Commuter/wet weather bike. Advice please??

[pfc]

Commuting and wet weather. Help needed
I commuted on an old, heavy (20 kgs!!) mtb hardtail for 10 years. Then smashed bike and self up in an accident.

As I had recently started doing longer rides of c40kms at the weekend I replaced the old bike with a flat bar road bike.http://www.gtbicycles.com/aus/eng/P...oad/Sport/#2615

I've been enjoying this bike on the longer rides but on the commute (8kms) I'm feeling a bit less stable than on the mtb. There's a bit of toe overlap and I'm also a bit jittery on the 28 tyres in the wet.

Had the idea of buying a commuter/wet weather bike and then got the idea of a SS because I hate cleaning the cassette and also I'd get the added bonus of a better workout on the short commute. 3 options.

1) SE Lager. Cheap, will carry 32's. http://www.sebikes.com/2008/bike-detail.asp?id=46

2) Mongoose Sabrosa. SS mtb but set up for road. Larger wheel, fat tires (but I'd probably run 35's), disc brakes, 42/16 gearing. http://www.mongoose.com/mtn/Product...2361&enc=mtn%7C

3) Stop whingeing, ride current bike more often, get used to the thinner tyres and clean and lube more often.

Any input welcomed on either of the above options. Also any views on whether wider tyres, disc brakes and mtb geometry are safer in the wet.

Thanks in advance for any help rendered.

 

[gclark8]

http://www.triwa.org.au/bb/viewtopic.php?p=7081#7081

 

[mrfrogger]

Had the idea of buying a commuter/wet weather bike and then got the idea of a SS because I hate cleaning the cassette and also I'd get the added bonus of a better workout on the short commute. 3 options.

1) SE Lager. Cheap, will carry 32's. http://www.sebikes.com/2008/bike-detail.asp?id=46

2) Mongoose Sabrosa. SS mtb but set up for road. Larger wheel, fat tires (but I'd probably run 35's), disc brakes, 42/16 gearing. http://www.mongoose.com/mtn/Product...2361&enc=mtn%7C

3) Stop whingeing, ride current bike more often, get used to the thinner tyres and clean and lube more often.

Any input welcomed on either of the above options. Also any views on whether wider tyres, disc brakes and mtb geometry are safer in the wet.

Thanks in advance for any help rendered.

If I had the room and the money I'd buy another bike! Can't say anything much about the two you've mentioned although perhaps from the other bikes you've had.

More rubber will give you more stability but I'm not sure 32s over 28s is going to make a huge difference. Going to a MTB with slicks would make a difference and you're going to be more upright and hence more aware in traffic which might make you more comfortable. It's going to cost you energy wise though, but if you want to get fit, that's no bad thing.

My commuter is a singlespeed roadie with a grippy 32 on the front and a smaller rear slick which I find a good compromise. I find it easy to maintain, quiet, efficient and fun.

It's good fun to experiment and you could easily get an old banger of ebay to try out something new. The main thing is to find something you enjoy riding and ride it.