Cycling to France....HELP!!

[carbrochuretom]

Im cycling to the South of France in September and I need a bike that will get me there!

I want to spend between £200 and £500.

Ive looked at road bikes, mountain bikes, urban bikes but just dont know what to get. Im sure there are some of you out there who are experts

Most of the roads im gonna be taking are D-roads - so the equivalant of country lanes.

Any recommendations?

[coolieman1220]

well i have you covered. currnetly i own a Trek 7.3FX Hybrid. awesome bike, very comfortable. My brother rides a Giant OCR1. also a nice bike. its a race road bike. so. both of our bikes have been modified, new pedals and tires, clipless pedal and good tires. for ur price range the trek would be best. you can get some cheap road bikes for that much. make sure you get a good brand. keep in touch for any other questions.

[drakkie]

Get a classic, get a Omafiets

http://www.defietsenveiling.nl/afbee...n/omafiets.gif

Will cost you around 150€ and never fails.

[HuisZi]

im from holland, and as you know were a biking country..:P almost everyone has a omafiets!! there great..

[carbrochuretom]

Get a classic, get a Omafiets

http://www.defietsenveiling.nl/afbee...n/omafiets.gif

Will cost you around 150€ and never fails.

Im a big lad! Cant see myself riding around on that. I will look like a clown

[carbrochuretom]

Right, Ive found this bike. A Saracen Venturer 3. Costs around £349 new.

Has the right build that I want, and the right wheels, any good?

[drakkie]

Im a big lad! Cant see myself riding around on that. I will look like a clown

I used to own one for years ! I painted it blue with white, black, red and a lot of rust ! I looked like the average Dutchie I tried to get it stolen,by never locking it. Tried three years and never worked. One day my uncle got it and it lasted 3 hours in the city, with a motorcycle lock !

Kinda off-topic, but a fun story anyway.

And by the way, who would care if you look like a clown ? Most Frenchies do anyways

[Waugh-terfall]

You're crazy!! But... I'd recomment a Peugeot road-racer(if still available), I use my Dad's 1980's example all the time in France in the summer and it's a beauty (It's kept in my grandparents barn in the Dordogne) I wouldn't reccommend anything from JEEP as my 4yr old full suspension example has been a heap of junk since I got it! Scott, Saracen and Treck are also superb bikes. How many miles are you planning to cover? I'm hoping to run the London Marathon next year.

[carbrochuretom]

I used to own one for years ! I painted it blue with white, black, red and a lot of rust ! I looked like the average Dutchie I tried to get it stolen,by never locking it. Tried three years and never worked. One day my uncle got it and it lasted 3 hours in the city, with a motorcycle lock !

Kinda off-topic, but a fun story anyway.

And by the way, who would care if you look like a clown ? Most Frenchies do anyways

Well riding through France on that, there is a very high chance some farmer would nick it to ride round and chase his cattle around knowing my luck Ive got to make 6 stops so it wud definatly disappear.

[Klemmel]

Just buy a bike you like. The brand is not important, they use lots of the same parts and are welded at the same factory (almost). Cannondale have some beautiful frames (the aluminium triangle), but I know of about two who simply broke (both mountainbikes). Test the bike and touch it, make sure it feel solid. Do not buy a bike with all the new equipment, it's often for show and not developed enough (like the first air-dampers).

Most important of all, take care of your bike and it will last a decade

[matek]

dont go hybrid whenever something tries to be more than one thing then its never tht good.

Depending on the route then you can decide on what bike suits you. for example a nice road bike will forgiving in a long journey, nice carbon forks to flex slightly and absorb the bumps.

Giant make really nice roadies, but if you want value for money always get you pay for get a Specialized. I own a nice Bianchi 1885 2006 Road Bike nice ultegras.

I think that a trip on flee bay is a good bargain pic up something low mileage so not too much wear and needs to be above tiagra if shimano, (dont like campags that much). good luck on your search.

[coolieman1220]

wheels are very important. i wouldn't recomend anything with a suspension. they rob power and are heavier. also they have small cranks so you get less pedal power and for long rides you want pedal power. hybrids are nice because you don't have to worry about the difficulty of riding a road where you need to be more one with the bike you can relax a bit.

[h00t_h00t]

You'll need one that goes on water, or are you going to dodge the trains?

[jediali]

You'll need one that goes on water, or are you going to dodge the trains?

maybe hes not using googles instructions

I feel that your choice depends on your riding speed and/or style. Wanna take it easy? - get a more flexible hybrid style urban bike, if your serious about making progress however get the best road racer you can afford (remember and save 10% of bike price for accessories if need be)( i recomend anyting from the trek group (trek, klein, gary fisher) as they have neutral specification (no exccedingly bad or good components ( a trick where they hide a pants bottom bracket using an overspec rear mech.), just a good mix of similarly price ranged parts.)

Hope you have fun all the same. I plan on doing some cycling in the north of france on my trek 8500 of all bikes. My bike is shamefully set up for tight singletrack but by adding slicks and locking out my Fox forx only the short top tube impedes long distance comfort.

[Cyco]

Get a road bike.

Do not consider anything else.

Get a PROPER fitting done by a professional - it may cost you more, but you will be really thankful for it. Ask local clubs (either BCF or CTC) for their recommendation's for a good shop/fitter.

Also get some good bib kincks, jersey and shoes - again worth every cent