Do you really need a winter hack?

[Dan_h]

Do you need a winter hack?

YES!!!

Don't forget the cardinal rule, you ALWAYS need another bike!! It can be as a winter hack, a commuting special, your race bike (even if you never, ever do any racing) the important thing is that anything that can be used as an excuse to get another bike MUST be used to get another bike.

Rule #12 on the velominati website states...

Rule #12 / The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

 

[Moodyman]

You don't need a winter hack, but it's good to have a back up bike when the main one has a mechanical.

I also use my back up bike for local errands - rather it get nicked outside Asda rather than the more expensive bikes.

 

[smokeysmoo]

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.

I won't disagree with that. I only ride the CAAD at weekends year round anyway TBH, (except the odd shake down commute if I've been fettling before a big ride ).

I'd have no problem riding the CAAD on a glorious dry sunny winters Sunday if the opportunity arose, but I've probably got more chance of winning the lottery

 

[ianrauk]

I won't disagree with that. I only ride the CAAD at weekends year round anyway TBH, (except the odd shake down commute if I've been fettling before a big ride ).

I'd have no problem riding the CAAD on a glorious dry sunny winters Sunday if the opportunity arose, but I've probably got more chance of winning the lottery

Good stuff. Nice to hear you're not putting a nice bike like that away for hibernation. There is no point.

 

[cloggsy]

I'm using my old Raleigh Pioneer 18 commuter through winter, as it has mud guards. Plus, I would hate to be riding my carbon road bike, fall off it and muller it completely; thus the reason for pulling the ol' girl out of the garage for the winter months...

 

[fossyant]

I had a training bike and a race bike to start. Training bike could just take SKS guards and did so in winter. Race bike was still used for club runs, but for crappy weather out came the training bike. Soon bought a MTB for muddy good fun.

20 years years later, I still have the three bike, but training bike is on frame 3 after car altercations. 2 years ago, took agvantage of Cycle Scheme and got me a 'work' bike. This is what I do most miles on, so was to a good spec, and fixed gear as it's excellent for training, and low maintenance.

One bike can do it all, but you aren't going to want to ride the race bike to work everyday due to theft issues and 'potentially' the cost of the parts if you've got high end kit.

Anyway you need an excuse for N+1

 

[Mozzy]

I'm tempted I must admit. I worry like heck when I secure my cycle outside a shop. Can't use a cheapy cos tis the only one I have right now. Although second hand to me my Cannondale St Prestige means the world to me and I know how gutted I'd be if anything happened to it. Actually, I think I may look around for a traditional bone-shaker type and have a go at a restoration and make it look OK; not too nice or I'll have the same situation again.

Mozzy

 

[smokeysmoo]

I think I may look around for a traditional bone-shaker type and have a go at a restoration and make it look OK; not too nice or I'll have the same situation again.

This is a great way to go if you have security issues. Find one that looks like a dog but is structurally sound, overhaul the mechanicals, ie: all the important bits that the thieves can't see but that make it ride sweet, and hit the road, the worse it looks the less likely the scum will want it, yet you'll get a warm glow knowing the bike is great to ride, reliable and probably cost you next to nowt











Note to self, listen to own advice

 

[Mozzy]

This is a great way to go if you have security issues. Find one that looks like a dog but is structurally sound, overhaul the mechanicals, ie: all the important bits that the thieves can't see but that make it ride sweet, and hit the road, the worse it looks the less likely the scum will want it, yet you'll get a warm glow knowing the bike is great to ride, reliable and probably cost you next to nowt











Note to self, listen to own advice

 

[VamP]

Nah, you don't need a winter bike, even though it may be nice to indulge


I do, however, put my nice wheelset away in winter, and ride the cheap wheels the bike came with. Good training if nothing else

 

[Sheepy1209]

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.

+1

Even a winter hack needs love - at least keep it simple (OK, hub gears aren't simple, but they're much less hassle in the wet, sandy conditions I have to deal with).

 

[DCLane]

My winter hack's been pulled out and fettled; a Carrera Virtuoso. Not as nice as the Ridgeback, but useable nontheless.

 

[HLaB]

I wouldn't say you desperately needed a second bike, it just nice but not essential.

 

[Norm]

I'd say yes.

A 1990s MTB without suspension and a set of City Jet tyres which won't need cleaning every time you take it out in the salt is about the same as a half-decent derailleur. IME (as a lazy sod) there will be cold, dark winter nights that you don't want to go back out and rinse off the bike after an hour riding through snow, slush and salt water. Unless you are meticulous in your cleaning (looks at Ian ) there will be something that gets hit by the salt.

 

[cloggsy]

Unless you are meticulous in your cleaning (looks at Ian ) there will be something that gets hit by the salt.

Are you saying Ian is a little OCD?