Buying a bike for Randonneuring- The Basics

Cyclists today are spoiled for choice with bikes that fit a wide range of riding needs. That can make shopping for a new bike for Randonneuring, Audax, or long rides overwhelming.

This video serves as an overview of the considerations a cyclist should give when starting the hunt for the perfect bike. By going over the basics of fit, tire clearance, handling, build qualities and material choice, and component quality of different types of bikes, we can determine which features and qualities are most important versus least important, and desirable or undesirable when shopping for a new bike.

An informed cyclist is more likely to make a satisfactory purchase decision for their specific riding needs and budget. I hope this video help you find the right bike. Subscribe to catch a follow-up video on stock wheels and tires, and one change that can transform your new bike.

Sources:

Cam Nichols Bike Fit

Francis Cade Bike Fit Tuesdays

#randonnée #bikes #endurance

00:00 Introduction
00:40 Bike Fit
03:00 Tire Clearance
05:29 Bike Material Choice
06:37 Handling
08:40 Gearing
10:18 Groupsets
11:52 Beware Cost Cutting
12:58 Bike Product Categories

[wazzup]

The ability to add fenders is very considerate when you're riding with others in a group in the rain. Also mount points for (extra) bottles or racks are always a plus.

[AG-elvt]

Great discussion! I happened to get myself a 2x10 cyclocross bike, originally for commuting and short/mid distance road cycling. It seems to me my use case overlapped with randonneur builds, because I seem to have gravitated to a very similar configuration. To the initial build I added:

- Fenders.
- A rack with a top bag rather than panniers.
- Swapped the chainrings and cassette to the GRX 2x10 drivetrain (kept the Tiagra shifters).
- Other things like puncture resistant tires and SPD pedals.

My approach was thus because I wanted to have one bike for both daily use and longer weekend rides. Also, I live in Yorkshire, which begged for lower gearing when going up the hills, and didn't have so much ego that I wanted to stay with road racing gears lol.

[softreset]

Really great content. Informative, easy to understand and well presented. Thanks!

[velohas]

Helpful, informative and easy understanding! 100% agree with you 👍

[paths.to.ponder]

nowadays endurance bike geometry is closer to road. Not sure if there are pure endurance bikes anymore. Gravel bike geometry seem to be closer to endurance ones. This is purely on geometry perspective.

[JustClaude]

I've been reading about randonneuring, and the first consideration I keep hearing about is comfort. People have successfully ridden PBP on Dutch commuter bikes, but everyone rode in the saddle for many, many hours. All day comfort is critical.
That includes taking pressure off the hands to prevent numbness as the hours roll by.
So I'd recommend a recumbent. While it's true they're inferior to a conventional bike because they can't be raced in IUC events, it's also true that randonneuring is neither racing nor IUC regulated.
And you can't beat the comfort after a dozen hours on the road.
I found a Rans Tailwind with 37-451 tires. Now I just need time to ride.

[jojoanggono]

I experimented with several frameset (steel or alloy). Several thing stay the same is Shimano Grx 46/30 crank, and 11-34 (11s) casette with Grx derailleur. This would give me 30/34 ratio for tackling steep climb. I tried Grx 1x system but I don't like it. Tire is 28 clincher front (52 psi), and 30 clincher rear (50 psi), I'm very light at 55kg, so this might not work for everybody. Drop bar with ovalised top, short drop and reach, Ritchey Butano. This is actually gravel drop bar, it took me 3 months to adapt since the ramp is curved slightly inward. Winwing rear fender, very compact and light. Im not affiliated with all brands above.

[mickhurley]

Excellent coverage, I enjoyed your videos. Glad I found this channel.
Must say though I thought you could have brought some items you mentioned in your video about the effect of weight on randoneuring into this video also.
For instance when discussing group set you never mentioned drive chain efficeincy. Its a minor thing. Excellent advice allround.

[andrew]

Scott Speedster is a great Randonneur all rounder. Throw on 28c tires disc break version is almost perfect for. Anything.

[philhouck]

Few riders will ever generate enough speed to make wheel aerodynamics or wheel weight real issues. Far more important is rider comfort and the wider the tire, the lower the PSI is required. At lower pressures, the road vibration problem is much reduced. For serious rando rides, the widest and the most supple tire that the frame can accept should be used. Some of the rider doing PBP were using 42-48mm width tires. What you want is an enjoyable ride, not a survival experience.

[spick]

Good video but In respect to tire size, I run a 40mm under inflated because it's a damn site more comfortable than a 28 which is hard as a rock.

Some people find they get on better loosing a few watts for the comfort of larger rubber.
For races like the tour divide you're looking at treaded 2.1" 50mm tires.

[jed]

Isn’t Phil Burt the guy that pays Katie Kookaburra for the occasional bike fit related infomercial?

[maxsievers]

Carbon gets destroyed too easily when getting scratched or bent. Carbon tubes are just stiffer than steel. There might be theories that proof otherwise but with real world tubes are carbon fork is always stiffer than a rim brake steel fork. I also trust the bolt holes in a steel frame more than in a carbon frame.

[philiprayner]

how about a cruiser bike with upgraded gearing ?

[davehoover]

You really lost me when you said we just need two groups - carbon or metal. Tubing, Ti and weight all within the metal category alone, can have huge impact on how your bike performs. I know this is an intro video, but can’t really just gloss over the variables here.

[whichwayiszigzag]

I can't ride more than 200km (8 hours) without destroying my undercarriage. No combination of chamois, cremes, bike fit seem to help.

[alexhelling]

The drawbacks you talk about with tire width are minimal compared to actual efficiency and speed. When compared to comfort and how your body performs after a full day on the bike. Then all metals being the same. SMH you have no clue there guy.