For winter riding, training, commuting use, even audax or touring events, a second bike is a wise addition to any serious cyclist's stable of bikes. In this test we're looking for bikes that make ideal second bikes, for the purpose of reducing the wear and tear on your main bike through the winter. A bike designed for winter use will have mudguards, the quintessential accessory for winter riding (and club runs, which can be fussy about turning up without mudguards). Yes, even I'm beginning to like them these days.
What we have here are three British-designed (but built in the Far East) bikes for winter riding. They all have mounts for mudguards (and indeed come fitted with them already) and rack mounts - handy for commuting as an option to a backpack. And being designed in Britain, they should be perfect for the roads and conditions they're likely to be put through.
Here's a quick look at the bikes. Full tests of each will follow shortly.
Kinesis Racelight T £949
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Kinesis bikes have always impressed with their balance of performance and value.When Guy Andrews tested the Racelight T back in 2004, he said “Kenisis's Racelight T has set a new bench mark for training bike value.” And at under 1K, the Racelight T is an extremely affordable option for a second bike.
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Condor Fratello £1,149.99
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Built around the most common material for a winter bike, the Fratello uses a Dedacciai steel frame, in a design that is proving popular for the London bike shop - it's their best selling bike.
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Enigma Etape £1,999
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While the Kinesis represents the budget end of the spectrum for winter bikes, Enigma's Etape very much represents its opposite. With its titanium frame featuring CST tubing, smart decals and that classic titanium ride quality, the Etape is a serious investment.
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These bikes have been seeing duty on the daily commute and frequent training rides, in all sorts of weather, and I'll be putting all my thoughts into a grouptest on RCUK soon.
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Ewen MacDonald 2
