Pretty much as subject! A friend is looking to buy a bike as he's going a 75 mile bike ride soon, and would like a bike for, well he doesn't know yet not having ridden very much for years.
He was originally looking at the Cannondale Bad Boy but advised him against that as fixed hand position on flat bars won't be much fun for a long ride.
Been looking around sites but having difficulty finding what would be right - I feel a proper racing orientated road bike wouldn't be right as I'd imagine he'd find the aggressive ride position a bit much, the lack of comfort and practical elements such as clearance and fittings for mudguards potentially a problem. A touring bike may be too much the other way, and there doesn't seem to be much within budget. Cyclocross is an option but he'd need to change tyres and again hard to tell looking at thumbnails on websites what has brazons and adequate clearances. And shame you can't filter by 'audax' on most bike shop sites!
So what would be a good bike for going on a long ride, and also suitable for potential general purposes?
I should add it's highly unlikely the bike would get used for commuting, as his current commute is over 40 miles!
He was originally looking at the Cannondale Bad Boy but advised him against that as fixed hand position on flat bars won't be much fun for a long ride.
Been looking around sites but having difficulty finding what would be right - I feel a proper racing orientated road bike wouldn't be right as I'd imagine he'd find the aggressive ride position a bit much, the lack of comfort and practical elements such as clearance and fittings for mudguards potentially a problem. A touring bike may be too much the other way, and there doesn't seem to be much within budget. Cyclocross is an option but he'd need to change tyres and again hard to tell looking at thumbnails on websites what has brazons and adequate clearances. And shame you can't filter by 'audax' on most bike shop sites!
So what would be a good bike for going on a long ride, and also suitable for potential general purposes?
I should add it's highly unlikely the bike would get used for commuting, as his current commute is over 40 miles!