srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
And you'll need a saddle-bag and some panniers to keep your flask of hot coffee and your supply of cake in.
The Fridays Tour 2012
- Thread starter dellzeqq
- Start date
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And you'll need a saddle-bag and some panniers to keep your flask of hot coffee and your supply of cake in.
If you're short on cash then I'd start by considering all the ways that the road bike and the hybrid don't measure up to what you'd want from a tourer and try to adapt one or the other.
My personal take on this is that tourers are supposed to be robust, comfortable and capable of carrying some luggage. There is a general view that this normally entails wheels that have more spokes, 25 or 28mm tyres, slightly more relaxed geometry, a wide-ish range of gears, a broader saddle, and fixing points for racks, mudguards and the like.
Most road bikes will happily transport you for thousands of miles on tarmac or gravel. I've never thought myself disadvantaged by 23mm tyres. Modern factory-made wheels and frames are astoundingly strong. Modern derailleurs and drive chains are robust. And, as for luggage....it's a question of working out what you want to take.
As you say - there's not a lot of you. I can't imagine you breaking your road bike on any kind of surface. One tip, though. Mudguards are the work of the devil.
My personal take on this is that tourers are supposed to be robust, comfortable and capable of carrying some luggage. There is a general view that this normally entails wheels that have more spokes, 25 or 28mm tyres, slightly more relaxed geometry, a wide-ish range of gears, a broader saddle, and fixing points for racks, mudguards and the like.
Most road bikes will happily transport you for thousands of miles on tarmac or gravel. I've never thought myself disadvantaged by 23mm tyres. Modern factory-made wheels and frames are astoundingly strong. Modern derailleurs and drive chains are robust. And, as for luggage....it's a question of working out what you want to take.
As you say - there's not a lot of you. I can't imagine you breaking your road bike on any kind of surface. One tip, though. Mudguards are the work of the devil.
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
It takes a real bike tart to show two views of the same bag... in different locations! 
Make sure you get panniers Wanda - to put your handbag in. And a pair of shoes. And a cuddly toy, although several tourists might fall into this category I suppose.
Make sure you get panniers Wanda - to put your handbag in. And a pair of shoes. And a cuddly toy, although several tourists might fall into this category I suppose.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
it does make me laugh that touring bikes for cyldedales like me have the same spec everything as the model for someone over a foot shorter and weighing half as much. Somethings are just too overengineered.
well, you said it. I'd have thought that the frame of a smaller bike, if made of the same tubing, would be tougher than a larger frame.
The wheel thing is a bit of a myth as well. Those 16 spoke wheels in the photograph took all kinds of bashing, and shrugged it off. The hubs had 50,000 miles in them. The one thing I would change if I was going on an unsupported tour would be to make sure that the rim could be straightened if a spoke went, but that's about it......
Hmm. Decisions, decisions.
I don't ride Titch (roadbike) often enough to have a view on comfort (not sure once a month for a few hours is sufficient) and the waters are muddied by my company's C2W scheme commencing October and my 'needing' to use this facility to get another, yet to be determined, bike.
If I did use Titch, I'd need to whittle down any bits to be carried considerably and I'm not sure I can do that (given my propensity for 'just in case' items whether on the bike or on foot
On that basis, the hybrid would be the better bet, maybe changing the handlebars for trekking ones and checking the gearing to allow for my weak knees and hill-hating. It has 32h spokes and 700x28 tyres so that would work surely and I remember I took two loaded panniers on it to my first Brighton ride last year. Didn't use half the stuff I took but I had no idea what to expect so to 'everything I could think of'
Cuddly toy - yes. Shoes - only if eating establishment requires it, otherwise trainers/mtb shoes will do me. Lipstick and nail varnish - oh yes .
I don't ride Titch (roadbike) often enough to have a view on comfort (not sure once a month for a few hours is sufficient) and the waters are muddied by my company's C2W scheme commencing October and my 'needing' to use this facility to get another, yet to be determined, bike.
If I did use Titch, I'd need to whittle down any bits to be carried considerably and I'm not sure I can do that (given my propensity for 'just in case' items whether on the bike or on foot
On that basis, the hybrid would be the better bet, maybe changing the handlebars for trekking ones and checking the gearing to allow for my weak knees and hill-hating. It has 32h spokes and 700x28 tyres so that would work surely and I remember I took two loaded panniers on it to my first Brighton ride last year. Didn't use half the stuff I took but I had no idea what to expect so to 'everything I could think of'
Cuddly toy - yes. Shoes - only if eating establishment requires it, otherwise trainers/mtb shoes will do me. Lipstick and nail varnish - oh yes
.Right
LEJoG gained some support, but some people thought it was boring
London to Naples/Rome gained some support, but some people thought it was too much
Barcelona to Pisa? Via Girona, Perpignan, Agde, Arles. Aix-en-Provence, Frejus, Nice, Cannes, Ventimiglia, Sanremo, Genova, La Spezia? Back up trains more or less all the way. Fantastic scenery. And, although some people reckon the coast roads could be hell, Percy (see Touring) reckons that it was ok in early July. 700 miles in 10 days.
Getting to Barcelona or Girona isn't easy - you have to take a TGV or TER trains to the south of France and regional trains thereafter........... or a plane.
Getting back from Pisa is difficult by train - you have to take regional trains to France and then a TGV, but there are planes from Pisa (Ryannair) and from Florence (BA or CityJet)
LEJoG gained some support, but some people thought it was boring
London to Naples/Rome gained some support, but some people thought it was too much
Barcelona to Pisa? Via Girona, Perpignan, Agde, Arles. Aix-en-Provence, Frejus, Nice, Cannes, Ventimiglia, Sanremo, Genova, La Spezia? Back up trains more or less all the way. Fantastic scenery. And, although some people reckon the coast roads could be hell, Percy (see Touring) reckons that it was ok in early July. 700 miles in 10 days.
Getting to Barcelona or Girona isn't easy - you have to take a TGV or TER trains to the south of France and regional trains thereafter........... or a plane.
Getting back from Pisa is difficult by train - you have to take regional trains to France and then a TGV, but there are planes from Pisa (Ryannair) and from Florence (BA or CityJet)
Ravenbait
Someone's imaginary friend
- Location
- The Seventh Level of Hell
The advantage of the LEJOG, to my mind, was that you could make it either by being able to afford it or by being able to get to the bit nearest you.
Ruling out "boring" is all well and good if you can afford exciting. Still. There's no obligation for the Friday's tour to be affordable. It will be disappointing for those of us who can't spare the money, but that's just the way things go.
Sam
Ruling out "boring" is all well and good if you can afford exciting. Still. There's no obligation for the Friday's tour to be affordable. It will be disappointing for those of us who can't spare the money, but that's just the way things go.
Sam
The European Bike Express goes down to somewhere near Girona. And I might be able to borrow a pad near Perpignan...
Like it!
Re problem of getting there & back - flying is likely to fastest and cheapest but I guess some of us shudder at having our bikes shredded at Gatwick or Stansted. On the other hand Ryanair do fly to these destinations from some small regional airports like Bournemouth & Bristol for often less than London. Would a bike be likely to be treated better at these more personal airports?
Or is Frank going to cycle down from London on the day ...
Re problem of getting there & back - flying is likely to fastest and cheapest but I guess some of us shudder at having our bikes shredded at Gatwick or Stansted. On the other hand Ryanair do fly to these destinations from some small regional airports like Bournemouth & Bristol for often less than London. Would a bike be likely to be treated better at these more personal airports?
Or is Frank going to cycle down from London on the day ...
I agree. And I didn't think it was boring. I'm up for it even if I can't afford it, but would be relieved if it wasn't hideously expensive...
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
+1. As good as the continental suggestions are, I think LeJOG would be a better option for the first one. Definitely not boring, and in my case I want another go as I only did 5/8 of it the other week!
Best option for accomodation IMHO would be hostels & bunkhouses- cheap, solid roofs, enough mod cons...
Definitely want one preferably two support vehicles- carrying the luggage/most spares and acting as sag wagons (not least because road bikes are by far the best option for this, you don't want to have all your kit on the bike!!).
Becs
Veteran
- Location
- Old Hatfield (it's nice honest!)
Agreed, and us first timers can complete it under the guidance of a pro without paying a fortune for one of those tour company-guided thingies!
Surely the company (and post ride beers) will aleviate any boredom
frank9755
Cyclist
- Location
- West London
Barcelona to Pisa sounds better than LEJoG - although it wouldn't be my first choice. I'd have reservations about the coast roads (my experience is that the roads in most of France are empty because all the cars seem to be either in Paris or within 5 miles of the south coast! I much prefer the quiet, inland areas to the overdeveloped, busy coastal strip) and also it being very hot all the way.
Personally I prefer rides that start from home. Not only does it eliminate 50% of the logistics costs and complexity, but it also connects you to your destination in a way that no other form of transport (bar walking) can. I appreciate not everyone lives in London, but riding to it provides the perfect opportunity for a cunning pre-ride extension (as Stuart points out - so could Barcelona, but probably a bit far!). Of course the other benefit is that it means the tour can start from HPC with a night ride to the coast!
Is LEJOG really cheaper or easier logistically than similar length tours in Europe? It may be relative to Barcelona-Pisa but I'd be surprised it if was compared to a 'London to somewhere' ride. My experience is that the UK is more expensive than France and Italy for accommodation and food. I did London to Montpellier this time last year for less than £500 (including ferry over and flight back). That was camping, which most won't want to do (but then again, camping in southern France is a different proposition from Scotland or even wet and windy S-W England).
For doing LEJoG with a group / support vehicle, there are loads of options already and not all are prohibitively expensive. For example, CTC and Bike Adventures both run 3 or 4 trips a year, and I've seen multiple recommendations for each (including on this forum). I'm not sure what the point is in trying to compete with them when they seem to be good options already.
If Barcelona to Pisa is the final proposal, I would most likely fly as both routes are used by loads of cyclists and it would be far easier than anything else. However I'd be putting the bike in a plastic bag so wouldn't take my best bike. It would be steel rather than carbon fibre.
Personally I prefer rides that start from home. Not only does it eliminate 50% of the logistics costs and complexity, but it also connects you to your destination in a way that no other form of transport (bar walking) can. I appreciate not everyone lives in London, but riding to it provides the perfect opportunity for a cunning pre-ride extension (as Stuart points out - so could Barcelona, but probably a bit far!). Of course the other benefit is that it means the tour can start from HPC with a night ride to the coast!
Is LEJOG really cheaper or easier logistically than similar length tours in Europe? It may be relative to Barcelona-Pisa but I'd be surprised it if was compared to a 'London to somewhere' ride. My experience is that the UK is more expensive than France and Italy for accommodation and food. I did London to Montpellier this time last year for less than £500 (including ferry over and flight back). That was camping, which most won't want to do (but then again, camping in southern France is a different proposition from Scotland or even wet and windy S-W England).
For doing LEJoG with a group / support vehicle, there are loads of options already and not all are prohibitively expensive. For example, CTC and Bike Adventures both run 3 or 4 trips a year, and I've seen multiple recommendations for each (including on this forum). I'm not sure what the point is in trying to compete with them when they seem to be good options already.
If Barcelona to Pisa is the final proposal, I would most likely fly as both routes are used by loads of cyclists and it would be far easier than anything else. However I'd be putting the bike in a plastic bag so wouldn't take my best bike. It would be steel rather than carbon fibre.
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