Circumnavigating Britain - Advice Please!

[charlieboy528]

Hi guys,

I'm a student just finishing studies and I've got a three month gap this summer mid May- start September> I've also got pretty limited funds (obviously). I naturally fancy doing something on the bike, particularly as it's cheap. As I've got time to kill I figured I might as well try and do the coastline or thereabouts; if I don't stick perfectly to it I won't be too upset. With that much time to kill my main limitation is probably going to be money, but I reckon I can scrape together about a grand for the whole holiday and kit. I'm aware that the coastline by road is well over 4000 miles but I'm happy to be doing 60 a day average. As I'm leaving studenty-ness behind I'm thinking of this as my last chance to do something amazing but long before I retire!

All I've got in terms of touring stuff at the moment is a 2013 road bike without racks or eyelets for them and all the usual road bike gear. Plus a sleeping bag. I figure to keep costs as low as possible I'll need to be doing a lot of camping, which obviously means weight. I'm 24 and would say I was much fitter than average. I do quite a lot of riding at the moment (about 60-70 miles a week) and have been up Box Hill and Leith Hill repeatedly without any problems, even at the end of 40 mile rides. Longest ride I've done is about 70 hilly miles with quite a lot of weight on me which was ok.

I've got a few questions and would love some help:

1) My bike's a compact so no granny gear. Is this a deal breaker? Would I be better off on a borrowed aluminium commuter that cost £160 new but came with a granny gear? Bearing in mind how much weight I'll have to carry? I'm kind of hoping it's doable

2) Any tips on camping? How easy is it to find sites? How much are sites going to be in summer season?

3) Bike tent - any recommendations?

4) Any moneysaving tips? Particularly in terms of what to spend my limited budget on - best to spend on racks/bags/ tents etc. I imagine there's a thread somewhere on here about it but it might have been buried under everyone's flashy euro-adventures...

Sorry this is such a monster post, I'd love to hear how anyone else who's done this found it!

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Chris Norton]

You need a bike with racks and panniers for starters unless your planning on a large rucksack all the way. Have a look up of warmshowers for places that might be a little bit nicer than camping. You will want a nice compact tent such as the gelert solo cos you need something small and light. Duel fuel stove would be nice to cook on or a spirit one http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/trangia-mini-trangia.html

Spares for the bike etc.

For a list of stuff try http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/cycletouring/cyclegear.shtml

A lot depends on just how stinky you don't mind getting with our weather for your clothing requirements.

 

[Cypher]

Charlieboy have a look at Mike Carters book 'One Man and His Bike' he did the same trip. You could get some tips and i found it entertaining and a great read, Good Luck ( Kettles on if you end up in Co. Durham )

 

[charlieboy528]

Chris,

Yea definitely going with racks. I've done 70-odd miles before with a 10kg backpack and even that was hellishly unpleasant! Thanks for the tent and stove recommendations, really useful. Going to be trying to do as much camping/wild camping/friends as possible to keep costs down. I'm happy with moderately stinky, as I can't afford a tourer I think I just going to do it super lightweight!

Cypher - I've read it, it's brilliant! Finished it a few months ago and been wondering about whether I could do it ever since... I figured it's broadly now or never so I might as well just commit! Hope you're serious about the brew offer - I'll be messaging you around June either way...

Thanks for the help guys, keep it coming!

 

[rich p]

If you can't get a rack on your road bike you could go for a secondhand non-sus mtb - I used one for my early tours.

 

[mcshroom]

Another option would be a trailer which would allow you to use the road bike.

The compact isn't a deal breaker, but may mean you need to get off and push a bit more

 

[berty bassett]

Charlieboy have a look at Mike Carters book 'One Man and His Bike' he did the same trip. You could get some tips and i found it entertaining and a great read, Good Luck ( Kettles on if you end up in Co. Durham )

+1 for this book - one of the only books i've read then started to read again straight after

 

[charlieboy528]

Glad you all enjoyed the book too - thought it was excellent. Rich - live in a flat so limited storage so I think I'm going to try and keep to one bike if possible. Would also let me save money by not spending on a bike I'll only use once a year. Thanks for the suggestion though, I'll check out costs of 2nd hand MTBs anyway just to be sure.

mcshroom - thanks, I'll take a look at trailers. I figured they'd be an absolute bitch up hills though? Glad the roadie isn't a dealbreaker - I'm happy to take the extra pain to save a few hundred quid.

Anyone have any suggestions for tents? Again, I'm wondering if I can get away with budget as I'll be heading out in summer... pretty sure Mike Carter just bought a Tesco Value one when I had a look they were under 2kg - thought?

Cheers for the help as always.

 

[snorri]

I did a short tour on a road bike but was a bit worried by the frame flexing under the load, it just wasn't built for touring. Travelling light is ok for a short tour, but for three months I would be wanting to carry more stuff which would make the trip more enjoyable.

 

[Cypher]

Yep serious about brew. I will be in scotland second week in june so keep intouch maybe ride out to meet you (if its not too far),
Rob

 

[steveindenmark]

Post a photo of your road bike.

I have a TREK Lexa SL with rear rack and panniers. You cant usually put panniers on the front of modern road bikes as the forks are often carbon.

A granny wheel would certainly help but I dont know if it is deal breaker. You may get some hints from reading riding stories on Crazy Guy on a Bike or the cycling stories on here.-

Steve

 

[alans]

Anyone have any suggestions for tents?.

Borrow one or go for good quality second hand.

I acquired a previously well loved & used Atko for £60 & a friend of mine got a 10+ years old Mountain Hardware 2 man tent,little used & in excellent condition for FREE

 

[charlieboy528]

Thanks for the replies, useful stuff as always

Snorri - that was one of my worries; either damaging the frame or having a limited time or both. Not sure I'd be that bothered about creature comforts though and hearing relatively positive stories around the forum.

Cypher - excellent: I'll call you on that. Aiming to start at the beginning of June from london heading clockwise though so I somehow doubt I'll be in Scotland by then!

Steve - this is my bike (no personal photo I'm afraid) http://www.wiggle.com/felt-f95-special-edition-2013-1/ - not the special edition but same spec. I'm OK without front panniers; I figure I should just about be ok with rear stuff and a barbag plus don't want to overload myself (granny wheel of doom again).

Alans - good shout. I'm definitely intending to go down the beg/borrow/steal route. Were you not worried though that getting a second hand tent would risk it being a bit too knackered?

Cheers guys, all helpful.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Google bikepacking, it's a cheap and convenient way to tour on any bike. The fastest circumnavigation around was done on a lightweight racing bike using bikepacking techniques.

There's a good thread here...

http://www.lfgss.com/thread71480.html

 

[alans]

Alans - good shout. I'm definitely intending to go down the beg/borrow/steal route. Were you not worried though that getting a second hand tent would risk it being a bit too knackered?
.

I was fortunate to know of it's provenance so had no reservations.
The groundsheet was/is porous but it's sorted for less than a tenner so I regard it as still a good deal for the ideal cycle touring tent.