Originally Posted by
mickey85
IMO, a beater isn't a bike that is ill maintained or abused, it's simply a bike that's scratched up, has lower-end components on it, and is a bike that you don't feel bad about taking out in the weather.
Emphasis added.
I could never understand this sentiment. Is not cycling an outdoor sport? Do they not host bicycle races in the rain?
Heck, there are entire classes of events that are more or less designed to be run in less-optimal weather, like cyclocross.