Which winter training bike (needs mudguards)??

[johnny senna]

Fellas,
I am new to cycling, only slowly gaining the info I need.
I have just bought a Trek Madone 5.2 and I am enjoying riding it.
Lovely thing:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/madone-52...
I did 73 miles the other day, and it was painful, but worthwhile. The odometer is only up to 300 miles now, and I try to get out twice a week (I do running as well and the gym).
Anyway, to keep training going over the winter, I want a winter road training bike with mudguards as I fear my Madone will dissolve and die in the winter salty sludge, so I think I need a cheaper bike with mudguards.
I was thinking an entry level machine from a decent make. I see Ribble do a winter training bike that you can use mudguards on. It's just over 600 quid. I assume the mudguards are extra?
Or what about a Trek 1.2 or Specialized Allez for 500 quid? Can they have mudguards fitted?
What about the Specialized Secteur? I think this can take mudguards:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/se...
I suppose I could keep looking in Cycling weekly for a second hand something, but how do you know if you can fit mudguards to each bike? Second hand means travel, and I haven't much time to be honest.
Above all, it can't be fecking white. My Madone is white and it does my head in keeping it nice, although I appreciate the need for bike cleaning etc........but feck me it shows the muck.
All ideas welcome. TIA.
Hi Chris!!

[Nick_F]

Your 'winter' bike doesn't have to be a truck: I use an oldish (2004?5?) Allez with Raceblades on it.

[pete]

I've just bought a Madone 5.2 as well. My intention is to just ride it all year round; if I need mudguards I'll stick a set of raceblades on it. It's the black "pro-fit" version though, so easier to keep clean than a white one.

I never had any problems in the past using my summer bike in winter. As long as you rinse the salt off and keep everything that is able to rust or corrode coated with a little WD40 it should be fine. I'm not aware of any scientific evidence that carbon frames dissolve in rain water!

Cheers,
Pete

[johnny senna]

Thanks fellas. I was thinking about using the Madone all year round to be fair, and just keeping it cleaned, lubed and well serived, plus mudguards obviously. The thing is, if I bought a 700 quid bike for winter with mudguards, it's not a huge amount cheaper than I paid for my Madone. If I had a 5 grand's worth of Madone or similar, I suppose it might make more sense to preserve that over winter?

[sebo]

Another thumbs up for Race Blades.

[anonymous-user]

i see lots of ribble audax bikes around bristol all year round. they are hardly "trucks" and are well designed for the commuter/winter training. the last thing you need is something that requires the same level of maintenance and care as a race bike.

are you still considering a second pair of wheels for the madone?

[johnny senna]

pablo said:

i see lots of ribble audax bikes around bristol all year round. they are hardly "trucks" and are well designed for the commuter/winter training. the last thing you need is something that requires the same level of maintenance and care as a race bike.

are you still considering a second pair of wheels for the madone?

Cheers Pablo. If I got a second set of wheels, they would be super fast ones!! LOL.
Do you mean put some cheaper ones on for the winter?
What extra maintenance does my Madone need over a 500 quid bike please?

[Nick_F]

pablo said:

i see lots of ribble audax bikes around bristol all year round. they are hardly "trucks" and are well designed for the commuter/winter training. the last thing you need is something that requires the same level of maintenance and care as a race bike.

are you still considering a second pair of wheels for the madone?

Ribble is where I was looking, but the Allez came up for peanuts - less than a frame/forks from Ribble or CRC - so I went for that.

Built-up with the 105 groupset from my race bike - perfect opportunity/excuse to up-bling that - it rides very well and I don't mind taking it out when the weather's grotty - which is by no means an exclusively winter phenomenon.

[anonymous-user]

johnny senna said:

pablo said:

i see lots of ribble audax bikes around bristol all year round. they are hardly "trucks" and are well designed for the commuter/winter training. the last thing you need is something that requires the same level of maintenance and care as a race bike.

are you still considering a second pair of wheels for the madone?

Cheers Pablo. If I got a second set of wheels, they would be super fast ones!! LOL.
Do you mean put some cheaper ones on for the winter?
What extra maintenance does my Madone need over a 500 quid bike please?

i must admit that i have been looking at some gucci wheels of late, easton ea90s but the wife would never allow that without an addition to her handbag collection first.... yes i meant cheaper ones for the winter, the salt and crap on the road in winter is awful and can damage higher quality rims.

its not so much a case of extra maintenance required for the madone but rather less for an audax....if you are anything like me if its cold and wet and i am knackered the bike can easily get left for a few hours (ok days!) before it gets some attention thus i personally, wouldnt feel so guilty if it was a winter hack with tiagra rather than some dura-ace clad carbon bike porn...

[johnny senna]

I get it now Pablo, thanks mate.

[CAB]

Dont they normally suggest that you winter training bike should be approx the same setup as your summer/racing bike??!!

[AyBee]

I don't currently have a winter bike because I can't afford one (I just use my mtb more in winter than I do in the summer) but for me, a winter bike would be less about the maintenance and more about the damage caused if I fell. I ride all year round and the likelihood of falling on a road bike on soaking wet roads is a lot more than on dry ones.....

[anonymous-user]

CAB said:

Dont they normally suggest that you winter training bike should be approx the same setup as your summer/racing bike??!!

not heard thta one before? i think thats propaganda from the bike companies myself!....

[CAB]

when i say setup i mean dimensions of franme etc. If i spend a lot of time on the MTB it does feel like i am using a different set of muscles when i get back to the road bike

CAB

pablo said:

CAB said:

Dont they normally suggest that you winter training bike should be approx the same setup as your summer/racing bike??!!

not heard thta one before? i think thats propaganda from the bike companies myself!....

[a11y_m]

Raceblades are crap in comparison to full-length guards. I used Raceblades on my previous bike - no clearance for full-lengths - but have proper SKS Chromoplastic guards on my current bike.

I found the Raceblades great at keeping me dry/clean from road crap, but not great at protecting the bike. Full-length guards are more effective at that.

[sebo]

a11y_m said:

Raceblades are crap in comparison to full-length guards. I used Raceblades on my previous bike - no clearance for full-lengths - but have proper SKS Chromoplastic guards on my current bike.

I found the Raceblades great at keeping me dry/clean from road crap, but not great at protecting the bike. Full-length guards are more effective at that.

Are the SKS Chromoplastic guards also quick release?

I like the fact I can take my Raceblades off in under 30 seconds which is good for dry weekend rides. If the OP wants to keep mudguards on all the time then this probably isn't a factor worth taking into account.

[johnny senna]

Today I drove past a guy on one of those Ribbles with mudguards, I assume it was an Audax. It look fine to me, not very truck-like anyway.

[Lord Croker]

This new product could be a good alternative to Raceblades - they seem to give more coverage:

http://www.crudproducts.com/products/roadracer/roa...

[a11y_m]

sebo said:

a11y_m said:

Raceblades are crap in comparison to full-length guards. I used Raceblades on my previous bike - no clearance for full-lengths - but have proper SKS Chromoplastic guards on my current bike.

I found the Raceblades great at keeping me dry/clean from road crap, but not great at protecting the bike. Full-length guards are more effective at that.

Are the SKS Chromoplastic guards also quick release?

I like the fact I can take my Raceblades off in under 30 seconds which is good for dry weekend rides. If the OP wants to keep mudguards on all the time then this probably isn't a factor worth taking into account.

Nah, once the Chromoplastics are fitted they're not quick release. Attached at several points with bolts back and front. But IMO during the winter (or on a winter bike) I see no point in removing the guards at all. Certainly, the Raceguards are better than nothing and I forgot about the fact that they came off in 30 secs.