Originally Posted by
medic75
Yep, saw that. Thanks. I bought a cheap winter bike complete with fenders & disc brakes (see my post about the Schwinn Central). I will be adding a homemade mudflap to the front fender & the Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires should be here in 2-3 weeks (currently backordered).
I really don't like the upright riding position, but for my short commute, it is better than driving…
FWIW, the ride home Friday went without incident. It warmed up a little and started to rain, melting the snow and slush that was on the roads. No fenders meant my feet and ankles got some extra splashing, but I survived.
As much as I enjoy riding that bike, it has become a decoration in my basement and will remain there until Spring of 2019. This morning's commute was 20 degrees, sunny, and dry - briskly blissful to say the least.
Thanks for that note. I was a confirmed drop-bar rider for decades, until “forced” into the upright position. Now both my excellent CF road bike (as usual for winter), and my fine aluminum road bike beater are in storage
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
…For the past few years I have been entirely satisfied with my carbon fiber road bike, aluminum road bike as a beater that accepts 30C studded tires, and a previous moutain bike beater, now in storage.…
This year however has been a bust because this winter I developed a weakness in my neck muscles supporting my head upright (perhaps due to a two month unavoidable layoff) on my previously well-fitted bikes.
I had a subsequent fitting on both, with some handlebar adjustments. I recently got an exercise consultation for neck, shoulder and core muscles, and was given an exercise routine, that takes a big chunk of 50 minutes to perform. Exercise may fix it, but that’s a long-term solution.
All these remedies have barely allow me to ride my minimum 14 mile one-way commute with slight discomfort near the end. By this time of the year I'm doing weekly 50-60 mile rides easily, and even training for a Century.
Just yesterday, I rented a hybrid style bike with flat handlebars, and was comfortable on the commute, even with a moderately heavy backpack
So now I’m giving in to the idea of a flat bar bike. .I’m in a quandary if I should replace the drop bars on my aluminum beater (with endurance style geometry) with flat bars, see if I can buy this relatively cheap hybrid since it seems to work, or buy a new quality hybrid to my specifications.
The Diverge is already set up as a nice all-weather commuter (see photo). I’m going to my trusted LBS on Saturday to make a decision.
Late in September I bought a Giant Escape with flat handlebars which is an OK, but heavy ride, but is comfortable. I have ridden my commute a few times, and now I’m gung-ho for winter riding, with studded tires, to make up for lost time.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 11-12-18 at 01:26 PM.