Help with buying a bike.
 

Hello.

I am a student (so on a lowISH budget) looking to cycle 50-10km a day through Europe this summer. At the moment I have a 2nd hand mountain bike that is definitely not appropriate for this kind of journey.

I have absolutely no idea what kind of bike/accessories to be looking for so could someone give me a good place to start? I went to a few bike shops a few months ago but the prices kind of scared me away.

Thanks

why is your mtn bike not appropriate? If it has a front shock you could get it replaced with a solid fork and add street tires for a lot less than a new bike. First budget out the cost of getting the bike there (unless that is where you are).

If the bike prices , 400 $ scare you away, the camping gear and travel funds
may not be affordable, right now, either.

So, get a job or 2 and save some more to fund this scheme.
piece the kit together, take short trips and try it out.

You want a bike that

1. Fits you
2. Is sturdy enough to endure many kilometers of loaded riding
3. Is in good enough condition for same

Many older mountain bikes work just fine for that. Others don't. Depends on what you've got. Give some specifics about your bike to get some opinions on that (brand of bike, frame material, size of wheels, number of spokes per wheel, type of gearing, brakes, etc.). I and many others tour on older mountain bikes that work just fine.

Not sure what you have but a MTB might be fine especially since you are on a budget. Depending on where you live and what airline you use, it may be much cheaper to buy a bike there than to ship one. Definitely check what the airline charges for checking a bike before committing to one.

BTW, when you typed 50-10km a day was that a typo? I have to wonder if you meant 50-100km, if not that is pretty short mileage and you might find the bike choice to be less of an issue. Also you don't mention how much you expect to be carrying. That could be a pretty big factor in the choice.

When I say 2nd hand mountain bike I mean one I bought for £20, scratched up handlebars and frame, brakes that seem to brake (stop working) as often as they brake (stop)... amongst other problems. Ideal for short rides but any further than 10kish away from home and i would feel uncomfortable. If you saw it you would know what I mean. I would definitely rather buy a completely different bike.

I am confident I have enough money to fund this project and prepared to spend a bit of money on a bike, just want to keep it to a minimum. I've been looking at 2nd hand bikes on Gumtree and Youtube for around £300, figuring that way I could get a very good quality bike without paying a new price for it - I think some of the ones recommended to me in the shops were around £800!

Thank you staehpj1. I think I plan to start in Amsterdam so I would be getting a ferry (although after reading your post perhaps it would be easier to finish there instead to avoid extra costs for checking a bike.)

It was a typo yes, sorry. I meant 50-100km a day.

Again apologies for my complete lack of knowledge on my journey as it would be my first big cycle, I would need to be transporting at least a weeks worth of clothes I suppose. I haven't decided whether to stay in hostels or to camp yet either.

My advice is to pack sparingly. Remember that you can wash or rinse out your clothes in a sink, so you do not need a great deal of clothing. I carry pretty much the same regardless of trip length and it isn't much at all.

I have not toured in Europe, so I do not have any location specific advice.

In any case, let me wish you a great trip!