Lakeland Monster Miles - advice re bike options please

mcstumpy

Hi

Opportunity knocks? I'm in Keswick next month for a family half term holiday and it overlaps with this -

https://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/lakeland-monster-miles-adventure-cross/

I'm tempted to enter, although would go for the 45 mile route. It's a mix of road, bridle path, and trail by the looks of it.

I don't have a cx bike or a mtb but I do have a Btwin Triban 540 and an older Revolution hybrid (that's closer to a hard tail mtb, it has front sus, 3x7 speed, and 26" wheels with wide semi slicks)

So options are -

1. My Triban has clearance for 32mm tyres. So buy some 30 or 32mm cx tyres, fit them on my fulcrum racing quattro wheels and turn my relaxed geometry roadie into a cx bike for the week. However, am I just going to **** my wheels and other components in the process?

2. Take my hybrid with me and use that. It needs some "work" but nothing too hard or expensive. If I do, should I put full knobblies on, or would the semi slicks suffice?

3. Forget the event, take my road bike with me as planned and have a few casual rides around Keswick on my tod during the week.

All advice gratefully received, particularly from anyone who has experience of the event.

Thanks

webboo

I would probably go with the hybrid with those tyres that have a ridge or smooth bit in the middle and knobbles on the sides. It's likely to be wet at that time of year so you may need the lower gears on the hybrid.