TOUR DE MON 2025 106 miler

[stubdoo]

Hi everyone,

I have signed up for the Tour de Mon around Aglesey for this August 2025 (106 miles). I have done a lot of mountain biking in the past and am now trying some road, but I am struggling with what type of bike to get. I am currently training on my mountain bike.

The obvious answer would be a Road bike but I am torn between a gravel bike (where I can change the tyres for road tyres) or a full on road bike ( but undertsna dfor this distace it may be unconforable due to geometry. I like the versatility of the gravel bike. However, I understand the gear ratios are different, and whether this would be an ok choice for Tour de Mon. Does anyone have any advice on which I should buy?

Thanks in advance

 

[Bristolian]

Normally, I would say road bike all the way but as you're already an off-road cyclist I would recommend a drop-bar gravel bike. The gear ratios can be tweaked to a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike by choosing the right cassette/chainring combinations. The gravel bike will allow you to fit wider tyres and have a less aggressive geometry, both of which will aid comfort.

Just my two-penneth

 

[stubdoo]

Normally, I would say road bike all the way but as you're already an off-road cyclist I would recommend a drop-bar gravel bike. The gear ratios can be tweaked to a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike by choosing the right cassette/chainring combinations. The gravel bike will allow you to fit wider tyres and have a less aggressive geometry, both of which will aid comfort.

Just my two-penneth

Thank you for taking the time to come back to me I really appreciate it, is there a difference between a drop bar and flat bar gravel bike or are they one and the same?

 

[Binky]

Hi everyone,

I have signed up for the Tour de Mon around Aglesey for this August 2025 (106 miles). I have done a lot of mountain biking in the past and am now trying some road, but I am struggling with what type of bike to get. I am currently training on my mountain bike.

The obvious answer would be a Road bike but I am torn between a gravel bike (where I can change the tyres for road tyres) or a full on road bike ( but undertsna dfor this distace it may be unconforable due to geometry. I like the versatility of the gravel bike. However, I understand the gear ratios are different, and whether this would be an ok choice for Tour de Mon. Does anyone have any advice on which I should buy?

Thanks in advance

I've not ridden the Tour de Mon although I have cycled a couple of times on Anglesey and you won't need gravel gearing for it, it's a relatively flat route. A couple of mates have done it and it's not hilly.
Regarding bike, a road bike be perfect for it.

 

[straas]

Get a road bike - you can do pretty much everything a gravel bike can do on a mtb.

 

[Gwylan]

Hi everyone,

I have signed up for the Tour de Mon around Aglesey for this August 2025 (106 miles). I have done a lot of mountain biking in the past and am now trying some road, but I am struggling with what type of bike to get. I am currently training on my mountain bike.

The obvious answer would be a Road bike but I am torn between a gravel bike (where I can change the tyres for road tyres) or a full on road bike ( but undertsna dfor this distace it may be unconforable due to geometry. I like the versatility of the gravel bike. However, I understand the gear ratios are different, and whether this would be an ok choice for Tour de Mon. Does anyone have any advice on which I should buy?

Thanks in advance

Anglesey? Tour de Mon?

Angelsey, taith o Ynys Môn

Enjoy, anyway.

 

[ade towell]

I'd say coming from mtb get a gravel bike, unless you're racing it will be way more versatile and gear ratios easier for hills - as you say just change the tyres depending on terrain and wet or dry. State of the roads these days I like the biggest most comfortable tyres the bike can handle on road or off

 

[cheadle hulme]

90% is you, 5% is the tyres. The bike itself is largely unimportant as long as it fits well. So just get the one you want and stop over thinking it.

 

[cheadle hulme]

Anglesey? Tour de Mon?

Angelsey, taith o Ynys Môn

Enjoy, anyway.

Tour de mon swnio'n well

 

[YMFB]

I’d go with a drop bar gravel bike, one persons hill is another’s mountain.

 

[Binky]

Looking at website for the event the 106mile is 6700ft of climbing so definitely not flat but I wouldn't personally class that as a hilly route.
I go with a rule of thumb that 1000ft of climbing per 10 miles is hilly.

However, as stated above everyone is different. Given exposed route at times I'd say weather would be more of a factor. A mate rode it couple years ago and had 30 miles into a headwind at the end which he said wasn't fun.

 

[T4tomo]

Gravel bike everytime - more flexible.

get yourself some Panaracer gravelking plus semi -slick tyres and you're perfectly set up for road and light offroad. anything gnarlier you can do on your MTB

 

[Binky]

Gravel bike everytime - more flexible.

get yourself some Panaracer gravelking plus semi -slick tyres and you're perfectly set up for road and light offroad. anything gnarlier you can do on your MTB

Yes as OP is a MTBer it would make sense but purely from bike required for the event a road bike be fine.
Given flexibility as you say maybe a gravel bike would suit him(I'm assuming is male) and of course gearing be a bit more forgiving.

All this talk of it makes me consider riding it. Make a weekend of it, the wife is a walker so she'd be happy to go and walk the coast path.
Another lifetime ago I went to Bangor University and part of the course was on Anglesey. I studied Oceanography and Electronics and the Oceanography was part based there.

 

[Bristolian]

Thank you for taking the time to come back to me I really appreciate it, is there a difference between a drop bar and flat bar gravel bike or are they one and the same?

In terms of frame, wheels/tyres and gears they can be the same. I would go with drop bars as they give you more scope to change your hand position during the ride and hence reduce any pain in your hands/wrists. Of course, that's just my personal preference.

 

[T4tomo]

In terms of frame, wheels/tyres and gears they can be the same. I would go with drop bars as they give you more scope to change your hand position during the ride and hence reduce any pain in your hands/wrists. Of course, that's just my personal preference.

Indeed. A flat bar gravel bike is simply a reinvention of the non-suspension / rigid mountain bike!