The C2C And Northern Cycle Routes Forum

Hello everyone -first time here 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?

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.

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.

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 )
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?

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.

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.

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

hi indigo, im also doing c2c for first time at beginning of august, maybe see you en route!! or are you one of the 13 and we dont know each other yet??

i also need bike advice please, we have a back up vehical so only carrying the days needs. we are taking 4 days to go whitehaven to sunderland 31 45 40 24miles per day. 1 would like to do off road sections but dont yet know how these affect milage. i have ordered a map and hope this will show full details. im reasonably fit but lacking skills

bikewise
i have a specialised allez sports. if i did all the road sections might it manage? its light and responsive 3x9 shimano 105 gears but the biggest problem i think is the limited clearance between the wheel and the frame. carbon forks and seatpost

i have a claud butler hybrid which is heavy but comfy, 3x7 shimano acera gears which i think would manage the easier off road bits but i think is not the best bet . as i dont have to carry much i dont lean towards this option

i have a marin bobcat trail hardtail thats getting on a bit and has little front suspension really these days. its fairly light and im racing a winter series on it. we tend to be pretty flat in norfolk tho!! it has 3x9 shimano deora gears with xtr shifters. i could upgrade the suspension but suspect its not really worth it

im looking to upgrade my hardtail or buy a full sus, (not specially for this trip, i also have trips to wales, scotland and a summer racing series this year)

i have my eye on a salsa el santo scandium and think this would be light enough to manage easily but tough enough to enable me to do all the off road bits. i think its going to be out of my price range tho. history known and trusted

another option if the el santo doesnt come off is Specialised FSR XC Pro 2005 with New Rockshox Revelation 85mm - 130mm travel sprung forks (i.e. not air) a BETD rear linkage which means you can convert from 100mm to 125mm rear travel. this weighs 31lbs. history known and trusted

yet another is to upgrade the hardtail to a 2005 specialised s works M5 thats barely been used. history known and trusted

id appreciate any thoughts anyone has. the el santo is my dream of all these but i may be wrong. all 3 are being sold by people i race with
tina

Over the years all manner of bikes have successfully completed the C2C, generally they have 2 wheels attached to a frame with a means of rotating the wheels using pedals and gears.
A few brave souls have done it on uni-cycles and the recumbent brigade on 3 or 4 wheels.

If your bike is in reasonable condition you should be able to make to the finish and I have never encountered a hill yet I couldn't walk up !!

Just make sure you fully check your bike over BEFORE setting off - new brake pads bedded in before the ride, chain cleaned and oiled, tires pumped up etc.

You will be amazed how many people don't, I have seen chains nearly rusted solid, tires a granny to blow up harder and derailure gear changers hanging off.

Start the ride fully prepared and you will make through to the end.

thanks,

i have no doubt ill make it to the end its about deciding whether to go for the road option or the off road and to be best equipped to enjoy it rather than slog it or wish id known more so would have made a different choice

but you are right anyone of my bikes would manage it

ive been watching a few utube shots, reckon a few more of them are the best judge of trail conditions