I want a new bike for winter - any recommendations?

Bruceapple

I have a Fuji Tread w/ 32 tires.
Rides nice, tuff bike.

Dominuslive

I am in league with others on this... Fat biking is the way to go as long as you don't need to avg 20 mph!!!
I too am looking @ new bikes and I like the Salsa Warbird. 32cm tires with disc brakes. I know a couple guys that use them (and fat bikes) for gravel racing. They have an endurance geometry and come in different "trim" levels.

TheBigYin

Dominuslive wrote: »

I am in league with others on this... Fat biking is the way to go as long as you don't need to avg 20 mph!!!
I too am looking @ new bikes and I like the Salsa Warbird. 32cm tires with disc brakes. I know a couple guys that use them (and fat bikes) for gravel racing. They have an endurance geometry and come in different "trim" levels.

its really, really NOT.

The OP lives in/near London. He wants a winter bike to commute into work on... Winter in London is not exactly cold, with the average temperature at around 5°C, with maximums averaging 7°C and minimums at 2°C. Any snow that falls melts within hours. It's likely to be near-freezing (temps in the low single °C 's and damp for 3-4 months, requiring mudguards and mudflaps... None of this exactly screams "Fat Bike" - what it does say is "sensible road-bike with disc brakes, wide-ish section tyres and mudguards" - exactly what he has bought, and is happy with.

To be honest, the only places in the UK where having a fat-bike makes any sense whatsoever, is if you live on/near a beach, or in the highlands of scotland (and even then, probably only for 2-3 months a year...)

niblue

I live in London and Scotland (although not the highlands) and don't really see any need for a fatbike. The only guy I know that has one does indeed live right on the coast and rides it on the beach a lot. I have seen a fatbike down in London though - in Epping Forest. For commuting into town I'd also probably go with something like a CX bike with road biased tyres or indeed something like my own Cotic Roadrat which has almost puncture-proof touring tyres, an Alfine hub, flat bars and disc brakes as well as racks and mudguards mounts.

chunkytfg

35dollars wrote: »

@chunkytg - is this your local shop?

Sorry only just spotted this. as i'm not that regular on the MFP forum. Yeah thats my local shop. I live about a mile away in Northwood. They have an awesome cake collection and my missus loves it as she is Gluten and Dairy free so very rarely gets cakes to eat except in there.

If you're up for it they lead sunday Morning rides @ 8.30 and tend to run regularly a fast(16-17mph) group and a medium(~15mph) group getting around 20-30 people total.

35dollars

I'd love to have a go at those group rides, but realistically, for family harmony reasons, weekend rides just aren't possible for me (unless the missus is on shift, which is pretty rare on a Sunday morning)

Just for possible future reference, how long are the group rides?

chunkytfg

35dollars wrote: »

Just for possible future reference, how long are the group rides?

Rides tend to be 35-40 miles without a stop this time of year. In the summer they are longer with a coffee stop.

cloggsy71

TheBigYin wrote: »

To be honest, the only places in the UK where having a fat-bike makes any sense whatsoever, is if you live on/near a beach, or in the highlands of scotland (and even then, probably only for 2-3 months a year...)

2 or 3 rides a year probably TBH...

_Zillatron_

Hi 35 Dollars.

Wondering:
What's your opinion on your CAADX now?
What's its size?

35dollars

Hi @_Zillatron_

I'm very pleased with the CAADX, even more so when I have to go back to my old bike, like at the moment. I've done just over 3500 miles on it in about 11 months, mostly commuting 25m/day through all weathers, and the occasional longer single ride (up to low-40s), and I've found it comfortable and a joy to ride.

Slight caveat, in that I've had to go back to the old bike due to (1) a gear cable breaking within warranty, and (2) now something undefined wrong with the gear shifter that the cable broke in previously, that left the bike stuck in bottom gear. Dunno whether this is a common problem - the bike shop owner certainly didn't seem to think so

Embarrassed to say that I have no idea what size frame it is - the bike shop has a laser-measurement setup where they size you and then order the appropriate frame and adjust saddle/bar height accordingly ... and it was perfectly sized and aligned for me when I got it.

TheBigYin

the size of the bike is on the sticker under the toptube/seattube junction - I'd guess from the photo that it's a 56...

35dollars

I'll have a look when I get it back - currently still riding the spare, as I'm waiting for a (free) replacement gear shifter to be fitted - but that would be aboiut right for my height (5' 10")

35dollars

Sorry, very slightly belatedly, I got around to checking the bike frame, and it is indeed a 56.

Bikerchickmomma

If you plan to ride this bike in the worst weather & under the worst conditions, I recommend getting something used and re-vamping it to fit your needs. I have an old Schwinn, standard nubby treaded tires that I adapted with clip-in pedals & aerobars to use as my 'crappy weather bike. I live in Wisconsin where winter puts salt on the roads. I wouldn't want to expose an expensive bike to those conditions, unless you are in the habit of wiping it off after your daily rides. Also, if you take a spill on the 'old' bike, you don't have to fret about any damage done. I have 2 carbon frame road bikes I use when the roads are clean. But I treat them like 'classic cars' and store them in the winter. Just another option for you to consider.

TheBigYin

given this threads 18 months old, and the OP bought a bike before LAST winter, it's a fair bet that that the bike in question IS used now...