Does anyone NOT get a beater for the winter?

[loaf]

I don't really have a nice looking bike in the first place (it'd probably get stolen) so I just slap some full coverage fenders on for the winter and change chains every spring. It probably helps that I ride a fix, nice and simple. Oh and they are great in the winter, you don't spin your back wheel at all, unless you want to that is.

[recursive]

How does fixed gear prevent the back wheel from spinning? There's a hill I come up on my way home. When it's icy, I doubt any vehicle could make it up without spinning a tire or two.

[SamHouston]

My winter bike costs about a grand when I add it up. I guess it wouldn't qualify as a "beater" unless you saw it next to some of my other rides past and present ;)
It sure looks like a beater but I find that charming

[Metro]

I do have a "beater bike.", if you want to call it that. To me beater does not mean disposable. I pamper both bikes. My 12 year old steel Fuji Ace road bike is the beater bike of choice because it has my old SPD pedals. I can wear my ratty, old Nike mountain shoes with boot covers. Easy clip out and I can walk anywhere in them. I also use it on my trainer because of the amazing amount of frame flex you get on a trainer. I reserve my Carbon EXP road bike with SpeedPlay X2 pedals for fair weather and event rides.

[Magnus Thor]

Well, like most people who ride bikes around here, I have a winter bike. I can't really call it a beater, since I try to keep it in good shape and treat it well. It's a Trek 6700, with full length fenders and lights, as well as a rack. I try to wash it every week and give it a full lube treatment afterwards.
One thing I've picked up: Use rear fenders on both wheels. Buy two sets and use the rear fenders from both sets. You can cut the one you use in front down if it is too long, but front fenders tend to be too short to keep the sludge off your shoes and off the drivetrain.

Magnus Thor
Iceland

[jimk4131]

I ride my old schwinn letour in the winter and my trek 1000 the rest of the time.The weight and inefficiency of the schwinn makes me so much faster on the trek.