I put the Carbon roadbike away today and got the ol' commuter out for winter...

[cloggsy]

I've put my Boardman Team Carbon away for the winter now & dragged out my old commuter (a Raleigh Pioneer 18; affectionately know (by me,) as the 'Raleigh Sh1tter.') The plan is to use the 'Sh1tter' as much as possible through winter, then fetch out the Boardman again in Spring...

I fitted a new set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres to the Pioneer, so decided to take it out for a 12 and a half mile 'spin' to see how it was...

I have to say I found it hard work compared to the Carbon road bike, then again, it must weigh over double the weight of the Boardman??? Guess I'll get used to it eventually.

I just need to re-index the gears as they are a little out of sync, other than that I'm looking forward to commuting through as much of the winter as possible, then, all being well I'll be 'faster than a speeding bullet' when I get back on the road bike in spring?

 

[StuartG]

I used a Dawes Galaxy as a commuter for many years because Richard's Bicycle Book told me too. But if I was starting again I would get hub geared bike. Somehow cleaning your road bike is a pleasure but a commuter at the end of a nasty week is not. Doing derailleurs is a real pain and they get in a real mess if you don't. No re-indexing either. Completely weatherproof.

 

[cyberknight]

I ride a Virtuoso all week fully kitted with rack,panniers, gaurds, lights etc all week and i reckon it comes in at around 45 llbs fully loaded .This is the full time commuter all year around and i am considering using it minus rack for the winter club rides .

The "weekender " is a Boardman comp , although not as light as the carbon i do struggle to get used to the lightness after a week on the workhorse.

 

[cloggsy]

... if I was starting again I would get hub geared bike.

I was thinking about buying an On One Pompetamine Versa (Alfine 8) or a Halcyon Yukon 8 (Nexus 8), but as I already had a bike I don't really mind trashing through the winter road salt and grime, it seemed a bit stupid spending, it only needed a new pair of tyres...

I can but give it a go!

 

[Hip Priest]

I ride a Virtuoso all week fully kitted with rack,panniers, gaurds, lights etc all week and i reckon it comes in at around 45 llbs fully loaded .This is the full time commuter all year around and i am considering using it minus rack for the winter club rides .

The "weekender " is a Boardman comp , although not as light as the carbon i do struggle to get used to the lightness after a week on the workhorse.

How the other half live! My "weekender" is a Virt. I struggle to get used to the lightness after a week on my workhorse, which is a steel framed Raleigh MTB I got for fity quid on Ebay

 

[lejogger]

I ride a Virtuoso all week fully kitted with rack,panniers, gaurds, lights etc all week and i reckon it comes in at around 45 llbs fully loaded .This is the full time commuter all year around and i am considering using it minus rack for the winter club rides .

The "weekender " is a Boardman comp , although not as light as the carbon i do struggle to get used to the lightness after a week on the workhorse.

I put my team carbon away two weeks ago... down to the CX team for everything now, including a club run yesterday with full guards Schwalbe Marathon tyres, rack AND rack bag! Im used to commuting on it every day, so it went a lot better than I thought it would against the guys still on their carbon, even up the hills. Didn't seem to affect my performance at all really.


Didn't even get the p1ss ripped out of me for the rack bag! I've heard stories of brick and gravel filling in the past though, so I'll need to remain vigilent at the cafe stops!

 

[baldycyclist]

i think I like the on-one
would it be possible to get more gears out of it or would the eight act like my roadie?

 

[Jezston]

I commute on a hub geared road bike - a 3 speed Sturmey Archer to be precise.

Maintainance is miniscule. Clean the chain, oil a couple of obvious parts. Occasionally tighten the chain. Takes about 5 mins a week.

On my old hybrid, having to regularly tweak my disc brakes, gear indexing and the epic task of just cleaning gunk out of it during the winter (how DO people clean front deraillieurs???), and remembering all the bits to oil, just pissed me off. Not to mention constant supply of new chains, new cassettes, new chainsets, new disc pads, new discs etc etc.

F*** commuting on an externally geared bike!

 

[Nearly there]

I nearly splashed out on my first road bike back in sept but ive decided to wait until march/april next year when ill get some good use from it so until then my slicked up MTB will have to do.

 

[Holdsworth]

At the moment my old steel-framed roadie is out of action, and may never be ridden again if I cannot remove the seat post. This means that my touring bike is the one I use for absolutely everything; commuting, shopping and leisure/weekend rides. I bought a rack-top-bag a few weeks ago which means that I no longer have to use a pannier for weekend rides!

I keep thinking that I should get a new road bike for the sake of lightness and fun, plus as a spare commuter should anything happen to the tourer and I can't ride to work.
It is a shame that money is a little tight ATM and I have things to save for as I have my eye on the Btwin Triban 3 at Decathlon for £300

 

[smokeysmoo]

I nearly splashed out on my first road bike back in sept but ive decided to wait until march/april next year when ill get some good use from it

and the prices are top dollar! End of season sales are on now, bargains are to be had

 

[Nearly there]

and the prices are top dollar! End of season sales are on now, bargains are to be had

I know its doing my head in,ive seen a Giant defy 2 for £515 BARGAIN a Cannondale Synapse £559 BARGAIN Scott speedster s55 £559 BARGAIN and of course Specialized bikes all within my £600 budget( the wife) because i ride for fitness and fun im not sure how much use ill get out of it during the dark months

 

[smokeysmoo]

I know its doing my head in,ive seen a Giant defy 2 for £515 BARGAIN a Cannondale Synapse £559 BARGAIN Scott speedster s55 £559 BARGAIN and of course Specialized bikes all within my £600 budget( the wife) because i ride for fitness and fun im not sure how much use ill get out of it during the dark months

Doesn't matter IMO, tell SWMBO that any bike you buy now will be a bargain, you know what women are like, they can't resist a bargain. Drive it home by telling her if you wait you'll be spending the same sort of money for a lesser specced bike next year, then spending ££££'s upgrading it, (even if you won't be it might make her see sense)

 

[roadrash]

save even more money buy the giant defy 2 for £499 from winstanleys cycles like i did last week... in wigan also online

 

[edindave]

Why do people put their carbon frames away for the winter, when surely it's the drivetrain/running gear that takes the beating?