Winter commuting bike

[rivers]

I'm a year round, all weather commuter. I save my nice, carbon road bike for this time of year (and fun, fast commutes). In the winter, I commute on my gravel bike (also carbon). My gravel bike gets a beating compared to my road bike, due to it's harsh life all year round (winter and at this time of year getting bashed about in the countryside and bikepacking). As my mechanic said last year when it when in for it's service: "This is definitely a bike you haven't been blowing kisses at". It gets a full service every year because it needs it- costs between £150-£200 depending what needs to be done. This year, I needed new chainrings. Last year, was just cable replacement. I replace the bottom bracket at least once a year- it depends how wet it's been. My road bike, gets a full service every 2-3 years. I've owned it 10 years and replaced the bottom bracket once.

 

[biking_fox]

If you can, definitely have a 2nd bike. Once you're embedded in the commuting routine (or have no other option) there will be a day when bike1 isn't working - waiting for a part, only just noticed an issue, CBA to fix it the night before, bike shop too busy et al - and having an alternative means you can still ride in and repair bike1 at your leisure. (try not to leave it too long!). Which way around you view and use them is up to you.

I'd recommend a hub gear, disk brake, full mudguard, maybe even belt drive, set-up for year round commuting. You want the least faff/maintenance possible for a bike that will be working every morning. Speed isn't the issue, it's reliability you need.

I ride a Thorn rohloff that's now 17years strong. I'm starting to think about replacing the frame, it's had new wheels every few years (increasingly annoying to source, wish I'd gone for disk brakes at the time) and a few other bits and pieces now and then. Still on the same hub, had a full service once.
For dry/fun days I've got a steel SS which feels very different!

 

[MichaelW2]

For winter commutes I have used 28mm + mudguards, but 28mm has a wide definition.
I prefer to use 32mm for those unexpected pot holes full of water.
If you decide on a dedicated winter /all year commuter, the aluminium cx style disk bike with rack and guard threaded eyelets is good.
I have used a Shimano hub gear on my grab and go bike. Lower maintenance in winter.

 

[cyberknight]

If you can, definitely have a 2nd bike. Once you're embedded in the commuting routine (or have no other option) there will be a day when bike1 isn't working - waiting for a part, only just noticed an issue, CBA to fix it the night before, bike shop too busy et al - and having an alternative means you can still ride in and repair bike1 at your leisure. (try not to leave it too long!). Which way around you view and use them is up to you.

I'd recommend a hub gear, disk brake, full mudguard, maybe even belt drive, set-up for year round commuting. You want the least faff/maintenance possible for a bike that will be working every morning. Speed isn't the issue, it's reliability you need.

I ride a Thorn rohloff that's now 17years strong. I'm starting to think about replacing the frame, it's had new wheels every few years (increasingly annoying to source, wish I'd gone for disk brakes at the time) and a few other bits and pieces now and then. Still on the same hub, had a full service once.
For dry/fun days I've got a steel SS which feels very different!

only a second bike ? @biggs682 please point out the error of their ways

 

[si_c]

I don’t really want to wreck it, as it’s a good bike to use in the nice weather and is light enough for longer rides.

You won't necessarily wreck the frame - but wheels and the drivetrain will take an absolute beating. When I commuted daily (20mi each way) even my shifters needed servicing annually (new hoods, full clean out and regreasing). Wheels needed a bearing service at least every three months in winter and chains might only last a month if the roads were being gritted regularly. This was with full length mudguards. The frame was largely fine, but the paintwork gets covered in chips and scrapes from where you're locking it up.

Had a look on gumtree at a Sirrus from about 2018 in nice condition with guards for £100. For that kind of money, that would stop me making stupid big purchases and keep the good bike in decent condition. Lots to think about!

I think this is an ideal choice, cheap enough that you won't care, good enough that you can get it reliable.

 

[Drago]

I commuted on the same bike all year round, all weathers, never suffered any corrosion.

 

[fossyant]

Doesn't matter what you have for commuting, but mudguards are essential (and add a front flap - home made will do). I've always had a specific commuter - fixed gear road bike with guards and panniers, and more recently my old 90's MTB with guards and panniers as I use a mixed surface route these days. Poor weather can eat chains/cassettes, so I replace my big chain ring, cassette and chain about every year.

Your main issue can be ice in winter - you can either say, nope not risking it, or get a set of wheels with ice tyres - these are brilliant but are not 100% fool proof as I found out last winter and fractured my pelvis and hip socket from a slow speed slip. Given the damage, I'm giving ice days a miss from now on.

Couple of tips - do lube and clean the drive chain regular. Remove gunk off chainrings and jockey wheels. Do wash it, especially in winter (salt is nasty). Do keep on top of lubing the mechs pivots. One thing I don't compromise on is wheels. I've decent wheels running on Shimano XT hubs. These are pretty bomb proof and well sealed.

 

[chris667]

I don't have to ride in all weathers to commute anymore, but I've often thought my ideal commuting bike would have a Sturmey drum/dynamo on the front wheel, and a Sturmey drum/freewheel on the back. 18 gears is plenty, and you can just lube your chain without worrying about the brakes.

Sturmey drum brakes are pretty good, all told. Predictable and reliable.

 

[mustang1]

Your case might be different but this is how I roll:

I have a carbon road bike, older than yours. I commute in summer. I commute in winter. I ride on weekends. When it's dirty (which is any time that it's not summer), I clean it and especially clean the chain and wheel rims (the braking surface). Service it when it needs it, clean and line chain every week. Sometimes I even do that daily, it's 5 minutes.

I love my bike. I ride my bike.

EDIT: ps I don't troll with mudguards. I do have a steel. Ike with mudguards and it's far better for commuting but I love riding the road bike with aggressive (for me) geometry. The bike does not want to go slow! I have to ride it the way it wants to be ridden. So accurate, so sharp in it's responses. Wow! Wait, sorry where was I, oh commuter. Uhm idk, do the boring mudguards and wide tyres stuff if you like. Just keep it clean.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Just keep it clean

Nah. Impossible and not worth it anyway.

Let it get gunky, then replace drive train and clean at the vernal equinox.

Winter cleaning is pointless. It's covered in crap within a mile or two anyway. Twice a day.

But keep it lubed.

 

[mustang1]

Nah. Impossible and not worth it anyway.

Let it get gunky, then replace drive train and clean at the vernal equinox.

Winter cleaning is pointless. It's covered in crap within a mile or two anyway. Twice a day.

But keep it lubed.

I went a bit OTT with my cleaning comments I think! What I meant was keep the chain clean and if you have time, the rims too. But defo the chain.

 

[geocycle]

I commute on my rohloff steel tourer. It’s perfect for the job with minimal maintenance needed. The rohloff is overkill and I’m sure other hub gears would be ok. That said it’s coming up for 20 years 10 mile round trip almost every day so doesn’t really owe me anything.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I was gutted when my 2008 Saracen Pylon8 hybrid had developed a nasty crack on the seat tube near the top tube junction in '13, but I'd love to know if the old Alfine 8 would work after all this time.

I was curious how it would have ridden when I was at my fittest three years ago, when rideable it felt so rearward heavy with that hub gear, much like my gravel ebike's hub motor.

 

[Pblakeney]

Two things I'd say are necessary are disc brakes (rim brakes kill rims in dirty traffic) and mudguards.
Next consideration is panniers. I know there are new solutions but I think they answer a question that wasn't asked.

 

[si_c]

I commute on my rohloff steel tourer. It’s perfect for the job with minimal maintenance needed. The rohloff is overkill and I’m sure other hub gears would be ok. That said it’s coming up for 20 years 10 mile round trip almost every day so doesn’t really owe me anything.

Would love a rohloff with a belt drive for commuting if I still did it.