Non-Cyclist Cycling the UK Coastline

[RevDonkBonkers]

Thanks again everyone who has contributed. I've sent an email to another specialist bike shop near me explaining what I am doing and have made a list of the points people have raised here there I will take with me for hopefully a better outcome!

[RevDonkBonkers]

Practice loaded bicycle before entertaining and you could do a short practice of say 3 day long weekend

I admire your enthusiasm and think you should work up to a marathon ride.

Thanks for all your advice and enthusiasm on my behalf. Yes I was looking at routes, etc for a three-day ride sometime over the summer probably start easy and book B&Bs each night, but it will give me a better understanding of life in the saddle!

[ClappedOut]

Excellent, remember a good shop will want a satisfied customer, get a spec and tell them if you think your happy you would like to sleep on it and make sure you have covered the points.
(Do not be pressured)
This is a decision that like a bad set of shoes on a marathon needs to be confidently first time right.

Where do you live as we can look at bike shops near you that may have a suitable bicycle.

[RevDonkBonkers]

I am down in the South-East of England, West Kent to be precise. What about you?

[jo' bo]

I have done research for myself, but I know that no matter how much research I do, that it is no replacement for people who actually have practical experience in doing this.

I went traveling for two years in 2009 having never been away from home for more than a couple of weeks before. Spent literally six to nine months researching and planning the trip, where to go, when to go, what to take.

Within a couple of weeks of starting the trip, I realised, despite all the research, I had packed stuff I didn't need and didn't pack stuff I did, my plans changed, I went to different places at different times, etc etc.

I can do as much research as I want but I still won't properly know what I am talking about until I have done this trip. Asking people for advice here is part of my research, I am not just sitting at home waiting for people to tell me exactly what to buy.

Thank you for the link to the Toms Bike Trip site, that is one I have been using and I will look through that page further.

Iits not that difficult, your going round the uk not over the andies

Apart from possibly the wilds of Scotland your never more than a couple of hours ride from a reasonable town, if you find you need some thing, buy it

Dont weigh your self down with stuff that might but equally might not come in handy.

You need some light weight camping gear, a couple of tools some cables and an inner tube and a couple of changes of clothes and a wash kit and that's it

If it weight more than 30 lbs, leave some thing at home

Once you've got ride of the excessive weight, then the bike you need to carry all that weight also come down in price

Any mountain bike made in the last 20 years will do it with ease if you stick some new bearings in, if you want a drop handle bar tourer, though I wouldnt, buy one and stop making it more complex it is

[ClappedOut]

I am down in the South-East of England, West Kent to be precise. What about you?

South West

Have you considered a second hand bicycle with a full service, your get a lot more bike for your money

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124344121015 ... SwVJFd8-S8 just as an example

[al_yrpal]

Take some spare spokes! And, take something you can use to pack what you dont need to send it home. If you have a spare saddle take it to give any sores a change and a rest

I agree on the mtb, forget drops

Al

[thirdcrank]

This is not intended to be patronising so ignore it it if this is something you understand already.

The gears on a bike are the product of the wheel diameter and the (front) chainwheel divided by the rear sprocket . With derailleur gears there are typically two or three chainwheels and loads of sprockets. Lots of chainwheels and sprockets mean lots of gears - often some duplicates - but the number of gears isn't necessarily any indication of how low or high the gears are on a particular set-up. Typically, racing cyclists use higher and closer ratios, where tourists benefit from a wider range, particularly at the lower end.

If you are in a shop talking to somebody who understands the subject - but who doesn't know how much you know/ don't know - they may describe the gears in "inches" or -less likely in the UK I think - in "metres." The first is the theoretical size of penny-farthing wheel you would need for the same ratio and the second is how far a complete rotation of the pedals would move the bike. The only use of any of this waffle is the ability to make comparisons because you can get the same ratio with a different choice of sprockets etc. As a very simple example if the chainwheel and sprocket are the same size, the gear = the size of the wheel, which on a 700C wheel is pretty much 27".

And that comparison is only any use to an individual rider if they know what gear they seek. This is part of the reason you are being urged to do some riding on any old bike before you buy. Now, it's unlikely any old bike will have a wide range of gears, especially really low gears, but you will still have a better idea of what suits you for general riding round. The bottom gear is the significant one for riding uphill with a heavy load but the intermediate gears where you change at the front are important.

I fancy only a really specialist shop will stock bikes with gears as low as you need and it's inevitable that a lot of shops push what they stock. The bottom gears some have been recommending are around 20". If you go to a shop and ask about bikes with a 20" bottom gear and the reply is that nobody needs gears as low as that you are probably in the wrong shop. If gears in inches draw a blank, then you are talking to somebody who knows less than you.

But I'd still urge you to do as much riding as possible before splashing out your hard-earned. To do otherwise is to risk owning a little-used but magnificent touring bike.

[ClappedOut]

riding a tandem with a 9 year old gave me a different insight into weight and a comfortable gear with weight, I think your getting some excellent advice and time spent hammering out the right equipment and a practice run will pay dividends and avoid a rush to spend on wrong items.

Have you a daily budget planned for food and lodgings and possibly things you haven't considered like laundry?

[ClappedOut]

riding a tandem with a 9 year old and panniers, gave me a different insight into weight and a comfortable gear with weight pulling away, I think your getting some excellent advice and time spent hammering out the right equipment and a practice run will pay dividends and avoid a rush to spend on wrong items.

Have you a daily budget planned for food and lodgings and possibly things you haven't considered like laundry?

[al_yrpal]

If you get a mtb you will get the low gearing you are going to need. Just change the tyres for smooth puncture proof ones they require much less effort.

Al

[ClappedOut]

viewtopic.php?t=36010 a good thread to read

[thirdcrank]

Mention of mountain bikes reminds me that my "any old bike" comment is wrong in that if you can beg or borrow a mountain bike you can try really low gears and if that type of bike suits you as well, bingo!

If you do decide on the mountain bike approach, I'd recommend avoiding suspension in any shape or form.

[simonhill]

Coincidentally, I met a couple of cyclists doing a round Britain ride while I was pedalling around Norfolk earlier in the week. They had hoped for touring somewhere warmer, but Covid restricted them to the UK. I suspect there may be a few long-haulers doing it this year. Sensibly, in my opinion, they weren't particularly following the coast, so as to allow them to see a lot more of the country. A pure coastal ride means you miss many of the best bits of our countries.

I've rarely seen such loaded bikes. The 'trap' of we are going for a long time was evident. Not sure I could have pedalled those bikes up decent hills even with the lowest gearing.

[Psamathe]

visited a specialist cycling shop this morning (highly recommended by a few cyclists) and told them what I planned on doing

Specialist my aunt :roll: Whoever recommended those two bikes for what you want to do has not a clue. Do not go back.
You are going around the coast and there are hills some very steep. You need low gears.
You are carry a load, quite big I imagine, you need low gears.
You intend to ride this bike every day you need to be comfortable on it. I doubt you’ll achieve that on anything with the handlebars 4” lower than the saddle.

I would agree. Not a shop to take advice from given their "input".

Maybe post your general location and how far you'd be happy to travel and people could suggest genuine "specialist" bike suppliers. There certainly are a few around but not that many. My personal opinion is that you are planning a fairly long trip so most appropriate bike possible will be a big help.

Gearing for the ride will be very important and both those have (IMO) very unsuitable gearing (which raises questions about those suggesting it - I would wonder about them appreciating what you intend or if they have the experience to know what is suitable).

More controversially (and others will hold differing but valid opinions) is that I like disk brakes but for touring (particularly extended touring) I'd avoid hydraulic disks (or stick to rim brakes). I don't have experience of them but I like to be able to maintain as much of the bike as possible under way and hydraulic brakes is something you can't generally do yourself roadside.

Ian