Lands End to John O'Graots bike advice - What To Buy?!

Mr Plum
Mr Plum Posts: 1,097
edited September 2010 in Road buying advice
Essentially what the title says... I'm planning an 'End to End' cycle and know nothing about road bikes! I'm looking at spending no more than £500 for all gear - bike, panniers etc...

Any advice would be massively appreciated re best bike for the money/best bike for the job.

Cheers!
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Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'm thinking you'll need to up your budget a bit.

    Decent bike is around £500 or so really. Then you need a lot of kit to go with it.
    And then you'll need dosh to replace bit as you train.

    Are you camping ? B&Bing ?
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    You most definitely will need to up the ante a bit there. Doing that trip is not all that costly, but if your £500 budget is to include all gear PLUS your bike, it's just not realistic.
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • Mr Plum
    Mr Plum Posts: 1,097
    No movement on the budget chaps. £500 for gear + bike. Replacement parts as I train are not an issue - it's part and parcel of doing lots of miles and something that I am already aware of. The 2nd hand market for bikes looks positive (?) - I'm not after a carbon beast, just something that will be good enough for the training and will get me through it.

    I'm going for the B&B and YHA option. Not hardcore enough to attempt this camping, maybe next time... My £500 budget does not include accommodation!
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  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c018343

    And borrow some panniers off a friend.
  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    Or:
    http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... b1s21p1992
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    alan sherman wrote:
    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=12438&f_SupersetQRY=C440&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003155c018343

    And borrow some panniers off a friend.

    Yup.

    Or ring em and see if they'll do a deal, my dad would, I haven't got the cheek.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • Mr Plum
    Mr Plum Posts: 1,097
    Cheers for the links guys, they look good. Any idea how the Ralleigh Royal Touring would stack up against either of those?

    http://www.ashcycles.com/site/index.php ... anguage=en
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  • Mr Plum
    Mr Plum Posts: 1,097
    In addition to my last question - what makes a good touring bike? Could I essentially stick a pannier rack on the back of a Specialized Secteur for example (that I've seen at £399). Would this not be as good as buying one of the above mentioned tourers?

    See, I wasn't kidding when I said that I knew nothing about road bikes...
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  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    Good find. It'd also do the job. The main difference is the steel frame and fork which is probably heavier, but is steel (the traditional material for a tourer).
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    A secteur would be fine, not a trad tourer, but probably more fun without the panniers on afterwards.

    A proper tourer might be a bit overkill with you using B&B's and the like anyway.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    If you're staying in B&Bs you don't need panniers. A rack bag will do. In which case a Secteur would be ideal provided you find it comfortable.
    More problems but still living....
  • Mr Plum
    Mr Plum Posts: 1,097
    Thanks for the advice guys. Have to try and try out the Secture. I know these things are not a science, but do you reckon if I get the right size frame (56cm - I'm 5'11'') the bike is something that I'd generally get used to if I were to buy it without trying - blind, so to speak. ie no real idea about the ride etc. This will essentially be my first road bike so I guess it doesn't really matter how many I try out cos they'll all feel a bit weird.
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  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    If it rains mudguards are really nice. But you will need clearance between the tyres and guards for mud and stuff, especially if you use the National Cycle network routes at all (the nice of road bits are lovely like the bit to Lands End, they are gravel paths not tarmaced). I did some on 23 and 25mm tyres on my road bike but the clearance to my guards was tight so I had a friendly stick to scrape the mud and gravel out occassionally! Wider tyres give more comfort and grip but are slower.

    Factor in adding rack and guards to the secteur (another £25+£20).
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'd go with guards too. How long are you planning on doing it in ? Even in the height of summer you can easily get an entire week with rain - that'd be no fun.

    Tyres - I'd go with 23mm as a miniimum = preferably 25mm or more.

    Buying from a LBS would be a better idea than distance though - esp if you need stuff doing to tweak your position.
  • Mr Plum
    Mr Plum Posts: 1,097
    I've seen a LBC doing the Secteur for £440 - I might see if they can price match as I've bought from them before and I'll be using the bike for a very worthy cause - to raise an absolute bucket load of cash for a charity that is very close to my heart.

    Great advice on tyres and guards - I hadn't really thought about that. I'm going to try to get to my LBC tomorrow and have a word.
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  • Roadracer123
    Roadracer123 Posts: 38
    Hi Mr Plum,
    With regards to a 56cm, Im 5ft 10 and 56cm is comfortable for me, so it should be fine for you, but you may find you need to fit a shorter stem.
    Carrera Vanquish....
  • Mr Plum
    Mr Plum Posts: 1,097
    Roadracer123 wrote:
    Hi Mr Plum,
    With regards to a 56cm, Im 5ft 10 and 56cm is comfortable for me, so it should be fine for you, but you may find you need to fit a shorter stem.

    Cheers for the heads up. Hopefully I'll be having a quick go on one tomorrow so I'll be able to size things up.
    FCN 2 to 8

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