1ply

So the 2008 Norcos are officially out on the web for all to see. Finally I can check the specsheet of my (possible) winter bike without having to go to the store and look at their catalogue. What do you seasoned commuters think?

This bike will see about 2000kms annually, hopefully through the crappiest weather, from fall rain to winter slush.

Opinions please:


Specs:

name
LRT 1
frame 6061 Butted aluminum frame, 26" wheel size, with rack and fender mounts
fork Chromoly, with rack and fender mounts
headset CH-281B
cranks chainguide
FSA Dyna Drive, 48/38/28
pedals Wellgo LU-C9
chain KMC Z-8
freewheel Shimano HG-30, 8 speed, 11-32
front changer Shimano FD-C102
rear changer Shimano Deore, 8 speed
shifters Shimano EF-60
bar Ritchey Low Rizer, 19mm rise, 31.8mm
stem Ritchey, 31.8
grips Velo Biologic
front brake Tektro 832AL, V-Brake
rear brake Tektro 832AL, V-Brake
brake levers Shimano EF-60
front hub Shimano RM-60
rear hub Shimano RM-60
rims Weinmann ZAC-250, double wall
spokes Stainless 2.1
tires Kenda K-934 with K-Shield flat protection
saddle Norco Performance Comfort
seatpost Ritchey butted, 27.2, 350mm
sizes 12.5, 15, 17, 18.5, 20, 22"

-=(8)=-

Rim brakes with a triple up front and a open cluster on the back ?!?!? Huh ???
Three things that make it unuseable as a winter commuter to me.
Nice bike but I would never use it as a winter bike.

SS or Hub gears w/coaster and/or discs for winter

kill.cactus

While the rims may be a problem in slush (I actually got a mtb with disks specifically because of this) I don't think the open cluster out back will present TOO many difficulties. Make sure you wash it out with fresh water and then lube it frequently in order to keep corrosion at bay.

2000km a year isn't too much for winter riding on a bike

Good luck!

Cowtown Cumuter

I don't think you guys get much snow in Kitchener do you? If so you may want to put some studded tires on that bike for traction. I think it is a fantastic choice for a winter commuter.

ax0n

My winter beater is a 24-speed (Triple Front, 8sp rear) and I had no problems over the winter with it. As far as the rest of the bike goes, I see rack and fenders. Hopefully they're wide enough for some beefier (knobby or studded) tires.

jeff-o

We get a few heavy dumps of snow, but the main roads are usually cleared within hours. Open gears worked just fine for me last year, but I did have disc brakes. I would have liked a more aggressive rear tire for days when the roads were clear but icy.

ghettocruiser

Never had much problem with gearing during winter. During a freezing rain commute two years ago the deraulleur froze, but I just picked a gear and stayed with it, just like if I had been riding a SS to begin with.

Disc brakes are a good idea.

squeakywheel

Looks good. I'd probably want to ride it year round, though.

1ply

One speed is what I use over 90% of the time anyway so no issues there

Discs get tricky - to get a bike with discs the $$ usually go up. Marin makes a 26"er with discs for the street, but I'd have to add fenders and a rack and that's where my issue is - adding racks to discs. (besides the Marin is pure Al - the Norco has a steel fork). Only thing that bugs me is the short rear rack - I'll see if the lbs will swap it out for another one of the ones I already have. AND I have to make sure that my studded tires will fit on this bike...

evblazer

They make a few racks specifically for bikes with disc brakes and they are not that much more expensive if they are at all. I had disc brakes on my winter commuter after my first year commuting in the snow. It was workable with rim brakes but you can ride a little more aggressively with discs in the snow/rain then without, at least I felt more confortable doing so along with my Nokian studded tires.
external gears were never a big issue just made sure to clean/lube them all the time.

1ply

If I do find braking to be an issue, I can always add a disc to the front keeping the back as is

EDIT - in this kind of situation - does the addition of a front disc overpower the rear brake giving you the effect of not really having a rear brake?

jeff-o

No, not unless the rear brake us gummed up with snow and the front brake isn't. In that case, go easy on the front until you can clear off the rear.

thebikeguy

I wouldn't buy a nice new bike for the winter. I commuted for 9 straight winters in Ottawa and I used beater mtn bikes. $20 garage sale finds. I went through 3 of them. Just make sure the cables have a one-piece sheathing end to end. That way your gears/brakes won't freeze up on you. Then at the end of the season either strip it for the good parts(for the next candidate)or prepare it for the next winter(oil "the snot out of it" and put it away).

thebikeguy

I found that internal geared hubs(Sturmey Archer or Shimano) don't like the cold weather(I roasted a Sturmey Archer AW hub). The lubricants gum up or freeze. They're not designed to be used in sub-zero temps.