First Cycle Tour/Way of the Roses-170miles/3 days (camping)

mattrixdesign2

Guys - I am looking for tips/advice on which bike to use - I can't decide.

I have two choices, Rockhopper (with road slicks) / Allez (double - hmmm).

We are taking all the gear we need for the tour other than cooking equipment, so thats tents/bags/mats etc, plus the added weight of rack and panniers (rear only). The route is 170miles long, to be done in 3 days, about 60m a day, the first day looks the harderst in terms of hills.

http://www.wayoftheroses.info/route/

It is a road route, so obvious choice is the racer, I have had the racer since Jan this year (bought in the sales), and I must admit from being a MTBer most of my life, I now love road riding, its the only bike I have ridden this year, locally on flatish roads the gears are fine, but I can't help but be concerned for the lack of granny ring when the going gets tough, even on the lowest gear - its high compare to my MTB. So racer/plus weight/plus hill worries me a bit, I am certainly not one to push my bike up a hill... not sure how difficult it will be.

So that makes the MTB an option, great range of gears, some so low no matter how tough it gets I can keep spinning then eventually make it to the top. Also the brakes may give me more confidence with the added weight. Going from Hyraulic discs, to my racer brakes, the difference is massive.

FYI - I am going with two other people, one is taking some bomb proof touring bike, the other is on an Allez (triple).

The obvious choice would be to load up my bike(s) and try it, problem is I have not got a pannier rack yet, and need to choose the right one. I would also like advice on which ones to use, cheap as possible, but not so cheap it will self destruct on day one

mattrixdesign2

Anyone?

Also if I wanted to use the Allez but beef up the brakes - what would you suggest.

Tail end Charlie

Personally I'd use the Rockhopper. Loading up a road bike isn't a great idea. They aren't designed for it and makes them a awful ride.
The Rockhopper with sllcks is a much better idea. Loaded up you'll need low gears and you'll appreciate the brakes.

mattrixdesign2

I am leaning more and more this way... first it was the racer ... now the MTB makes more sense.

I have done a 100m charity road ride on my MTB - it didn't kill me ... hmmm.

Any ideas on a good rack for a disc bike that wont cost the earth?

vaseline

Road bikes are built for roads, mountain bikes are built for... well, not necessarily roads. If it is a road route you are doing then the answer is somewhere in the question, like you say.

How much stuff are you taking? A small tent, a weightless sleeping bag, three pairs of gruds and a toothbrush don't weigh all that much. I wouldn't have thought that would do too much damage on the handling front. I bet you know people who are two or three stone heavier than you and still ride bikes no problem.

If your mate has an Allez with a rack on it, why don't you load his up and see if you can manage it? Or borrow his rack and put it on your bike.

Find a hill and cycle up it. That will tell you if you have the gears or not.

Also, maybe get the rockhopper out and ride that for a few trips and weigh up which one you prefer. Halfway up a mountain isn't the best place to decide you've brought the wrong bike.

mattrixdesign2

Gear will be tent/mat/s/bag/change of clothes etc... its not a massive weight.

The weight is not the issue in terms of handling as such, its whether I can get it up the hills and brake when I need to stop - discs to racer calipers is a big difference.

I do need to try out different things, is it possible to get a rack that is MTB disc and Racer compatible... I need to check my racer even has the fixings, its a 2010 Allez, I thought it had, but now I am not sure.

Also - appreciate everone has different opinions on what to use - so I am open to comments from either side.

vaseline

A 2010 Allez will accommodate a rack:

http://answers.evanscycles.com/answers/ ... stions.htm

And hopefully this answers your rack question:

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index ... 43053.html

As for brakes, you won't know the roads (presumably) so you would be foolish to be doing the kind of downhill speed that would cause you a problem if you needed to come to a halt quickly. Unless the brakes have deteriorated in the 2 months you have owned the racer, I wouldn't worry too much.

mattrixdesign2

Vaseline wrote:

A 2010 Allez will accommodate a rack:

http://answers.evanscycles.com/answers/ ... stions.htm

And hopefully this answers your rack question:

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index ... 43053.html

As for brakes, you won't know the roads (presumably) so you would be foolish to be doing the kind of downhill speed that would cause you a problem if you needed to come to a halt quickly. Unless the brakes have deteriorated in the 2 months you have owned the racer, I wouldn't worry too much.

The brakes are "as new" it just they are not as power full as I have had on past MTB.

I may try and find a rack at my LBS and see which is best.

tim_wand

Look at my post (timwand "best 1 0r 2 person tent ) Currently two down from yours.
I' m doing same route in May.

Thread on my post from ipete, shows a picture of his allez loaded up with touring gear ( looks to have come up with some neat soloutions) sure if you pm'd he'd give you some good advice.

Personally of the two bikes and as a newbie I d go for the MTB with slicks option and pick up a cheap rigid fork for it.

I m using a Planet X kaffenbach road bike. If your going to use the Allez why not see if you can get a compact chainset if you are running 53/ 39

My Kaffenbach has got a long cage rear mech and runs 34/11 at the back so gearing is important (especially first bit Morecambe/ Settle/ Skipton area)

durhamwasp

i'd find it hard to believe that the breaks wont be good enough for WOTR, you'll be fine.

Road bike all the way, with a light load!

mattrixdesign2

tim wand wrote:

Look at my post (timwand "best 1 0r 2 person tent ) Currently two down from yours.
I' m doing same route in May.

Thread on my post from ipete, shows a picture of his allez loaded up with touring gear ( looks to have come up with some neat soloutions) sure if you pm'd he'd give you some good advice.

Personally of the two bikes and as a newbie I d go for the MTB with slicks option and pick up a cheap rigid fork for it.

I m using a Planet X kaffenbach road bike. If your going to use the Allez why not see if you can get a compact chainset if you are running 53/ 39

My Kaffenbach has got a long cage rear mech and runs 34/11 at the back so gearing is important (especially first bit Morecambe/ Settle/ Skipton area)

Tim

I posted in your thread already, ref the Coleman Tent - which I bought for the same ride. We are also doing the ride in May!

I am not really keen on replacing/swapping parts, I just don't have time or the patience.

I do have slicks for my MTB, and I have just ugrade the tyres on my Racer to Gators (from full slicks).

Still not sure, I may wait until next pay day, then see what racks I can get for the money.

vaseline

is one rack not pretty much the same as another?

mattrixdesign2

Vaseline wrote:

is one rack not pretty much the same as another?

Not sure, I have my bags (altura), I presume they fit most racks. Some racks are cheap that perhaps will not last long, some are expensive and seem bomb proof.

I would like to be able to get one that can be used with discs (MTB) and a racer not sure if such a thing exisits.

vaseline

See my earlier post. You will probably find that anything that will go on a disc bike will go on a rim bike.

Topeak make good racks. They aren't the lightest, aren't the strongest. But they are cost effective and will easily meet your requirements.

mattrixdesign2

Vaseline wrote:

See my earlier post. You will probably find that anything that will go on a disc bike will go on a rim bike.

Topeak make good racks. They aren't the lightest, aren't the strongest. But they are cost effective and will easily meet your requirements.

Hi I did see the link but missed the relvant parts of the post, taken a second look and can what you are getting at. So racks can be universal (with disc compatibility). Thanks.

iPete

To add more details to the PM I just sent, USE THE ALLEZ.

Ok so using a double was a grind on the Alps but as above look for a mtb cassette that can increase the gear range at the bottom end. I still did it, although I'd describe myself as a strong rider.

You can overload an Allez, all my kit is in this thread:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12702169

You can reach a certain weight where the bike becomes unstable so bear this in mind. At the same time, I have 3 weeks of kit on my bike, including the entire tent (3kg alone), loaded up with food daily and had no issue.

I threw threw the lot down the Alps exceeding 50mph and had no concerns about my brakes. In the wet any road bike can suffer from naff brakes, consider putting on softer pads for the trip in-case.

I have a hardtail mtb, (Kona fire mountain) that is fully tour ready also, I created it as a spare commuter with the same rack but disc version. I never use it as long as the Allez is fit for service.

Rack on my Allez:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-super-to ... rear-rack/

Rack on my Disc MTB:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-super-to ... rear-rack/

Salmon soft pads:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kool-stop-dura- ... e-inserts/

mattrixdesign2

Hi

Thanks for the post! Good to know from experience.

I did consider softer pads on brakes, and may opt for that.

What is the bag you have on the cross bar/stem? Is it for keys/food, never seen one like it.

iPete

Stick a soft pad up front, its generally the one you pull in an emergency.

The bag is a Topeak Tri-bag (waterproof version), keys for the commute, moneys & snacks on tour.

Phil_D

Have you decided yet?

mattrixdesign2

Phil_D wrote:

Have you decided yet?

Ha ha - I think you know the answer now!

Todd Sweeney

Go for the Allez! That way I may be faster than you on the hills :-)

Ben

mattrixdesign2

Todd Sweeney wrote:

Go for the Allez! That way I may be faster than you on the hills :-)

Ben

Ha ha no chance!

MTB it is. Too much if a wuss for those large racer gears.

tim_wand

Just finished it Yesterday. Lot of climbing on day one . Climb out of Settle to Airton is a real killer. (stopped in Grassington first night at Black horse / excellent) day two really is not all that bad just the climb from just outside Grassington (Aubourn) up to Greenhow, once youve passed Patley Bridge its a singe. ( as long as you dont catch cross winds on the Yorkshire Wolds).

An Allez will be fine either with a compact or triple. Take it your going to get a seat collar with rack mounts and fit P clips to the seat stays.

Any one else doing this in 3 days cant recomended the Black Horse in Grassington and The YHA in York ( right on the route ) as stop overs strongly enough both excellent.

mattrixdesign2

Tim

My Allez is a double and not a compact, tried it locally on some hills (its fine on the flat), and although it was able to climb it was tough and that was without rack/pannier/camping gear. So opted for MTBwith slicks.

So did you enjoy it, much to see, weather good?

Our first day is Morecambe to Patley Bridge - so from looking at the route/hills and your post we should be pretty wasted by the end of Friday, but the rest should be easy going.

tim_wand

Good luck that makes your first day nearly 65 miles and takes in all the major climbs. I.E the one out of Settle to Airton and the one just past Grassington up to Greenhow.

Both these are one in five , the first is steeper and about a mile long the second starts out very step (Apex of the corner dropping into it is tight and potholed so you loose momentum) and then its a slog for about two miles.

The drop into Patley Bridge from Greenhow is a real screacher too this is where your single pivot brakes on the Allez will score over the Cantis on my Kaffenbach (Although I think you said your taking the MTB)

With regard to scenery and challenge you will have covered most of it on day one if you are going to Pately Bridge. To be honest for me once I was past Ripon it just became about completing the route.

It probably felt harder than it is on day one because the weather was blazing and i'd not been on the bike for over two weeks because of work comitments so had nt done much training.

Finally the area around Clapham tunnels is fun on a road bike you might want to consider the A65 alternative or if your on the MTB enjoy it , its a real bone shaker

Sure you will enjoy the ride we did.

durhamwasp

Im doing this in a few weeks time, getting down to Morecambe Sat aft and doing 30 miles to Horton In Ribblesdale for the first night over, day 2 is the long one to York and finishing it off on the bank hol Monday.

Theres 3 of us doing it on road bikes, would any recommend not following the exact route at any certain points? seems quite a bit of it is on cycle paths rather than roads which is fine, but any areas not really set for roadies?

Cheers

JD96

Same as the above, is it all tarmac suitable for road bikes?

Cheers

durhamwasp

Just bought the official map for a fiver, and looks like 95% is either minor or main roads and only a couple of really small sections that are more like public paths. Map also lets you know if its worth taking a different route at certain points.

tim_wand

DurhamWasp. What kind of rode bike are we talking about. If we are talking about a carbon fibre racing bike with 19 mm tyres and lightweight rims , then I envy you on the Hills coming out of Settle and the one from Auborn (just outside Grassington) up to Greenhow.

However I did it with Just one pannier loaded onto my steel Planet X Kaffenbach with Pro Lite Como wheels. The only bit where I thought I was underbiked was the decent from Clapham tunnels into the village. You can take the A65 road as alternative.

It was great fun but left me with a lot of Wrist Pump and the Pannier dropped off the rack once. Otherwise absolubtley all of it is no problem to a road bike.

durhamwasp

Yeah roadbike.

Cheers for the tip on Clapham tunnels, i had read that too.

mattrixdesign2

All done this weekend - I took the Spesh Rockhopper just for the gearing really. It was the right choice for me, got me up all the hills whilst carrying all the camping gear needed. I managed to fit the whole lot in 2 x Altura Panniers + a wrapped up sleeping bag on the rack.

Some great sites, day one was the killer, we initially planned for Pately Bridge as the first stop over, but after looking at distance/climbs we chose to stop and camp at Cracoe, which was a good call, if you carry on a bit further is a lovely village with more pubs/b&bs/cafes etc, better for staying over (Appletrewick or Burnsall).

The next 2 days were much easier going, with more reasonable climbs. All good fun.

I have some camp sites if anyone is interested in camping it, although eveyone we met were using B&Bs.

The route suits racers well, but with some rough tracks, one which we diverted from due to two guys being on racers, but you soon join back on the route.

MTB with slicks is also ideal, but you won't be going as fast on the flats and downhill, but it should get you up them hills.