Best Bike for Trans Pennine Trail for £500ish?

[sign me up]

Hello

As the title says I'm hoping to do the Trans Pennine Trail. It will be in the Summer when the weather is (hopefully!) much better but I hope to do it in 24 hours through day and night for charity (I know this is going to be, erm, difficult but a challenge was never meant to be easy!).

To give me a chance of being successful I know I need the right bike but which one (so many options!)!?

I've been looking at hybrids as I need something tough enough for the trail bits but also I'll need speed to finish in time. In particular the Boardman MX Sport for £499.99 and Crossfire 3 for £399.99 at Halfords have caught my eye. Would you recommend these or something else?

Any help would be much appreciated as my knowledge of bikes (if you haven't already guessed) is pretty hopeless!

Cheers

Rich

 

[fossyant]

The MX Sport is higher spec.

Either will do fine. Might be a tad quicker than an MTB.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Hello

As the title says I'm hoping to do the Trans Pennine Trail. It will be in the Summer when the weather is (hopefully!) much better but I hope to do it in 24 hours through day and night for charity (I know this is going to be, erm, difficult but a challenge was never meant to be easy!).

To give me a chance of being successful I know I need the right bike but which one (so many options!)!?

I've been looking at hybrids as I need something tough enough for the trail bits but also I'll need speed to finish in time. In particular the Boardman MX Sport for £499.99 and Crossfire 3 for £399.99 at Halfords have caught my eye. Would you recommend these or something else?

Any help would be much appreciated as my knowledge of bikes (if you haven't already guessed) is pretty hopeless!

Cheers

Rich

Are you doing it on your own?

I only ask theres a couple sections which can be a bit rough and I dont mean the surface!

I dont want to put you off like, just fair warning. Maybe time it so your starting very early morning (0300?) from Southport so Liverpool passes whilst no one is up, manchester is daytime and barnsley early evening?

 

[DCLane]

I'm planning it this year as well; I've a Whyte 805 for the trip but that's a £1k bike.

 

[sign me up]

The MX Sport is higher spec.

Either will do fine. Might be a tad quicker than an MTB.

Cheers - I saw cyclocross bikes too but I figure they may not be tough enough for it?!

 

[sign me up]

Are you doing it on your own?

I only ask theres a couple sections which can be a bit rough and I dont mean the surface!

I dont want to put you off like, just fair warning. Maybe time it so your starting very early morning (0300?) from Southport so Liverpool passes whilst no one is up, manchester is daytime and barnsley early evening?

Sounds like a plan cheers, may set off even earlier if needs be- it's going to be a tiring day!

Will be doing it most likely myself though should have back up from a car for drinks and food or to drag me over the line if needed!

 

[sign me up]

I'm planning it this year as well; I've a Whyte 805 for the trip but that's a £1k bike.

When I see someone flying past me I'll know who it is then!

 

[fossyant]

There are some bits near me that are more MTB suitable, but you can do it on a decent hybrid. Weather and mud are a factor.

 

[fossyant]

Cheers - I saw cyclocross bikes too but I figure they may not be tough enough for it?!

CX bikes are but the riding position is more road bike.

 

[Sillyoldman]

Cheers - I saw cyclocross bikes too but I figure they may not be tough enough for it?!

I did it on a Surly Cross Check. That said there were a few sections that needed extra care.

 

[Andrew Br]

Based on my experience on the TPT (as far east as Penistone, west to Southport) I reckon that a cross bike is probably the best compromise between speed and toughness. A tourer is a good alternative.
Having said that, fossyant is correct; some of the sections are more suited to MTBs and there is at least one section where you'll have to push/carry the bike.

If you decide to do it when it's wet (or has been), I'd recommend a bike with disc brakes.
Some time ago a group of us rode from South Manchester to Liverpool, stayed over and then rode back the following day, all along the TPT.
Three out of the four of us had rim brakes and they were shot (think no rubber left on the brake blocks ) by the time we got to Warrington on the return. My GF on a disc-braked crosser was the only one of us who could still brake without using her feet. She tried not to look smug but, I'm sorry to say, she failed.

Another issue is navigation in the so called "Hattersley Triangle" (think Bermuda Triangle without the sun).
You'll get in but you might not get out. Using the road as a shortcut is a more attractive option IMO.

.

 

[sign me up]

I did it on a Surly Cross Check. That said there were a few sections that needed extra care.

Would you recommend a front suspension bit (which you could lock out) or skip that (presumably = lighter bike)?

 

[Colin B]

Good luck mate this is something I aspire to do one day hopefully when I do I'll be able to find a riding buddy or two to come along for the ride

 

[Sillyoldman]

Would you recommend a front suspension bit (which you could lock out) or skip that (presumably = lighter bike)?

There are some sections that would be better tackled with suspension. We did it in a group of 5 of us. Only one had a mountain bike. One of the group used a pure road bike made from that fragile carbon fibre stuff (he he) and he made it through with no issues. We were very lucky that we had good dry weather. I would do it again on the same bike without a second thought. Just make sure you have tough tyres (I had marathon plus). It is a fantastic route but as others have said signing in some areas is a joke. Good luck

 

[skudupnorth]

Can be done on a hybrid which we did a couple of years back to and from the outskirts of Formby from Manchester for some cake !