bruce19

My only bike is a Masi Gran Criterium S that was a present from my gf 5 yrs. ago. It's an aluminum frame w/ CF forks and rear. It's outfitted with Dura Ace and is really a nice bike. I'm reluctant to use it in crappy Spring weather on salted roads here in northeast CT. So, I thought I should try to find a relatively inexpensive CF framed bike on the theory that CF would be more resistant to weather than any metal. Just an assumption on my part. I'm wondering if I'm right and, if so, what bikes might be good choices.

alanknm

Whatever is cheap ?

A lot of people use cheap mountain bikes around here at this time of the year. The hefty weight of some of those bikes could be seen as penance for putting on those extra pounds over the winter.

A cheap hybrid would be another solution.

I'd stick with an alloy frame instead of CF for this time of the year. The wild temperature swings in the spring 41F today (friday) .. it's supposed to go down to 14F at night on Monday.. It's something you can keep in the garage.

Besides, as long as the bike stays cold, the corrosive action of the salt won't really start until it gets warmer so you can wash it down.

Barrettscv 

Get something that will take fenders! Many of the modern CF bikes will not. If you want a new bike, look at Cyclocross bikes, see: https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._20000__400306

My winter and rain bike is a $170 1987 Trek. It's been treated with framesaver, a rust-preventitive. Now that it has modern wheels, it's about 90% as fast as my Ti bike.

Garilia

I wouldn't think of a carbon frame bike as a beater bike, certainly not for mucky weather conditions.

Garilia

+1 vote

alanknm

+1 to that !

I've seen the odd guy out on a cyclocross bike in the spring (besides, they're used to having to hose down their stuff after every outing anyway).

BluesDawg

Old steel, treated with framesaver or old aluminum. If you'll be riding in wet conditions, add fenders.

alanknm

Good point about fenders. I haven't ridden a bike with fenders since I was 12 but with the rain and crud an all that... it's not a bad idea. Beats walking around with the skunk stripe up the back with a wet behind.

Phil_gretz

I've been surprised how well the upright Trek 720 (late 80s, after the numbering switched from the touring road bike to the hybrid bike) rides. I think it was named "multi-track", or somesuch. I rode one down in FL (my brother in law's) during a recent vacation - surprisingly responsive, clearance for fenders, adequate gear range, no frills, CrMo frame w/unicrown fork. Even with the upright geometry and bars, I was comfortable for ~40 mile rides no problems.

You should be able to pick one of these up for less than $100.

Phil

cehowardGS

Beater bike should be cheap, and expendable. Get something off CL for under $100. I don't ride my beater bike in rain and snow, but I do ride it in the cold.. I be out in 12 degree weather, just as long as nothing is coming down. Also, I will locked my beater bike while I am out for extended periods of time. Won't do that with my other bikes. I am not brave enough to ride in the rain and snow like the other peeps.., but I will do it in the cold..

My $50 CL beater bike, an 86 Schwinn Prelude.. It is a sweet beater I tell you that...

Nightshade

"Beater" bike? Anything with wheels, chain, and brakes will do for the cheapest money you can find !

bruce19

This is good info. Thanks.

Timtruro

Found an old Fuji, basic mountain bike in the dump a few years ago, $16 is my total investment, still have it.

cranky old dude

Yes, a nice steel Hardtail Mountain bike generally fits the bill.

They're strong, accept a wide array of tires, can be fitted with fenders, and are very affordable (new or used). I've been using mine for year-round foul weather riding (rain and snow) since 1988. It ain't pretty...it's truely gritty...and it gets the job done!!

Wanderer

Third time I've recommended this today https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...8_20000_400321 or https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...archTerm=trace

Doug64

You could get this new out of the original box last year 1993 Trek 820 for $200 plus shipping

Retro Grouch 

Suggestions for a beater bike? To me, that's a question that only you can answer.

For me beater bikes are what happens when my box of old bike stuff meets some perceived special need. The result is sometimes driven by the need (a semi-expendable bike for college campus or commuting to a train station bike), and sometimes driven by the "stuff" (my son is thinking of building his old road bike frame into a gravel-path bike.)

naisme

Just picked up an old Road Ace for riding through the muck of spring. I like to ride fixed gear so that lessens the failure of parts in the spring weather. I ride with fenders, at least off the back end, cause the road strip up my back can be embarrassing, and touring, taught me its nice to stay as dry as possible, so anything to that end is an advantage.

naisme

That's one tall frame!

xizangstan

I was thinking that. A serious ball-buster, unless the camera distorted proportions...

Retro Grouch 

That's what I was thinking too. A couple of long term tandeming friends of mine are about 6'7" and 6'?" tall. (They have some seriously tall kids.) Their Santana tandem is custom sized. They seldom feel the need for a lock because nobody else can ride it.

cehowardGS

I am a tall old man!!

I am 6ft 3in tall at 135lbs...

The bike in the pic is a 60cm. Fits me perfectly. all my bikes are between 59 and 62cm..

cehowardGS

Not to get away from the topic of beater bike, but all my bikes are 60 to 62cm. I was on these 3 yesterday, as you can see they are all the same size, with the beater down in the middle..

bruce19

This is the bike I'm trying to save from Spring weather. I'm sort of "average" in an NFL Running Back way....56 cm C to C. (No, it doesn't live in that snow.)

kr32

cehowardGS...question for you.

Maybe I am reading it wrong but why would you lock the beater and not the better? I would think it the other way around.