Help, require bike for North to South Wales ride

[ymaohyd99]

Please can I get some advice. I am looking for a bike to help me complete a North to South Wales coast to coast bike ride. I am new to long distance riding and I am treating it as a bit of a holiday with a couple of friends and we are aiming to do forty to fifty miles a day with plenty of stops along the way to enjoy the sights.

I have spent the last week researching bikes and have got completely muddled between audax, tourers, hybrids etc and what would best suit my needs.

I know I want something that will take rear panniers and I am 5'7" and about 12 stone 2 in weight. We will be staying overnight in B and Bs so won't be carrying tents etc.

Once this trip is completed I see the bike being used for day trips and the odd weekend tour and general commuting and maintaining fitness. The day trips may have to incorporate a trailer for small children but I have a MTB that I have been using for that purpose having swapped the tyres for semi slicks so it is not essential. I previously used the MTB for a Fishguard to Swansea ride with a back pack carrying my gear but am not too keen on doing this ride the same way.

My budget is set at about £500 but I will stretch to about £600 and I don't mind new or buying second hand. My work are also about to start a Cycle to Work scheme with Halfords if that makes any difference.

 

[lejogger]

C2W with halfords will increase your budget slightly as you'll benefit from a decent amount of tax savings...

I actually rode from the Wirral to Cardiff earlier in the year over 12 hours carrying all my camping kit and clothes for a night on the tiles, and used a Boardman CX Team that I purchased on the scheme. By the time you've bought road tyres and tubes, a rack and probably guards etc, you might decide that this is too expensive although it's worth a look.

A CX bike is a decent choice though... it's sturdy enough to take your kit but versatile enough to do your commuting and other general riding afterwards.

Having said that, there's no reason you can't use your MTB as long as it's not a full susser. I did LEJOG on a slicked up MTB.