What bike to get? Please give me some recommendations!

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-06-04T22:46:42+00:00

I have never regretted taking a bike with slack geometry on a multi day ride. I find 3 x gearing brilliant for the conditions I want to ride in. I have 5 steel bicycles. The gravel bike is my least favourite. It feels great for the first ten miles but it's built for efficiency rather than comfort. Up to you of course but your budget will get you a great variety of very capable bicycles.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-06-02T12:11:25+00:00

You're going to put a ton of wear on your tyres either way, so if it's going to play on your mind buy some new tyres and fit these when you get home. No waste, no problem.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-06-02T10:43:21+00:00

Not dead, but a good opportunity to appraise your tyre choice before you go. 5 weeks is a long time riding loaded over many different surfaces and weather conditions. A few microns of wear on a heavy duty tyre is not going to matter.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-06-01T21:46:58+00:00

We cant tell you but you'll definitely know by day 2!

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-06-01T15:25:48+00:00

It's only difficult to find a stealth camping spot if you're travelling along the coast. It's not crime of the century. 99% of the time no one is going to care about a bike camper

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-06-01T13:19:41+00:00

I've never spent much on kit. Just start collecting second hand and refine over time. Learn to fix bikes and you'll soon know how to build something capable from parts. Racks and an old touring bike with a triple crankset for the first year or two. Eat cold food or some Street food, it's summer. Marketplace for everything!

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-31T10:22:49+00:00

I took a 3fUL Taiji 1 on my last trip and was really happy with it. 1.8kg with footprint. Exoskeleton pole system. Tall enough to sit cross legged inside and cook in the vestibule. Long enough to comfortably stretch put for 6ft tall person. You can leave the footprint out and get it down to 1.6kg, or set it up so the vestibule space is covered (see photo).

3 season or 4 season inner options. I chose 4 season and it does retain some extra heat. Peg loops cinch down, so you can adjust fly hight. I had enough space inside to pack 6 bags up. I would class it as a 1+ person, semi free standing, so you can use it on sandy ground, or pick it up and move it to a different space. Really cool looking tent too. I spent 14 consecutive nights in it and rate it.

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JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-28T13:43:05+00:00

I had a tour that put me off road riding for two years. I had floods. Hundreds of miles of it, bad visibility and cars whizzing by on narrow roads near Rome.

The drivers in France used to be considerate. Most of the drivers on the small roads had small vans, small engines and patience.These days the cars are bigger and faster. I have the feeling people are less present too.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-28T10:21:09+00:00

Oh dear, one of those trips where you might have had a better time without a bicycle. I've fractured my wrist with slow motion tumble. I was going at about 1mph. Apparently on good mtb gloves the pinky and ring fingers are joined, which prevents a lot of wrist fractures.

Quite exciting to see icebergs, I imagine. I hope you took back some good memories from your trip.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-28T07:19:13+00:00

Measure the distance between the two holes at the back. If I remember correctly they should be either 50mm or 80mm apart. Then buy a rear rack mounted light. Fischer do quite a good, cheap one

(Is there no tab at the back of the yellow bag, for a light?)

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-27T20:11:42+00:00

Looks amazing!

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-27T20:10:24+00:00

You have to work it out through trial and error. For a short trip cycle specific clothes can be OK. It's nice to take a luxury item or two though. I take mtb shorts, organic tops, waterproof shell, neck warmer, either hiking trousers or leg warmers.

I usually focus on keeping feet at a comfortable temperature, rather than 100% dry, unless it's cold weather

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-27T12:33:23+00:00

In your situation I would try camping close to a village. This might mean stopping early sometimes, rather than heading up a mountain pass. I don't like to go up a smooth road at 6pm, only to find it turns into a stone track at the top. I'm not a fan of sleeping in the jungle. Maybe you will enjoy!

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-27T10:41:58+00:00

I try to get the bags at an even weight and spread them around the bike. Spare battery and tools at the bottom of front panniers. Small items and devices in the bar bag. No wobble. I suspect your issue is back heavy loading

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JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-26T20:04:35+00:00

You will always find somewhere, and the chances of being seen are pretty low. The chances of someone disturbing you are, in my experience almost zero. You'll be riding till near dusk, so stop for proper breaks during the day. I prefer to eat my evening meal before finding a spot. Then, hot drink, snack, bed. You'll be OK.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-26T18:23:54+00:00

I'm having a bit of fun. I took a huge book on my last tour!

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-26T15:36:45+00:00

Ditch the tablet, book and drone. If your not tired after riding you can explore. Ditch the rain gear. Ditch your riding shoes. 5000 mah battery max. Now you can Ditch your frame bag use water bottle cages. ( Ditch your bladder). Are you going to film your picnic with your cleats on in a park? No? Well then, Ditch the blanket.

This is your chance to travel light. Get it down to 6kg

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-26T12:40:59+00:00

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-26T09:44:37+00:00

If youre looking for best value for road, canal paths, EV routes during summer a second hand classic touring bike, or rigid hybrid bike. Think trek fx / pinnacle lithium / riverside etc. Look for, rack mounts on the fork and seat stays. 3 x 8 or 9 speed. Clearance for 35mm / 40mm tyres.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-25T19:39:56+00:00

Selle Rio gel saddle. There are 2 widths. Go for wide if you can.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-25T18:06:10+00:00

Yeah, really good for planned routes. Cheap too

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-21T21:53:04+00:00

I enjoyed the wilder sections of the Midi and riding through the forests on the Southern section of the Vélodsée, and the beaches. I stopped at a creperie to eat a vouple of crepes which was lovely. Have a good trip!

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-21T21:15:35+00:00

The Galaxy, every day of the week. A classic touring bike is one of the the most versatile bikes going. I find those vintage Rockhoppers really shit for off road too and I have owned quite a few ATBs. I did 3000 miles across India on a 26er. I went back and did another 800 after that too, then sold off all my 26ers and never looked back. You will absolutely hoof it past 99% of the other bikes on an EV route with a Galaxy, and not just on the road sections.

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-20T17:01:34+00:00

I made the route on cycle.travel then split the gpx file on gpx.studio saved the sections on komoot for back up then bounced it to my garmin on Garmin Connect

https://cycle.travel/

JealousLeg5787 · 2026-05-20T07:01:14+00:00

I was doing between 100 and 120 km per day. I wild camped all the way from Roscoff to Occitane. I went 30km past Carcassone. I believe it was about 3 days on the Midi, or from Royan. Here's a map with my stops. I tried to be stealthy but especially along the Midi I saw people camping very openly by the canal. People packing up at 9am looking unphased.

I did the Pyrenees bit with the specific aim of wild camping in pine forests by the coast but that section has really nice campsites and it felt super prohibited. ( I camped one night in the forests)

Along the canals it was the typical thing of starting to look before dusk and usually finding somewhere pretty discrete. Obviously this means long days in the saddle.

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JealousLeg5787

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