Complete novice in need of loads of advice!

[martinwhprice]

Hey,

I'm 20 and I've decided that for 6 weeks next summer, between finishing my placement and starting the final year of uni (August and September), I'm going to cycle and camp around Scotland, solo. I have never done any serious cycling (or camping!) before, and so am really a complete amateur in terms of types of bikes, equipment etc that would be suitable for my tour... and this is what I need help with!

So a bit more about the route...
If you type into google maps and "get directions" put in the following destinations in order:

START Glasgow - Loch lomond - loch creran - glencoe - ben nevis - cairngorms national park - fort william - loch ness - burghead - stone haven - catterline - dundee - st andrews - stirling - falkirk - glenmorangie - edinburgh FINISH.

So it's about 800 miles - so really not a great deal at all for 6 weeks... but I do want to spend a lot of time in edinburgh, and around the national park etc, so probably more cycling than it seems.

A lot of it I plan to do by road (pretty flat when along side the lochs, but obviously not so elsewhere) and around the national park and ben nevis will of course be off the beaten track.

Although I will stay in hostels every now and then, I plan to do a fair bit of camping so need advise on tents, cooking equipment etc (it is all going to have to be put on a plane as well... how will that work?). And advice on not only bikes (I think hybrid would be suitable?) but also clothing, shoes, creams, food, etc - everything and anything!

Please be aware also that I haven't got a huge budget! I want to get a (decent) second hand bike, and could probably stretch to about £400 - MAYBE a little more but please be reasonable when recommending bikes!

Look forward to hearing your suggestions!

Cheers,

Martin

 

[vernon]

Don't underestimate the effort in volved in cycling with a full camping load off road.

If you are doing things on a tight budget, you will not be travelling light.

Lightness comes at a price.

try using www.mapmyride.com to get an idea of gradient profiles.

Get a two man tent. They give you a bit more room than one mant tents which can be coffin like. Vango are a good buy.
Remember to factor in the cost of panniers and a rack
Budget panniers can be had from Halfords.
Meths stoves are fool proof and a cheap one can be had here
Food - get the carbs in: malt loaf, porridge, beans, bananas, oat cakes and the like supermarket breakfasts in their restaurants are a cheap way to stoke up.

That's enough to get you thinking.

 

[snorri]

So a bit more about the route...
If you type into google maps and "get directions" put in the following destinations in order:

START Glasgow - Loch lomond - loch creran - glencoe - ben nevis - cairngorms national park - fort william - loch ness - burghead - stone haven - catterline - dundee - st andrews - stirling - falkirk - glenmorangie - edinburgh FINISH.So it's about 800 miles

If you shift Glenmorangie from between Falkirk and Edinburgh to between Loch Ness and Burghead, you could just about halve your mileage.

More seriously, if you are allowing 6 weeks for the tour, you will be in no great rush and could comfortably complete the trip with a hybrid which could be cheaper than buying a touring bike. After buying some basics, get yourself out on short tours, day or weekend trips, and you will find out which more expensive items you are likely to need for a longer tour. Also meeting and speaking to other tourers and seeing the equipment they use will give you ideas as to what you want for yourself.

 

[hubbike]

any second hand hard tail mtb or hybrid will do. look for one with rear braze ons for fitting a rack.

have a look at the NCN routes. these are generally on quiet roads or off road, usually with a good surface.

route seems ok but I would probably be tempted to drop burghead and stone haven and spend more time on the west coast, maybe visit some of the islands (Mull is my favourite). but do visit inverness which is a nice city.

camping etc...just keep things simple. you need a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent. You need a stove, windshield, pan, spoon, fuel, lighter. there are a ton of kit lists on this site but generally what you want is what you think you want. I use a trangia but for a trip like yours a gas canister stove may be the most appropriate (something like a pocket rocket is inexpensive.) For cheapish kit try decathlon, ebay, army surplus.

It rains in scotland. make sure you have a good waterproof jacket. either goretex or event.

You'll have a great time and I wish you all the best!!

 

[calibanzwei]

For camping specific loadouts (in this case you just replace a rucksack with panniers), I can recommend the help and information available from http://www.bushcraftuk.com

Im either here or there when on forums

 

[Nigeyy]

hmmm some general stuff:


1. more expensive equipment will usually buy you more comfort and less weight. It's actually incredible how little you do have to spend to just hop on a second hand bike and go. There are actually articles on making panniers from large cat litter containers, seriously. Or pop can stoves..... Or using an old camera bag as a front handlebar bag.....

2. Go for a "shakedown". Put together your stuff and cycle out somewhere close enough to home to get back easily if possible. You'll find out incredibly quickly what works and what doesn't, and what's worth the money and what isn't.

3. Really, just do it. You'll live and learn and hopefully have a great time.

 

[martinwhprice]

any second hand hard tail mtb or hybrid will do. look for one with rear braze ons for fitting a rack.

have a look at the NCN routes. these are generally on quiet roads or off road, usually with a good surface.

route seems ok but I would probably be tempted to drop burghead and stone haven and spend more time on the west coast, maybe visit some of the islands (Mull is my favourite). but do visit inverness which is a nice city.

camping etc...just keep things simple. you need a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent. You need a stove, windshield, pan, spoon, fuel, lighter. there are a ton of kit lists on this site but generally what you want is what you think you want. I use a trangia but for a trip like yours a gas canister stove may be the most appropriate (something like a pocket rocket is inexpensive.) For cheapish kit try decathlon, ebay, army surplus.

It rains in scotland. make sure you have a good waterproof jacket. either goretex or event.

You'll have a great time and I wish you all the best!!

cheers mate - I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about the islands... I haven't looked in to them much at all so would like to know which ones (other than mull) you like and which are easy enough to get around to. Ta!

 

[martinwhprice]

All of your posts are a massive help - cheers! I shall no doubt be back with some more questions in the near future, but got enough to get me thinking for a while at least.

P.s. any good places to go around the Bristol area.. for a weekend trial tour type thing?

 

[Andy_R]

You'll need as much of this as you can possibly carry!

 

[vernon]

You'll need as much of this as you can possibly carry!

Nope....

This is the stuff to take.....

 

[Matthames]

You'll need as much of this as you can possibly carry!

I second that. Especially if the weather is nice the little blighters come out in their trillions.

 

[martinwhprice]

yeah I've heard bugs are going to be an issue!

One more thing (for now), how much do you guys think I can get a second hand hybrid for? Something decent enough to last the 6-8 weeks, but I probably won't need it for too much more after. Cheers!

 

[Brains]

The 'benchmark' touring bike is the Dawes Galaxy - I think a hunt around E-bay would find you one for under £400 as they are only about £800 new for the basic model.

Bikes are like clothes, it has to fit.
There are a number of bike sizing charts around t'web

 

[cycleruk]

The 'benchmark' touring bike is the Dawes Galaxy - I think a hunt around E-bay would find you one for under £400 as they are only about £800 new for the basic model.

Bikes are like clothes, it has to fit.
There are a number of bike sizing charts around t'web

at the end off the day what looks good on paper may turn out to cause you more problems in the future, go to a proper bike shop to have a word with them (local, not halfords or some rubbish like that) and try before you buy, a soft tail or better still a steel rigid frame (easier to weld should it crack and less to go wrong). i have a soft tail that cost me £300 plus road tyres( £20 each give or take) and a gel seat its NOT a touring bike but i have done many 100s of miles and never had any problems with it, so it shows you do not need to spend 100s of pounds to make a touring bike. good luck and happy riding

 

[Ticktockmy]

Here is a link to a trip i took in 2009, maybe it would give you some ideas to slot into your journey.

http://gkyuk.multipl..._24th_June_2009