Ideal Winter Bike?

[mfarnham]

I'm starting to think about converting my Orange Jake the Snake to a dedicated gravel grinder/cross bike, and buying a (probably used) bike for winter/rainy road riding. I'm curious what people consider in choosing a winter bike. Winter bikes don't seem to get a lot of glory, but given where we live we spend a lot of time on them.

To me, disc brakes seem essential, especially as they become more widely available--I hate grinding my rims. And obviously fittings for fenders are necessary. Beyond that, do people have thoughts? Carbon vs. alloy? Groupsets for the gritty wet?

Martin

[roadflasj]

Although carbon is nice for ride quality and weight, winter bike durability seems more important simply because you're far more likely to have a fall in the wet weather (says the guy riding a carbon bike and crashing twice this year).

Beyond that there are a ton of all road or endurance bikes from almost every large brand: Specialized Diverge, Norco Search, Kona Esatto, etc. I would personally try a few as the geometry can vary between a gravel slug to road race quick, with every rider having a preference towards each end of the handling spectrum.

Component groups are always what you pay for with better construction, quality and durability vs weigh & performance. Your own call at that point. Ultegra/105 or Force/Rival are usually the best balance between all the respective considerations. I would also have a close look at stock wheels as the quality can be suspect, even at a higher dollar value. Also second the disk idea. I prefer hydro or hydro/cable hybrid. Best modulation and power combo by far.

[AJ Neale]

Martin, you were too fast this morning to chat but I wanted to mention that I am very happy with the metal fenders on my winter bike. I have tried various plastic versions with mixed results, but I like the sturdiness of the metal ones; not much heavier and no rattling or swaying. If you found some nice metal fenders you could check them out on any prospective bikes. Good Luck!

Andrew

P.S. I am with you on the disc brakes and avoiding the grinding down of the rims.....such a nasty sound!

[Plawless]

My ideal winter bike is my Storck with the fancy deep dish tubulars and Campy EPS. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with winter but EVERYTHING to do with what I would then NEED to buy to use as my summer bike!!!!!

C'mon people think it through!!!!

Peter

[Fozzy]

Like your style Peter!!!

[Lund]

Based on Peter's riding over the past couple weeks, I'd've guessed his ideal winter bike would be anything with a functional drivetrain.

[Robgrant]

My ideal Winter bike would have an alarm to help me get up in the morning, coffee on board and maybe a little hidden motor.
Rob

[JohnT]

I'm with Peter. It's the bike you have. What you want is a new summer bike.

Would you buy a new winter car?

JT

[John D]

Would you buy a new winter car?

+1

Especially when you live in Victoria!

[Mark C]

I would also agree with Peter, but having said that Fenders and a long Crap Flap are the most important thing about a winter bike.

[mfarnham]

In 2026 when I go to upgrade my winter bike, I will simply rotate my summer bike into winter position and buy a new summer bike--because my aging summer bike in 2026 will have disk brakes. But since my current summer bike doesn't have disk brakes, this doesn't seem the optimal approach in 2016. Besides, I'm more or less happy with my summer bike, whereas I feel deep physical pain every time I apply the rim brakes on my current winter bike.

Of course, if I buy a really great winter bike, I won't experience as big a leap in performance from getting back on my carbon bike this summer, and then a new itch will need to be scratched...

Martin

[LouiseF]

Can one even weigh in on this conversation when one only has 1 bike?

[AJ Neale]

N+1 Louise! And no Sunlight Detergent flaps on a summer bike.

[Robgrant]

I only have one road bike, Winter and Summer. Fenders fit even with 28mm tires and nifty hidden fender mounts (than you Trek). Though not nearly a prolific rider as some, the rims are still fine after 5 or so years, though I'd keep the carbon hoops for the Summer (if I had them). I put skinny tires on my disc brake carbon cross bike but WOW, that was punishing.

As always, the best bike to ride is the one you're on.

[LouiseF]

Andrew, Technically I do meet the minimum of 3 - although that includes my multi-season road ride, my mountain bike and my beach cruiser. Now that we have an official bike room, I guess we should start trying to fill it up. We used to have more but....thieves.

As for my sunlight flap, cycling was simpler (and sunnier) in San Diego.

[Greg F]

N+1 Louise! And no Sunlight Detergent flaps on a summer bike.

Custom fit Sunlight Detergent fender flaps are available upon request! Lead time is 1-2 months.

Why so long? Like Swiss timepieces, Italian suits, Kentucky bourbon or Trump's hair, custom hand-worked old-world craftsmanship takes time.

(And a bottles worth of clean dishes)