I need help deciding what type of bike to choose?

Question

me and my oldest brother are entering this bike tour next year called the Michigander bike tour and i need help deciding what type of bike to choose. it's a week long ride where its on the road and on these old rail road tracks that have the rails pulled up. so would a road or hybrid bike be the best and if you have any suggestions i would greatly appreciate it.

Answer 1

sounds like you need a good mountain bike for those tracks.  

Answer 2

This year the Michigander has an all-paved option, so a road bike will work fine for that option.

I don't usually recommend hybrids.  I liken them to SUV's, neither a good truck nor a good car.  But this kind of ride might be the exception.  I do RAGBRAI every year (Iowa) and almost everyone on the sag wagons -- those who can't make the route each day -- are on mountain bikes or hybrid bikes.  The one advantage of a hybrid over a mountain bike is that the tires have less rolling resistance.  But you still have the upright riding position which means wind resistance and a sore butt.

A cyclocross bike is an option you might consider. They use an aerodynamic riding position like a road bike, but have larger tires to accommodate riding in the rough.

Finally, hard to say.  I'd ask people who have done this ride before.

Good luck, and enjoy your adventure.

Answer 3

Do not go with a road bike :).

You should look into either a mountain bike or a hybrid (which would do just fine if not better). Which kind depends on two things:

1. Your budget

2. Your experience (but I assume you are a novice rider, in which case I think over that kind of distance you would be better off with a hybrid bike).

Go to a local bike store and ask them about hybrid bikes they carry, choose what fits your budget and have fun at the tour, sounds like a blast! I am jealous.

Cheers.