Do you really need a winter hack?

[VamP]

It was this ''winter bike'' non-sense that got me into the mess where I am now.

What started as a winter training crosser in conception, turned into a full-on race CX bike, which clearly meant I had to get into CX racing, which in turn meant that I ''obviously'' needed a back up bike, so my trusty steel Rockhopper has now been turned into a CX steed, my garage is filling up with tubular wheelsets (two sets needed for each of at least three different types of ground conditions), and now my girlfriend wants to race too.

Now I am thinking I need a winterhack so as not to wear out my race bike, or my spare bike. I am also thinking I need a second garage. God knows what my girlfriend wants to race on.

 

[ianrauk]

Are you saying Ian is a little OCD?

I wouldn't say I was OCD, though others on here might.
I just like a nice clean bike and enjoy cleaning it. Unlike some of the lazy good for nuffinks on here.

 

[scouserinlondon]

When I bought my roadbike (last winter) I thought I'd only use it in good weather and keep the hybrid for winter days. I've used the hybrid once in that period. Although my roadie is taking the knocks of everyday commuting and cycle racks its showing the knocks. But I still ride it every day, because i love it.

 

[biking_fox]

Having a 2nd bike is good. This means that when something breaks you can still cycle into work and worry about the repairs / bikeshop at the weekend.

Your choice as to whether that's an equivalent of your "best" bike, or a dedicated winter bike, with "best" brought out only when that needs repairs....


But if you're commuting, put mudguards on both of them.

 

[rowdin]

Racing bikes and lots of snow don't mix, best get a winter hack for the snow.

 

[captainhastings]

For me it is more of a riding bike and shopping bike. I wouldn't like to leave my main bike out side tesco even though it is just a defy 2 I could not really afford to replace it. On the other hand my 80 quid marin off ebay I could live with even if it did cost 150 to get it running. Plus it looks like some thing out of a skip until you look close and see the new cassette and chain rings etc

 

[Xiorell]

I've got a winter hack but it was unitentional.
I had a beat up old BSO at the back of the yard I was putting together while I waited to sort out a new "propper" bike, but I got that sorted faster than expected so, the old BSO is going to be on standby in the event of snow. Other than that I doubt it'll get used.
I resprayed it all and stuff and it looks pretty tidy now really so I will probabley sell it off cheap in spring.

 

[gbb]

It's all down to preference...and my preference is to have a winter hack, and there's logic in it IME...
My first Via Nirone, best bike, also used for commuting on dry and damp winters days, inevitably got wet occasionally. Within two years there were furry corrosion blisters on it where paint had been chipped. I also found (despite very regular cleaning) that one day i decided to remove the calipers to clean them...the carbon had started to blister away from corrosion on the alloy steerer.

I commute in all weathers, rain, snow, salt, every year. I was lucky enough to be able to store my bike in the workshop, cleaned it almost every day, blow all the crud off with compressed air, cleaned and dried. The detritis that ends up in the transmission is really quite something when it's wet and salty.

Outboard bearings (well FSA anyway) are'nt particually well sealed against wet at the best of times...

My winter hack still suffers, FD gets siezed almost every year in the winter, cables get sticky and corroded, wheel hubs on my R500s are showing corrosion round the spoke holes, laquers gone off the Tiagra cranks etc etc.

Then there's the extra risk of an off. Riding my latest Via Nirone last winter, nice crisp dry but frosty morning, clear road that looked ok...BANG...off in an instant, bent hanger and damaged saddle and bartape. Had a similar off with the winter hack, luckily no damage.

All that, plus, at the end of the day...i just wanted another bike

 

[leemo]

I used a sirrus elite to commute last winter and the one before. I'd recommend

Fitting mudguards (35mm ones work well with 28mm tyres)
Quick rinse with a hose and dry with a cloth at the end of day if roads were gritted
Full clean including chain and gears every 2-4 weeks
Get a chain checker and replace when worn

You can trade time for money by cleaning more often. But basically I figure I'm going to go through a chain in 1k miles over the winter. I messed up the first winter by not checking the chain and it wore down the chainrings which is like £100 when they go.

Bottom line is that it's fine with about an hour or twos maintenance per month.

 

[cloggsy]

Then there's the extra risk of an off. Riding my latest Via Nirone last winter, nice crisp dry but frosty morning, clear road that looked ok...BANG...off in an instant, bent hanger and damaged saddle and bartape. Had a similar off with the winter hack, luckily no damage.

This is why I've swapped out for my old Commuter...

 

[gbb]

I used a sirrus elite to commute last winter and the one before. I'd recommend

Fitting mudguards (35mm ones work well with 28mm tyres)
Quick rinse with a hose and dry with a cloth at the end of day if roads were gritted
Full clean including chain and gears every 2-4 weeks
Get a chain checker and replace when worn

You can trade time for money by cleaning more often. But basically I figure I'm going to go through a chain in 1k miles over the winter. I messed up the first winter by not checking the chain and it wore down the chainrings which is like £100 when they go.

Bottom line is that it's fine with about an hour or twos maintenance per month.

Blimey i used to clean and lube my chain once a week absolute minimum when its grimey out there.

I had a good system at work, spray bottle with some light detergent, spray the frame, wheels, calipers, everything...wipe off grime with paper towel then use compressed air to blast out the excess. Spray calipers, derailleurs etc with WD, wipe, it doesnt take long...maybe 10 minutes (all in work time )
Wipe excess grime off chain, lube every couple days.

There's winter riding and there's winter riding...ive known it be wet, mucky and damp for weeks on end, even a day after cleaning, the bike looks like a disaster

 

[leemo]

Fair dos. As I say you can trade time for money. A proper clean, degreaser relube in there with toothe brush job is gonna take at least half an hour. So over say 12 weeks of winter you are spending 6 hours on that versus the 1.5 I'm advocating. So the your chain might last twice as long and so you save what thirty quid on a chain and half a cassette let's say (minus degreaser which I can get through fast)

So six pounds an hour to f about in the cold with grubby hands?

 

[dellzeqq]

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

no. Your chain will get worn, along with the cassette and chainrings, and it will need a good clean once in a while, but live with the graunchy drive until springtime and you'll love your bike all the more when you put the new gear on.