Many seasoned cyclists swear by a traditional tourer – a bike specially designed for cycle touring – but a good quality hybrid that combines ruggedness, comfort and easy road riding will do perfectly well.
- Expect to pay at least £300
- Look for a good frame able to mount a pannier rack, comfortable seat, mudguards, robust tyres
- Hybrids are versatile and also good for commuting and general leisure use
What NOT to ride:
- Racers and road bikes with thin slicks (tyres), unable to accommodate a pannier rack, or to travel on anything other than smooth tarmac
- Mountain bikes with thick, chunky tyres that make road riding slow and difficult and rear suspension that inhibits the fitting of pannier racks
If you fancy a day of road or mountain biking during your trip, why not hire an appropriate bike locally?
Remember: bikes (like horses) for courses