Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cape Vincent, NY
Posts: 1,392
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, 2002 TREK 520, Schwinn Mesa WINTER BIKE, Huffy Rock Creek 29er, 1970s-era Ross ten speed. All my bikes are highly modified(except the Tarmac) yet functional, and generally look beat to ****. .
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Lots of people ride all winter long. There is a forum specifically for winter riding, check the main forum page.
If you do some reading on the winter riding forums you're likely to find that most people have a winter bike. Salt, sand, slush and stuff like that will raise hell with a bike. There's a lot of exposed metal and moving parts that will corrode and wear quickly. It's generally considered a good idea to get a less expensive bike and run less expensive (and of course, slower and heavier) drivetrain components during the winter months if you live in a snow/salt area.
Of course, it's your choice. If you're financially well off and don't mind replacing expensive bicycle components as they wear out (and they are bound to wear out much quicker in the winter), then ride your nice bike.
Even if you clean your bike obsessively every time it gets winter filthy, that salt will get into places you don't want it to and places you can't clean very easily. It's up to you.