Cycling - Which Bike?

[nerdwhacker99]

I am going travelling next year and for the first leg i will be cycling around europe for 6 months. I am not, by any means, a professional rider or a hugely experienced one. I have found 2 hybrid bikes i have been looking at specifically and was wondering about which to choose. One has V-brakes and the wheels are slightly bigger at 28" instead of 26", the other has 2 disc brakes and has 26" wheels and they both have front suspension. Any tips on what i may need or advice on which to choose or what to include would be really appreciated from any experienced cyclist. My travels, as you can imagine, will take me on various terrain types hence the choice of the hybrid style bike, cheers, Andy

[Khandro]

A hybrid would be the right choice. You will need to be able to fit rack/s for panniers so look to the machine that best allows this. You may need to buy tyres and tubes while you are travelling - 26 and 28 inches are unknown- offhand I'll check on the nearest equivalents and get back to you. http://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php Is a great site and you will find any amount of friendly advice (and contacts). Equally important to the bike is you! Go out every day for a few weeks before you depart for at least an hour in ALL weathers. Good luck!

[Zacs-Master]

I agree a hybrid would be the best bet. You need to go to an independent local bike shop and be measured correctly and have the bike set up for you. Me and mrs Zacs got a couple of Claud Butlers last year from our local bike shop. You don't really need suspension for road riding.

[Slapshot]

Something like this if you can afford it

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/alpenchallenge-ac01-105-tiagra-700c-2012-hybrid-bike-ec031081 (I have no links to Evans this is just an example)

For touring you don't need suspension if you do, you need a lock out (climbing with bobbing suspension is a pain), flat bar better than drops bars, disks better than v brakes, triple chainset a must, frame needs eyelets to take panniers, 700c tyres and tubes are globally recognised.

BEFORE you buy speak to a few reputable dealers, they will give you sensible advice

[snags]

If you won't be doing much 'off-road' and are not experienced in doling your own bike adjustments/repairs, personally I'd go for V Brakes over discs and rigids over suspension forks: less weight... less to go wrong... simpler to adjust on the fly and easier/cheaper/less parts to replace. Oh, and less nickable too.

[McMouse]

Some good advice already posted. Go for the least complicated setup and make sure you have the basic spares that any reputable dealer will tell you about. My last major european tour was through France and Spain and I used Ortlieb panniers which are not only waterproof but easy to mount and detach. Enjoy your trip.