Finding Your Perfect Winter Bike
Finding Your Perfect Winter Bike
As the summer comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about the winter months ahead. However, don’t let that deter you from riding your bike, winter rides are some of the best and most satisfying of the year! To get the most out of the winter, it’s all about prep – having the right bike with the right kit will drastically improve your experience so you can enjoy the outdoors come rain or shine.
Everyone has their own idea of the ideal winter bike, but there are some key features that any self-respecting winter bike should have. To help you find YOUR perfect winter bike, we’ve compiled a checklist of the main things to look out for and why, as well as showcasing a few examples of our favourites!
Frame Material
When it comes to winter, durability and comfort are the priority. Our notoriously poor condition roads only get worse at the pointy end of the year, so keeping that fatigue at bay will do wonders on a big day in the saddle. With that in mind, your options when it comes to frame material will most likely be one of the following, each with its benefits and drawbacks:
- Carbon: lightweight, high-performance – typically more expensive
- Aluminium: reasonably lightweight, excellent value for money – not as comfortable
- Steel: comfy, smooth riding – on the heavier side
- Titanium: lightweight, excellent ride quality – can be very expensive
For more detailed information on frame materials, check out our Getting Started With Road Cycling blog post. The precision and quality of modern manufacturing means that any frame you buy will be high-performing and built to stand the test of time, so ultimately your choice comes down to what suits your needs and budget.
Geometry
The winter months provide the perfect opportunity to build your base, no need to worry about speed or chasing KOMs, it’s all about adventure and enjoying the ride. As a result of this, rides tend to get longer and slower, so comfort begins to become more of a priority – staying comfortable and efficient takes priority on big days in the saddle, rather than trying to eke out all of the performance gains possible.
Opting for an endurance-focussed winter bike will keep you comfortable all day long, typically featuring a more relaxed geometry (shorter reach, higher stack etc.), putting you in a sustainable position. With that being said, endurance bikes are far from being slow – the likes of the Trek Domane SL have plenty of aero features that keep it up to speed with any race-oriented alternative, but with long-haul comfort.
Mounts On Mounts
Mounting points are a welcome addition to any winter bike: racks, bags and extra bottles are all extremely useful during winter, but mudguard mounts are the most crucial part of any setup. Full-size mudguards are the most effective way to keep the road spray at bay, protecting both you and your expensive drivetrain components from getting caked. Your popularity within your group ride will also skyrocket during the winter months if your bike is equipped with mudguards!
Tyre Clearance
Larger volume tyres are one of those things that you didn’t know you needed until you tried them. Comfortable, grippy and durable, they tick all of the boxes for a winter-worthy setup, but of course, you need a bike that can accommodate the bigger format. Luckily, road clearances are only getting bigger, and even those on the racier end of the road bike spectrum are now offering clearance up to 28mm, with many endurance bikes in the range of 35-38mm. With tyres that wide, broken country lanes are a breeze, and gravel detours are well within their wheelhouse!
Gearing
Your drivetrain can take a beating during the winter, thanks to grit, sand and salty water-filled roads – the perfect concoction for a drivetrain destroying grinding paste! Taking that into consideration, high-end isn’t always best – durable components will save on maintenance time and of course prevent spending excessive money on spares and repairs. Mid-range and entry-level groupsets offer excellent value for money, and the use of heavier construction materials and more forgiving tolerances oftentimes means that they can take the worst of the winter weather on the chin.
Our Favourites
Domane AL
Robust, comfortable, and impressively lightweight, the aluminium-framed Trek Domane AL Disc is the perfect entry-level roadie that you can rely on.
£1050.00 £875.00
£1625.00
£1900.00
Domane SL
Carbon in construction and featuring Trek’s innovative IsoSpeed technology, whether you’re racing or riding a double-century, the Domane SL is one of the most versatile road bikes out there.
£3050.00 £2592.50
£3050.00 £2592.50
Cannondale Synapse 105
The Synapse is known for its class-leading comfort, and this aluminium iteration is a fantastic choice as a winter-worthy bike thanks to its sensible spec.
£1500.00 £1200.00
Orbea Avant H40-D
The Avant is Orbea’s all-round endurance bike, featuring their unique kinked frame design to offer increased levels of comfort without sacrificing performance.
£1349.00
Specialized Allez
For a fast yet reliable road bike that won’t cost the earth, the Allez is an excellent choice. Offering plenty of performance without cutting corners, it’s a firm favourite of many winter riders.
£999.00
Want to check out our range of road bikes? Explore our road bikes page or visit one of our three stores (Farnham, Petersfield, Walton), our staff are here to share their knowledge and expertise to help you find your perfect bike!
