Bike for cycling trip
bp5678
Posts: 413 Forumite
I'm in a major dilemma.
I'm doing a cycle trip this August with a friend (not long to go now). Starting off in Dubrovnik (Croatia) and then going to Montenegro and Bosnia. I'll be living in my tent and therefore the bike will carry this, along with panniers, sleeping bag, clothes, and everything else I need to live. It'll be hot and hilly and a mix of on road and off (although mainly on road). Cycling about 100km a day on average.
I've not got a bike yet and running out of time. I have 4 options:
Option 1: Buy new bike through Cycle to Work scheme
This bike: https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dacite-1-2018-touring-bike-EV318241
My company are signed up to the Cycle to Work scheme so the cost of the bike is paid in installments over a year. So for numbers sake lets say I pay back £100 a month for 12 months. The £100 is deducted from my monthly salary at work, but the advantage of this is that I end up paying less income tax since I'll effectively be earning less for a year.
Because I am signed up to that scheme with the bike company Evans, I'll have to get a bike from Evans' website: https://www.evanscycles.com/
I've been into their shop and they recommended the bike I posted above. It's obviously expensive (£950) although I do get it a bit cheaper than the price it shows due to the Cycle to Work scheme. However my flights don't have hold luggage so I'll have to pay £150 to get it sent over (cost is for there and back) and on top of this I'll have to pay the cost of the bike.
Option 2: Borrow my friend's bike
Obviously this wouldn't cost me apart from the cost of sending it on the plane as i've not paid for baggage (£150). The problem with this is the bike probably wouldn't fit me. I can adjust handlebars and saddle but if the actual bike frame itself is too small it could cause me injuries, make me tire quicker and cause aches and pains on the trip.
Option 3: Bike hire/rent a bike
I could rent a bike in Dubrovnik or anywhere on my cycling route early on. In fact I could rent from anywhere in Croatia even if it's far from Dubrovnik as they can often drive the bike down to me in Dubrovnik and I pay a delivery fee. Bike hire will cost about 400-600 euros (£360-£540). Advantage is I don't need to pay shipping/aeroplane luggage fee of £150. The disadvantage is that so much could go wrong: the bike hire person may not turn up at the airport, the bike is the wrong one, it doesn't fit me, the panniers don't fit, it's a scam, etc etc (there could be a million scenarios I haven't predicted).
Option 4A: Buy second hand
If I buy second hand I'd still need to send over to Dubrovnik so would have to pay aeroplane baggage fee. Chance that it could be a faulty/dodgy bike from Ebay and I can't get my money back. Or I get the bike online, try it and decide it's not for me and I can't get a refund. But the advantage is bikes lose their value a lot when second hand meaning I could get a cheap one that's still good.
4B: Probably unrealistic but I could try buy a bike off Croatian Ebay so I don't have to pay baggage fee (and get this sent to a hotel I could stay in for one night). Once I've bought the bike I put it on Ebay immediately so I could sell it hopefully before I fly home and not pay luggage fee for way back again (or try sell it to a Croatian bike store, Facebook marketplace etc).
---
Any advice would be great because the clock is ticking! Thanks.
---
Edit/Update:
I've decided it's silly to buy a bike and I will rent. I've enquired with rental companies and explained I'm carrying lots of bags/weight so the bike would need to be suitable and, I've been recommended the following bikes from different companies. Which do you think would be best/most suitable as I'm not an expert and not 100% sure what things I should be looking for:
Semi-professional mountain bike cube: https://www.cube.eu/en/2018/bikes/mountainbike/hardtail/aim/cube-aim-race-greynblue-2018/
Diamant bike: https://www.3etravel.me/rentals/
Musing hybrid: http://www.meridienten.com/page/hybrid-bike-rentals/26
Cube SL Road: https://www.bikingcroatia.com/bike-rental
---
BUY SECOND HAND (unlikely option but won't rule it out)
https://www.njuskalo.hr/gradski-bicikli/univega-terreno-100-velicina-l-oglas-25940809
Dawes galaxy tour https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dawes-Galaxy-Tour-1999-touring-bike/202344671442?hash=item2f1caea8d2:g:rJAAAOSw95lbJ-sC
FURTHER UPDATE:
Thanks all for your help.
I'm now trying to decide between the 3e Travel company (Diamant bike) or the Meridien company Hybrid bike. Which would you recommend I go for? I've been emailing both of them and received further info (below). Hopefully this extra information will make it easier to make a more informed decision. Based on the original post and information I've posted below, which would you go for?
3e Travel company - Diamant bike
Here a link to the current Diamant model, where you can see the components. Ours are 3 years old. Remark: the Gents L does not have a suspension fork. These are very reliable bicycles, stabile and have a comfortable geometry and are fully equipped with mudguards and lightening. Here is a link to it: https://www.diamantrad.com/bikes/ubari-komfort-damen-wiege/
Alternatively we have Hybrid bikes, TREK FX 3, 2018. The do not have mudguards. They have a rack with a max. load of 25 kg. Here the link to these: https://www.3etravel.me/rentals/touring-bike/
If you like to be most flexible in terms of road surface we recommend our Specialzed Rockhopper 29er. They can be equipped with a a rack. Here is a link: https://www.3etravel.me/rentals/mountain-bike/
Along the bike we provide spare innertubes, pumps, repair kit, helmet, flat or cage pedals !!!8211; of course if you wish you can take your own and we will mount them on the spot.
We do not have a bike insurance, simply because it is not available in Montenegro. Therefore we ask to keep an eye on them and overnight to keep them in a locked space.
Meridien - Musing hybird:
Bike weight is approximately 11 kg.
Unfortunately our bikes don't have mudguards.
We can provide panniers at extra charge of 3,00 EUR per day.
We can do bike fitting for you when we deliver the bike of course.
The bike is equipped with spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, pump, rear rack, bottle holders, cycle computer and lock. Please note, helmets are not included in price.
In front we have 3 chainrings (28, 38, 48) and rear there are 9 gears (34, 11).
The contract is in English and you can find it attached.
We do not provide repair services on the road. Each bike we rent is checked and serviced every time before it is handed to the client.
Bikes are not insured against theft or damage. It is possible to buy insurance in the amount of EUR 20,00 per bike and it covers 100% of cost of repairs in the case of minor damage to bike or damage or loss of accessories
I'm doing a cycle trip this August with a friend (not long to go now). Starting off in Dubrovnik (Croatia) and then going to Montenegro and Bosnia. I'll be living in my tent and therefore the bike will carry this, along with panniers, sleeping bag, clothes, and everything else I need to live. It'll be hot and hilly and a mix of on road and off (although mainly on road). Cycling about 100km a day on average.
I've not got a bike yet and running out of time. I have 4 options:
Option 1: Buy new bike through Cycle to Work scheme
This bike: https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dacite-1-2018-touring-bike-EV318241
My company are signed up to the Cycle to Work scheme so the cost of the bike is paid in installments over a year. So for numbers sake lets say I pay back £100 a month for 12 months. The £100 is deducted from my monthly salary at work, but the advantage of this is that I end up paying less income tax since I'll effectively be earning less for a year.
Because I am signed up to that scheme with the bike company Evans, I'll have to get a bike from Evans' website: https://www.evanscycles.com/
I've been into their shop and they recommended the bike I posted above. It's obviously expensive (£950) although I do get it a bit cheaper than the price it shows due to the Cycle to Work scheme. However my flights don't have hold luggage so I'll have to pay £150 to get it sent over (cost is for there and back) and on top of this I'll have to pay the cost of the bike.
Option 2: Borrow my friend's bike
Obviously this wouldn't cost me apart from the cost of sending it on the plane as i've not paid for baggage (£150). The problem with this is the bike probably wouldn't fit me. I can adjust handlebars and saddle but if the actual bike frame itself is too small it could cause me injuries, make me tire quicker and cause aches and pains on the trip.
Option 3: Bike hire/rent a bike
I could rent a bike in Dubrovnik or anywhere on my cycling route early on. In fact I could rent from anywhere in Croatia even if it's far from Dubrovnik as they can often drive the bike down to me in Dubrovnik and I pay a delivery fee. Bike hire will cost about 400-600 euros (£360-£540). Advantage is I don't need to pay shipping/aeroplane luggage fee of £150. The disadvantage is that so much could go wrong: the bike hire person may not turn up at the airport, the bike is the wrong one, it doesn't fit me, the panniers don't fit, it's a scam, etc etc (there could be a million scenarios I haven't predicted).
Option 4A: Buy second hand
If I buy second hand I'd still need to send over to Dubrovnik so would have to pay aeroplane baggage fee. Chance that it could be a faulty/dodgy bike from Ebay and I can't get my money back. Or I get the bike online, try it and decide it's not for me and I can't get a refund. But the advantage is bikes lose their value a lot when second hand meaning I could get a cheap one that's still good.
4B: Probably unrealistic but I could try buy a bike off Croatian Ebay so I don't have to pay baggage fee (and get this sent to a hotel I could stay in for one night). Once I've bought the bike I put it on Ebay immediately so I could sell it hopefully before I fly home and not pay luggage fee for way back again (or try sell it to a Croatian bike store, Facebook marketplace etc).
---
Any advice would be great because the clock is ticking! Thanks.
---
Edit/Update:
I've decided it's silly to buy a bike and I will rent. I've enquired with rental companies and explained I'm carrying lots of bags/weight so the bike would need to be suitable and, I've been recommended the following bikes from different companies. Which do you think would be best/most suitable as I'm not an expert and not 100% sure what things I should be looking for:
Semi-professional mountain bike cube: https://www.cube.eu/en/2018/bikes/mountainbike/hardtail/aim/cube-aim-race-greynblue-2018/
Diamant bike: https://www.3etravel.me/rentals/
Musing hybrid: http://www.meridienten.com/page/hybrid-bike-rentals/26
Cube SL Road: https://www.bikingcroatia.com/bike-rental
---
BUY SECOND HAND (unlikely option but won't rule it out)
https://www.njuskalo.hr/gradski-bicikli/univega-terreno-100-velicina-l-oglas-25940809
Dawes galaxy tour https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dawes-Galaxy-Tour-1999-touring-bike/202344671442?hash=item2f1caea8d2:g:rJAAAOSw95lbJ-sC
FURTHER UPDATE:
Thanks all for your help.
I'm now trying to decide between the 3e Travel company (Diamant bike) or the Meridien company Hybrid bike. Which would you recommend I go for? I've been emailing both of them and received further info (below). Hopefully this extra information will make it easier to make a more informed decision. Based on the original post and information I've posted below, which would you go for?
3e Travel company - Diamant bike
Here a link to the current Diamant model, where you can see the components. Ours are 3 years old. Remark: the Gents L does not have a suspension fork. These are very reliable bicycles, stabile and have a comfortable geometry and are fully equipped with mudguards and lightening. Here is a link to it: https://www.diamantrad.com/bikes/ubari-komfort-damen-wiege/
Alternatively we have Hybrid bikes, TREK FX 3, 2018. The do not have mudguards. They have a rack with a max. load of 25 kg. Here the link to these: https://www.3etravel.me/rentals/touring-bike/
If you like to be most flexible in terms of road surface we recommend our Specialzed Rockhopper 29er. They can be equipped with a a rack. Here is a link: https://www.3etravel.me/rentals/mountain-bike/
Along the bike we provide spare innertubes, pumps, repair kit, helmet, flat or cage pedals !!!8211; of course if you wish you can take your own and we will mount them on the spot.
We do not have a bike insurance, simply because it is not available in Montenegro. Therefore we ask to keep an eye on them and overnight to keep them in a locked space.
Meridien - Musing hybird:
Bike weight is approximately 11 kg.
Unfortunately our bikes don't have mudguards.
We can provide panniers at extra charge of 3,00 EUR per day.
We can do bike fitting for you when we deliver the bike of course.
The bike is equipped with spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, pump, rear rack, bottle holders, cycle computer and lock. Please note, helmets are not included in price.
In front we have 3 chainrings (28, 38, 48) and rear there are 9 gears (34, 11).
The contract is in English and you can find it attached.
We do not provide repair services on the road. Each bike we rent is checked and serviced every time before it is handed to the client.
Bikes are not insured against theft or damage. It is possible to buy insurance in the amount of EUR 20,00 per bike and it covers 100% of cost of repairs in the case of minor damage to bike or damage or loss of accessories
0
Comments
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I'm not sure what I would do in your situation, but I wanted to say wow, 60 odd miles a day carrying full gear for someone who doesn't even own a bike, I hope you are fit in other ways!
Sounds like it will be fun, I would certainly advise stocking up on the chamois cream!0 -
If you are likely to use a bike upon your return I would advise buying your own, cycling 60 miles a on an ill fitting bike will drastically reduce the pleasure of the trip. I have 2 bikes but when we did a 3 week cycling tour in SE Asia we hired locally and they were awful.0
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Hi @marcarm thanks for your reply. I do have a bike just not one that is suitable. I'm cycling about 12 miles a day at the moment and then I'll do a 30 miler at weekends. On top of this I'm running 5km once a week (21 mins) and going to the gym 5 times a week so I'd say I'm physically fit (even if some doesnt carry over to cycling).0
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@maisie cat - Obviously buying a bike means I have one when I come back home. However I do have a bike at home at the moment but it's just not a great one. It's a mountain bike that I ride on road. Not ideal but I can get away with it so I'm not that bothered if I don't have a good, new one to ride when I'm home after the trip.0
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Tough question, I normally hire a bike abroad as it's more straightforward than carrying the bike on a plane and I worry about the bike getting damaged. However for a longer more specialist ride like the one you've described I'd want my own bike as I'd have something that does exactly what I want, fits me and little stuff like the brakes are the right way round.
That Pinnacle doesn't seem great value for money as the parts are quite low end for a near thousand pound bike and Pinnacle are a budget brand. I'm not saying that to be snobby as I have a Pinnacle road bike myself as it was great value for money, at the time they offered a full 105 groupset with hydraulic discs and a frame with mudguard and rack mounts for a thousand. I think they're adding a premium for the rack and the mudguards but neither are expensive.
From what I've seen the cycle to work scheme isn't always great value for money and the main benefit is that it's effectively an interest free loan. We're just at the point the new 2019 bikes are coming in so some sites may be clearing out of their 2018 stock so it's worth shopping around and see what else is out there.
It's certainly worth having a look second hand as well because bikes depreciate very quickly (I've seen 2017 bikes brand new for 40% off even though the 2018 bike was identical but a different colour) plus plenty people buy bikes on cycle to work with the intention to cycle then don't and sell the bike cheap instead. The difficulty though is that if you're in a quieter area it may be difficult to find something suitable and the right size which is why I haven't bought second hand as I couldn't find what I wanted.
Training wise you really need to get in some longer rides back to back as it's quite different to the gym and short runs, if you're doing 60 miles on a fully laden bike in the heat with hill climbing and rough surfaces you're likely to be on the bike for a lot of the day. Long rides aren't just about fitness although you do need to be able to keep pace while not burning too much energy but also being able to be on the bike for a long period of time in the same position and making sure to eat and drink properly particularly in the heat. The latter is what I originally struggled with as when you're constantly cycling at a moderate pace you burn through food and water much quicker than you realise.0 -
You can often use cycle to work on sale bikes if the shop is willing to do so thus getting a better deal.
If they are still doing it, Evans allowed me to do the trade-in deal to get free accessories on a C2W bike so I got a £1000 bike for around £700 and got £100 of accessories. You could always do a 0% purchase card and trade in your old bike for a lighter one.
Although the bike is running the old 105, the Jamis Aurora has a better spec including a triple with 11-32 on the back making it good for climbing
The Kona Sutra has a single at the front with 10-42 on the back which isn't bad either for touring and will possibly be a bit lighter than the Jamis though you'd need to put the accessories budget into the pannier etc0 -
Update:
I've decided it's silly to buy a bike and I will rent. I've enquired with rental companies and explained I'm carrying lots of bags/weight so the bike would need to be suitable and, I've been recommended the following bikes from different companies. Which do you think would be best/most suitable as I'm not an expert and not 100% sure what things I should be looking for:
Semi-professional mountain bike cube: https://www.cube.eu/en/2018/bikes/mountainbike/hardtail/aim/cube-aim-race-greynblue-2018/
Diamant bike: https://www.3etravel.me/rentals/
Musing hybrid: http://www.meridienten.com/page/hybrid-bike-rentals/26
Cube SL Road: https://www.bikingcroatia.com/bike-rental
---
BUY SECOND HAND (unlikely option but won't rule it out)
https://www.njuskalo.hr/gradski-bicikli/univega-terreno-100-velicina-l-oglas-25940809
Dawes galaxy tour https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dawes-Galaxy-Tour-1999-touring-bike/202344671442?hash=item2f1caea8d2:g:rJAAAOSw95lbJ-sC0 -
What you should look at would be sufficient storage space for the tent etc with suitable frame.
Good tyres (don't need to be wide MTB tyres especially if mostly on the road) to avoid punctures
Gear wise, big cassette on the back (32 or even MTB ones 40+) for climbing
Light bike ideally
Cube is 14.4kg and gears are very weak 42/34/24 12-32 - touring is ok but top gear is 42/12 and rear 24/32 ludicrous - could ride up a brick wall on that gearing! I ride 52/11 on toughest gear!
The 3e travel I'd take the DIAMANT but would like the spec
Meridienten rental - 48/38/28 with 11-34 is a bit better gearing and at least it's a reasonable tyre. If you can cope without suspension I'd have this one
Biking Croatia - middle bike is 25kg bloody hell!0 -
Of the two hire bikes I'd go for either the Diamant bike or the Musing Hybrid. I don't know about the other three as the spec isn't clear on them, the Diamant seems to come in different variants and the spec for the Cube SL Road doesn't match - the picture shows a rigid fork, the spec shows a suspension fork.
The Musing is a rigid and don't know about the Diamant although both have rack mounts and ready for panniers.0 -
Thanks all. It seems the Diamant is best and the Musing hybrid is second best. I've just asked the following to the 2 companies offering these bikes:
- does it have mudguards?
- can i add panniers?
- do you help fit the bike to me?
- do you include anything with the bike, for example spare inner tubes, bike lock, puncture kit etc?
- will the hire contract be in English?
- what happens if the bike breaks down and I am far away from your office (such as in Bosnia or southern Montenegro)?
- Is bike insurance offered. If so what does this cover & how much?
- Where will I meet the person to collect the bike at the airport? WIll they hold up a sign and as I come out of the airport?0
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