[Closed] Quick poll (roadie content).

N+1

Thread Closed

neither... it's only a bit of dirt...

1.

I'm riding my summer bike, without guards even. With carbon wheels and Vittoria Corsa CX Evo tubs. I can't bear the thought of riding a heavy winter bike, but I only commute or go out when it doesn't look too horrible.

Raceguards.

And a Supersix come spring next year.

druidh - Member
N+1

Thread Closed

*shows Mrs Soks the "case for.."*

new winter bike needed or get raceguard longs, much better than standard

I'd have cried if my summer bike had got as muddy as my winter bike did yesterday. Not least because the cost of replacing the drivechain is a lot higher.

n+1 remains one of life's truisms 🙂

I'd 'convert' current bike to the winter one & buy a shiny summer bike in the new year.

Nobby - Member
I'd 'convert' current bike to the winter one & buy a shiny summer bike in the new year.

Hmm. How about a CAADX disc for winter? 😉

Proper winter bike, you get stronger (slightly, perhaps)and your summer bike feels great.

I was thinking this same thing today Toxicsoks, after getting a facefull on a group ride yesterday.

Thing is, my lovely sleek Bianchi would look sh*te with raceguards.

I need a "What cheap winter road bike" thread - although, would that be cheaper than replacing a chain, cassette and a couple of sets of brake blocks eh?

Raceguards. Hardly know they're on.

[url= http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/road-track-bike/ribble-7005-audax-winter-training?part=BB12RIB7005AUDAXWINT&sub=conf_BBRW&bike=1 ]£675 with Tiagra, complete with guards[/url]

cynic-al - Member
Proper winter bike, you get stronger (slightly, perhaps)and your summer bike feels great.

+1

The chain gang I pass on my Saturday commute seems to be predominately summer bikes without mudguards.

I've never seen the appeal myself. As if your bike is some work of art that it's best to get it and you covered in salty dirt?

IIRC you used to get turned away from a winter ride if you didn't have mudguards. Seems fine to me.

although, would that be cheaper than replacing a chain, cassette and a couple of sets of brake blocks eh?

I commute on a lovely carbon race bike and it breaks my heart but I can't afford a winter bike too.

[quote=cynic-al ]The chain gang I pass on my Saturday commute
😆

Dolan Prefissio... Miles better than a Ribble... I enjoy riding mine as much as my summer carbon bike - TCR C3.

A winter bike is more than just an "N+1", it's a loyal friend.

You could always just wash it and save the cash for beer, I find the practice useful when me bike gets too dirty.. 😀

it depends on the state of your mountain bike collection really.
why buy a winter bike when there's a gaping hole in your collection for a 120mm travel full suss to complement your 100mm and 150mm full sussers?

If you have the money then treat yourself to a nice comfortable "heavy" winter bike.

+1 for racebladelongs much better than raceblades

Think Nobby had the right answer. Winterize current bike and buy something new and shiny come the summer (hopefully we'll get one next year.)

That Dolan does look nice.

But CrudRoadracers are £22 on Ribble rather than £699 for the Dolan... So the invetiable question for Mr Soks and I:

What mudguards are the best ones for race bikes?

If you don't already have on, get a CX bike with a spare set of wheels and clip on mudguards (I like raceblades) and use it as a CX bike and a winter road bike...

Think Nobby had the right answer. Winterize current bike and buy something new and shiny come the summer (hopefully we'll get one next year.)

Nah - Caad10 a lovely summer frame but would be a crap winter frame. Guard mounts & clearance is where it's at.

An odd "rule" of the road - extra points for a shiney bike that looks like a bit of an F1 cast off in the summer. Extra points for riding a heap of crap in the the winter. The heap of crap will of course be far from a heap of crap in reality but it won't look like something glitzy from the pro peleton. It'll look like something your grandad would have coveted as a youth.

A winter bike is more than just an "N+1", it's a loyal friend.

Mine was. Frame cracked (alu). Too sad to replace it after all those miles together. So I'm trashing the summer bike instead.

No, I don;t get the logic behind this either.

My Mrs is going to hate me tonight as I try to justify another bike purchase to her....

Thanks STWer's...

PS REALLY liking that Dolan.

What happened to your "I'm goping to be less marterialistic from now on" Kryton?

cynic-al, you have a point.

I just don't want the Bianchi to rot away. New bike is, actually, a pipedream.

I guess its ride, ride and ride and fix it when it wears out.

SKS Raceblade longs then? Will my bianchi look sh**e? 🙁

You could always pick up a winter frame, fork and wheels on the cheap and move the groupset over then get a nice blingy new groupset for the caad10 come the summer (maybe some nice Di2 action 🙂

Edit: though you'd probably end up spending as much on frame, fork, wheels and bits as you would on that Ribble or Dolan. Cracking value.

PS REALLY liking that Dolan.

Just get one. No pockets in a shroud... It really is a surprisingly lovely bike to ride - nice and light, nowhere near as harsh as I expected after riding carbon bikes, infact, the carbon fork makes it pretty comfy...

Having proper mudguard eyes and clearance means you get a nice solid bike with no rattling.

Mine's built up with a 1992 600-Ultegra groupset (the first of the STIs), Open Pro rims and Chromoplastics. It's just gorgeous.

A proper winter bike does indeed have chromoplastics on proper mounts.

I built up a Prefissio for a mate. I did a ride on it once I'd built it (since his first ride was going to be a century and I didn't want it to go wrong...) and for the money it's a great frame.

[img] [/img]

EDIT - for the critics, that's the seatpost set up for me to ride it and I'm taller than my mate

That looks like a wrong frame size purchase if ever I saw one.

Get a genesis then you can fit full length mudguards.

[IMG] [/IMG]

convert - Member
That looks like a wrong frame size purchase if ever I saw one.

Of course it is - I built it up for my mate, not me 😉 I'm a frame size or two taller than him...

And can I just say that IMO (of course...) full length guards are over rated. I notice barely any difference between removeable ones and 'proper' ones so long as they're fitted right.

Fair enough. The bikes I build up for my wife weirdly seem to fit me almost a little better than they do her 😉

Here's mine... I went for the matt black frame... Classy!

[IMG] [/IMG]

I notice barely any difference between removeable ones and 'proper' ones so long as they're fitted right.

Is that for you or the person sat a foot or two off your rear wheel? I've always found following a full guard (preferably with of those daft looking flaps) a much cleaner experience and tend to seek them out in the group.

I was a member of a club where you'd get tuned away from the Sunday chain gang without full guards. Clip ons did not cut it. It did feel a bit like being a member of a fussy golf club mind and excruciatingly embarrasing when some old boy in charge turned away keen youthful potential members on their first ride for not having the right kit. I know why but still...

For me ,there is nothing like that first spring ride on the good bike.
Hidden away in the attic over the dark months,everything ready ,no faffing ,just pump up the tyres and go.
😉

Is that for you or the person sat a foot or two off your rear wheel.

My race blades cover just as far at the rear - it's only really the section between the stays that's effectively 'missing' on temporary guards. The additional flap that some fit does help but that's not specific

I've used both the Crud road racer and SKS Race Blades and find them both useful but the larger size Race Blades are easiest to get on with if they'll fit.

mudshark - Member
I've used both the Crud road racer...

The "floating" one's?

Use my Parlee all year round, no guards neithers... Don't like any extra weight on my bike, ride it like you stole it, get dirty if the roads are dirty, get wet when it rains.. Whatever.

Ride it hard.

bikebuoy

After I calmed down I thought about this in an MTB context for a minute - so how many years / winters have you been riding through and how quick is everything wearing out?

I can't be as fast as MTB's in the mud surely*?

'cept brake pads

The "floating" one's?

Yep, they're OK but with 25c tyres can start rubbing at times. I'm currently using one on the front with an SKS on the rear as can't fit the SKS to my forks. Quite a good combi actually!

Got some crud raceguards mk2 from the lbs the other month, was in there last week saying I still hadn't fitted them. The response?

'for the love of God don't fit them!'
'why?'
'you'll go mad trying to fit them, then on the first ride realize they don't work!'
'oh, what shall I do with them then?'
'Bring them back and we'll swap em for sks raceblade longs!'
[inner monologue] win!

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

and some SKS, jobs a good un

Use my Parlee all year round, no guards neithers... Don't like any extra weight on my bike, ride it like you stole it, get dirty if the roads are dirty, get wet when it rains.. Whatever.

Ride it hard.

So you ride on your own then? If you ride in a group then guards are a must. I ride my pegoretti year round and much prefer not getting a soaking from my own wheels or others.

Work colleague has the Dolan winter bike, he's really impressed with it and I must say I am considering one. Thing is, I really need to shift my FS in order to fund one..................and shift the 26er H/T in order to fund a 29er H/T. Why is life so complicated.....? 😐

Another ride my best(ok only) bike in all weathers without guards.

Used to only ride alone but recently joined a club and had a couple of comments. I'm far from the only one though and frankly feel disinclined to get any. I guess I'm a selfish ass 🙂

I ride a fixed road bike with full SKS guards. Am also looking for a used Giant SCR for winter duties, as this will also take full guards. The raceblades aren't bad, but nothing like as good as the full chromoplastics. The black ones are almost invisible anyway, and I've saved the weight by swapping out other components. I found the lack of rear wheel coverage on the raceblades gave a good soaking from the rear wheel across the front derailleur. And I'm the most popular person on our wet club rides.

I don't like a mouthful of gritty water or an abrasive eyebath when out in a group.

A quick question, I've some chromoplastics (p35, the narrowest ones), will they fit under long drop brakes or are they only good for canti brakes?

Seems like a good starting point for a build seeing as I haven't got a bike for them after upgrading the tourer to 32c's ...............

Yes, they fit fine under long drop brakes.

... with 25c tyres

I fitted race guards to my defy to keep the crap off the front mech and me. It worked, and I can't feel the difference.

Ps I've also got a steel bike with full guards that I commute on

Group riding without mudguards is dangerous for the rider behind as well as discourteous. Face full of gritty water is distracting at the very least and can temporarily blind people when it's really bad.
As said above, some clubs send you home without. I'm surprised not all do...

Race blade longs are fine for a chain. Nay sayers aren't riding chains. The pricks.

Race blade longs are fine for a chain. Nay sayers aren't riding chains. The pricks

that's because they have no friends and/or are tediously slow.

Annoyingly my club doesn't mind if people don't ride with mud guards, don't even say anything though I suggest to people they should have them. At the very least they should be made to ride at the back.

Right I've gone for the Crud race guards. I'm not moving between bikes, they look stealthier and were cheaper at planet X. I'm not bothered about the extra faff for the first fitting.

Lets see how they fare....