summer bike

[HLaB]

Ive only had my summer (carbon) bike 2 years 1 winter. The first time it went away some time after 11th November 07, came out again the 16th March 08. This year it went away after the 10th October 2008 and its not out yet ! I've now added drops to my winter bike now, so if the weather aint perfect in a few weeks it'll stay away longer.

 

[country joe]

i think having the two bikes, gives you something to look forward to,
as soon as the Weather changes for the good you can get out your best Bike,
Gives you a lift.

 

[gbb]

i used a carbon bike all year and with salt, grit and all sorts on the road after a while it looked like shoot it started peeling and lost its shine so dont tell me that grit and salt dont effect carbon it effects everything on a bike

I had that on my alu carbon forks on my last bike. No, it didnt affect the carbon initially, but salt got into the brake mount holes, and the corrosion started between the alloy and the carbon. Result..peeling carbon

I caught mine early luckily enough.

So if there's an interface of carbon and alloy, salt can definatey cause problems.

In amswer to the original question, i've had my summer bike out for just over a week now ( and cycling to work this morning..... i see they've gritted the roads )

 

[PatrickPending]

for me its ewhen I build it, well it'll be my summer commuter

 

[HeartAttack]

Been using my summer bike on and off all winter, but mothballed the fixed 3 weeks ago and only using the race bike now, going back to the fixed now would be a step backwards

 

[RedBike]

The salt has just about seized everything on my winter bike. I certainly wouldn't like to be riding anything nice. Yesterday I had to use a screwdriver to lever open the wheels quick release and then I couldn't get the skewer out of the hub.

 

[HeartAttack]

The salt has just about seized everything on my winter bike. I certainly wouldn't like to be riding anything nice. Yesterday I had to use a screwdriver to lever open the wheels quick release and then I couldn't get the skewer out of the hub.

In which case I would recommend a better more frequent maintenance regime, even in the worst weather conditions just because its a winter bike doesn't mean you don't take care of it. Ignore it and it'll cost you a lot more money than giving it a regular clean and lube.

 

[Chris James]

So if there's an interface of carbon and alloy, salt can definatey cause problems.

That makes sense as aluminium oxide has a greater volume than the metal, so will tend to spall off anything attached on top of it - google Pilling Bedworth Ratio.

Paint operates as an electrical conductor hence stopping the oxide forming in the first place, but you can get spalling on aluminium alloy frames where the paint has been damaged.

I am still intrigued as to how salt can cause delamination of the lacquer on a carbon frame though.

My steel frames are lacquered over the transfers and are used all year round but have no delamination. I don't know if they use different lacquers though.

 

[Mike Rudkin]

No-one told me lol

I only had a "winter" bike this year for the first time. A Trek 1.2. It takes mudguards and a rack, and to be honest I never expected much of it, but it rides almost as well as my much more pricey "summer" bike

I will probably get the summer bike out in April. Except I plan to sell it....

No-one told me my Trek was a 'winter' bike -I'll have to convince wife I need a summer bike now.

 

[giant man]

Of course you will! That's the (cycling) law lol!

 

[jimboalee]

Summer bike ??

Think of the weather conditions you would prefer to bicycle ride in. The bike you use in these conditions is your 'Bike'.

For other weather conditions, mostly dull, wet and miserable, you will use your 'Winter trainer'.

If you are fortunate enough to own a really nice bike which you treasure NOT ride in any type of rain, this is also your 'Bike'. The only difference is - when your friends see you on it and gaze in amazement.


So all-in-all, there is no such thing as a 'Summer bike', because this is the natural state of conditions for cycling.