What is a Winter bike?

[richie244]

I see quite a few bikes advertised as good "winter bikes" but they don't seem to be any different to any other bike.

Would I be right in saying that dependant on the depth of your pocket depends on what you class as a winter bike, or is there an actual difference?

 

[vickster]

Proper mudguards, and room for bigger/ ice tyres below mudguards primarily, with good puncture protection

Steel or alu usually, not carbon as most won't take the full guards. Possibly a lower groupset with cheaper replacement parts, chain, cassette

Guess it depends what you ride in the other seasons

 

[r04DiE]

It's the cheapest bike you own. Provided you own more than one bike.

 

[John the Monkey]

A Brompton, in my case.

People used to assume that my Giant SCR2 was my winter bike (it's actually my best bike, but is mudguarded, because, practicality).

 

[lpretro1]

No difference a bike is a bike - just some like to have a bike they prefer to use in bad weather on cacky roads and that may well have mudguards on - or at least provision for them - and then save their 'best' bike for the summer months when weather is better (ha ha!!). It may well have fatter tyres or tyres with a tread po0n them. There can be a lot of corrosive salt on roads in winter which can destroy components on any bike - so many just run cheaper gear on them for this reason

 

[slowmotion]

Winter bikes are for anal obsessives who feel precious about their other bike but dare not ride it for fear that it might get a teenie weenie bit damp. Between October and May, they keep their best bike in a glass case, like an embalmed dead pontiff, and kneel before it in supplication.

 

[crazyjoe101]

In the winter I don't enjoy getting a jet of water sprayed all over my bike and backside so I ride something which has full length mudguards and mudflaps, and that if I crash on ice I can afford to repair.

 

[fatblokish]

And perhaps has brakes that respond better in the wet.

 

[summerdays]

In my case the winter bike is my spare but with studded tyres on so I can choose it if it looks icy. At other times of the year it has knobbly tyres for when I go into the woods.

 

[Brandane]

Most replies so far are assuming that summer is somehow dry. That is not the case everywhere!

Days in the year when it rains (more than 1mm) in the west of Scotland doesn't vary much throughout the year:

The difference in winter is that sometimes that rain turns to ice or snow, and they throw down huge amounts of salt and grit to melt it. That stuff is evil and eats bike components. Therefore a winter bike might be one that you're not too precious about, and going back to the OP; yes that depends to some extent on the size of your wallet. I don't have a winter bike; I just don't cycle in foul weather. I'm lucky to have that choice.

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

It's a summer bike with mudguards.

 

[richie244]

Most replies so far are assuming that summer is somehow dry. That is not the case everywhere!

Days in the year when it rains (more than 1mm) in the west of Scotland doesn't vary much throughout the year:

.

Thanks for the reply guys. I think my assessment was about right and you may have given me an excuse to ether resurrect my old Scott bike or embark on a build of a new cheeper bike for some fun although I am far from precious about my new bike its a tool for getting fit.

Brandane I concur with your assessment of the West of Scotland weather, we lived in Helensburgh for 4 years and yes there were no droughts which is such a shame because the surrounding area is stunning (looking through a window). We now live in the South west and the cost of sun cream is crippling.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

The Americans call them beater bikes but posh people keep a winter bike at their winter residence and a summer bike at their summer residence. Me, I also have a spring bike and an autumn (fall) bike kept at their respective residences. Admittedly it is difficult to distinguish between the spring and autumn model.

Ironically, a winter bike should actually be the better bike. Carbon, titanium and anodized aluminium doesn't rust whereas steel does.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

The one that takes proper fitted mudguards, and basically because it's green

 

[Brandane]

Ironically, a winter bike should actually be the better bike. Carbon, titanium and anodized aluminium doesn't rust whereas steel does.

Aluminium is better than STEEL?
You'd better take cover!
My "best" bike:

My least good bike which is what I would probably use in what is commonly recognised as winter weather, if I wasn't allergic to rain. (And wind; and cold):