The C2C And Northern Cycle Routes Forum

Indigo · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

Hello everyone -first time here Very Happy

I have recently agreed to join a group which is cycling the C2C at the beginning of August 2008. At the mo I have a basic cheap mountain bike that i use for the odd ride so i know i need to buy a new bike for the C2C which we are doing over 3 days. I am a runner rather than a biker and i know nothing about bikes. It seems bikers sit very firmly on one side or the other when it comes to bike. Some people have heartily recommended a Hybrid- others have said this would be a crazy move and I should get a decent mountain bike instead. So far i seem to have found out the following:
1. I shouldnt get a bike with any suspension as it will take all my energy away (from the Hybrid fans)
2. That a Hybrid is 'worst of both worlds' (from the MTB fans)
3. A mountain bike will be too heavy and make the hills harder (from the Hybrid fans)
4. That a Hybrid wont cope with the off road sections (from the MTB fans)

No wonder i'm confused !!! I can spend £300-£500? Poss looking to sell afterwards unless i really get the bug. Can anyone help please?

Disco · Guest

all fair points, BUT i wouldn't be going spending £100's on a bike for 1 weekend. I have a basic MTB, and have used it for two years running - Yes, the hill are hard (its not Amsterdam is it!) especially on your first attempt

My mate used a hybrid, and one a road (and myself a mtb), and we all completed it in 2 hours less, than the first year.

agileman · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 267

Indigo wrote:

So far i seem to have found out the following:
1. I shouldnt get a bike with any suspension as it will take all my energy away (from the Hybrid fans)
2. That a Hybrid is 'worst of both worlds' (from the MTB fans)
3. A mountain bike will be too heavy and make the hills harder (from the Hybrid fans)
4. That a Hybrid wont cope with the off road sections (from the MTB fans)

No wonder i'm confused !!! I can spend £300-£500? Poss looking to sell afterwards unless i really get the bug. Can anyone help please?

Well, Indigo. A step in the unknown world of cycling, no not bad as that. Cycling is a great cross-training exercise and helps my poor knees.

1. Full Suspension's are ok for down-hiller's wanting that extra shock absorbent, but for the C2C, I can recommend a front suspension hardtail.

2. A hybrid is the best of both world, the Hybrid is really a cross between a road and mountain bike...thence the name.

3. The humble mountain bike has come a long way, my mountain bike frame is Magnesium. The trouble is with Alu, Titanium and etc is the cost of repairing it. Wheres the humble Steel is a simple weld job. One idea is stick semi-slick tyres on for smooth road cycling.

4. The C2C is 75% on-road and a Hybrid should have no problem with some of the off-sections with decent gears and tyres. The problem is the mud after heavy rain, but there are alternative sections to overcome this.

I am doing the C2C this Summer and will be taking my beloved Dawes Kara-Kum which is a trekking bike built to take heavy camping gear. You can get the Kara-Kum for around £440 from Spa Cycles on special offer. But at the end of the day, it is a lot of money to fork out if you don't take up cycling afterwards.

On a last note, I done the Wheel-Wrights across the Lakes, Dales and Moors on a cheap Steel MTB and really enjoyed it.

Indigo · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks for this info. The bike only has to carry me- no camping stuff etc as there are support vehicles for that on our trip (i'm sure you will all think we are lightweights Very Happy

)
So to summarise then either a MTB or hybrid would do? But it should have front suspension, not back and should be a lightweight frame? Are there any gear ratio thingies that i need to make sure i have to help me up the hills? I am fit (marathons and half marathons) but not necc bike fit so i'm sure my legs will suffer up the hills!

If i enjoy my trip i may well keep it up but if not then i guess i would sell the bike and stick to my running- i guess the secondhand market for MTBs is better than for hybrids?

agileman · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 267

Yes, the front Suspension is handy for taking out the shocks. I would get a 27 speed gear set-up, that is a triple chain-ring and 7 on the rear block. although C2C is a medium to hard ride, the only real ascenting is Whinlatter, Hartside, Garrigill, Nenthead and Rookhope Incline. The rest is easy stuff and being fit, you should be able to cope.

Beware of second-hand, unless you know about bikes. The reason why I say this is, is the bike is good nick. Is it a bodge job, is the chain worn, is the head-set worn, BB worn, brakes, tyres, inner & outer cable etc. I would get a new bike and if you do, get you checked out before you do the C2C. It will save all hassle later on.

Denny · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Indigo...I'm looking at doing the C2C next year for the first time and I'll be using an MTB which I've had for a couple of years. Agileman's right except for 1 thing (he'll tell me I'm splitting hairs!!!) 27 speed bikes have a Triple chainring (at the front) and 9 gears on the rear Sprocket!! I use 24 gears but I'm looking to upgrade to 27.

If you're thinking of selling the bike afterwards why spend a fortune on buying a bike when it might be easier to hire one..at least that way if the cycling thing doesn't take off with you you haven't spent a lot of money. If it does take off then you can weigh up your options on what style you want to do ie MTB or Road...I'm greedy and do both!! I personally hope that you get bitten by the bug as the people you'll meet when out on your bike are fantastic and, as you know from running, you'll see parts of the country not accessible by car.

Please let us know how you got on. Wink

PS From what I've been told about the off road sections of the route front suspension is a must!!!

_________________
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Happy cycling

Denny

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