Winter bike buying advice

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #27541
    Alessandro

    I am in the market for a winter bike to deal with the weather that Edinburgh no doubt has in store (the summer hasn’t exactly been great so I dread to think what the winter will be like). My current winter bike is a Bianchi Via Nirone but it lacks mudguard mounts and I’ve got to the end of my tether with clip-ons. I bought new Zonda wheels towards the end of last year so they only have around 2,500km on them at the moment and the 10 speed Centaur groupset, although 7 years old, should still have some life in it yet. I’ll be using it to commute to work as well as train throughout the winter and want to be able to fit 28c tyres with mudguards (not fussed about pannier mounts). My summer bike is a SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod and I like the long and low position of that so would ideally find something similar. 

    I therefore have 2 options available to me:

    1) Buy a frame and transfer the groupset, wheels, bars etc. onto it. Options include the Spa Cycles Audax, Tifosi CK7 or the Kinesis Racelight 4S (which has the added benefit of being able to fit a disk groupset if I wanted to upgrade next year). Any other sensible suggestions in a similar price range welcome. I appreciate that the Spa and Tifosi aren’t particularly long and low but options seem pretty limited. 

    2) Buy a complete new bike. The benefit of this is that everything would (obviously) be new and there are a lot of savings in buying a frame, wheels and groupset together. I’d also be able to get a disk groupset. The downside would be having to ditch the kit that I already have, most of which wouldn’t generate much in the way of beer tokens. Sensible suggestions (ideally under £750ish) would be welcome.

    Thanks in advance. 

Viewing 6 replies - 16 through 21 (of 21 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #900603
    0
    Inder

    Some good deals on Kinesis T2

    Some good deals on Kinesis T2 at the moment (frameset £250ish or complete bike with 4600 Tiagra from £500 – £700).

     

    I have the full Tiagra version as my winter bike and I’ve been impressed. 28mm tyres fit under the  mudguards that came with it without rubbing (just). Geometry is fairly racy (not as much so as your Cannondale though). 

     

    Have also used it without mudguards and with nicer wheels in the summer when the other bike was out of action and was it felt great on faster paced club rides. Also has mounts for panniers, pretty versatile bike. 

    #900601
    0
    srchar
    Alessandro wrote:
    Are you able to get 28c tyres and mudguards on the T3? I’d really prefer going down the route of new frame/old bits because the groupset and wheels are worth more to me than I’d get if I sold them. 

    Yes, I have 28c Gatorskins with full SKS longboards in 35mm width. Having only previously been able to use clip on guards, I LOVE having full guards that are totally secure and don’t flop around.

    #900599
    0
    Alessandro
    srchar wrote:
    I just had the same decision to make as you.  I ended up buying a Kinesis T3 frame and fork, plus headset and long-drop brakes (just over £400 all-in using various discount codes) and swapping a Campag Athena groupset, Zonda wheels and finishing kit over from my previous commuter, a lovely but mudguardless Van Nic Ventus. You could also look at the older Kinesis T2 which is a cheaper frame to start with and would allow you to use a cheaper non-tapered fork.

    I just couldn’t muster enough want for a winter bike to warrant spending two or three times as much on a complete new bike. Given that your budget for a new bike is £750, I think you’ll end up with something far nicer by going the new frame/old bits route.

    Are you able to get 28c tyres and mudguards on the T3? I’d really prefer going down the route of new frame/old bits because the groupset and wheels are worth more to me than I’d get if I sold them. 

    #900597
    0
    srchar

    I just had the same decision

    I just had the same decision to make as you.  I ended up buying a Kinesis T3 frame and fork, plus headset and long-drop brakes (just over £400 all-in using various discount codes) and swapping a Campag Athena groupset, Zonda wheels and finishing kit over from my previous commuter, a lovely but mudguardless Van Nic Ventus.

    You could also look at the Kinesis T2 v2 or v3, which costs less to start with and would allow you to use a cheaper non-tapered fork.

    I just couldn’t muster enough want for a winter bike to warrant spending two or three times as much on a complete new bike. I wasn’t fussed about disc brakes either. Given that your budget for a new bike is £750, I think you’ll end up with something far nicer by going the new frame/old bits route.

    #900595
    0
    muhasib

    GT grade 105 in the offers
    GT grade 105 in the offers page today at Tweeks. It’s £769 but when I went on their site to look it popped up a 5% discount to sign up to the newsletter, otherwise cashback sites give 4% off so it’s within budget and the review on here looks good with mention of mudguard mounts.

    #900593
    0
    sergius

    Bit more than you are looking

    Bit more than you are looking at spending, but I just picked up a Canyon Inflite cross bike as a new winter steed.  They have revamped it for 2018 so there are some good deals on the 2017 versions.

    Ultegra, hydro-discs, mudguards etc for around £1400 – with the added bonus that I could fit some cross tyres and have a play offroad if the mood takes me.

Viewing 6 replies - 16 through 21 (of 21 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.