Cycling from Scotland to Manchester - Would like some advice

richard36

Hi

I've just joined this forum and would appreciate some advice.

I'm from Manchester and live in South West Scotland. I would like to cycle from SW Scotland to Mcr - about 200 miles.

I do a fair bit of Mountain biking and have done very little road biking.

I'm looking to do the ride possibly this autumn but that will depend on what advice I'm given and how often I can get out in between now and then.

I have a number of questions like - Can I reasonably do it in 2 days?(perhaps cycling for 10 hours each day), do I need to use a road bike or will my hardtail mountain bike with slicks be ok? What kind of training should I be doing? etc etc

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Richard

redddraggon

Can I ask why Manchester?

richard36

Because I come from Manchester (would like to cycle from where I live now to where I was brought up), and the idea is a family member would then drive me back home to Scotland!

Richard

Bronzie

Richard36 wrote:

Can I reasonably do it in 2 days?

With the right build up training, of course it's quite possible - 10 hours should be more than comfortable including food stops etc

Richard36 wrote:

do I need to use a road bike or will my hardtail mountain bike with slicks be ok?

Use whatever you like! A road bike may be a little more comfortable, but in terms of speed there's probably little in it. If you are carrying overnight clothing, you'll want panniers I think so you'll need a bike capable of fitting a rear rack.

Richard36 wrote:

What kind of training should I be doing?

Long steady miles building up from whatever you are comfortable doing now to your target daily distance - either in miles or hours in the saddle - increase your weekly mileage by no more than 10% a week to allow your body to adapt.[/quote]

richard36

Thanks Bronzie

Was surprised by your comment that a road bike may only be a little faster than the mountain bike with slicks. I've never ridden a road bike before and just assumed it would be a lot faster.

Richard

Bronzie

Maybe +1-2mph on your average speed, but unless you are planning to break records on your trip, I wouldn't go to the expense of buying a road bike specifically for this one trip.

See this thread for more opinions:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12563557

A road bike (or at least drop bars) does give you more hand positions, which will be more comfortable on a long trip. I converted my ancient Marin Pine Mountain into a heavy duty tourer by sticking road bars and bar end shifters on it, plus narrow 26" slicks. It's no racer, but without the panniers it's not so much slower, and a bit more comfortable especially on rough roads.

geoff_ss

I agree with Bronzie.

A mountain bike on slicks would be fine and perhaps more comfortable for you as you'd be familiar with it. Bar ends will give you alternative hand positions (I ride a flat bar road bike) It would be a reasonable 2 day ride depending on the route. I know the A6 in the Shap area is more like a country lane these days (well 3 or 4 years ago it was) but what the rest is like I don't know. For me, finding an attractive, relatively quiet route would be more important than what bike to ride.

IIRC Andy Wilkinson won the national 24hr TT on a mountain bike frame for reasons of comfort.

Geoff

richard36

Geoff

Thanks for your reply.

I've been watching on the tv the cycling in Manchester and I was wondering whether the things I think are called 'ski' on the handlebars can be fitted to standard mountain bike handlebars and if so would it be worth fitting them when cycling on long journeys?

Thanks

Richard

Bronzie

Clip on aero bars should be able to fit an MTB handlebar - certainly in a headwind (highly likely the direction you are heading) they will be a big bonus. Take a bit of getting used to mind you - you end up riding twice as far when you fit them as you weave all over the shop!