General Cycling Discussion - need advice from riders

Hi I have decided to do a bike ride for cancer it is 220kms over two days. I have a Norco Plateau a Hybrid. Is this a fessible bike for this trip. If I get more road friendly tire and a seat that still remains comfy on long distances the big wide comfy seat is not so comfy after about 40 kms. Are areobars a good idea. Would love to get a road bike but funds are limited. Help from riders would be welcomed not the local bike shop that insits I need a $2000 bike to even consider this type of ride. thanks alot.

Cheers
Swede

have you ever ridden that kind of distance on your bike? (110km in one day?)

I'd suggest looking for advice in the Touring forums. I think you can ride any bike, some will just be easier & more comfortable.

What is your longest ride so far?

Your bike will make it.

If your in good shape you will do ok.

You can easily do 220 kms over two days on that bike, provided you are fit enough. Get a more comfortable seat and put on narrower road tires like you said. Also I would suggest putting on bar ends to give you another hand position - they are cheap. No reason to get another bike unless you want one, and if you do there are plenty of good road or touring bikes available for around $1000 that would be more than sufficient for this ride.

I wouldn't buy a bike for a 2 day 220k ride. The bike you have should do ok. I don't say fine since there are better bikes for the purpose. But what you have will make the distance, it may take more effort on your part. If you really want a road bike for this ride, I would beg, borrow or rent one.

If she can do it on this for that distance, wearing those shoes and that dress - then you can on a hybrid. Go for it! ;)

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/28/eiko.irpt/index.html

The Plateau is a comfort oriented hybrid with a very upright and set back riding position but so is a bike like a Raleigh Sports 3 speed... and I know people who have toured on these and laid down some pretty decent daily mileage and even taken them through the mountains.

You will probably be spending 5-6 hours in the saddle for both of these days so you will really need a decent saddle... am guessing it is not a race so maintaining a moderate pace should not be difficult if you are in shape and you remain comfortable on your bike.

I have ridden metrics on fixed gears, road bikes, and my touring bike and have even done this on a Raleigh 3 speed which was really comfortable but not the best bike to be riding when you had to deal with stiff headwinds.

I am betting you're doing the Ride to Cure Cancer. great event, did it last year on an old tourer. Most others did it on road bikes, but there was everything from recumbent trikes to a BMX! ( it was a bet ) My tent mate did it on a 50 year old, 50 pound Russian built single speed with coater brake! Spend some time considering the fit carefully, definitely look into other saddles, ( if you are in Calgary I've got a few you can try ) Better tires are a possibility, at the moment, Niagra Cycles has a smoking deal on Marathon Supremes in 700x40, (normally list at over $70) pump them up to 90 PSI and that should make things roll a little faster. Again, if in Calgary, I just bought a bike with aerobars that are probably gonna come off, PM me.

As others said, if you can handle that distance two days in a row, your bike will be fine too.

Get it tuned up and greased, make sure your saddle is comfortable and the bar ends are great. You could wrap them in bar tape for comfort. Make sure you have two or three water bottle cages and bottles.

I'm not sure if you have one or not, but make sure you have a rack and a bag for your wallet, camera etc. A lot of people ride with knapsacks on their backs for short rides, you do not want to do this for 100 kms!

Good luck, and good for you for doing the ride!

Here's the bike I rode on my first brevet, a 208 km 1-day ride.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z172/stephenhazelton/MiscBikePhotos/4790Proc.jpg

Kind of like fast women, higher price means higher maintenance. A lot of tradeoffs there, but to serious roadies, it's part of the cost of living. bk

Thanks everyone for the help completed a 60km ride yesterday with my dog. I will invest in some bar ends and tires very soon.

Cheers
Swede

Good Luck Swede! Enjoy it. I haven't yet been involved in a better organized, more fun event. I was disappointed when I had to go back to work on the Monday, the weekend was just way too much fun.

Thanks everyone for the help completed a 60km ride yesterday with my dog. I will invest in some bar ends and tires very soon.

Cheers
Swede

Nice work. Keep riding and tweaking, obviously, but looks like you've got a handle on fitness and bike fit as long as you weren't completely destroyed by the end of that 60 k. How big is the dog???

For what it's worth, I wouldn't want to ride that sort of distance on an unfamiliar bike. If you do wind up borrowing/renting a road bike (your hybrid will make it just fine, btw), make sure you can get out on it for a decent distance to make sure it fits and you're properly positioned.

Thanks everyone for the help completed a 60km ride yesterday with my dog. I will invest in some bar ends and tires very soon.

Cheers
Swede
Is that a Bouvier? 60km towing that lump? You're a lot fitter, (or crazier) than me.:D

Is that a Bouvier? 60km towing that lump? You're a lot fitter, (or crazier) than me.:D

i was thinking along these lines... if you can pull a dog along with you for any distance, riding without should be a breeze!

the dog is a portuguese water dog.He goes kayaking too.I might consider tradeing him for two huskies to pull me up the big hills.

Cheers
shawn