Who Built The Best Winter Bike? Carbon Vs. Aluminium

Winter bikes are excellent for those of us who like to ride outside through the colder months. They can save your fancy summer bike from being battered by the harsh winter weather which, if you apply ‘cyclist maths’, might save you money in the long run.

Building a winter bike is also brilliant fun, but would you buy off the peg like Felix, or pluck whatever you can find from the parts bin like Liam?

And is carbon the frame material for you, or does the dependability of aluminium get your vote?

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:41 Frameset
02:11 Groupset
04:34 Wheels
07:03 Mudguards
07:58 Lights
09:26 Outro

Image Credits:
Carol Yepes - Getty Images
DrPixel - Getty Images

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[andrewdwyer-rmio]

Liams bike easily, alloy frame is a no brainier for the higher risk of falls (black ice, don’t want to be questioning my bike’s integrity when descending…) and while the components are overkill, he didn’t go out and buy them specifically for this, it’s a use what you have spec.

[MrQuestful]

I’m thinking that frame material matters less in optimizing a winter bike, the weak point to winter bikes is the drivetrain interacting with wetter, icier, salty conditions. It’s my second winter in the northeastern US, I’m using my steel gravel bike as my primary mode of transit, and while it’s working alright, it’s amazing how frequently I have to service the chain in these conditions.

I’m planning on building up an adventure cargo bike around a pinion and belt drive, and I think that being able to swap wheel sets to a fatbike setup makes it the ultimate winter bike.

[johnnybravo]

You guys can talk so much nonsense..
Winter bike..
Summer bike..
Autum bike..
Spring bike..
Gravel, xc, enduro, road, mountain, aero, downhill, retro, climbing..
Just get on the stupid bike and cycle.. Any bike!

[magicknight]

Love the paint job and look of the Kinesis. Rusty chain guys!

[hananas]

Any bike is a winter bike if you just need to get out there, but the ideal winter bike definitely has a belt drive or at least an internally geared hub and a chain cover.

[BrianRPaterson]

Looks like one of the lads has a coffee thermos in his bottle cage. An ideal winter upgrade!

[underoathuea]

Proper deep sections on a winter bike is mad. Sure go carbon, but those winter cross winds would make it too sketchy for me.

[andrewszczplaylist]

I'd say best winter bike would be a aluminium gravel bike with grx mechanical- wide tires in case of snow, cheap, durable. With for example cube nuroad FE line you get dynamo lights, fenders and a rack.

[savagepro]

BikeRadar: "Carbon vs Aluminium – Who Built the Best Winter Bike?"
Everyone in the Caribbean: 🤨

[johnflynn]

Pro tip for Liam: replace your jockey wheels, the lower one looks like a Ninja throwing star!

[npdf]

Great vid guys I like these type 😊 titanium, disc, mechanical and tubes for me.. just my opinion 😊 🚴🏻😃 Pete

[sccxvelo]

Would do more durable cheaper in cost but still quailty parts. Then frame that is comfortable and fits for long slow rides. Where I live Winter is the best time the year and summer is the heatwaves. So outside fall through spring, then trainer for summer heatwaves.

[bedathprop]

Out of these? Felix just shades it. I’m more of a aluminium frame fan, but his overall package is a bit better imo. Neither are as cool as the All City Mr Pink or Fairlight Secan though…

[CL-dhmf]

Looove the brutal look of that Kinesis! But both bikes are overkill to me. My winter/salt bike has one gear, v brakes and was a light 90s aluminium MTB in his first life. But I get your point.🤗❤

[grantwilliams]

Personally, I like all carbon, incl drop outs and fork crown.. My earlier Ali bikes suffered from a lot of oxidation behind paint and stuck seat posts

[bobtahar]

I kinda get it if have other material like alloy frame for winter bike... but why have another carbon bike for winter... just ride your existing carbon bike... just change the tires.

[jonathanzappala]

Di2 is great for gloves. I did one festive 500 ride on mechanical shifting and my glove would interfere with the shifter mechanism return if I wanted to upshift more than one time in a row. The rest I all did on di2, and have an even greater appreciation for it.

[cauldron]

It makes sense talking about seasons and clothing. But bike vs seasons? Cmon, please get reasonable!
(Than Kinesis looks stunning!)

[petermyers]

For me, whatever summer bike you are retiring is the best choice for your winter bike. It really doesn't matter what material the frame is made of in my opinion A winter bike isn't a performance bike.

[MikePope-vs]

Overall I'd pick Felix's spec but with Liam's frame! That's similar to mine but probably like many of us, it wasn't so much a design choice as to what spare/secondhand kit I had in the garage that was suitable.