[Closed] Lets see those winter road bikes (... have I gone too early?)

UK weather: Hottest September day for 50 years expected as Britain set for three-day heatwave

And my winter bike is currently the same as my summer bike 🙁

Summer bike:
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Winter bike:
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It's just had a new 11-23 Ultegra cassette and Dura-ace chain (10speed), it does get downgraded to some RS61 wheels and winter tyres, and does get raceblade longs but other than that it just ticks along.

UK weather: Hottest September day for 50 years expected as Britain set for three-day heatwave

Bugger! 🙂

Always guarded....

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Genesis Equilibrium 853 with sp dynamo hub, USE Revo / redeye lights, TRP brakes and 105 gears.

Not any old bike, its the wheelies bike

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8249/29595315136_c001d7a1ea.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8249/29595315136_c001d7a1ea.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/M6eJ75 ]IMG_20160901_093253147[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7930597@N03/ ]barry_kellett99[/url], on Flickr

My winter bike is my tourer and (sometime) CX bike

This is it on a train prior to me doing NCN78 last Saturday (yes, all of it)

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Nice those.

Quite tempted by a dynamo setup as much of my riding is in the dark, though again hard to justify as I don't really have any problem with my Strada.

scotroutes, always nice to see a bit of Ti 🙂

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Ribble Sportive 365
11sp 105
Giant P-SL1 wheels
SKS Chromoplastic guards

I ride it all year round when conditions are wet.

What should be my winter bike:
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But, it's so dull to ride that I got to the point I was choosing not to go for a ride over actually riding it. It's a functional but plain boring bike.

What actually is my winter bike:
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Or what would be better referred to as my old summer bike. It fits, I like riding it and it's old enough that I don't mind getting it covered in mud and road salt. No guards, but I don't mind at all.

On the way, just putting on 5800 for 11 speed and need to find a new 'guard solution...

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Oh, I've got one of those too Mister P 🙂

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7701/17368253512_a45151c0a5_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7701/17368253512_a45151c0a5_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ssLQEL ]Bank Holiday spin[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/ ]Simon Barnes[/url], on Flickr

Lack of guards on a winter bike is madness 🙂

Haze, nice that.

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Winter/summer/race/commuter

Might get it some brake pads and new cables, still got a roll of leccy tape in the same nuance of black so the ripped bar tape will be staying for a while, too.

edit: just realised how crap that picture is.....

I don't have room for extra bikes down here so will probably just look at getting some clip on mudguards for my Roubaix.

No guards, but I don't mind at all.

How can you not mind a chamois that is being continually blasted by <5°C water?! 😐

...its the wheelies bike...

I'd pay real money to see you wheelie that.

How can you not mind a chamois that is being continually blasted by <5°C water?!

Er, waterproofs?

It's not so much the wet chamois (ass saver can deal with that) it's shit for the guys behind if you ride in groups.

Front helps keep the feet dry, much more civilised!

will probably just look at getting some clip on mudguards for my Roubaix.

They work very well IME.

Sometimes wonder whether I really need a proper winter bike, but I do ride it loads.

How can you not mind a chamois that is being continually blasted by <5°C water?!

Indeed. Long winter miles on a soggy chamois, great for breeding saddle sores. And then dirty road spray up your front, in your face, over your bottles and bike. All sorts of crap in it off the fields down country lanes. Ideal for getting a dodgy stomach.

It's not so much the wet chamois (ass saver can deal with that) it's shit for the guys behind if you ride in groups.

And this x1000. Bloody inconsiderate.

Anyway, meant to be a winter bike thread and not a guard rant 🙂

I end up on the 'cross bike for winter - from a mildly pimped Giant Defy to a mildly pimped Cotic X. Needs some lighter wheels, though, that's next on the list.

Current one..

Crappy old Ribble.

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Going to change it this year.

But the Vaya also get used a lot too- Just needs the guards fitting

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ow can you not mind a chamois that is being continually blasted by <5°C water?!

So to the above, no, I don't mind. Loads of chamois cream and all is well, no issue at all. And yes, I do ride far enough, I like a traditional winter of long, relaxed riding.

The group comment is also fair, however, almost all of my riding is done solo so it's not an issue. if I'm with a group then the kaff comes out, dull as it is.

Each to their own, but I couldn't be doing without a mudguard for winter riding. Even if it's not raining, the roads are wet for most of winter. Why get yourself wet and covered in crap off the road if you don't have to?

Anyway, here's mine:

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It's since gained a longer rear mudguard for the benefit of others.

I use the Zefal Swan/Croozer guards on mine and they keep me pretty dry on winter road stuff. Added benefit for off road use and can be removed in seconds, tough I rarely take the front one off.

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No use on road group rides though...

pdw, nice that. 4S disc?

What guards do people recommend when there's a gnat's nadgers worth of air between my front tyre and the bottom of the steerer?

The bike is Gensis Volant used 90% of the time for commuting.

Is it a case of getting a smaller tyre (currently running 25c GP 4000S's)

or

Are there some magical guards that you can point me in the direction of?

Liked the look of the raceblades but i think they'll be too thick to fit the gap.

Why get yourself wet and covered in crap off the road if you don't have to?

Because mudguards should have no place on any bicycle ever*. And actually getting covered in crap seems to be half the satisfaction of getting out and cycling in rubbish weather. Probably something to do with coming at road riding from an MTB background - and having grit between my teeth for the last 25 winters. And not being precious... 😉

* my opinion, obvs. But they make any [s]road[/s] bike instantly look so lame, tired, unloved and sad (IMO).

JackHammer, might be worth a look at the ones Giant make for the Defy that have the cutout around the bridge...

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http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant-defy-speedshield-mudguard.html

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OR

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OR

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Although they've had some spec changes since these pics they're broadly the same...also used a lot in spring autumn and summer 😉

A fine collection there!

And not being precious...

You seem a bit precious about how bikes look, if you don't mind me saying.

A fine collection there!

thanks 🙂

Haven't washed any of them in the last year or so, only occasional wipe down after a really shitty ride, decent guards keep most of the muck off, and polished bits hide the scratches pretty well, doubly so on camera. All they ever need is brakepad scum wiping off and a bit of lube every now and then, several thousands of miles under their belts between them and used in all weathers.

The Mercian is fixed/free, mostly ridden free and is lazily comfortable, a little under-geared but excellent for spinning along and keeping warm on winter club runs.

The Trek is my old Winter/Audax bike and is perfect in every way for me except lacking in tyre clearance, hence....

The Singular, bought to replace the Trek and is absolutely ace, comfy, quick enough, and the handling is brilliant with the 60mm offset fork on it, nimble but stable and fits 35c without guards 30c at a push with them, I've only put about 1200 miles on it so far but It's shaping up to be one of my most favourite bikes ever.

Just built this up from bits in the garage and a donor frame (Boardman CX in Imperial Cycles livery). Cross bike to be raced in the Central League on some hand built wheels, not these Ksyriums.

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The Defy has been returned to Teen2 for school duties. The bracket securing one of the rear stays on the Giant mudguards failed where it clamps the mudguard blade. Otherwise they were pretty good.

My fixed wheel road bike has guards all year round, so I'm not sure whether to add them to a bike I'll race. The Tortec reflective ones on the Paddy Wagon have been flawless, the stays are from previous SKS versions that have snapped!

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You seem a bit precious about how bikes look, if you don't mind me saying.

No problem at all. I am avowedly so.. 😀

See [url= http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#4 ]Rule 4[/url]

(Half in jest though, kids 😉 you can all do what y'like.. )

This is my all year round commuter, and only road bike at the moment.

[img][URL= http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/prawny_photos/B10CE2C6-422E-402C-BB8A-05FC664A360E.jp g" target="_blank">http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/prawny_photos/B10CE2C6-422E-402C-BB8A-05FC664A360E.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL][/img]

Recently extended the front mudguard with a bit of milk bottle and a nut and bolt I found on the floor, will put a longer one on ready for winter because it's still a bit shorter than the Chromoplastics on my old bike

[img][URL= http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/prawny_photos/6D825AC8-BCDC-44A7-A57E-D55D6FFD3AD7.jp g" target="_blank">http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww275/prawny_photos/6D825AC8-BCDC-44A7-A57E-D55D6FFD3AD7.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL][/img]

pdw, nice that. 4S disc?

Thanks - and yep, 4S disc.

[img][url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1694/26009331114_853f2c3e52_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1694/26009331114_853f2c3e52_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/FCmBZm ]IMG_20160424_141725[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/16899333@N03/ ]IamDeathside[/url], on Flickr[/img]

And yes, I have some full guards waiting for the darker months.

Jackhammer- you want sks raceblade 2 longs i have them on my small defy which has zero clerance even the giant gaurds struggle and lasted abou a month the sks are 10x better and dont rattle.

[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8734/29525978972_fa2ccf1560_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8734/29525978972_fa2ccf1560_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/LZ7mSY ]Winter roadie/off road rig[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/54931015@N07/ ]Plus one2010[/url], on Flickr

Zefal swan clipped onto seatpost when wet 8)

Bought as a replacement for my Supersix - not really the bike I was after so relegated to winter/peaks bike

[URL= http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz211/dansipods/588E058A-DAC7-4969-8E55-50D2A2BE8C1E_zpssycvkmj9.jp g" target="_blank">http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz211/dansipods/588E058A-DAC7-4969-8E55-50D2A2BE8C1E_zpssycvkmj9.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

This one gets most of my wet crappy winter miles in.
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We are pretty casual in how we define 'roads' when we are out together too - that ^ was on the ride home from Haytor after the ToB finish up there on Friday.

OCB, you've just made me homesick. I love the back beach. Couldn't get down for the ToB finish this year. 🙁

Thanks guys. Will get a set ordered up. Although my frame doesn't have threaded mounting holes. P clips ftw.

Sometimes on roads, sometimes not. Always fun.

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Still need to change the saddle, but here's mine:
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One way commute = 10 miles on road + 2 miles off

Winter summer anytime any road or track 🙂
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Ooh a Shand. Nice. I'd love to swap my frame for a Skinnymalinky.

I'm dreading the onset of winter and going back to the Dolan Porffisio after a summer of ridding the Supersix Evo HM. So much in fact that I'm thinking I might just sack off this whole winter/summer bike and just ride the Cannondale all year.

Surely as MTB ers we can ignore the whole "can't ride a nice bike if it's rained, my bike will fall apart/get wet" thing. If my chain wears out a bit quicker I'll buy a new chain. Life is too short to ride a crap bike most of the year!

My winter bike is now in a permenant Zwift station and the summer bike will get used on dry days.

Year round commuter:

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It will have winter tyres put on soon (Vittoria Rubino Pro Techs) but that's the only mod I'll do for winter. I tend not to use it if it's raining in the morning, instead opting for the tube, but if its forecast for evening rain then it's still used but with a saver attached to the seat. I ride solo so guards not an issue, but may invest in some this year.

Life is too short to ride a crap bike most of the year!

Who says a winter bike needs to be crap 🙂

And isn't it just a good excuse for N+1?

My "winter" bike is worth a lot more than my "summer" bike.

Winter just means specc'd appropriately, normally slightly bigger tyres, full guards and if you have any sense either rims with a thicker sidewall for longevity or discs, and possibly gearing ratio changes if you're going to be riding solo more often or carrying more weight (clothing, food, bike weight etc.)

Doesn't have to mean you skimp on the frame or group though, although I'm a bit partial to running older (but decent) 7/8 or 9 speed groups as they do deal with the crap a bit better, and in my experience they do last longer, but others may have different experiences.

I use my 'winter' bikes all year round as they're great for loads of riding, I just don't ride my un-guarded, lightweight/thin rimmed wheels, highly geared bike in crap weather, not because it's too good for bad weather, but because the other bikes are better equipped for it.

Ribble 525 was a basic build, not too heavy not light but comfortable, now with 28mm four seasons.

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Winter just means specc'd appropriately,

It's also more a bike to ride in the dark too. More robust wheels for the inevitable unseen pot holes you plough through in the dark. Also fitted with decent lighting that can be a pain to mount on aero profile bars and seat posts. I'm actually quite tempted to fit Di2 on my winter bike as I think a gear indicator on the Garmin could be quite handy in the dark.

now with 28mm four seasons.

still with guards?

One thing that put me off the Ribble when I was looking around was that I'd heard it was a squeeze to even get properly sized 25s through with guards and (uses standard drop brakes). Other than that it looked like an incredibly good value and well thought out frame.

Last year:

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35c, discs and gears this year (build in progress)

I sold my winter bike. And my summer bike. Realised I was better off with [url= https://mashing53.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/two-into-one/ ]a bike[/url].

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Good blog that Baz. Always nice to hear the thinking behind a bike build.

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Winter mods are SKS full length guards and SPDs so I can use my waterproof mtb boots.

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A lot of seem to be confusing the concept of a summer bike with THEIR summer bike. A summer bike is a light-as-can-be-skinny-tyres-to-go-fast! , not your disc equipped 30mm tyre - actually a cross bike - fitted with a big saddle bag and pump mount under the bottle cage ;0)

You dont ride a nice summer-bike in the winter, otherwise its not a summer-bike, its just a road bike, even if it is a nice one.

A lot of seem to be confusing the concept of a summer bike with THEIR summer bike. A summer bike is a light-as-can-be-skinny-tyres-to-go-fast!

You dont ride a nice summer-bike in the winter, otherwise its not a summer-bike, its just a road bike, even if it is a nice one.

What utter cobblers!

Daffy, a Niner and the Pickenflick? That's a lot of Dura Ace!

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Had it a few years now and currently with Time road pedals rather than spd's and just put some 105 brakes on it because they were cheap. Very good frame, comfortable and light ish. Bottom of the range shimano gears still working fine. £300 well spent. I keep considering getting something a bit better or using my old cx bike but can't really see what would be any better without going up to carbon. Long blade guards work well although I have just lost the front bit of the front guards so may consider PDW guards, anybdy know if they'll fit as the rear clearance looks a bit tight

Uh huh. Winter/Commuter and Summer.

Though I did my first century on the Niner as pictured above. Planned to use the PnF, but it was nighttime and lashing it down.

I've just rolled over 13k miles on the Niner.

That's a lot of Dura Ace!

ransos - Member

A lot of seem to be confusing the concept of a summer bike with THEIR summer bike. A summer bike is a light-as-can-be-skinny-tyres-to-go-fast!

You dont ride a nice summer-bike in the winter, otherwise its not a summer-bike, its just a road bike, even if it is a nice one.

What utter cobblers!

Of course it is, but like [url= http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/ ]'the rules'[/url] its just a bit of fun. However you cant join in (calling your bike a summer-bike) then complain when people point out its not, in the spirit of the term 'summer-bike' anyway.

Note the ;0)

for the last couple of years it's just been crud guards on the 'summer' bike

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But I was mulling over upgrade/replacement options for the year round commuter on the way home tonight

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I will probably stick to business as usual though...

Jackhammer they actualy use the wheel qr as a mount so no need for dedicated frame mounts 8)

Summer bike on left. Winter bike on right.

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Oh, and what would be the ruling on a 1x winter road bike? Not a 'CX' bike, an actual road bicycle...

Sacrilegious, lazy setup or practical simplicity? Discuss...

1x on a road bike is for triathletes who can't tell theirs left shifter from the right. Only exception to that rule is a TT bike running huge front ring and a straight through cassette (I.e 11-21 10 speed) for a very fast and flat TT. 😆

The Burls of Doooom

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Might change the bars and stem this winter.

Nice Burls. Not sure about those green cables!

First ride on the "winter" bike tonight in the dark. Lovely night for it. Definitely prefer night riding on something that feels a bit more weighty and solid, especially in the wheel department, than the race bike.

@stato: That would be my thoughts a couple of years ago, but these days with a 10/11 speed 11-32/11-30 cassette and say a 40t/42t N/W ring for just spinning about over winter, I could see that being a viable option, wouldn't be super quick on the flat or going up, but would be less drivetrain to maintain, if it's a nice dry day the proper bike with a double still comes out...
Bear in mind I am coming from a fixie here so any gear range is a relative luxury...

This will be my winter road bike - it's also my summer road bike! Only addition will be mudguards and lights:
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Will be on my Kaffenback when I get a chance.

[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1520/26362995246_85d308f59a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1520/26362995246_85d308f59a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GaBf1N ]IMG_20160411_192706[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/2strokesteve/ ]Stephen Williams[/url], on Flickr

Cheers, Steve