Splatter Paint
Retrobike Rider
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I live on the edge of the Surrey Hills, so 7 days a week the roads are full of roadies on their carbon steeds. However, the last few days have been proper wet and today's ride was a little different.... I saw one pillock on ££££££ of full carbon with 100mm deep-section carbon wheels off for a ride in the wind :facepalm: and several others grinding their rims to death on the muddy roads. BUT there was a different breed out today, the 'sensible cyclist'.
First up was a gent in his 50s on a Thorn 26" touring steed with mudguards and a rack (and a puncture
) with a Rohloff hub, next was a gent on a Dawes Galaxy disc with mudguards and a rack. I saw a few skinny tyre disc-braked road bikes with mudguards too.
It made me think, what is the DNA of a perfect wet (not snowy) winter bike? Here's my list and my bike:
Nothing too fancy frame-wise and no suspension. Alloy or steel frame with steel forks.
Comfort fit / slack geometry
Disc brakes
Drop bars (for tucking in facing big headwinds) short drop & reach
Full-length mudguards
A good set of quality, sealed hubs
A wide spread gears - probably hub geared if you can afford them
Something to carry waterproofs in
My bike is a ~20 year old Kona hybrid converted to drop bars, because I was too much of a cheapskate to buy a tourer. However, I rode 800 miles in 10 days a few years back touring Scotland so it isn't too shoddy. The only bad bits are the hubs which have virtually no seals in an fill up with water when it is really wringing. Once I find some NOS M756 hubs I shall have the wheels rebuilt.
SP
First up was a gent in his 50s on a Thorn 26" touring steed with mudguards and a rack (and a puncture
) with a Rohloff hub, next was a gent on a Dawes Galaxy disc with mudguards and a rack. I saw a few skinny tyre disc-braked road bikes with mudguards too. It made me think, what is the DNA of a perfect wet (not snowy) winter bike? Here's my list and my bike:
Nothing too fancy frame-wise and no suspension. Alloy or steel frame with steel forks.
Comfort fit / slack geometry
Disc brakes
Drop bars (for tucking in facing big headwinds) short drop & reach
Full-length mudguards
A good set of quality, sealed hubs
A wide spread gears - probably hub geared if you can afford them
Something to carry waterproofs in
My bike is a ~20 year old Kona hybrid converted to drop bars, because I was too much of a cheapskate to buy a tourer. However, I rode 800 miles in 10 days a few years back touring Scotland so it isn't too shoddy. The only bad bits are the hubs which have virtually no seals in an fill up with water when it is really wringing. Once I find some NOS M756 hubs I shall have the wheels rebuilt.
SP
