Winter bike

[Jon H]

I cleaned my winter/commuting bike on Saturday. First time in errm umm, let's just say quite a while.

Anyway, I'd had a couple of minor mechanicals in the week (slow front puncture, and broken rear spoke), so took this as a sign that a bit of tlc was required. Gave it a good clean, and it seems that the dirt was helping hold it together; as I cleaned around the bottom bracket a huge lump of paint came off revealing an equally huge patch of rust underneath. After further investigation I discovered that basically the whole BB shell and chunks of the adjoining tubes are very rusty.

So I reckon I'm in the market for a new winter bike. Suggestions on a postcard please...

[Phil H]

One thing that has long confused me: why do people ride bikes that will rust in the winter and save the ones that won't rust for the summer?

[Dombo]

Reposition your current good bike to winter bike status and treat yourself to a new good bike. This has strong safety advantages as you are familiar with the current bike which is obviously a good thing in the harsher winter/commuting riding environment.
Remember also to reduce the claimed cost of any new good bike by what you would have had to spend anyway on a replacement winter bike, and further reduce the cost by any expected value that can be realised by flogging the old bike either whole or in parts on ebay.
As a final adjustment you should use the hedonistic measure as employed by the US government when calculating GDP. This is an imaginary adjustment for perceived improvements in goods. eg a 42 inch plasma telly costing £800 is twice as good as a 19 inch black and white jobby from 1972 that cost the same in real terms; Ford Anglia vs Mondeo, etc. The inflation-adjusted monetary value is the same but the GDP value is much higher.

[Grahame]

Get a cyclocross bike. The brakes are better (especially the disc brakes that are now available)and there's plenty of clearance for mudguards.

Plus you can use it to hoon around muddy fields laughing like a 10 year old.

[Jon H]

[quote="Dombo"]Reposition your current good bike to winter bike status and treat yourself to a new good bike.

[Jon H]

[quote="Grahame"]Get a cyclocross bike.

[quote="Jon H"][quote="Dombo"]Reposition your current good bike to winter bike status and treat yourself to a new good bike.

[Andrew G]

I thought I'd need a new frame when I was knocked off in Feb, fortunately it was good just needed a respray. I had looked about and found that sadly there aren't any good value steel frames around these days like my beloved hack, however Kenisis T2 or TK2 if you have a bit more cash and want a lighter frame seem to be the best about and good value. GBs do them so you can get a discount.

[quote="Dombo"][quote="Jon H"][quote="Dombo"]Reposition your current good bike to winter bike status and treat yourself to a new good bike.

[Jon H]

Will probably get a complete bike rather than just replacing the frame, as most of the kit on it is getting fairly old. I'll just transfer my dynamo wheel and light across from the old bike.

The Ribble winter bike looks a good deal for the dosh.

[Grahame]

What size frame do you use, Jon?

If you need a 54cm, [url=http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/YBCL124758/guerciotti_cross_force_sram_rival_cyclocross_bike_54cm_blue_white]this looks very good value[/url] for a "spare" cross bike/winter bike.

Or [url=http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBPXUJSP/planet_x_uncle_john_sram_rival_bike]this[/url] is available in all sizes for the same price.

[Marcus]

[quote="Jon H"]Will probably get a complete bike rather than just replacing the frame, as most of the kit on it is getting fairly old. I'll just transfer my dynamo wheel and light across from the old bike.

The Ribble winter bike looks a good deal for the dosh.

[mlocke]

A guy i work with just got the ribble winter bike and he loves it

Great VFM

[George]

A couple of years ago I bought a Aeron from butlers all built up for winter with mudguards I'm happy with it and use it for training.
I can confirm Andrews suggestion of Kinessis bikes are good winter bikes I believe Mulberry has one.

[Andrew G]

Don't think GBs do the Aeron's anymore which is a surprise as they looked good.

Forgot to say Pearsons. You can get their Touche (Alu) and Hanzo (steel) frames in geared versions, you'd also be able to tweek the build to your choices easily. I'm sure you could do a good deal with Guy. Might be worth a trip to Sutton to check them out and have a chat to see what he can do.

The Ribble's are good vfm but might be worth a bit more up front cost for a closer to ideal bike bearing in mind how many miles are done on these faithful all rounders.