To what extent can a summer bike be used in bad weather and remain a summer bike?

[mrfacetious]

Why is rain bad for the bike? If I clean my summer bike off after a freezing, raining run, is it not as good as when I started? Just how much does it affect it? I call it my summer bike but the gist is, aside from the hideous weighty mtb in the garage, I just cannot afford a "winter bike" as well. I want to make my summer bike last as long as possible as I shelled out quite a bit on it, so can I find a healthy balance of good maintenance and winter riding? So far it has seen mere nanometers of rain, but I'm sick of waiting for good weather. All help appreciated.

 

[gbb]

My opinion (and thats all it is) is as follows...

Rain itself won't hurt the bike, but salt at this time of year will.
What speed is your summer bike ? That above all would dictate whether i use it in the winter or not.
I used a 9 speed very very occasionally in the winter, not wet rides, but i did use it while there was salt on the roads and maybe damp.
The next spring i was cleaning it and found that damp had settled in the front fork brake recesses, causing corrosion, causing the carbon to delaminate slightly from the steerer. Also i had furry corrosion on the alloy frame where there'd been any paint chips.
Now i always use an 8 speed steely for winter commuting, the chains heavier and more able to take corrosion and crap. Components are cheaper when you have to replace them. 10 speeds wear out quick enough in the summer, let alone when there's salt and muck all over.

My 8 speed is mudguarded up and i still have to clean it every two or three days, its unbelieveable how dirty they get. I wouldn't, couldn't subject a 10 speed to that...but thats just my choice.

Put it this way, after 18 months of summer riding only, ive just replaced the chain, cassette and chainrings on my 10 speed....cheap at just under £100. I think if you bring winter riding into the equation, you'd wear the transmission out twice as quick.

 

[Arch]

<whisper>There's no real need for a winter bike and a summer bike. But sometimes we just need the excuse for a new one...</whisper>

If you keep it cleaned and lubed, one bike will see you all year round. The advantage of a winter bike is that you can choose to have all the stuff like mudguards and dynamo lighting and so on that might weigh a bike down and aren't needed so much in summer.

 

[mr Mag00]

i have one road bike and one mtb all wether and all seasons

 

[addictfreak]

I agree with Arch, although I do have the luxury of summer/winter road bikes (and an MTB). For me its just a way of keeping the more expensive bike in tip top condition. But as already said, if you regularly maintain your bike then you will be fine.

 

[gbb]

<whisper>There's no real need for a winter bike and a summer bike. But sometimes we just need the excuse for a new one...</whisper>

If you keep it cleaned and lubed, one bike will see you all year round. The advantage of a winter bike is that you can choose to have all the stuff like mudguards and dynamo lighting and so on that might weigh a bike down and aren't needed so much in summer.

Jesus keep it down will you You never know who's looking over the readers shoulder

 

[potsy]

I use my 'dry' bike plenty in the wet,just need to clean it/lube it more than normal.And being white it shows the muck up lovely.
Once I'd ridden it after riding the heavy hybrid last year,I now want to use the dry bike all the time,only very wet weather or the need to carry lots of stuff makes me use the hybrid.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Jesus keep it down will you You never know who's looking over the readers shoulder

Although I agree with Arch. I have a tourer, an Audax bike and a roadified MTB, and they all get used at all times of the year in all weathers. When bits wear out, I'll replace them and when the bikes wear out they can go for scrap or be repaired. There's no point having the bloody things if they're going to live inside half the year.

 

[mrfacetious]

It's a 10 speed triple not so good then. It was advertised as a "light touring/audax/winter bike" to be fair so idk if it's more able to stick it. Is silicone spray sufficient lubrication for the chain? I'm wary of buying expensive bike cleaning products. I don't really go more into cleaning it than a rag and, when the weather improves I'll probably give the bodywork a full clean with the hose. Thanks to all who replied, hope the additional info helps.

 

[Matty]

1 gear is plenty for commuting!

 

[Chrisz]

I use a 9speed Giant OCR (cica 2001) as my winter bike - my '09 Onix (11speed SR) has stayed upstairs being plished and pampered so far this winter. Last year it got ridden from January onwards - a) because it was new and becuase I couldn't afford to build the old Giant into a winter bike.

This year, I've worked out how much I've spent on the 'summer' bike and decided it wasn't worth the risk of all the ice patches etc. (a couple of our club runs have been more like dancing on ice events!) not to mention the risk to £800 wheels from the monster potholes that currently abound!

Once the weather dries up a little more, the current bun comes out to play a bit more and some of the holes get filled I will get it out - can't wait

 

[snorri]

There's no point having the things if they're going to live inside half the year.

Absolutely

Even summer bikes which get lots of tlc must get caught out in the rain sometimes, then there is just general aging, so how many summers should a summer bike last for?

 

[Chrisz]

so how many summers should a summer bike last for?

Until the new bike/frame arrives - then it gets relegated to a winter bike

 

[gbb]

It's a 10 speed triple not so good then. It was advertised as a "light touring/audax/winter bike" to be fair so idk if it's more able to stick it. Is silicone spray sufficient lubrication for the chain? I'm wary of buying expensive bike cleaning products. I don't really go more into cleaning it than a rag and, when the weather improves I'll probably give the bodywork a full clean with the hose. Thanks to all who replied, hope the additional info helps.

It depends Mrfacetious...water itself wont hurt ,its the salt.

To be fair, it depends on what sort of riding you're doing.
I commute every day in the winter (give or take), sun or rain, sleet of snow. My steel bike gets absolutely mullered with salt, grit, dirt etc, but an 8 speed transmission can take it.
If you're just taking the bike out normally, i wouldnt worry about getting it wet, but i have seen the damage all winter riding can do to a good bike.
That said, i don't need much excuse to go out and get another bike

 

[mrfacetious]

so general consensus is rain in the summer = safe to go, clean after, salt and nastiness in the winter = avoid? Thanks guys. Any advance on the silicone spray?