Do you really need a winter hack?

[Easytigers]

Hi there,
Earlier this year I bought a Specialized Sirrus Elite for commute and absolutely love it! Unfortunately, to afford it (and get the wife off my back), I had to sell my previous bike (it was awful to be fair!). Now we're coming to the winter months, I keep hearing of people dusting off their winter hack and putting their pride and joy away...unfortunately I now don't have that option. I was kinda hoping to just put a different set of tyres on the Sirrus and ride happy through the winter. Do you really need a winter hack?
Russ

 

[BenM]

Do you really need a winter hack?

Comes down the the difference between need and want... there is no reason other than dislike of cleaning or dirty backs that a bike need not be ridden (mechanical failure excepted) 365.25 days per year (I know, I do it). You may not want to do that so you get an n+1.

At least that's my take. I am sure some people who ride carbon framed confections have a different view - perhaps that their machines won't work or will be damaged by the weather; IMHO a bike which can't be ridden in all weathers (unless it is a track bike) is a waste of money but others may have other opinions!

B.

 

[gambatte]

No

Just look after the one you've got and it should be fine. I've passed one guy on an 18 month old bike, used every day and it was falling apart. Another guys, similar age and it was like new. The first guy hasn't got a clue about maintenance. I helped him roadside after he'd had it a year and he didn't even know how to inflate his tyre properly!! Second guy knows his bike enough to keep it basically clean.

Mines done a few winters. Gets cleaned, when it needs it and is kept indoors. Still doing fine.

 

[upsidedown]

I use mine all year round. Just needs a good clean and lube at the weekend and a rinse and spray at night if the roads have been gritted.

 

[YahudaMoon]

I agree . You dont need two or three bikes. One should be enough though having two is cost effective

I dont have a winter hack as the summer weather can just be as bad as the winter. Ive never really understood that ?

I have commute bikes and competition bikes, same as a winter bash / skip bike I suppose ?

All my worn parts, tyres , chains ect from my competition bikes go on my commute bash bikes. This way I always have a nice working bikes for Sundays

Also its nice to have a bike you dont wanna scratch and a bike you can throw about. Locking to railings without worrying about scratching up / getting nicked.

 

[William John]

I'm in a similar boat to you, however I'm currently building up my 'nice bike' for weekend rides and my training.

Although, I used my old racer in all weathers and a spot of cleaning and maintenance worked a treat for keeping it nice for the summer.

When my new bike is finished, I aim to use my fixed for popping down to the shops and town, so not so much a winter bike, but a 'don't want my proper bike nicked'. So in short, you don't really need two, it's just down to personal preference.

 

[smokeysmoo]

IMO & IME, yes you do, but I'd suggest it depends on what bike you have in the first place.

If you have a relatively inexpensive bike with a low to middle of the road groupset then I'd say no.

My 'best' bike is full DA, and I simply wouldn't be able to afford to replace things as easily on it.

My commuter/winter/hack/call it what you like bike I built with Campag Veloce which I can afford to replace as and when required, simple as that.

 

[Hacienda71]

I use my road bike all year round. It gets a set of guards put on around October, but remains the commuting work horse. I have an old rigid mtb which is my beater, it has flat pedals and a rack and is great for a trip to the shops or a Sunday trip out with the kids. It also let's me ride when it snows or on surfaces when 23 mm tyres wouldn't work. More cleaning is required in the winter but decent guards do help.
I might have a different view if my road bike cost four or five grand, but it doesn't.

 

[ianrauk]

Nope, none at all.
I find it very sad that there some very nice bikes out there that seemed to be put away for gawd knows how many months. Even when the winter weather is is mostly dry (well it is down south). There is no point. Look after your bike through the winter and it will look after you.

I have ridden by Secteur Elite through 2 winters now and it still looks like new.

Not riding a nice bike in the rain I can understand that, but putting it into hibernation... no.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Nope, none at all IMO & IME.
I find it very sad that there some very nice bikes out there that seemed to be put away for gawd knows how many months. Even when the winter weather is is mostly dry (well it is down south). There is no point. Look after your bike through the winter and it will look after you.

Not riding a nice bike in the rain I can understand that, but putting it into hibernation... no.

I hear you Ian however, Manchester is not renowned for it's dryness, and the winter road detritus will prematurely wear components that I cant afford to replace regardless of how well and often I clean them.

FWIW my commuter build didn't cost much more than the chainset alone on my CAAD.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Nope, none at all.
I find it very sad that there some very nice bikes out there that seemed to be put away for gawd knows how many months. Even when the winter weather is is mostly dry (well it is down south). There is no point. Look after your bike through the winter and it will look after you.

I have ridden by Secteur Elite through 2 winters now and it still looks like new.

Not riding a nice bike in the rain I can understand that, but putting it into hibernation... no.

Lol only this year. Could have been May ? I was doing an audax in the Yorkshire Dales up and down hills all day in the worst weather possible. It was so bad on the top fells we was peddling hard down hill yet still going slow and getting blown from left to right with hail stone

. Lots with no mudguards. One guy with no mudguards commented on my French mudguards and said he wanted some for his winter bike ?

 

[jonny jeez]

I'm in a similar spot. I picked up a new roadie a month or so ago and am happy to ride it through the winter (It was purchased for this reason after all) BUT...at now and again I will swap back to the "hack".

That point will be defined by the amount of ice in the roads...My hack has fatter rims/tyres and is scratched and bruised (from 16 odd years of MTB and daily use) so its not afraid to take a knock or two.

Also the MTB will accept proper mudguards so if the weather looks like it'll be sleeting down for the day I'll most probably opt to ride the old girl.

But here's the thing...I know riding the old MTB will be so different from the roadie that I cant see me wanting to use it too often

 

[ianrauk]

I hear you Ian however, Manchester is not renowned for it's dryness, and the winter road detritus will prematurely wear components that I cant afford to replace regardless of how well and often I clean them.

FWIW my commuter build didn't cost much more than the chainset alone on my CAAD.

I hear what you are saying squire. That's why I said I can understand why people don;t ride their bikes in the wet. But dry winter days? Nope..; get out there and enjoy your bike.

There is great pleasure to be had in a cold, crisp, sunny winter morning bike ride.
But yes, being up north I don't suppose you get many of those.

 

[tyred]

You don't need to but I much prefer hub gears, fixed or SS speed bikes for riding on dirty, salty winter roads. Much easier to look after and my derailleur geared bikes will be parked for the duration once the salt appears.

 

[cloggsy]

There is great pleasure to be had in a cold, crisp, sunny winter morning bike ride.
But yes, being up north I don't suppose you get many of those.

Not many my friend, not many...