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Show me your (nice!) Winter bikes... 👍🏻
I've been trying to work out what, with a generous budget, I would build ideally as a winter road bike... I'll state now, It needs to be able to come in under 9kg with pedals, lights and any mudguards fitted, otherwise it's just a no go... I've ridden a few heavier winter bikes, and great as they are for covering mundane miles in comfort on your own, 99% of my road riding is with other people, and if those people decide to get a bit of a move on, I need to be able to respond and the bike should not be holding me back. For that reason, my current "winter" bike has minimal concessions to winterisation other than it cost me bugger all, it comes in around 8.6kg inc pedals (probably still sub 9kg with raceblades on), and it's pretty quick...
Obviously what it makes up for in performance, it loses out a little in terms of more conventional things most modern winter bikes take for granted (proper guard clearance, bigger tyres, disc brakes etc.)
I'm considering building a ground up dedicated winter bike, but where everybody seems to be going down the route of buying a gravel bike and fitting narrower tyres to it for road use these days, I'm definitely approaching from the other end of the spectrum... I'm fine with 28's, that's plenty big enough for me. I like steel, but I don't want to pay a weight penalty if we're talking more mundane tubesets and/or the reinforcements required on modern disc braked frames to pass CEN testing.
Part of me thinks "sod it, go and give Jason Rourke a deposit on a custom stainless disc brake frameset built to my exact specs", but that's likely to come in over £2k for a frameset, then I have groupset to work out (I fancy sticking with Campag now, probably go with 12spd Chorus disc groupset) etc. Then I think "hang on, christ this is supposed to be a winter bike" and I remind myself that the 853 Volare 40 I'm riding right now that cost me significantly less than a brand new alloy bike with a Claris groupset would do, is more the point... I guess my biggest gripe with it (other than the paint job being the most boring of any bike I've ever owned!) is the rizla paper clearance to the Athena calipers with 28's in there, and obviously the rim brakes aren't the best in a British winter... Anyway, enough of my musings...
Go forth and post pics of your posh winter bikes, and make me feel a bit less shallow about desiring to spend far more than most people spend on their carbon summer road bikes on a steel winter one! 😂
Not mine but a suggestion - Mason Definition (Alloy) Or Resolution (Steel)
https://masoncycles.cc/shop/categories/definition-bikes
Trek Domane, such a great bike to ride. Does winter rides and light gravel duties. Takes 33mm knobblies, I’ve done ridgeway and SDW on it. No issues on fast club rides, I used it last week when some of the guys were still on lightweight summer bikes, kept up fine.
I can never post images so hope this link works. This was during a light gravel ride with daughter in the summer, running 28mm Bontrager R4 Classic tyres.
It only has 105, but it’s reliable, smooth and cheap to replace when things do wear out.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NXwLWrWsQokWwV5V 9" alt="" />
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NXwLWrWsQokWwV5V9
I have one of those^ Masons, it’s perfect winter machine on paper for me. Not sure it meets OP requirements as it is a shade under 9kg without guards 9.6 with. Many of our group stick a race blade with buddy flap on their summer bikes, which I think is the only real way to keep down near 7kg
Can't do pics but I had a Condor Fratello Disc. It was fantastic, rode beautifully on long steady rides, turned heads (ok, I paid extra for the Ferrari Red paint job), and held its own on club runs. Sadly got written off in a crash in May.
If I hadn't already had plans for a Ti upgrade, I'd have had the newer bolt through version to replace it quite happily.
Reflecting on the OP I bought a Bergamont Grandurance 6 in a sale on the very basis it had a compact road chainset and skinnier gravel wheels. Seen in the middle of this page, I might remove the gopping guards.
With 35mm light gravel tyres it’s very comfortable for winter rides, but I do have an unpaved / gravel local loop which I use for 45/60 mins morning / evening recovery rides, so generally it’s bought for the 80/20 rule. It’s always ready to go and I’m not emotionally attached to it (I generally like to look after things). Personally I wouldnt buy an expensive machine as a 2nd or winter bike.
Isn’t the default answer to “fast winter road bike” a Kenisis Road Light 4S?
Frame is 1.5kg so not silly heavy and should build to 9kg with a bit of thought.
I have a Domane SLR and would happily recommend one. I also ride a Lynskey R275 in the autumn/spring but although its disc, like your Genesis it won't take proper guards. I have the Trek with guards and 28s with plenty of clearance.
One's I have not ridden but like the look of and which may fit your bill: Reilly Gradient, Vielo V+1, Parlee Chebacco (all rather gravelly although the Reilly do the Spectre Road disc).
I have a Genesis Equilibrium disc with Ultegra and DT Swiss wheels. It didn't turn a wheel last winter as I was enjoying my Genesis Flyer too much. I should probably sell it and build up the Genesis Datum frame I have doing nothing.
I got an Orro Terra C. Carbon frame with massive clearances and all the mounts you need.
Swapped in some Farsports carbon wheels and running 28mm Conti 4 Seasons and Kinesis Fend Off guards.
Comes in a bit over 9kg, but it is a big size and has the 105 groupset rather than Ultegra.
I guess a build with a CAAD13 frameset would be another possible option.
Sorry, going off topic.....But this is a bad thread! I was just about to buy a Trek Emonda SLR, but have always been thinking of getting a new steel bike....I'd ruled it out as want a light weight summer bike for fast team rides/chaingangs (I've sold my Aeroad so want something similar).....I had a CDF a few years ago, while it was comfortable, it weighed a lot compared to my summer bike (Emonda SLR Rim Brake).
Anyway, this thread has got me back looking at the Fairlight Strael, neither the Trek or the Strael are available until the spring, which is fine. But for £2k less than the price of the Trek, the Strael would come with Dura Ace Di2 as opposed to Ultegra Di2 on the Trek.
I could spend £1k on nice light seat post, bars and stem, I've already got nice light wheels, so could possibly get the Strael down to close to 8kg. (The Trek is 7.2kg, weighed it in a size bigger in the LBS last night) Ah decisions!
I've got a Large Mason Resolution for sale in the classifieds. Not tried to build it up light at all but comes in at just under 9kg without pedals, so I'd imagine it wouldn't be too difficult/expensive to get a total build around 9kg with mudguards.
I have just ordered a Giant Content AR1 for this very purpose. I was going to go for the slightly lighter framed Contend SL Disc, but the 32c tubeless setup of the AR1 is ideal for the crappy back lanes that I ride in winter :
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/contend-ar-1-2021
+1 for the Kinesis Racelight 4SDisc
Threaded bottom bracket, so none of that pressfit malarkey
Takes disc or rim brakes (disc are flat mount, BTW
Easy to install internal routing, for cleaner lines and keeping the crap off most of the cable/hose run
Latest model is bolt-thru axle (released a nanosecond after I bought my QR version)
Mudguard and rack bosses as standard
Reasonable tyre clearance
Available as a frameset, so you can be as weight weenie as you like with the rest of the build
You'll be a little bit different to most riders you encounter
As posted on the 'last bike you bought' thread. Custom geometry, lugged old-school 631 tubeset. MTB 10s cassette on the back for winter miles and audax pace. Rim brakes because I wanted a classic design and ride feel.
My other winter bike is the original Reynolds 520 Equilibrium sample, must be 12 years old now and prob to be used for for the much wetter days or shorter harder rides since getting this one ^ I fitted some steel forks as the carbon OE forks were getting old and my confidence in them was flagging. Old V1 10s 105 on it, still running well. R500 wheels, Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres (highly rated). It carries a full 1L water bottle on top of the 800ml I actually use, a seat pack and a few other bits to make sure it's not too light compared to my MTB.
I have a gravel/650B bike with discs and guards, can use that it I'm expecting hills and rain. Never had a problem on rim brakes here in winter, the hills where you need the brakes are also gritty and full of holes so it's the 700Cs that cause more problems - I ride more open rolling roads in winter on the 700C bikes and rims brake are fine.
^^jameso, what make is that saddle bag ? Looks neat
I had a rim-braked carbon Ribble with full guards and 105, it was really good but I sold it when bike prices went mad in lockdown.
For now I will put Raceblades on my new carbon disc bike, but if I were doing lots of miles I'd probably look for another carbon road bike with guard mounts (seen a few about, does the Synapse have them?) and clearance for 28s with guards fitted.
I wouldn't spend £2k on a custom steel frameset, especially if I was already anxious about keeping up with others.
I always feel I need to make a token shout for the Specialized Allez Elite.
Mine comes in at 9.6kg with two bottle cages, Garmin mount and mudguards.
0.2kg of that is the Tiagra cranks I fitted instead of the stock Praxis as I wanted a shorter crank length and hadn't realised how lightweight (relative to Tiagra...) the stock Praxis cranks were, d'oh!
It takes '28mm' tyres, in as much as the stock 25mm tyres measure up slightly wider than 27mm on the stock DT rims. Mudguard fit but took a bit of Dremelling and fiddling, would like to upgrade to PDW eventually just to reduce rattles on bumpy bits.
It 'only' has rim brakes but I've fitted Swissstop BXP pads and now approaching 5000km of commuting and winter miles on it and haven't a bad word to say for them, they've always stopped me without any squealing, rubbing, leaking or contaminated pads, which is all I can really ask for. Rim wear appears negligible as well. I'd like to upgrade the callipers to Ultegra just because the Ultegra brakes on my summer bike are so good.
Anyway, doesn't quite meet the brief, but for £1199 there might be scope to upgrade should you so wish, the stock tyres are something like 400g each so that's where I'd start!
Thanks Ian. It's a DIY job. A spare Carradice strap on an old army green tool roll that I 'dyed' to the right shade and waxed, to match the Carrdice finish. What else to do with furlough/lock down time when not riding : )
I had a Kinesis 4S, non-disc and it was a sound bike with decent clearance (28 and full guard) but never felt that special to ride, so I sold it on after a couple of years.
I replaced it with a Domane, non-disc version, picked frame up s/h. Really nice to ride but in the winter I'm stuck with 23mm when using a full guard which while not ideal is just about OK. The disc version would be my preferred winter bike if I was going to change again.
I mostly ride a Saxon Cross when I'm out on my own but it wont take a full guard for chaingangs. Single ring and large tyres is great for winter riding.
I wouldn’t spend £2k on a custom steel frameset, especially if I was already anxious about keeping up with others.
Wouldn't need to for a bike like this, mine was £650.
I don't have any pics, but my carbon Synapse disc with Ultegra groupset is about 8.6kg with SKS mudguards, wahoo mount, bottle cages etc.
Has Hunt Aero alloy wheels and carbon seatpost / bars. Might as well be pimp, it gets ridden pretty much 6 months of the year.
One of the few carbon road frames with mudguard mounts.
jameso
Full Member
Thanks Ian. It’s a DIY job. A spare Carradice strap on an old army green tool roll that I ‘dyed’ to the right shade and waxed, to match the Carrdice finish. What else to do with furlough/lock down time when not riding : )Posted 12 minutes ago
🙂 🙂
I use my Diverge Gravel bike with slicks and mudguards as a winter roadie which is great as its a summer gravel bike too, bonus extra bike. I'm sure you could build a very light one if your pockets were deep enough. I'd stick to a double chainring for road use though.
I am pretty happy with my Arkose 4 (rival 1 x) as a winter bike with mudguards and 32mm 4 Seasons.
I am toying with changing it for a 2x11 bike though as I do less commuting and more winter group riding nowadays and the ratio gaps are a bit annoying.
Quite like the look of the Ribble CGR 725 which looks sensible money for a steel frame with a lot of nice modern bits (bolt through, flat mount discs, big tyre clearance etc)
^^^^ these's a lovely 2x11 Croix de Fer 30 in the classifieds if you happen to be in Central Scotland .. 🙂
Strikes me as a reasonable balance of cost vs function vs looks for a 725 winter Disc road bike frame, not too fancy that you'll be wincing when at rubbing guards or paint chips, but not another Taiwanese Al' Gravel bike either...
Claimed frame weight is 2kg (med) + 0.5kg fork dunno if that's light enough...
If it were me I'd only be bunging Tiagra on it for winter use, but it might be worth a stretch to 105?
Whoops...
I've been window shopping for a similar bike to you OP. On the list to look at more closely are CAAD13, Spesh Allez and the Reilly one that isn't a gravel bike.
Gravel bikes are fine on the road, but I wouldn't buy one to meet the OP's requirements.
I'd like a Ribble CGR SL for this kind of thing and more...
Just been out on it for 5 hours in the rain...
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No idea how to add pics but I have a fairly poverty speced 2020 defy, and a croix de fer. Last year I used the croix de fer exclusively for road riding in winter, and it served it's purpose. It was only when I rolled it out one day during the summer did I appreciate just how much slower it was than my summer bike. And that's with proper road tyres and not particularly heavy wheels.
Previously i thought ridimg a heavy, inexpensive winter bike was way forward. My thoughts on the subject nowadays are, if you are going to spend a long time on a winter bike, like you do in Scotland, it may as well be a decent one. Hence why I bought the defy.
Previously i thought ridimg a heavy, inexpensive winter bike was way forward. My thoughts on the subject nowadays are, if you are going to spend a long time on a winter bike, like you do in Scotland, it may as well be a decent one. Hence why I bought the defy.
+1
I used to ride a steel fixed thing as that was the 'done thing' years ago. Don't see the point now, just ride as nice a bike as you can afford which takes mudguards.
If budget wasn’t an issue I’d buy a racey alloy or carbon framed disc bike that will take up to 30c tyres with room for mudguards and the relevant mounting points for them.
I’m on a Cannondale Caad12 disc that I quite like except it’ll only just fit 28c apparently with minimal clearance for mudguards - and it’s missing mudguard mounting points which is annoying. I’d like to upgrade to a Caad13 which has more tyre clearance and provision for mudguard mounts. I’d probably go with gp4000’s in 28c as they’re decent enough in the winter and will come up fairly big / aren’t too bad on rolling resistance.
Ooh - someone posted this recently too. Around 8kgs out the box I think, 30c tyre clearance, hidden mudguard mounts, Di2, carbon wheels etc.
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2360-slr-9.6-disc-2021.html
I had a carbon Boardman before and it was pretty decent. I do love Cannondales but I do have a soft spot for a carbon Boardman.
I’d probably go with gp4000’s in 28c as they’re decent enough in the winter and will come up fairly big / aren’t too bad on rolling resistance
They come up as 32mm on my Diverge's DT Swiss rims.
It was only when I rolled it out one day during the summer did I appreciate just how much slower it was than my summer bike.
Exactly, because you rode through the winter on a heavier bike : )
I'd been wondering whether my winter road bike was too heavy or just acceptable and its 11kgs!!! No chance I'm wasting errspending money to make it lighter, which coming from me is a REAL statement. That's with full guards, pump on frame and saddle bag with spares in it. It does have disc brakes which although I've no intention of fitting to my summer machine is completely worth any weight penalty on the winter bike.
This turd through the wet crappy days
Definitely sub 9kg. Likely to be painted/powder coated soon but I am trying to find some alloy or steel forks to fit in place of the carbon.
This is my winter bike, an Enigma Etape
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