Bicycle Recommendations for touring
Discussion
Please go gently with me. I used to cycle a lot but more than 30 years ago. I'm heading for 60 now and agreed with a fiend to go from Atlantic to the Med across the foothills of the French Pyrenees next year. He assures me that it isn't too challenging and we plan to take it gently over a week. I'm hoping we'll have some logistics support from another friend so we won't need to carry our lives on our bikes but an option for some storage would be nice. I don't particularly want electric options but am happy to be convinced. As far as I can remember the last time I bought a bicycle for me was a Claud Butler Mountain Bike in 1990 so I imagine things have moved on a little. It's still sitting in my barn at the moment so I might have a look at it this weekend but I think it's a little heavy for this journey. I live in France, though far from the Pyrenees, and am generally keen to buy locally if at all possible if that changes things.
That's excellent, it will be a relatively flat route (just did a fast googlemaps plot on a route from Biarritz to St Cyprien as an example). I did something similar a couple of years ago, but slightly further north, Bordeux to Carcassone, following the Garonne (following canals makes it relatively flat, so you won't notice much elevations). The one I plotted now was slightly more elevation gain, but nothing serious.
Depending on your budget, I'd give it a go and fix the bike first if you want to go cheap, see how it runs and then decide if I spend more money on a new one. The most important bit is to get some klms before your trip, a bit of training. The bike weight doesn't matter that much, you'll get used to it, I sometimes preferred my heavy bike when I did my touring, it was so much more stable! Anyway, I would say just start doing gentle rides to get used to the seat and to get your legs working again. Once you set off, you'll condition yourself fairly quickly, especially without any luggage.
If you do want a new bike anyway, I'd suggest a gravel bike, just in case you may have to go a bit off road. And maybe even a bike fitting, to make sure that you are sitting properly on it (otherwise maybe check with your local bike shop to help with set-up).
Damn, I wish I could join you!
Depending on your budget, I'd give it a go and fix the bike first if you want to go cheap, see how it runs and then decide if I spend more money on a new one. The most important bit is to get some klms before your trip, a bit of training. The bike weight doesn't matter that much, you'll get used to it, I sometimes preferred my heavy bike when I did my touring, it was so much more stable! Anyway, I would say just start doing gentle rides to get used to the seat and to get your legs working again. Once you set off, you'll condition yourself fairly quickly, especially without any luggage.
If you do want a new bike anyway, I'd suggest a gravel bike, just in case you may have to go a bit off road. And maybe even a bike fitting, to make sure that you are sitting properly on it (otherwise maybe check with your local bike shop to help with set-up).
Damn, I wish I could join you!
zbc said:
Thanks for the advice Siao. Sounds like a plan. At least getting back on my old bike should help me learn what I would like to change
No problem, I don't think I offered much to be honest. The route I plotted is a straight-ish line, approx. 500km, so roughly 70-80km a day for 7 days should be achievable. I'd say get started with some small rides, 15-20km, then gradually build them up, you have plenty of time if it is next year. Get some gel padded shorts maybe, that will help a bit with the saddle sores. And some chamois cream will help for sure!You will need some storage space on your bike for things like snacks, jacket, loads of water (hot if you do it in the summer), some tools/spares, etc.
To me, fit and comfort are vital here. A good local shop or local will help with advice and sizing suggestions.
As others have said, look second hand perhaps at first to try out.
But you can also drool (and these folk offer fitting service...)
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/
As others have said, look second hand perhaps at first to try out.
But you can also drool (and these folk offer fitting service...)
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/
sounds a cracking ride - thank you for the seeds of an idea for myself to do the same !
Im a huge fan of my Cube e- that has been mildly modded to gravel tyres, panniers and stuff to make touring easy and great- running happily off the motor, but has a gentle push of electrons up the hills.
Marvellous things and comfortable carrying a load.
Im a huge fan of my Cube e- that has been mildly modded to gravel tyres, panniers and stuff to make touring easy and great- running happily off the motor, but has a gentle push of electrons up the hills.
Marvellous things and comfortable carrying a load.
As suggested I sorted the bike a little this weekend, new tyres and tubes, a good clean and minor fettle. Did a few hundred metres in the village to make sure it was OK ish and it seems OK. I'll try to go a bit further next weekend. Meanwhile thought I'd share this which is close to the planned route.
That route looks great! And I would agree with all the ideas on here so far.
From my own experience, I bought a gravel bike on Ebay. I have a nice aero road bike, and a reasonable hard tail mountain bike, so I wanted something in between that could cope with the state of the roads in the UK year round, and do some off roading. I had read on Roadcc an article about how the Specialized Diverge was perfect this, and it has a suspension system at the top of the handlebars, it only moves 20 mm but it does smooth out some of the more jarring potholes. It can take tyres up to 45mm wide, plus mudguards. I found one on ebay that looked good, 3 years old, £1200 when a new one would have been £3k+. It's perfect as a winter bike for the UK, plus I'm planning a 2000 km ride to Pescara in Italy in a few years time and it will be perfect for that. My experience of cycle paths in Europe is the surface can vary considerably, you don't want to be on some skinny tyred (25 mm) road rocket, especially if you are carrying some gear.
From my own experience, I bought a gravel bike on Ebay. I have a nice aero road bike, and a reasonable hard tail mountain bike, so I wanted something in between that could cope with the state of the roads in the UK year round, and do some off roading. I had read on Roadcc an article about how the Specialized Diverge was perfect this, and it has a suspension system at the top of the handlebars, it only moves 20 mm but it does smooth out some of the more jarring potholes. It can take tyres up to 45mm wide, plus mudguards. I found one on ebay that looked good, 3 years old, £1200 when a new one would have been £3k+. It's perfect as a winter bike for the UK, plus I'm planning a 2000 km ride to Pescara in Italy in a few years time and it will be perfect for that. My experience of cycle paths in Europe is the surface can vary considerably, you don't want to be on some skinny tyred (25 mm) road rocket, especially if you are carrying some gear.
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