Cycling in the winter months

[Mushroomgodmat]

Hi, just looking for some advice and thoughts...

I currently have two bikes - a road bike and an hybrid - iv not touched my hybrid for the last 3 months since getting my road bike.

Im now toying with the idea of selling it (would get about £400), but I realise it would probably be a good bike for winter due to its larger fatter tires.

So my question is this....Does anyone use there road bike for winter/city/town commuting, or do you purposely have two bikes for the job?

A frend has mentioned that I should keep the road bike and just buy some better tires for it (700x25) but since Iv not ridden the road bike in winter im unsure what the best bet would be.

Any advice for me?

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi, just looking for some advice and thoughts...

I currently have two bikes - a road bike and an hybrid - iv not touched my hybrid for the last 3 months since getting my road bike.

Im now toying with the idea of selling it (would get about £400), but I realise it would probably be a good bike for winter due to its larger fatter tires.

So my question is this....Does anyone use there road bike for winter/city/town commuting, or do you purposely have two bikes for the job?

A frend has mentioned that I should keep the road bike and just buy some better tires for it (700x25) but since Iv not ridden the road bike in winter im unsure what the best bet would be.

Any advice for me?

I'd intended to get a roadie this summer...didnt work out that way and I've just ended up with a bigger motorcycle instead!..ho hum.

But i never intended to ride the roadie in the winter. Partly because the bike I was buying would not accept mudgaurds (proper ones) and partly because the hackbike feels more practical (more bar space for lights, potential for a rack and just generally sturdier).

On top of all of that, they type of roadie I wanted would have suffered from the salt, grit and general crap that gets thrown over a bike during the winter (even when its not raining ...which is does surprisingly less than you'd think)

 

[BSRU]

I have two bikes for commuting, a Specialized Secteur road bike for dry days and my much cheaper hybrid for other days.
I bought the road bike in April and will only use in the winter if it is dry and no grit has been spread on the roads.
The hybrid has been my main bike for over two years now and is set-up for all weathers including another set of wheels with studded tyres.
I have managed quite easily with just the hybrid but I would not want to just have a reasonably expensive road bike in the winter.

My opinion is keep the hybrid and use as a winter bike.

 

[smokeysmoo]

You don't actually say what the bikes are, in particular the road bike. I won't use my road bike in winter as I don't want to trash the components, (Dura-Ace), with all the grime and salt etc.

I've just built myself a dedicated winter bike, but you don't need to go to that extreme. My advice would be to keep you hybrid for winter and mothball your road bike ready for next spring.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I have a hybrid bike and will probably use it for a winter commuter bike, however, was after a cheapo, old steel frame road bike instead as I find the drop handlebars much more comfy and the hybrid weighs about 25 kilos.

Is this just me being geedy?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Is this just me being geedy?

Is it you being geedy? I have no idea


Is it you being greEdy? Certainly not, its you being a perfectly practical cyclist type

 

[martint235]

I use my road bike for commuting, in fact for everything other than popping to the shops. It has 23mm tyres on it and can take race blade mudguards if it's particularly wet out

 

[mummra]

I've just got a road bike but am still using my MB for the commute at the moment.
Don't want to spoil the road bike.
I'd definetly keep your hybrid for winter use and leave the road bike for dry, clear days.

 

[goo_mason]

When I got my road bike 3 years ago, I intended using it in the summer and going back to my MTB for the winter. However, I love riding the roadie so much that it gets ridden all year round.

There's no difference between its skinny 23 tyres and the whacking great things on the MTB when it comes to riding on wet or icy roads and paths, and it's a heck of a lot quicker!

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I have a dry road bike and a wet road bike, I say dry and wet because I don't believe in summer and winter bikes as our seasons are rarely as they should be, the wet road bike is fitted with full mudguards 25c marathon plus tyres, pannier when it gets darker as I don't like wearing my rucksack when wearing winter fluorescent jacket. Lights, airzound ect, I ride this 90 percent of the year, I use my dry bike only when it's dry and sunny which hasn't been much this year.

As to the question of having to dedicated bikes, this depends on how long you intend to ride, if your planning on riding in the snow Like last winter then I would get a cheap second hand mtb and fit it with marathon winters. I used my mtb through the winter and it got trashed, the salt off the roads destroyed my chain set, and rusted all the bolt heads ect. If not then you'll be fine on a road bike with 25c tyres.

If I were you I'd use the hybrid in the wet and keep the road bike for dry days.

 

[potsy]

When I got my road bike 3 years ago, I intended using it in the summer and going back to my MTB for the winter. However, I love riding the roadie so much that it gets ridden all year round.

There's no difference between its skinny 23 tyres and the whacking great things on the MTB when it comes to riding on wet or icy roads and paths, and it's a heck of a lot quicker!

I did the same Goo, except swap MTB for hybrid.
This year I have got some studded tyres for the hybrid though so intend to use it more this time.

 

[Russell Allen]

Keep the hybrid for winter/wet use

I use a Dawes galaxy for the winter and a Bianchi Via Nirone for the dry summer days. Road salt can do a lot of damage to a good bike if it isnt cleaned off after every use. Mudguards are a must as they protect the bike as much as the rider.

Russell

 

[pshore]

Hi, just looking for some advice and thoughts...

What ?!?! Go down to one bike !?!


It's always useful having two bikes for those mornings you are running late, you walk out to your bike and it has a flat. Just jump on bike two.

I quite like having a utility bike ready and waiting to go. Something with full mudgards for rainy days, a pannier rack etc - useful for keeping extra winter backup clothes with you, or a change of clothes for that night out or that bit of shopping you did at lunchtime.

Having that utility bike allows you to keep your racer bare and ready for those faster rides.

How serious about winter commuting are you ? What about those days when it snows ? You might be able to put some knobblies on your hybrid.

It's all do-able on a road bike (mudguards, panniers etc). It's really a choice of convenience and how much you depend on your bike to get you to work.

 

[Mushroomgodmat]

right, thats settled then, keeping the hybrid

 

[Moby Jones]

I have had my Caad 8 for about 4 months now and i had planned on using it all year round, i have seen some nice commuting bikes and they seem like a good idea but i have nowhere to keep a second bike so i am going to try and see how i get on this winter with my Caad 8 and maybe next year get rid of the car and get a second commuting bike for the really bad winter months.
I am starting to get used to the wet weather but not sure how things will go when things turn really nasty with the cold and ice