Hi all
Ive been roped in to cycling JOGLE in 10 days next June despite not having owned a bike since I was 9. Ive got a year to get ready which seems enough time but Im going round in circles looking for the right bike. Every time I find one which seems suitable I see another review which causes me to hesitate.
From what Ive read I should be looking for an Adventure/Gravel bike, disc brakes, Tiagra/105 gears and will upgrade the saddle, tyres etc as I get further into my training.
Can somebody please give me a few examples of what I should be looking at? I dont want to spend more than £1000 (which to be honest is already £400 more than my stated budget when I said yes to the challenge!)
Thanks
How exciting! You've got a goal, you've got a reasonable time frame and you have a budget.
I know your focus is on LeJog in 12 months time, but another way to look at it is that this is just a first step on a journey that could be far longer, more exciting and more rewarding than a trip the length of the country.
I agree fully with the following...
If you can budget for it, it might be a good idea to plan for two bikes. First a cheaper bike while you get going. Any decent second hand road bike. This will enable you to discover the things you do and don't like about the bike and you'll know what you want. Then you'll be in a great position to choose the perfect bike. Or you may be happy to stick with your first choice.
Experience gained is worth far more than what you'll pick up reading or watching videos. If you're facing into 100 miles in crappy weather the day after 100 miles in crappy weather, it doesn't matter what any sales blurb says, it only matters that you're comfortable enough in your setup to be able to do it.
Some other reasons for a cheapy first bike....
Time: You'll have time (coupled to expanding experience) to pick out the best bike for you, at the best price while your training (or practising as I prefer to call it) goes on.
Mechanics: Presuming you haven't done any since you were 9, it's psychologically easier to begin playing around with an older bike than a newer one. Consumables are cheaper too, giving you the chance to experiment more.
Security: An older bike is less attractive to thieves and is more conducive to getting used daily for shopping, socialising etc. All that means more time in the saddle, more bike experience, more confidence.
My suggestion is to get out on a bike, any bike, as soon as possible.
Spend a bit of time planning nice routes so that there are as many positives as possible to your early adventures.
https://cycle.travel/map is a great planner, especially for round trips.
Get a basic bike computer to log your distances. Watch the frequency and length build up - it can be very inspirational. Going to a more advanced computer may lead to a performance focus and that may mean that you lose your enjoyment of actually cycling. Of course, they can help significantly with navigation.
I think your primary focus should be to enjoy your cycling. If you enjoy it, you'll do more of it.
Try to use the bike as much as possible. Commuting? Shopping? It was eye opening to me when I stopped using my car for a month and did everything on the bike. It did wonders for my confidence. (Not so much for my car - I sold it!)
Don't underestimate the time taken to achieve the fitness required. And not all of the training will be easy! Try to keep a balance and it will be better in the long term.
Best of luck!