Distance Cycling

Paladin · #1 12th April 2010, 00:58

After watching the BBC programme about the guy cycling across America, I've been thinking about going on some kind of cycling trip this summer.......has anyone done something like this, is it expensive to buy proper gear? I'm just a casual cyclist atm but think I have a decent enough bike

no0ne · #2 12th April 2010, 01:13

depends what bike you want to buy my mate goes for 30 mile bike rides on a £600 quid bike from halfords so that's the low end of the scale, or you could buy a bianchi bike for a couple of grand, i'd love one of them not to ride just to have it on the wall and polish it. mates also got a olmo campagnolo worth a small fortune trying to ride that's impossible as it's gearing is made for top speed so getting it going is hard work.

this guide looks good.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A29638777

Paladin · #3 12th April 2010, 01:27

^ cheers for that. My bike is a £300 hybrid so maybe not great for long-distances, can't afford a new one atm though

-Simon- · #4 12th April 2010, 09:48

You don't even need to spend £300. I've cycled around Ireland on an old 3 speed hub bone shaker. My current bike was second hand about 10yrs ago. It had 21 gears (7 on the rear cogs and 3 on the front), I removed the option of 3 on the front because it was just annoying. The most important thing I think is a comfy saddle.

Diluted · #5 13th April 2010, 17:45

You'd be better off keeping the bike you have and begin riding more. Later, if you still want a better bike you'll have an idea of what kind you want.

rayman · #6 13th April 2010, 19:13

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/?o=RrzKj

This is a gr8 site for seeing touring cyclists

Kal · #7 14th April 2010, 08:36

What sort of distance do you mean? Just 1 day and 100+ miles or over a week and closer to 1000 miles?

Make sure you get a touring bike mate, I do 100+ miles somedays on a mountain bike and you'll regret it (tyres are fine but high rolling resistance from the tread), you cover more distance with a touring bike and their made to take the strain of a long ride while carrying the potential weight of any equipment you need to carry too.

Also you REALLY want to make sure you're carrying lots of water. Make sure you can fit a tent onto the pannier at the back.

As a Sustrans ranger I recommend you check our site and see all the UK has to offer in regards to cycle routes!

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

Click here to load the map of the UK cycle route network

clawhammer · #8 14th April 2010, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by John51

I cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End on a bike I built for £250. http://www.youtube.com/user/coltourer#p/u/8/wwx27MnrnLo

nice one! that's something i'd love to do...