Who uses their 'best' bike for winter?

[Dogtrousers]

How much extra clearance do studded tyres need? I am fitting some mudguards to my CAADX and hopefully I should be able to squeeze some studded tyres on under them. If we get the severe winter that some people are talking about then it would be studded tyres, or turbo trainer for me. I've come off on ice 3 times and I don't want to do it again!

Just to let you know, Spa have a special on Schwalbe Marathon Winters at £30 at the moment
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s142p1942

 

[zigzag]

if the bike gets cleaned/lubed after each wet winter ride, i see no problem using the "best" bike. usually i can't be bothered, so i use the bike that doesn't mind the neglect.

 

[bpsmith]

My Winter bike has done less than my Summer bike now, even though it's more than twice as old!

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I shall be using me steel frame, mainly cause it has racks so I can stow extra jumpers.

 

[screenman]

My winter bike is my old summer bike, this years summer bike may be next year's winter bike and so on.

 

[Andywinds]

My winter bike is my old summer bike, this years summer bike may be next year's winter bike and so on.

Do you replace your bike every year? If it's really bad I will just go back to mtb'ing.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Just to let you know, Spa have a special on Schwalbe Marathon Winters at £30 at the moment
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s142p1942

I got a spare pair earlier in the year for 13.99 here, only 26x175 left in stock now, at 14.99.

Thanks. I haven't got the guards yet so I don't know how much clearance I will have. I would always have the option of using smaller tyres than the current 35Cs.

Measured: you need just under 4cm from when the tyre enters the rim.

 

[screenman]

Do you replace your bike every year? If it's really bad I will just go back to mtb'ing.

I thought everyone did

Only kidding I was just making the point about how they get swapped, after being the winter bike it will be the turbo bike.

 

[Kevoffthetee]

I'll be using the winter bike on the wet days and when the gritters have been round. If it stays mild the Giant will still be brought out

 

[Jimidh]

I still use my 'good' bike on the odd day over the winter when it's dry and the sun is out but I either get out on the winter road bike or it's really bad weather then its trail riding in the MTB.

 

[Andywinds]

Are the salty roads really bad for bearing? Or is it just bad for everything?

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

I only have one road bike and it gets used all year round. Parts will be replaced next year ready for summer after being hammered through the winter

 

[Andywinds]

I only have one road bike and it gets used all year round. Parts will be replaced next year ready for summer after being hammered through the winter

Which parts need replacing after winter riding?

 

[StuAff]

The Viner has been used in all weathers, the Litespeed was out today in mist and fog and autumnal grot...just a reason to get the baby wipes out.

 

[ColinJ]

Measured: you need just under 4cm from when the tyre enters the rim.

Thanks. My semi-slicks are 3.5 cm measured like that. I THINK that I will have more than that extra 0.5 cm clearance once the guards are fitted. They should arrive in the next couple of days, so I will soon find out!

Are the salty roads really bad for bearing? Or is it just bad for everything?

I sneaked a Christmas morning ride in one year and had to rush back for Christmas dinner so the bike didn't get washed that day. I remembered on Boxing Day and wheeled it out into my back yard to clean it. I discovered that the chain had rusted almost solid overnight, and miscellaneous other metal parts were looking sorry for themselves!

I'm not saying not to ride on gritted roads, but I am saying that you should clean your bike to get the salty grit off it before it can do any further damage. (It will always cause extra wear and tear on transmission and braking surfaces, but that's the price you pay for winter riding, and why I prefer to ride my cheaper bikes in the winter. If I could afford to replace more expensive parts more often then I would carry on riding the best bike with a pair of Crud Roadracers on.)