Malin to Mizin Charity Cycle, bike advice!

[Shawsy]

Hi guys

I'm planning on cycling from Malin Head to Mizin Head in May 2012 to raise money for charity. I'm fairly new to cycling and so not sure what bike I might need and how much I would have to spend. I'm looking for something low budget but reliable. I will be cycling 430 miles in 7 days.

If anyone has done this route or is planning on doing it could you point me in the right direction with regards to bike and equipment.

Thanks

Shaw

 

[jags]

Shaw if you check out boards.ie you will get loads of info on route .

bike you can do it on a hi bread( did i spell that right ) are you going to camp or b/b .

 

[superbadger]

Well i did a tour across England. I did 470 miles in 6 days. I just turned my rigid Mtb into a tourer.... Rack,panniers etc... What is your budget? I got my bike new and kitted it out fully for £200 inc the bike!!!! The bike was fine and did its job.. It still does . Are you camping as asked already? Can't help with the route but will try help with kit when you give more info? Budget,is it solo?are you camping?

 

[Shawsy]

Hi again

The route/accommodation is all organised by the charity...only thing I have to worry about is the bike and the fundraising of course so a budget bike would be best, comfortable and reliable is all I need. Not sure should i go 2nd hand, buy off internet or somewhere like halfords. Any suggestions? budget £150-200 for the bike.

Thanks

Well i did a tour across England. I did 470 miles in 6 days. I just turned my rigid Mtb into a tourer.... Rack,panniers etc... What is your budget? I got my bike new and kitted it out fully for £200 inc the bike!!!! The bike was fine and did its job.. It still does . Are you camping as asked already? Can't help with the route but will try help with kit when you give more info? Budget,is it solo?are you camping?

 

[superbadger]

I can tell you what i did and you could follow similar lines. I bought a Trax TR1 MTB from Halfords... It was £90! Oh and i think its cheaper now???? So i got the bike,then i got rack(bike hut make £25)and gel set cover(£14) and panniers(£25)and computer(£14) all from Halfords too. Oh i also got a Water bottle holder,double lights front and back and bungee-straps... So it was under £200. Trained for 6 months on that bike and then did the trip. I didn't even get a puncture??? It was all for the charity so if the bike was hammered later i didn't care! I get a new one.... The bike was fab! Handled the weight,hills and abuse..... Am still riding it now and i love the bloody bike coz it did that trip!!!

They do say you get what you pay for? That is true,but that 'Halfords' bike proved itself in my case.

Please reply what you decide to do... Oh one more thing....Keep the chain clean.

 

[Shawsy]

I'll definitely look into that , i have a friend who works in hlafords so i'm going to have a look this week. Thanks. Also I have about 6-8 months to the set off day, what kind of training would you recommend doing per week? I'm relatively fit (running) but haven't done much cycling apart from short commutes to work and back.

quote name='superbadger' timestamp='1315859205' post='1838461']
I can tell you what i did and you could follow similar lines. I bought a Trax TR1 MTB from Halfords... It was £90! Oh and i think its cheaper now???? So i got the bike,then i got rack(bike hut make £25)and gel set cover(£14) and panniers(£25)and computer(£14) all from Halfords too. Oh i also got a Water bottle holder,double lights front and back and bungee-straps... So it was under £200. Trained for 6 months on that bike and then did the trip. I didn't even get a puncture??? It was all for the charity so if the bike was hammered later i didn't care! I get a new one.... The bike was fab! Handled the weight,hills and abuse..... Am still riding it now and i love the bloody bike coz it did that trip!!!

They do say you get what you pay for? That is true,but that 'Halfords' bike proved itself in my case.

Please reply what you decide to do... Oh one more thing....Keep the chain clean.
[/quote]

 

[superbadger]

If your mate works there get a bloody discount!!!! lol