I need some advice from people who have experience with longer cycling journeys. Because of a lot of recent work related stress I have been looking at doing a solitary long cycling trip through my home country of Belgium. Specifically I'm eyeing a trip from my home city of Turnhout (Northern Flanders next to Dutch border) to the city of Bouillon (Southern Wallonia next to French border). The route I'm still determining on knooppunt planners as well as Garmin Connect but would be around 220-230km and 1800-2000m of climbing total though no really steep climbs (second half is definitely hilly though). I consider myself quite fit and am well adapted to long and intensive cycling trips. Thus I'd attempt to pick a day with plenty of sunlight, leave at around 6 and hope to arrive near the evening, stay a night there and then return by train the next day. Alternatively I could also go there by train and travel back by bicycle because that would be a descent rather than a climb on average.
I'm lucky to have available to me three bicycles to pick from:
– A Stevens Super Flight city bike weighing about 13kg with belt and Alfine 11 hub gear;
– A Gazelle speed pedelec I ride to work about 95km (round) three times per week with a 1000wH battery and about 230km range in eco on the flat, this one has a 10 speed derailler;
– …and obviously considering the community I'm posting in: a Brompton C-line 12 speed (H12R) that I don't yet have but am about to receive through fietslease.
I keep going back and forth between all three..
– The city bike seems like the ideal middle ground but in my experience the belt soaks up a lot of watts my legs put in. It's pleasant to ride, has no range anxiety and is super reliable though.
– The speed pedelec seems like the ideal comfort option and the one I feel most likely to finish the trip in a reasonable time on, though I would need to charge the bike at some points while resting for at least an hour or three total, otherwise I'm stuck dragging a 30kg beast up a hill.
– Then the Brompton: as light as the city bike and with about the same gear range but a more efficient chain, more comfortable riding position (though nowhere near the speed pedelec) and again no range anxiety. It would also be very convenient on the train. It does feel weird picking it over the other two though considering it's a little folding bike primarily for short distances in cities and I'm planning my longest single trip ever in a region that's hilly. Maybe I'm under- or overestimating it? It's also the bike I'm least familiar with (impressive 500m test ride vs 18000km on the city bike and 11000km on the speed pedelec, nearly all from commuting) so I find it hard to really estimate speed, efficiency, comfort etc.
I wonder if anyone here has thoughts on this and might convince me that the Brompton is (not) the way to go. I'd love to take this necessary trip and get to know my newest bike in the process.
If you have any other experience to share: well appreciated!
by BWUVT