Bike round europe? how to choose a bike?

[Vak]

I'm thinking of biking round europe... crazy? first need a bike (kinda essential but useful i guess) i have no idea of how to choose a bike... what do i look for? any particular model recommended? best place to buy?

also what i was hoping to get is one of those really cool watches that shows how far you've cycled but can be used for running as well does any1 know any models? can these be used as standard watches as well (i kinda need a new watch 2 birds 1 stone miracle worker i know)

any advice please!!! i was looking to go biking in a week's time!

 

[Ant]

For biking around Europe you'll almost certainly need a touring bike like one of these:

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/complete-bikes/touring-bikes

You'll need to take in to account the terrain you're riding through, is it all road, or trails too. The ability to fit panniers, such as on the Kona Sutra in the link above would be essential IMHO, and ensuring that it takes mudguards is also a good idea.

But probably the most essential thing is getting one the right size. You could have the best specified tourer in the world but if it's the wrong size you'll constantly be uncomfortable and may even give yourself medical problems on such a long ride.

You won't get any real advice about a specific bike bike unless you post what your budget is.

As for where to go, most people will suggest your local bike shop. Halfords are generally scorned and Evans are a bit hit and miss. You could have a very good local one or a terrible one.

 

[Vak]

What! Crazy cheapest 1 there is like [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]500! i was hoping for more around the max mark of [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]200! is a hybrid ok? i was looking at this 1 and seems nice http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/expedition-sport-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001477

not really sure what i'm looking at but its a hybrid and at the [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]200 price mark so that would be more than enough. i mean i was planning to use a tomtom with the cycle routes on that to get to my destinations. [FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[Arch]

What! Crazy cheapest 1 there is like [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]500! i was hoping for more around the max mark of [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]200! is a hybrid ok? i was looking at this 1 and seems nice http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/expedition-sport-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001477

not really sure what i'm looking at but its a hybrid and at the [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]200 price mark so that would be more than enough. i mean i was planning to use a tomtom with the cycle routes on that to get to my destinations. [FONT=&quot][/FONT]

How are you going to carry luggage on it, for example? And no mudguards....

I personally wouldn't set off round Europe on a bike with no rack or mudguards - in fact I wouldn't set off on one I'd only had for a week - Am I understanding you wrong or is that what you plan to do?

If you plan to do any sort of distance you have to be happy with your bike, and have it fit you well - really you need to go to a local shop and try some. A bike that doesn't fit you will hurt after a while, and be false economy - unless you know exactly what size you need (and a lot of other stuff like reach), a bike off the internet is going to be hit or miss.

If you had time to look around, you'd be better off getting a decent bike second hand, for touring. I think we all assume when you say 'biking round Europe' that you mean the kind of thing where you ride all day, from place to place, with your luggage. If you only wanted to do less than that - day rides from a base for example, you might get away with something less 'touring' specific.


BTW, are you from America or Canada? I've noticed that they tend to say 'biking', where we in Britain say 'cycling'. 'Biking' is more a motorbike word to me....

 

[Vak]

i was gonna buy a rear bike rack and bike bags on that. btw does any1 know how much weight they can hold? i'll be carrying less than 20kg for sure. all i'm thinkin of takin is couple extra spare clothes, spare shoes, camera, chargers n stuff and thats about it really. food and water i'll buy along the way.

yeah u read rite i'm kinda the spur of the momenet guy but that spur has gone. i think i'll plan for it now to do in a couple of months time. that way i can build up my fitness and look for a proper bike that will fit. i was thinkin of just ordering that bike straight off the internet and set off. mayb not such a good idea anymore...

day rides from a base? wats that mean? i was just thinkin ride all day from place to place with luggage. where would i be able to find 2nd hand touring bikes? i dunno if i could trust a 2nd hand bike to last me through europe i mean it fell apart on me half way through i'd be literally screwed...

 

[Ant]

What! Crazy cheapest 1 there is like [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]500! i was hoping for more around the max mark of [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]200! is a hybrid ok? i was looking at this 1 and seems nice http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/expedition-sport-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001477

not really sure what i'm looking at but its a hybrid and at the [FONT=&quot]£[/FONT]200 price mark so that would be more than enough. i mean i was planning to use a tomtom with the cycle routes on that to get to my destinations.

I wouldn't ride to work on that, let alone ride around Europe on it

In all seriousness that 'Specialized' is totally inadequate. Apart from the aforementioned lack of carrying capacity and mudguards it's got front suspension, which you'll want to avoid. It only adds extra weight and saps energy which should be going to the road. Unless you're thinking of doing any serious off-roading on your trip avoid suspension.

If you could go the extra £50 then this one would be much more suitable

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/claud-butler/boulevard-2009-hybrid-bike-ec000263

they seem a bit limited in size offerings though.

I'd also recommend going second hand. I'd trust a decent second hand £200 bike than I would a brand new £200 one to be honest, but you'll need to have a good look at it and decide for yourself. E-Bay is usually the place of choice for such things but internet cycle forums like this one often have a classified section, or even do it the old fashioned way like we used to have to before this new fangled interweb: Look in the local paper or check the little advertisement cards at your local supermarket

 

[Crackle]

Don't let us put you off VAK, spur of the moment is good but if you plan to spend all day on the bike then Arch is right to point out some of the issues you may have. That said, my first tour was on a crappy old Raleigh with steel wheels and homemade panniers. It was the best tour I ever did but for all the wrong reasons and I didn't get very far.

With your budget 2nd hand may be good and not as crappy as you think. 2nd hand tourers abound and are generally good value and likely to be much better bikes than the Evans one in your link. I wouldn't buy a suspension fat tire bike for a trip around Europe. This much more up to the job - honest

 

[garrilla]

What Arch was implying is that with time and good research a second hand bike for £200 might be better and more reliable than a £200 off the interweb.

The cheaper the bike the less likely it is to withstand a good use. There was a thread in the 'Commuter' section a few weeks back where the general consensus was that a for a bike that does about 10 - 20 miles per day would need to cost £300 before accessories were added. By comparasion, Cycle+ magazine recently tested a £50 bike from Tesco which literally fell to bits after 5 miles on a good cycle path.

Beyond the fitness, if you are relying on a bike you don't want have a wheel bust or the gears fail when you are in between places - it could be dangerous, but more importantly I guess for you is that it could be expensive.

Getting the right bike will important if you are to have a lengthy and enjoyable ride around Europe.

How far and for how long are you expecting to ride?

 

[dragon72]

I did my first tour (Cherbourg to Bilbao) on a £200 city hybrid bike and it did the job just fine, thankyouverymuch. I would still be riding it on tour today probably if some idiot of a car driver hadn't reversed into it while it was parked on a toast-rack and totalled the frame.
However, having acquired the taste for touring and being in the market again for a new bike, I replaced it with a bike that's designed for touring and consequently a bit more expensive.
In a way I'm glad I didn't spend £700 on a tourer for my first tour, only to find that touring's not my cup of tea (but of course it actually did turn out to be just that).

You can tour on any bike and have a great time. But it'll be easier on some bikes than on others. I don't think it would be much fun on a bmx.

 

[Crackle]

Don't know this particular model but it looks good for the job as well.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Trek-1200-Alp...14&_trkparms=72:1683|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

 

[Vak]

was thinkin of covering exactly 1500 miles (give or take a few miles here or there )

thing is, this will be my first time buying a bike and apart from owning the kid mountain bikes that you got from when you were a teenager i have literally no idea bout bikes. even if i bought the bike over ebay i wouldn't know if it would be in good shape or not to last through the miles i wanna cover. plus i'm a student so i can't really fork out like crazy on a tour bike. i mean covering about 60/70 miles a day shouldn't be too hard rite?

 

[Randochap]

It does sound as though you are in the used market @ "around the max mark of £200!"

Many a tour has been ruined through inappropriate bikes and gear. See my Touring Bikes page for more info.

Good luck with your plans.

 

[Randochap]

i mean covering about 60/70 miles a day shouldn't be too hard rite?

Depends ... on the bike/gear ratios, weight of bike and kit, your fitness, and terrain ... right?

 

[Crackle]

60 miles at say 10mph is 6 hours plus stops or 6 hours including stops if faster. It's hard to say because it depends on you so much. I would say you're unlikely to average much more on a mtn bike touring than 10-14mph and if you buy it change the tyres from knobblies to slicks, that'll make a huge difference. Crudcatcher and seatpost rack and you could use it. Personally I would advise something different but hey, if it's the difference between you going or not, get that one.

You'd also do well to budget for a new saddle, the one with it will be crap and you will have your backside on it for the best part of the day and I'd advise learning some maintenance basics or plan on using a lot of sign language when you have a problem, you will have problems, maybe small ones but you will have them.

Don't underestimate 60 miles a day if you've not done it before but on a long tour it's perfectly reasonable to cycle yourself to fitness. Just be prepared for it to hurt a bit.

Got a lock, tools, PR kit, helmet, lights (going through any tunnels), don't forget to put them all in your budget and the new tyres.

 

[Arch]

day rides from a base? wats that mean?

The sort of thing were you go somewhere for a few days, stay at a hotel or campsite, and then go out each day for rides - if you were doing that you wouldn't need to carry so much stuff, as you can leave stuff at your base...

Crackle's advice is good. If you're new to cycling (or returning to it after a gap since you were a kid), you'll need to build up cycle fitness - just getting used to the muscles you use, the saddlesoreness, getting up hills comfortably. Are you generally fit and sporty in other ways? That'll help, but it'll still take a little getting used to. I've done a few tours, and the best thing is always to start with shorter distances and build up.

I wouldn't want to put you off the spur of the moment thing (I'm not like that at all, I have to plan for ages, although I'm starting to like the idea of doing what you're planning, someday), or to insist that you HAVE to have a top end bike - as dragon72 says, you can just about tour on anything - as long as it lasts the distance and does the job. Good luck finding your two wheeled soulmate!