Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
I put my pristine carbon fiber bike away in the Wet (grimy roads) and Winter weather to protect the metallic components. Otherwise I don’t even carry a lock because I always keep the bike with me, even on errands, I have secure indoor parking at work.
I suppose it depends a bit on the cost of the CF bike. I do more errands than commuting, but have ridden most of my bikes, including locking them (with a Kryptonite NY lock).
But, like you, I do like to hide the CF bikes away on wet rainy days. Still, if it was relatively inexpensive, I might consider it.
A few years ago I was lucky enough to find a good deal on an older Titanium Litespeed MTB frame which I put road tires on for a winter bike. The frame itself was indestructable, and the build was cheap enough that I didn't worry about it too much.
Of course, going with high-end components, and one gets more complex stuff (brifters), but also more stainless and titanium.