Road bike for year-round commuting...

[Maz]

I know most people on here are lucky enough to be multi-bike owners, but does anyone here commute on a road bike all year round?

If I get a road bike, I want to know if I should hang on to the Sirrus or sell it to fund the roadie.

Thank you.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Me. Specialized Allez - seems to be fine.

I do have a second bike (my old hybrid) but never use it for commuting. It'll be used more when my youngest is a bit older and she can go in the set on the back.

After that I guess I'll sell it as I never use it.

 

[User482]

I have a Thorn Audax, which is a great compromise between full on road bike speed, and touring bike practicality.

 

[palinurus]

Yes, but not always the same one. If I was going to use just one then I'd get something that'd take mudguards.

 

[stoatsngroats]

I'd get something that'd take mudguards.

SKS Race Blade Clip On Mudguard...?


I use them, and take them off when the weather's good...!

 

[John the Monkey]

Giant SCR2.0 - takes guards, and tyres up to 25C/26C

I ride 25s in poor weather (using the DA22 wheels that came on the bike) and 23s in good weather (ha ha) using a set of Mavic Aksium wheels I got 2nd hand from Mortiroloboy of this parish.

FWIW, I think full guards (as opposed to clip ons) are the way to go if you're serious about riding year round.

 

[Maz]

I therefore now have two bikes. Why not you? A nice one and a hack.

To appease my wife.

She is always ready to remind me that 'if I'd spent half as much money on the house as I do on my bike stuff, I'd have my new fitted kitchen/car/whatever by now' (that's complete b*llocks, btw -I don't spend much on bike stuff).

Having 2 bikes would be adding fuel to the fire.

 

[LLB]

Fitted full SKS mudguards to my Marin Fairfax last night so it is fit for all weather riding now , and finally managed to get some SPDs (and a new set of shoes) on it this evening which makes a big difference

 

[fossyant]

Get a Ribble winter bike - seen the odd one near me and the blue is very striking....

I used to commute on a road bike - just fitted mudguards in the winter. did chicken out if the weather was really bad in the summer as I'd remove the guards...although it was a 40 mile round trip.

My two roadies have no room for guards - 5mm clearance to the brakes - but if it was 100% then full guards, like John's black SKS's are very smart.

 

[Moonlight]

I do, always been fine, just make sure you keep the Vs in good condition in the wet, or get disc spec. and guards of course.

 

[504steve]

+1 for the Ribble suggestion. Had one since last November. Well pleased with it. 28mile round trip commute once or twice a week (chauffeur wife to work 3 days a week otherwise would be more). For me full guards, although have a mate who commutes fixed and won't entertain the concept of fitting guards. Personal choice. I think road bikes are much tougher than people think. We are all used to seeing mountain bikes which are engineered for far more than some rough tarmac. It's not that many years ago that mountain bikes didn't exist and people went off road on their road bikes.If you're commuting on the same route/s you remember the position of the big potholes, most of the time!

 

[Tetedelacourse]

I commute all year round on my Allez. Commuting is 95% of the opportunity I get to ride a bike, so there'd be no point keeping it nice for weekends though. I don't think the weather in the UK requires a particular type of bike, it just boils down to personal pref.

 

[GrahamG]

I don't agree with the Ribble recommendations - I think it's a bit much of a 'sporty' or 'racy' geometry with a relatively long top tube and short head tube. Also it can only take full guards with 23mm tyres (tried 25's and it's just a complete ball ache to stop rubbing). I'd be thinking of an 'audax' style as stated above - I think the Giant SCR range are great for commuters as they come with triples and can fit full guards with 25's and maybe even 28's at a squeeze, although I'd recommend the SKS bluemels guards over the standard chromoplastics as the profile is just perfect for the carbon fork.
Also there's the Thorn Audax, Dawes Audax, or just a nice old 531 frame road bike which will be more likely to have the necessary braze ons.

 

[HLaB]

My company is finally getting round to the cycle to work thing, and I'm thinking about getting a spesh Tri Cross, it seems a good all year round bike, supposedly can take racks and guards and is comfortable. I'd sell/ give my Ridgeback Velocity (current all year round commuter) to my brother or keep it as a hack. I'd have 4 bikes then, where would I keep them .