but the road surface on the commute route is not great and I was thinking of getting a second road bike for the commute rather then destroy or wear and tear my carbon frame. Would I get much of a road bike for such a low budget of 500 euro? Or should I just save the cash and I am just being paranoid about the carbon frame and after a full winter of commuting upgrade or replace the tyres and groupset next spring/summer after the miles being put on the bike over the winter

C3PO

As you can see from the previous posts there are two schools of thought on this - "ride it all year, it'll be grand" and "park it up for the winter and use something that you're not so worried about"!
Personally, my "good" road bike is already wrapped in bubble wrap and hanging from the ceiling until the next month with no "r" in it but I'm a bit odd like that ....! I'm also lucky enough to have a decent 2nd bike with a scruffy carbon frame but with nice components so it's no real sacrifice!

ashleey

If you like changing out bottom bracket bearings then ride away. Just swapped out my bb30 bearings and headset. All 4 cartridges were rusted and full of grit and sludge. It's no minor job to replace them. If you are cleaning off loads of crud don't spray directly into those areas!

Tonyandthewhale

John37 wrote: »

Sorry for reopening this thread but I was wondering do most posters here use a second bike for commuting to work/college. I received my carbon bike and used it over the last few weeks to comutte to work but the road surface on the commute route is not great and I was thinking of getting a second road bike for the commute rather then destroy or wear and tear my carbon frame. Would I get much of a road bike for such a low budget of 500 euro? Or should I just save the cash and I am just being paranoid about the carbon frame and after a full winter of commuting upgrade or replace the tyres and groupset next spring/summer after the miles being put on the bike over the winter

If you've got somewhere safe to lock it/store it in work then there's no problem riding it to work. Don't worry about road surface, the frame won't break. Once it gets colder and they start gritting the roads then you'll have a greater danger of wear and tear but that's only a short portion of the year really.

el tel

John37 wrote: »

Anyway - I have noticed people talk about their 'summer bike' and 'winter training bike'. In for sale ad's i have seen people write about their bike 'never being ridden in the rain' etc. My LBS told me it's good to have a cheaper bike for bad weather days and then your 'special' bike for dry weather riding.

Is there something bad about taking your prized road bike out in the rain?

You need a winter bike so should you sell your 'good' bike you can state in the ad that it has never been ridden in the rain etc.