What Bike for LEJOG??

Blacktemplar

Hi Folks

Looking for a bit of advice.......

I recently returned to cycling after a 25+ year gap (ouch), and have been commuting to work 4 days a week, about 125 miles in total, plus an occasional 20-30 mile weekend run since the beginning of the year. As the pounds have fallen off (2 decades-worth of slobbery) and I'm now down to a svelte 12.5 stone, I suggested to my brother-in-law that we might do the LEJOG next year for charity. We're planning to do it unsupported, staying at B&B's along the way.

I currently ride a Felt QX75 hybrid, but as my brother-in-law (and a couple of other pals who will do the E2E) is a "roadie" I'm a bit worried I'll be way off the pace. So long as nothing falls off (me, not the bike) we're hoping to do it in 10-12 days, so I was wondering if I should get myself an Audax or Sportive bike in the spring. I could probably stretch to a £1K budget all in.

Would appreciate the collective wisdom of the forum!

Thanks

stokepa31

well i'll not offer advice on which bike but will give you an interesting comparison

I wet out with my mate last Tuesday - me on my scott CR1 and him on his Gary Fisher Mendota hybrid. I was constantly waiting for him and he put it down to having no miles in his legs as he'd not done much over winter. we went round a 20 mile loop in circa 15mph.

we went out last night (same course) and he rode my Allez Elite spare bike. we went round in 16.8 mph. he said the difference was night and day and it all just felt so much more efficient. He's now begging me to sell it to him

YOU NEED A ROAD BIKE

Blacktemplar

Thanks for that Stoke - interesting comparison indeed.

I've been out with my b-i-law on his road bike once or twice and despite me being -ahem- several stones lighter (and about 6 months fitter) he usually leaves me for dead on the uphills. I can just about keep pace with him on the flat, but that's mostly 'cos he's a fat git :oops:

Wonder what would happen if I posted this on a hybrid/commuter thread........ :shock:

stokepa31

you'd be run out of town lol. I have a qx75 too btw. great bike. sadly i need to get shot of it as im running out of room. it was my first bike on my return to cycling and i pimped it up

Frank the tank

If you're planning to do it unsupported you will all need bikes with panniers so you can carry changes of clothes.

Unless you're going to plan your stops and post a change of clothes to the address beforehand. Otherwise it'll be a case of washing and drying kit at the end of each day, which you may not feel like after 80-100mile in the saddle in variable weather.

Are you going to be buying all your sustanance on route?

There are a lot of things to think about and the style your attempt is taking will dictate the sort of bike you require.

James Latham

good advice, but if you are arent slogging along a tent and sleeping bags you can probably fit everything in a set of rear paniers - in which case either bike will do aslong as it has mounts

cooldad

Motorbike.

Blacktemplar

cooldad wrote:

Motorbike.

I do

Best advice yet

ScaldedCat

Chap from the CTC forum has almost completed JogLe on a Raleigh Chopper towing a trailer. Seems to be the way to go, kit wise.