rumrunn6

June, when they fill the pot holes and sweep the winter sand from the shoulders

robbyville

I also only have the one bike which I ride any suitable day. We have a lot of dirt or gravel on the roads and I don't ride in the snow. I just wipe down and lube the bike after every ride. I do have take off the carbon wheels on days where snow has just melted or roads are exceptionally grimy and use a set of alloy ones. Still I've ridden the trainer more than any other year this winter

Champlaincycler

I have a steel bike with fenders, 32's with off road treads, and a rear rack that I use from November to early April. Cold weather ,for me, means I'm always taking things off and putting them on so I need a bag on a rack to put things in. As far as cleaning it, how is that even possible when it really hasn't been above freezing for 3 months A wipe of the chain once in a while and some lube, but no real cleaning. Can't bring it into the house unless I want to resume my single life (would rather not). Carbon bike comes off the trainer/clothes rack in a few weeks. Truth is I ride my Casserole at least half the time even when the weather is good as it just glides, and then I can delude myself into thinking that I may be approaching fast when I ride my Madone. Perception is everything........

Icculus21

Ha, you say that like it's a crime. I have only one bike. I live in an apartment and can't store multiple bikes, so I have one decent bike instead of two ho-hum bikes. It's a bike, not a baby. It's outdoor sporting equipment, it gets dirty, and I clean it when I can. that's life. That's like saying "Who has only one car?" or "Who has only one house?" Everyone has different situations.

Jakedatc

Now i wish i took a picture of my bike a few weekends ago after slopping through potholes, snowmelt puddles, sand, salt. The only thing on the bike that can rust is the chain and that gets lubed after the whole bike gets sprayed off with garden sprayer.

ever see a cross race? bikes get sprayed off, lubed up and ready to go the next time.

nkfrench 

When do you break out your nice bike?

My nice bike hasn't been in the slammer (yet), but the older backup bike did some hard time in the garage for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
It eventually got out on parole / good behavior.

knobster

We really only have two seasons here in Portland so I have two road bikes. One has proper fenders for the rainy season and one that doesn't for the non rainy season.

JCNeumann

I drive the snot out all the bikes year round. It's like a nice car - if you are afraid to drive it when it's crappy or ding it, you shouldn't own it. Cars and bikes are meant to be driven and appreciated for the fine machines they are.

Having said said that, I tend to use the mountain bike more in the winter for the disc brakes. Quick wipe down keeps the salt away regardless.

aubiecat

All year.

Sixty Fiver

I busted out the Blizzard yesterday... with the sand, bike eating potholes, and patches of ice this is the right tool for the job.

Fred Smedley

Ok, how does she feel about winter and summer wife?

Cookiemonsta

Having always used my "main" roadbike all year around, I am not too sure what people are scared off. I have used it whenever, kept it clean and lubricated, and I do not see the problem. It is not like rain or cold will make it spontaneously disintegrate. Chances are I will ride it until it becomes outdated or I upgrade. Any wear on components can be easily addressed, and will happen regardless of the circumstances you ride in.

Bob Dopolina 

To those who live in rainy climates with some snow or ice, I hear ya.

I used to have the previous seasons race bike outfitted with full fenders and water bottle mud flaps not only to keep me dry but also not to spray the faces of those I might ride with. This was simply what was done.

If you think salt and sand doesn't destroy drive trains, and any bearings, you must not ride enough. I used to have to soak my rr der in a solvent tank once a winter because the grime would work its way in there and seize the der up but good.

I would go through two chains and maybe even a second cassette each winter. Brake pads would wear in a few weeks and rims would get worn over a winter of two. Tires would get chewed up and spat out.

The grime would also destroy shorts and shorten the life of a saddle. Bar tape? Right.

The liners in my cable housings would be changed mid winter and cables to boot as they would be so scored by grit that shifting was impossible.

I would break out the new bike as soon as I could but it never seemed soon enough.

clausen

And all that dirt was not wearing down your drive train while you where riding?

ctpres

Ride "the good one" daily. Old one is - well - old, slow, ugly, heavy and no fun at all.

fanfugutastic

Broke it out yesterday. First flat within 30 minutes. It's going back on the trainer until the roads and pathways improve...

Jakedatc

that is the bikes fault? sounds like either a pilot error or tire problem. don't just run everything over. i'm guessing you would have flatted anyway.

i have my set of Michalin Pro 4s waiting for when they clean the streets up some. gatorskins for 500mi so far this winter.. 1 flat due to a pothole + cracked rim.

fanfugutastic

Hardly the bike's fault. The shoulders, MUP, and residential streets are all in poor shape. I should have taken that into consideration when breaking out my road bike(ie, I shouldn't have), but I didn't in the eagerness I felt to enjoy a bit of freedom and speed in the unseasonably warm weather we've been having lately. I will either have to pony up for some more resilient tires such as the ones you cited, or maybe just stick to my slow-ass mountain bike(fast for a mtn bike, but slow compared to the speeds I want to travel at).

Cyril 

So you have a "good" wife and an old one?

Bob Dopolina 

How very Chinese of you...to have a second wife, that is.

Jakedatc

I dunno. as i've said I ride my main bike 95% of the time and our roads in RI are really crappy much of the year due to poor upkeep. just dodge stuff that will bite you. even on our group rides we're pretty good about missing the big stuff. for small but annoying stuff you have to go mtn bike style and absorb the bumps with your arms and legs. on less busy roads.. ride further over if it gets you out of the crap.

we're doing a battenkill style ride in a few weeks that has dirt sections and many will still be on their 23mm tired road bikes.

fanfugutastic

Its really my fault. The pathways are gravelled in the winter and they haven't been swept yet. There were so many areas that were completely covered with sharp gravel that I should have taken a different route. I chose this pathway because I knew it wouldn't be icy. Completely the fault of my tires and pilot judgement error. So in the spirit of the thread topic, I can safely say, "not yet, but soon"

Voodoo76

About a month, divorce will be final.

ctpres

Nope only one and she is STILL exciting, fun and looks great

Cyril 

No doubt. I was just having a bit of fun with the ambiguity of the quoted post. Besides, N+1 works best with bicycles. With significant others? Not so much.