Winter bike......

[ianrauk]

My Kickbike is my main Winter bike. I live in the Danish countryside and if it snows the snow ploughs dont get to us until lunchtime. The Kickbike will ride in a car track very easily. I can also ride it on hard packed snow and ice. I can still get out when everyones bikes are put away.

The best thing is that there is almost no maintenence and very little to go wrong. On a sunny winters morning with snow on the ground and no other vehicles on the road. Its the best time to ride.

Actually saw a London commuter on one of those scooters last week.

 

[Globalti]

It's not winter and summer, it's SALTED ROADS and any other roads - the best bike goes out in all weather except when they've salted the roads; that's when the mudguards and disc brakes bike comes out.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Yeah pretty much the same as some others. Not a winter/summer but a nice/poor weather. My number two string has full guards on that my bestie can't accommodate. But Ian's right, the winter chucks out some beautiful crisp, dry, clear days that are wonderful to be out riding in. Keep your bikes cleaned & lubed regularly and you'll have no issue with winter riding.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'm half in and half out of the ianrauk way of thinking in that I rode my best bike all year round regardless of the weather and 9 years later despite minimal TLC is still polishes-up to near showroom condition (if I can be arsed).
However, for winter I put on heavier/stronger wheels, fatter tyres (25c) and raised the bars a tad to account for more slippy conditions, less visibility of potholes and having a slightly more upright position for visibility and comfort when wearing extra layers.
This year I will have a Winter/Audax bike and a Summer bike and the winter bike is the more expensive, not cheaper. It'll be more comfortable, have dynamo lighting, fatter tyres (28c), more upright position, more durable wheelset, full mudguards and some light load-lugging capability for long days in variable conditions. The Summer bike is old, but will have lightweight wheels and tyres and minimal other stuff.
Then it'll be simply which bike for which day/ride/conditions. On bright winter days I'll take the 'Summer' bike out, on anything else it'll be the 'winter' bike.
Of course there's also ... the folding shopping bike, the fixed, the pub bike and a few other projects as yet un-built ....

 

[flyingfish]

Carbon melts in the damp?!!!
Better keep my fishing rods away from water then!!
Pete

 

[Big Nick]

I have a 'winter' bike but just for the short commute to work in the crappy weather, it's an old steel mtb

It gets covered in muck and I don't have to be that fastidious cleaning it as I would be if it was my road bike

A winter road bike?....sounds like a great excuse for n+1 !!!!

 

[nickyboy]

I must admit I am umming and ahhing at the moment on this. I rode a cheapish Raleigh summer and winter and then bought a nice bike that can't take mudguards this spring. The Raleigh is completely knackered and I haven't ridden it since April. The miles I do are hard and hilly and the bike just wasn't designed for that much punishment.
So I have a choice; just ride the nice bike, but accept that without mudguards I'm gonna get wet or I will probably not ride at all in bad weather. Or I buy a reasonable price second bike that will take mudguards and it guarantees I can get out in all weather. Rains a lot in Glossop (annual rainfall is about 2x London)
I suppose I could just ride the good bike in all weathers and try to keep on top of the cleaning. But TBH, I have ridden for 6 months in dry conditions and it's almost like new still, seems a shame.

 

[raleighnut]

I must admit I am umming and ahhing at the moment on this. I rode a cheapish Raleigh summer and winter and then bought a nice bike that can't take mudguards this spring. The Raleigh is completely knackered and I haven't ridden it since April. The miles I do are hard and hilly and the bike just wasn't designed for that much punishment.
So I have a choice; just ride the nice bike, but accept that without mudguards I'm gonna get wet or I will probably not ride at all in bad weather. Or I buy a reasonable price second bike that will take mudguards and it guarantees I can get out in all weather. Rains a lot in Glossop (annual rainfall is about 2x London)
I suppose I could just ride the good bike in all weathers and try to keep on top of the cleaning. But TBH, I have ridden for 6 months in dry conditions and it's almost like new still, seems a shame.

Or just rebuild the Raleigh.

 

[I like Skol]

My best bike is also my worst and does all year round service with no problems (and no cleaning). I do also have a skinny road bike that is reserved for occasional use as it is too impractical for most of what I do. The skinny road bike is treated like a suit and only used on special occasions when I fancy a treat although that can be any time of year and in any weather (The New Years day ride for instance) and it is hung on the rack right now looking a bit grubby from it's last big outing.

No such thing as a summer or winter bike IMO unless you choose to designate one for purely personal reasons

 

[steveindenmark]

[QUOTE 3293345, member: 45"]WANT!![/QUOTE]

http://kickbikescooters.co.uk/index.html#.VCFlV8saySM

 

[Mike!]

My Best bike stays locked up if it's wet / salty or i think it's going to be.

I have recently changed my commuter to a single speed that can also take a rack and guards with the idea that it would become my bad weather trainer but my dodgy old right knee is protesting so I have a change of plan. Think it will be back to geared with full guards and as yet undecided on discs or not. Anyone want a Pearson touche?!!

 

[50000tears]

Mine is due to weather conditions too. Have a CADDX on order which will be my main winter bike but brought primarily for those wet and icy days but the clear dry sunny weekends will still see my out on the road bike.

 

[raleighnut]

I'm looking forward to the ice and snow, could be great fun on the trike. might even fit slicks if I can afford em.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

You are not riding your best bikes in good weather. To me that is a shame.

Come Feb/March when I unpack my very lovely/light/expensive/BLUE race bike from the box it will be living in, there will be no shame.

Only pride at such an immaculately kept bike, and the <£400 Ribble 7005 I'm building for winter duty will have done it's job.

 

[cyberknight]

Winter bike = all year round commuter with rack and gaurds , unless its really dicey which is when the subway i bought for pootling around with the kids comes out as i have flat /spd pedals so i feel safer unclipped in some situations .