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Hello,
I've got a mate who is looking to do London to Rome this summer on road. He has asked me for advice on which bike to get, but I'm not sure.
When I did London to Brussels last summer I cobbled together a gravel bike (Charge Plug 5, 1x 11-36, 40c g-one allrounds), which worked well but I was never under much time pressure as the route was very flat.
Has anyone done the route (or something similar) and have any thoughts? His budget is £3k so I don't want to be giving out advice without consulting the STW hivemind first. Maybe something allroad?
TIA.
The only thing I’d want is clearance for 32mm tyres, and no electrics so all is fixable. That said DI2 is great when you’re knackered.
Once he’s got the bike I’d adjust it for comfort, stem up and get a nice saddle and get riding.
Tricky without knowing what sort of rider or experience he has. Personally I'd go for an endurance road bike or gravel bike with some 32+ tyres. I did London/Paris Paris/Geneva on a standard road bike a decade ago when big tyres were 25mm and it was fine, but I'd cirtainly have bigger tyres now. I had a canyon flexy seatpost (can't remember what they were called).
Getting his position completely dialed in and a sorted comfortable saddle / bar tape and then as any miles in as he can on what ever bike he gets would be my main advice rather than which specific bike - get something he will enjoy owning and riding when spending that kinda cash.
Curly bars or flat bars? How quickly does he want to do it?
for me for long rides its a comfy bike with flat backswept bars, disc brakes, quick rolling tyres and take my time. No point in being on a slightly faster bike if its uncomfy so you cant ride as many hours. A long ride like that comfort is key and you cannot have too low gears
Some sort of fairly standard 'endurance' road bike with as few proprietary parts as possible.
The main thing is going to be comfort and reliability so having something with weird proprietary spokes or extra complicated aero integration that takes 3hrs to change a cable is going to be more hassle than it's worth...
consider a dynamo for charging phones etc unless staying in hotels
I’ve got a mate
Take your mate to the nearest bike shop which has lots of options to choose from. If you can? Walk him through the options available.
I personally would spend no more than £1500 on the bike, making sure, like mentioned above it had decent tyre clearance, plenty of mounting points and comfortable geometry.
Another couple of hundred wood can be spent on adding essential accessories for long days on the bike. Bags, tools, computer, locks, clothes, pedals, spares etc.
Rest of the cash can be saved, spent or donated to good causes.
I'd choose an adventure/gravel bike with a double chainring, 9/10 SPD.
I'd then pick a route which took in canal towpaths and cycle specific routes abiding as many roads as possible.
Yes you're right I haven't got enough details. Will get some more out of him and then come back. Going to a physical bike shop definitely a good idea.
I would recommend a bike fit, from someone who know the rigours of distance riding (eg bar much higher than a weekend warrior would expect) then buy a Fairlight Strael. Takes upto 35mm tyres I think.
Also check the Ultra thread on the LFGSS forum thread, some very competitive athletes post on there who know a thing or two about riding distance comfortably.
The furthest I have ridden is 2850 miles in one trip. Comfort and fit is king. I actually changed my bike after bad advice from a bike shop. Make sure he does a couple of reasonable test rides as well. Tested kit is so important.
Spa cycles - Elan Ti for top budget, Audax for much less than…
I’ve got a mate who is looking to do London to Rome this summer on road. He has asked me for advice on which bike to get, but I’m not sure.
Regular rider or corporate trip participant who's never ridden more than 20 miles before?
Luggage carried for them or self-supported?
The load you're carrying drives decisions like tyre size and gearing, the 2 main things to consider after comfort/fit.
I put double-layered tape on my cross bike, originally to look more awesome (blue and yellow, looking a bit tired now), but it is actually really nice to ride long distances.
I would want 2x11, or something similarly wide range. After a long day, even small gradients get big, but if the wind is behind you on a long downhill you don't want to be spinning out.
Regular rider or corporate trip participant who’s never ridden more than 20 miles before?
Luggage carried for them or self-supported?
Very much this - we need more details about your mate and the ride he's doing. A self-supported solo touring thing with no real time constraints will be a very different bike requirement to an organised corporate affair with a pre-planned route and full support package.
OK more information extracted:
Previous experience of long days + is training currently - days will be roughly 60 miles each
Carrying his own luggage and staying in hotels
Self supported but with others
Sounds like a simpleish endurance bike is the best idea
Will try and get him to a real bike shop to see what's what
personally, i would go for a titanium gravel bike frame with a wide-range 1x manual groupset. i would also go for carbon wheels (as they stay true) and tubeless with some fast rolling tyres (conti terra speed or similar). double layer bar tape, pedals with plenty of float (that allow normal(ish) soled shoes, and off you go.
What does he ride now?
Previous experience of long days + is training currently – days will be roughly 60 miles each
Carrying his own luggage and staying in hotels
Self supported but with others
OK, so based on this, I'd be looking at some kind of drop bar tourer/endurance road bike that can take a rack for small panniers.
I'd be looking for 32mm tyres, disc brakes and Di2 if he can afford it as it can charged at the hotel. I'd want 2x as that route will contain some hills and if he's carrying his own luggage the extra weight will warrant a lower gear range. Unless the route suggested otherwise, I'd be on the road side rather than the gravel side of the fence.
Self supported but with others
I'd be finding out what "the others" are planning on riding and how.
Road bikes, all as one group, club run style? Leisurely paced touring in smaller sub-groups? Whatever they have and make their own way along each day in whatever groups happen to form on the road?
If the former, you want something similar cos turning up to a road ride on a gravel bike is going to be hard work plus it's kind of lonely to be riding along on your own while everyone else disappears up the road!
I’d be finding out what “the others” are planning on riding and how.
Yeah, i agree with this.
I've done a couple of similar rides albeit no where near as far, and there was a good mix of bikes from Gravel/old School tourers to a new Giant Propel.
As you can imagine the guys on Gravel bikes struggled on the long, flat road sections whereas the guy on the propel didn't enjoy the gravel/sandy paths at all!
I'd look at getting something that fits well and can take bigger tyres.
An old school lightweight tourer/audaxer would probably be best but as they're not very fashionable these days, a gravel bike would be a good compromise.
How about titanium?
How about titanium?
I refer the honourable member to my earlier post.
I definitely covet an Elan Ti with Di2 or AXS, but need to do an N-1 first...
Great minds think alike.
lugs etc for fitting decent rack, and use panniers not bikepacking stuff.
I put double-layered tape on my cross bike, originally to look more awesome (blue and yellow, looking a bit tired now), but it is actually really nice to ride long distances.
Horses for courses...i know loads of people who like teh double tape...but oddly for ME, single layer witha small amount of padding is much more comfy...
DrP
Some good thoughts and considerations above.
Old style tourers are quite a versatile bikes.
I did the first Dirty Riever on my Tourer stripped down without mudguards/racks, after having toured on it , b and b style and also camping touring.
Tech has moved on though and discs are better but the demise of the triple is a shame though.
He will love the triple chainset when loaded up, esp after a few days in!
Maybe less likely to be stolen as well a consideration when travelling.
A sturdy touring bike can also take a few knocks which does happen getting in and out of hotels ,stacking bikes with other bikes etc when touring or if if it falls over loaded!.
I also suppose it depends what your mate wants to do with the bike after the trip as well.
A winter bike/ commuter? Suits a untrendy touring bike even on rim brakes!
If he wants to go Gravel riding in future that may sway his decision? Maybe worth investing in a gravel bike buy the gearing is not that low when fully loaded!
If travelling very light , bikepacking bags on a road bike may suit ,but probably more suited to a regular Tourer who knows what he needs.
It's a hard one and all very personal as stated above.
Lightweight kit and good quality kit is expensive too.
My very first tour (London to the Med) was on an old Raleigh which cost £99 and flexed.so much ,it was awful but we got there in the end! We both had the same bikes so equally matched!
Trip sounds fab The planning is half the fun!