Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Winter Cycling
Reload this Page >

Drop bar touring bike or 29er as a city winter bike in Chicago?

Notices
Winter Cycling Don't let snow and ice discourage you this winter. The key element to year-round cycling is proper attire! Check out this winter cycling forum to chat with other ice bike fanatics.

Drop bar touring bike or 29er as a city winter bike in Chicago?

Old 03-02-11, 11:33 AM
  #1  
Have bike, will travel
Thread Starter
 
Barrettscv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,392

Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times in 158 Posts
Drop bar touring bike or 29er as a city winter bike in Chicago?

Next fall I will add a winter bike with 700c studded tires and fenders to my quiver of bikes. I live in Chicago which is flat, and the roads are well plowed. However, icy patches are common and I would like to ride daily regardless of conditions. I'll use Schwalbe Marathon Winters in the 700x35 size for the tires.

I've been looking at both rigid 29ers and touring frames and complete bikes. I'd rather have a 29er and use the bike on trails during the warmer months. However, many 29ers make no provision for fenders. So I have begun looking at touring bikes, which accept fenders easily, but would not be as usefull off-road.

I know Salsa has the Vaya and Fargo, but these bikes are way too costly and I would like to find something used if possible.

Any suggestions?
Barrettscv is offline  
Old 03-03-11, 12:06 AM
  #2  
Born Again Pagan
 
irclean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 2,241

Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Since 29ers are still kind of a niche market, finding a used one could be tough. Sounds like a monstercross bike would be right up your alley, and might be worth saving your pennies for. I like the Fargo, but some other examples include the Voodoo Nakisi, Vassago Fisticuff, and my personal favourite; the Van Dessel WTF (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot).
irclean is offline  
Old 03-03-11, 12:14 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
kevrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: northern nevada
Posts: 360

Bikes: way too many

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 61 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
a cyclocross bike can do what you're asking. i'm sure you can find one that takes fenders and they can handle singletrack. i know Bianchi Volpe's have mounting holes.
kevrider is offline  
Old 03-03-11, 03:58 AM
  #4  
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Surly karate monkey with drop bars, or a crosscheck.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 03-03-11, 07:09 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
meanwhile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,033
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Bikes Direct has some very reasonably priced 29ers:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mountain_bikes.htm

They should be able to tell you if they take mudguards if you email them, and you can research the brand on the MTB forum.
meanwhile is offline  
Old 03-03-11, 07:15 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
meanwhile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,033
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kevrider
a cyclocross bike can do what you're asking. i'm sure you can find one that takes fenders and they can handle singletrack. i know Bianchi Volpe's have mounting holes.
I ride a crosser on singletrack. It's fun, but not the same way as an MTB. You have to make sure you hit every tree root right or you'll spill - such are the limits of 35mm tyres. And if you want to take reasonable drops or you can ride fast over rock strewn tracks... well, just get another type of bike that can take fatter tyres and maybe a suspension fork.Otoh, on the terrain it will handle a crosser is tremendous fun - it will zoom along like a rocket, but you'll have to concentrate every moment of the ride.

I'd definitely consider a 29er with Salsa Bell Laps (cyclocross drop handlebars) as a best of all worlds bike. There are ways of getting the gear changing to work.

Last edited by meanwhile; 03-03-11 at 07:26 AM.
meanwhile is offline  
Old 03-03-11, 08:49 PM
  #7  
Single-serving poster
 
electrik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 5,098
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I wouldn't bother with drop bars unless the commute is long. Flat bars are much better to balance upon and steer with. My touring bicycle is fine in the snow with 32... but it is ****e on anything frozen compared to the mtb and 1.75".

So, get the 29r, particularly since you can use it for some mtb also and it will be equipped with disc brakes.
electrik is offline  
Old 03-04-11, 06:17 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
meanwhile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,033
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by electrik
I wouldn't bother with drop bars unless the commute is long. Flat bars are much better to balance upon and steer with.
If you're comparing road drop bars to flats, yes. Dirt drops, like Bell Laps, not really - it's partly a matter of taste of course. Honestly, if drop bars were difficult to balance on in poor traction, cyclocross racing - 35mm tyres in deep mud - would be impossible.

Jacquie Phelan's bike O t t o was possibly the winningest mountain bike in MTB history, btw. See the bars?

meanwhile is offline  
Old 03-04-11, 05:59 PM
  #9  
Single-serving poster
 
electrik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 5,098
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by meanwhile
If you're comparing road drop bars to flats, yes. Dirt drops, like Bell Laps, not really - it's partly a matter of taste of course. Honestly, if drop bars were difficult to balance on in poor traction, cyclocross racing - 35mm tyres in deep mud - would be impossible.

Jacquie Phelan's bike O t t o was possibly the winningest mountain bike in MTB history, btw. See the bars?

Yes, I am comparing road drops to flats.
electrik is offline  
Old 03-04-11, 06:24 PM
  #10  
AEO
Senior Member
 
AEO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258

Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
my personal opinion on dirt drops: don't bother getting them.

some 44cm FSA compact bars are WAY better.

they're not as clunky and bulky as dirt drops, they're narrower and most of all, you can use all the hand positions, unlike drops only with dirt drops.

44cm width is all you really need to steer a bike in snow.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
AEO is offline  
Old 03-04-11, 07:27 PM
  #11  
aka Phil Jungels
 
Wanderer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Aurora, IL
Posts: 8,234

Bikes: 08 Specialized Crosstrail Sport, 05 Sirrus Comp

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 202 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times in 60 Posts
Gee, Michael, for a winter bike - Performance has a Diamondback Hybrid with 40s, for about 300 right now - should work well! or https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...archTerm=trace for 400

Last edited by Wanderer; 03-04-11 at 07:35 PM.
Wanderer is offline  
Old 03-04-11, 07:41 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
meanwhile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,033
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AEO
my personal opinion on dirt drops: don't bother getting them.

some 44cm FSA compact bars are WAY better.

they're not as clunky and bulky as dirt drops, they're narrower and most of all, you can use all the hand positions, unlike drops only with dirt drops.
You can use all the hand positions on the Bell Laps. They're slightly wider than road bars along the top flare a bit in the drops, so that they get quite a bit wider by the bar ends. Not all dirt drops are as extreme as, say, the Midge Bars you see on monster crossers.

The Bell Laps are a nice all-rounder with quite a bit more steering power and stability than normal drops and few drawbacks. Some people mount them a bit higher than usual so that they spend more time in the drops, because the steering works so well - in this position the slightly raised on-the-hoods position is terrific in traffic - you get lots of look-around.
meanwhile is offline  
Old 03-04-11, 07:46 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
meanwhile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,033
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Wanderer
Gee, Michael, for a winter bike - Performance has a Diamondback Hybrid with 40s, for about 300 right now - should work well! or https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...archTerm=trace for 400
The LBS wanted more than that for SPD mountain bikes shoes to fit my enormous feet! That does look like quite a deal if the entry Tektro disc brakes are any good and the fork suspension either has lock-out or is at least isn't suicidally poor.
meanwhile is offline  
Old 03-07-11, 06:40 PM
  #14  
AEO
Senior Member
 
AEO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258

Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
surprisingly, entry level disc brakes are worse than V-brakes with koolstop salmons.
less noticable in adverse weather, but they don't really stop you too well.

the good thing is that you can get a pair of BB7 mtn brakes + G3 rotors for $100.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
AEO is offline  
Old 03-09-11, 05:49 PM
  #15  
Certified Bike Brat
 
Burton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 4,251
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
If fenders are the only issue

Get the 29er. I drove one all winter with a couple Zefal plastic fenders. The rear clipped to the seat post - the front attached to the frame tube via rubber O-rings.

I`m currently driving a hybrid with full coverage fenders and the Zefals gave just as good a protection.
Burton is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
biknbrian
Touring
16
05-18-12 11:04 AM
chico1st
Winter Cycling
11
10-31-11 08:23 AM
Barrettscv
Commuting
27
10-13-11 04:41 AM
MTBaddict
Touring
10
09-28-10 11:55 AM
nycphotobike
Touring
33
03-08-10 08:32 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.