First long ride

[Tynan]

P clip malarky?

or one of them under seat bags?

four days and 200 miles in a ruck sack I'd try to avoid

 

[Tedx]

P clip malarky?

or one of them under seat bags?

four days and 200 miles in a ruck sack I'd try to avoid

Yeah true its just that its one of those wafer light jobbies with no braze ons or anything to fix a rack to. I don't know what would happen with the back loaded when you hit a pot hole you don't see.

 

[leon]

Im doing it as a personal challenge and scotland looks fantastic. Thanks for the advice ill look into that route too.

 

[Tedx]

Leon

Bear in mind that even the most seasoned tourers hate the first 2 to 3 days of riding. It takes a few days to tame the mind away from its comfort zone and truly enjoy the riding.

Take is easy and Good luck

 

[leon]

Thanks for that.

 

[leon]

thanks for that, i know this will be my first long ride so ill definately be taking it easy. Think ill pop into the bike shop at the weekend to see what they think.

 

[yashicamat]

You'll be fine. I'd suggest somewhere between 50 and 75 miles a day if you want to stop and enjoy things en route (pubs, cafes, places of interest), otherwise you could probably up it to a century, but I think that would take a lot of the enjoyment away.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

 

[rich p]

My Allez Sport has rack eyes and I've had a rack on it once. It will be okay witha rack and a light load.

 

[hubbike]

The off road cycle path from fort bill to inverness is really a mtb affair. I'd be temped to use the bike you've already got and see how you get on. if you are staying in b&b's etc just take the bare minimum. seriously what do you actually need?

 

[mercurykev]

216 miles on a road bike - leave Glasgow at 6am and you'll get the Inverness around midnight. Think of the money you'll save on B&Bs

 

[leon]

216 miles on a road bike - leave Glasgow at 6am and you'll get the Inverness around midnight. Think of the money you'll save on B&Bs

 

[leon]

The off road cycle path from fort bill to inverness is really a mtb affair. I'd be temped to use the bike you've already got and see how you get on. if you are staying in b&b's etc just take the bare minimum. seriously what do you actually need?

I was finding it hard to find anyone who had already done this route so they could tell me about it in more detail. I was thinking about taking advantage of the cycle to work scheme and getting a sort of cyclocross bike built that would take panniers.

But i can see your point i probably dont need to carry that much.

Thanks

 

[willem]

Your existing bike should be fine (not ideal, but that is a different matter). Just take as little as you can, and load it in a Carradice saddle bag with a support. Make sure your seatpost and saddle rails can handle the load. To prepare your bike a bit I would fit the widest posible tyres (Panaracer Pasela 25 mm, or perhaps even 28 mm if they fit). Use SKS Raceblade mudguards to preserve as much clearance for wide tyres. Get lighter gearing: fit the largest cassette your RD will handle.
If you like it, the real fun, however, will be in loaded touring with camping gear. For that, your existing bike wil not do. Get a Surly Long Haul Trucker or similar. By staying out of hotels restaurants etc you will save enough on one month summer holiday to pay for the bike (1000 pounds), and for a quality lightweight tent (400 pounds, mattress (100) and sleeping bag (200). All depending on the cost of hotels etc, but I don't think I am far off. And it is so much more fun.