Share your winter bike.

[pigman]

Over the years I've really been round the houses with my attempts to have a lasting winter bike. First of all, a rather ponderous Terry Dolan which I never really liked, then a rather nice steel bike which I almost ruined despite using full mudguards, then a series of failed attempts involving clip-on mudguards on various bikes, then a failed attempt at a steel restomod. The latest is a relatively run of the mill second-hand (but only ever used for Zwift by the previous owner) winter bike. It's a nice enough ride whilst not being so nice that I care it getting covered in crap. If nothing else, it does have a rather nice paint job.

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That windy bank near Bradfield?

 

[sjcprojects]

That windy bank near Bradfield?

Yes, that’s the one. For once it actually wasn’t windy along Strines yesterday, as it happens.

 

[pigman]

I rode over Strines yesterday, up Blindside and into the Hope valley

Ice everywhere this morning so our group ride is cancelled

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I rode over Strines yesterday, up Blindside and into the Hope valley

Ice everywhere this morning so our group ride is cancelled

Who do you ride with?

 

[pigman]

It's not a formal club, just a collection of mainly retirees who try to meet Monday, weds, Saturday. Most of us originally rode with Sheffrec club at some point in the past

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

It's not a formal club, just a collection of mainly retirees who try to meet Monday, weds, Saturday. Most of us originally rode with Sheffrec club at some point in the past

Sounds nice and easy going. I'm not quick enough for a group ride really.

 

[pigman]

Are you in our neck of the woods? Sheffield?

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Are you in our neck of the woods? Sheffield?

I lived in Sheffield in the late 80's early 90s. Had a great time. I was in Hackenthorpe, Heely, Fir vale and Crookesmoor. I have cousins there too. Apologies for thread hijack.

 

[Nabeaquam]

Sometimes there are pretty big banks of old plowed snow on my gravel and tar and chip rides in June. This is another photo of a late May gravel ride. Snow banks still but the plowed gravel is ice free and frozen rock hard mud.

 

[Nabeaquam]

Well she isn't in winter clothes here because she's also my touring bike. winter has mudguards, 1 bottle and lots of random bits of inner tube to cover essentials.

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I’ve had home built beater winter bikes since about 1980. One even rusted through at the bb and the frame bounced and the pedals hit the ground on the way home. I try and use an old or inexpensive new big box bike frame. You really can’t protect stuff here with mudguards as the salt gumbo fills everything up and then the next day the wheels won’t turn. Our roads are loaded all winter with a salt/sand gumbo. My bikes last a few winters before the brake mounts, chain and derailleur become unusable. Then their donated to our volunteer fire department scrap drive. Every spring and fall I soak everything in penetrant, but the canti brakes are always stuck and the chain is a solid piece. Lots of oil and a few days winter riding brings it back, but eventually it just won’t work. Once you have to start sanding the rust off the canti mounts, forget it, it’s shot.