what bike for the winter.

[terry_gardener]

I currently have a cube agree sl road bike and thinking of getting a new bike for commuting, winter rides etc.

I would like something that has a triple, relaxed position, disc brakes, able to fit mudguards and able to go off road (like unused railway tracks that have been turned into NCN), bridleways etc.

my budget is around £800 don't know if I should get hybrid, cross bike, MTB or 29er.

 

[Saluki]

I just ride my Defy week in week out. If the weather is really filthy and the roads are muddy or covered in cow poo then I take the Spesh Hardrock but I don't have a winter specific bike.
I can't really advise on what you should buy, I just thought that I would mention that my Defy has never let me down or melted etc just because its encountered a few puddles or a bit of mud.

 

[rams1de]

I do most of my cycling on the NCN paths a little north of you, mixed with some bridleways and inevitable road use. I chose a cx bike and have been really pleased with it, handles off road fine plus it's fairly light and feels quick on the tarmac.

I won't recommend my bike as it as compact gears and canti brakes but Giant have released a new model for 2014 which ticks all your boxes. The Anytime 2 is in your budget but it's styling could be marmite.

 

[DCLane]

I run my Raleigh Airlite 100 as a commuter; it's had Raceblades fitted for the winter but that's all I do different. It'll be doing all but the worst days, when I'll revert to an MTB on the (very) rare occasion the weather's too poor for a road bike.

 

[jowwy]

I do most of my cycling on the NCN paths a little north of you, mixed with some bridleways and inevitable road use. I chose a cx bike and have been really pleased with it, handles off road fine plus it's fairly light and feels quick on the tarmac.

I won't recommend my bike as it as compact gears and canti brakes but Giant have released a new model for 2014 which ticks all your boxes. The Anytime 2 is in your budget but it's styling could be marmite.

View attachment 30152

i am liking that

 

[VamP]

I do most of my cycling on the NCN paths a little north of you, mixed with some bridleways and inevitable road use. I chose a cx bike and have been really pleased with it, handles off road fine plus it's fairly light and feels quick on the tarmac.

I won't recommend my bike as it as compact gears and canti brakes but Giant have released a new model for 2014 which ticks all your boxes. The Anytime 2 is in your budget but it's styling could be marmite.

View attachment 30152

Oh my eyes

 

[SquareDaff]

Use my CX for commuting duties year round. Fit a rack, mudguards and knobblies at various stages from October to November to handle the inclement weather. Strip them off and fit semi-slicks around March/April. My good bike gets wrapped up over the winter.

 

[HLaB]

Just a word of caution Terry, if icy round your way (even when it doesn't appear so) avoid Sustran's and other's paths. FWIW Ive used my Kinesis Road bike for the last few years and on the horriblest days if I still wanted to go out my Viking Fixie or Ridgeback Velocity (MTB orientated hybrid) and stuck to more trafficked lit roads or went out in the light.

 

[Amack]

Whyte Sussex?

http://www.whytebikes.com/2014/product.php?xProd=118&xSec=121

Trek crossrip?

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/fitness/crossrip/crossrip_comp/#

 

[smokeysmoo]

Oh my eyes

+1 that looks horrendous

 

[Chris Norton]

I'm another in the liking for that bike. As said, it's a marmite job though.