mattkime

i'd like to build up a steel road bike for days when i'd prefer to leave my pampered road bike (CAAD10) indoors. This means fenders.

I've been thinking about All-City's Mr. Pink or perhaps something semi-custom from Milwaukee Bike Co.

What would you get?

ahsposo 

You know steel + H2O = RUST.

I like the all-rounder I built up on a Nashbar Touring frame.

If I had more tools and experience with disc brakes I would have built it that way but I opted for cantis.

Big old fat tires give it plush and off road utility.

That's what I got.

ahsposo 

Here's a link to the build thread.

It's very satisfying to put together a bike.

mattkime

>> You know steel + H2O = RUST.

I've never had trouble with that.

thechemist

I just don't understand buying a bike to ride in crappy weather. I mean...just take care of the bike you own after you ride it.

knobster

I have two bikes, one for Summer riding and one for the majority of the year. Why have more than one? Because one can have full fenders and a rack where the other doesn't. To be honest, I think I prefer the ride of my Winter bike than the fair weather bike.

Here in Portland, there is nothing wrong with a steel bike and wet weather. Near the ocean though, I wouldn't use a steel bike due to the salt in the air. My choice for this bike was a Soma ES. Of course you'd have to build up something like this but I love mine.

darb85

it takes 5 minutes to rinse off the bike and lube the chain. Ride the Fing thing

Carbonfiberboy 

Living in the PNW, you betcha I have a rain bike. I built it up from a Nashbar Framè. I used an Ultegra drivetrain, all the same as my good single, 105 brakes, bar-end shifters for cost and to hold down the weight. A big difference is that this thick-wall aluminum frame rides fairly dead and I can't hurt it going down, etc. Of course it doesn't rust, even if I beat the crap out of it. Another difference is that I run inexpensive hubs and easily replaced rims. Except now that I have a set of unobtanium coated Open Pros, I don't have to replace rims again. Another difference is that is has full coverage fenders and mudflaps almost down to the pavement.

I built this bike in 2004 and it's given great service. Look at the radar image, see rain, grab Fred. It's always ready to go, no fiddling around with stuff. No, I don't hose it down after riding it. Usually the rain does that well enough. If it doesn't rain and the roads are wet and gritty, maybe or maybe I'll let it go. As long as I wipe the chain down and keep the chain well lubed with Finish Line Ceramic, grit doesn't wear it much. Fenders and mudflaps are a big help with that. And I don't really give a crap about how Fred presents himself. It's a rain bike. It's a dirty job.

Back in 2004, it cost me $800 to build, buying last year's parts, specials, etc. I've ridden it on centuries, etc. But for randonneuring, I still used a nice carbon bike with clip-on fenders if it looked wet, and then cleaned it up after.

JohnDThompson 

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