What Bike for JOGLE??

[gav71]

Hi Everybody I'm totally knew to this forum and really need some advice.

I've agreed to do JOGLE in 9 days with a friend, our aim is currently to camp and lug our own stuff with us. I have done trips like this before but never to this level of miles per day, in the past I have averaged 50 miles a day so this is nearly double.

My Friend is going to be using a Racer style tour bike, so I may struggle to keep up too.

I currently own a hybrid that is great for these sorts of things but I think when we need to be averaging 100 miles a day this could be a little too slow when loaded up with stuff. However from a lot of the JOGLE/LEJOG forums I can see people have said the road conditions are iffy in parts, so I don't want to be stuck in pot hole city on a racer I cant control either.

In addition to this if I have to buy a new bike I have a proper low budget, so would probably be looking a something like a Viking Bike or Mafiabike as these are the cheapest lightest I can find at the moment.

So taking all this on board which bike is best recommended I'm open to any suggestions just a pathetic budget and I don't know that much about bikes makes and models etc I just tend to get roped into these challenges and so far the Hybrid has sufficed.

I look forward to any comments, ranging from the you'll have to spend more or you can modify the hybrid and anything inbetween.

Thanks
Gav

 

[mcshroom]

Hi Gav and

You don't actually say what your hybrid is, but if it's able to take a rack and panniers then it may be a sensible bike for the trip anyway. You are adding camping gear so bike weight probably isn't too much of a problem anyway.

If you really want a drop bar tourer, then the Revolution Country Traveller from Edinburgh Bicycle Coop* is about as cheap as you will find that comes with good reviews.

Assuming your current bike is decent then it's worth adapting that. Big thing for me would be to make sure that the contact points are good. I'm guessing you are happy with the pedals, and the saddle should be ok, but flat bar tourers tend to suffer from a lack of hand positions. For the distances you are covering, I think Long Bar ends, or even Butterfly Bars would be a good change as you willbe able to move your hands around and get comfier.

After that, the next level is to look at making sure your wheels are in good nick, and you have decent tyres on the bike. 32mm Schwalbe Marathons would be my choice for that sort of terrain. Should handle the weight, and light forestry tracks/Sustrans stuff while not being too heavy and slow.

Then it's about getting yourself out there and putting the miles in. Good luck


*They're not just Edinburgh based, but have branches throughout Scotland and the North of England

 

[raleighnut]

He beat me to the 'butterfly' bars but if the hybrid's sound and the 50s are do-able I don't see a problem, just get the hybrid in tip-top shape with the money you've got. You never know and old steel 'Galaxy' might turn up cheap on the bay.

 

[SteCenturion]

No advice from me as I don't have the necessary JOGLE'rs LEJOG'ers knowledge but...

from the Peoples Republic of Mancunia.

 

[gav71]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the advice its all much appreciated. I've looked into Butterfly Bars and I'm contemplating picking some up and see how I get on. However would I need to buy some new brake levers for these?? I've also been thinking I should replace my wheels and tyres cos they are tired but again I want avoid spending a lot of cash on this so any recommendations aside from the Schwalbe Marathons Tyres?? Could or should I go for thinner, I think the wheels I have at the moment would probably allow me to go to 25/28c tyres if I wanted too. One other question should I change my pedals as they are just standard pedals no toe clips etc, they haven't ever bothered me for comfort but would I gain a distinct advantage out of buying some to clips etc.

I'm not great at what I need to do but I think I'm pretty mechanically sound minded. I change all the cables/serviceable parts myself but my actual knowledge of things isn't great.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[raleighnut]

I tour on 28 Marathons, no problems and it means unladen the bikes still pretty quick.
You should also be able to get the brake levers on fine, just open up the clamp SLIGHTLY around the bendy bits of the bars and they should go on.

 

[mcshroom]

I set my Butterfly bars up with the open end next to the stem, and just slid the controls on from the open ends.

What bike is it you are riding at the moment?
Wheel upgrades are pretty easy but you need to know what set up you currently have.

I've toured with people on hybrids and even on Bromptons (ok we weren't carrying kit that time). I also met a couple in the North West Highlands a couple years back who had spent the last month touring round Scotland on hybrids and were carring a decent amount of gear. The hybrid is probably fine, so it's just a bit of fine tuning

 

[gav71]

Hi Again

The Bike I currently have is a CBR City Sports which I've owned about two years it's not the most expensive thing in the world but I actually like it and I'm comfortable on it, I'm not 100% that its even classified as a hybrid but that's the best description I can put to it. Like I stated earlier in the message the carrying the kit shouldn't be a problem when we did the other trips we were loaded up with camping gear etc. I'm more worried about getting to decent speeds on the bike so I'm not in the saddle for like 12 hours a day. I've looked at the Marathon tyres and I think if I was to change to these I would go for the 28 as I know these go comfortably on my current wheels. However I would definitely be looking to upgrade my wheels in the summer as they are pretty shot, but I actually don't know what make good wheels and again as you can probably tell my budget for enhancements is pretty low so I don't want to be spending £100+ on two wheels if it can be avoided.

I've ordered some new pedals and clips, and I think I'm going to opt for the Long ends rather than the butterfly bars but am still undecided.

Thanks again for the advice so far, its really helping me clear some issues up in my own mind, so thanks.

 

[snorri]

I actually like it and I'm comfortable on it,.

Two very important factors, not to be underestimated.

 

[KneesUp]

I've got a hybrid that I've put drop bars on. You need new brake levers and some way of changing gear - although you could perhaps use the changers you have if you wanted.

Total cost to change for me was

£11 - drop bars and interupter brake levers (eBay)
£8 - Tektro brake levers (Planet x)
£25 Shimano bar end shifters (8 speed - eBay)

I also replaced all the cables because they were too frayed to re-thread or too short.

You might find that you need more height too, so perhaps budget for a new stem.