Manchester to Barcelona for Charity?
MrCraigBerry
Posts: 15
Hi Guys,
I am looking at making this trip sometime next year, either over the easter period or the beginning of summer.
I would like to ride from Manchester to Barcelona in aid of cancer research, as my sister survived 5 years of leukemia treatment, and I would love for my efforts to be able to help save another life.
Has anybody made this trip, or a trip like it?
If so, can you provide any advice for me?
I will be attempting to get some sponsors on board, so hopefully receive some new equipment. I am in the process of setting up a website in which I can document my journey as well.
Another question, would I be better with a road bike or a hard tail?
I look forward to your replies.
P.s
If anybody would be willing to hop on board for the ride, you are more than welcome.
I am looking at making this trip sometime next year, either over the easter period or the beginning of summer.
I would like to ride from Manchester to Barcelona in aid of cancer research, as my sister survived 5 years of leukemia treatment, and I would love for my efforts to be able to help save another life.
Has anybody made this trip, or a trip like it?
If so, can you provide any advice for me?
I will be attempting to get some sponsors on board, so hopefully receive some new equipment. I am in the process of setting up a website in which I can document my journey as well.
Another question, would I be better with a road bike or a hard tail?
I look forward to your replies.
P.s
If anybody would be willing to hop on board for the ride, you are more than welcome.
0
Comments
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Personally I would hate to ride that sort of distance on a mountain bike, but some do. I presume your journey would be on-road. If so, I would do it on a road bike. If you have a support crew and don't need to carry luggage, it's easy. If you're staying in hotels so only carrying light luggage then I would get a "light tourer" audax type bike. See my thread on light tourers. I got some good advice. If you're going to be carrying serious loads then a specialist touring bike would be the way to go. Or just a mountain bike it you're a nutter.
Given the distances involved, whichever bike you choose you will have some choices to make about saddle and pedals.0 -
Either sort of bike would be fine: I've toured for thousands of miles on my trusty On-One 456. That includes the last couple of months touring Andalucía with significant chunks off-road with 'serious loads' - whatever that means. Perfectly sane people go round the world on mountain bikes (ditto road bikes) in fact I'd estimate most really long-distance bike travellers use MTB-style trekking or expedition bikes rather than specialist touring bikes.
The best bike is the one you are most comfortable with. If you go down the road bike route go for one with a triple chainset and plenty of clearance for wider tyres. You'd be looking to change the tyres on the MTB. And mounts for pannier racks are a definite plus (although there are work-arounds).
I'd concentrate on keeping the wight of your luggage down to a minimum rather than spending a load of money on a new bike which will give you a relatively small weight-saving in comparison.
My advice would be not to set an over ambitious target. There's a world of difference between doing a 100kms on a weekend day out and doing that distance day after day. Before you finally decide on a distance/target - go out for three or four days and see what distance you can sustain.
Good luck (I had/have lymphoma and I'm now 20 months on from a stem cell transplant).0
