As Spring in UK struggles I'm starting to think about getting a winter bike - ideas?

[Cyclingfun]

Hi all -
Here in the UK we ought to be turning our thoughts to summer, but have hardly had Spring yet! Ok, I've decided, I'll do my bit to make the sun come out by starting to think what bike I might buy before the real winter kicks in again...

So what I want to ask is have any of you suggestions for a bike which is:-

Light in weight (i.e. something I can lift without doing in my back/neck etc)
Suitable mostly for roads and occasional cycle or muddy/stony farm tracks (not heavy-duty MTB sort of stuff)
Suitable gears for hills
Speedy enough to keep up with the 10-14mph average cycle club weekend rides (I'm 62, non-competitive, average fitness)
Relaxed geometry for comfortable hours
Will take mudguards
Fit an average-built 5'4", 29" inside-legged woman
Happy with either drops or flat-bars
...ummm, I think that's it!

As you can see from my signature, I've got a wonderful Ruby for when the roads aren't covered in farmyard muck/ice and a hybrid which is OK for shopping but too heavy for me to lift... so this fantasy bike would hopefully allow me to get out on more yucky days.

I've heard that Specialized are tending to adapt their Tricross more towards a comfortable geometry rather than focussing it on CX competition... Does anyone have one and have useful thoughts about that? What experience of other bikes that could fit the bill might anyone have? Any suggestions gratefully received.

If getting a winter bike doesn't instantly bring on a summer of glorious heat-wave then nothing will!!

Cheers

[Howieduck]

I have a tricross that does all of the things you listed! I enjoyed it a lot ! It is now my spare, do it all bike for winter and where I don't want to risk my best bike.
It survives the UK weather too, as I'm in Wales. I use it with 25 gatorskins and mudguards.

[Velocivixen]

I have a Surly Cross Check (2011 - Robin's Egg Blue). It's technically a cyclocross bike, but I have SKS Longboard fenders (mudguards), a Brooks B17 saddle, Carradice Barley saddlebag for all my "stuff". It's steel and has a nice ride. Not too heavy. Left the steer tube uncut, so the handlebars (drop) are about the same height as the saddle. Original tires were knobby, but the shop I bought them from specializes in "commuter" type setups, so they put Panaracer Pasela Tourguards on. I has bar end shifters (shimano) which can be easily set to do either indexed shifting or friction shifting. I was concerned about whether I would get used to the bar ends and now I love them.

[Owlie]

The Tricross is their equivalent of my Charge or Surly's Cross-check. It looks suspiciously similar. (Well, the steel version does.)

It's their more relaxed CX-type bike, but they don't bill it as a cross bike. They advertise it as a "do-anything-except-race-maybe" bike, presumably to differentiate it from the Crux, which is a racer. There's a steel version with discs.

Since you're in the UK, try Charge's Filter line. I've got the version with Apex. It's steel, so it's a bit heavier, but it depends what you put on it. If I can get a new speed-oriented CX bike, I'm definitely putting a rack and fenders on this puppy.

[Owlie]

So, Tri-cross is more a do-anything bike, and Cyclocross is more for race?

I knew I still needed a steel cross!!!

N + 2--> A super smooth steel fixie and a Tri-cross do anything. Yea!

Well, of course!

[Bike Writer]

Do you have the opportunity to try out a fat tire bike? Those go in mud and snow like no business, not sure how they would handle the rest of your list though.

[Cyclingfun]

Since you're in the UK, try Charge's Filter line. I've got the version with Apex. It's steel, so it's a bit heavier, but it depends what you put on it. If I can get a new speed-oriented CX bike, I'm definitely putting a rack and fenders on this puppy.

Thanks for adding your thoughts on my query. I certainly will go and have a look/try ref. the Charge Filter/Surly options though, as mentioned above, I'm trying to find something as light as is reasonable, without going into carbonfibre. Good luck with your bike-hunt!

[Cyclingfun]

I have a Surly Cross Check (2011 - Robin's Egg Blue). It's technically a cyclocross bike, but I have SKS Longboard fenders (mudguards), a Brooks B17 saddle, Carradice Barley saddlebag for all my "stuff". It's steel and has a nice ride. Not too heavy. Left the steer tube uncut, so the handlebars (drop) are about the same height as the saddle. Original tires were knobby, but the shop I bought them from specializes in "commuter" type setups, so they put Panaracer Pasela Tourguards on. I has bar end shifters (shimano) which can be easily set to do either indexed shifting or friction shifting. I was concerned about whether I would get used to the bar ends and now I love them.

Thanks very much for your reply and helpful information about the Surly Cross Check... I'll check that out too, though am a bit doubtful about lifting the weight of a steel bike into the boot of my car - my hybrid does all sorts of grim things to my neck/back etc. if I try to get that in Thanks also for including the photo - It certainly looks a very practical equipage, the saddlebag is smart and I love the Robin's Egg Blue!

[Cyclingfun]

Thanks so much for your response - It's good to hear that the tricross does what I thought it did! And thanks for the extra comment about the tyres. If you can bear to put fingers to keys again, could you tell me whether you ride the 25 gatorskins on stonyish 'green lanes' or just keep to tarmac?
I reckon you've been having far grimmer weather down your way than I have, here on the coast of Northumberland... we're due some sunnier times, but I'm not holding my breath!

[Cyclingfun]

I have a tricross that does all of the things you listed! I enjoyed it a lot ! It is now my spare, do it all bike for winter and where I don't want to risk my best bike.
It survives the UK weather too, as I'm in Wales. I use it with 25 gatorskins and mudguards.

Hi Howieduck - my reply at 10.48 was, as you've probably realised, addressed to you but I'd forgotten it would just look like a general reply if I didn't include your comment... I'm learning :-)

[zoom-zoom]

Light in weight (i.e. something I can lift without doing in my back/neck etc)
Suitable mostly for roads and occasional cycle or muddy/stony farm tracks (not heavy-duty MTB sort of stuff)
Suitable gears for hills
Speedy enough to keep up with the 10-14mph average cycle club weekend rides (I'm 62, non-competitive, average fitness)

NOT a fat bike...I LOVE mine, but it is NOT a lightweight bike (I think it's pushing 35#s), it sucks in mud, it's slow up hills, and NOT speedy...10-14mph on a fat bike for a casual cyclist would be HARD effort. Also, they are not good at all on ice without $$ studded tires. Fluffy snow and sand are really where they shine.

[Howieduck]

Thanks so much for your response - It's good to hear that the tricross does what I thought it did! And thanks for the extra comment about the tyres. If you can bear to put fingers to keys again, could you tell me whether you ride the 25 gatorskins on stonyish 'green lanes' or just keep to tarmac?
I reckon you've been having far grimmer weather down your way than I have, here on the coast of Northumberland... we're due some sunnier times, but I'm not holding my breath!

I've been on all sorts with the gatorskins but the tyres the bike comes with are good for the rougher stuff but slow you down on Tarmac.
Mind you I now have a condor fratello and love that bike - but haven't taken her anywhere rough!
The tricross has a rack on it and can do anything I guess.
Wales was 6 degrees today. With frequent downpours. I can't tell the difference between any of the seasons since I moved here. They are all wet and cold.