What sort of bike for touring in France?

My housemate is planning a trip in the summer and wants to spend about £300 on a bike. He wants an out and out road bike - but is that not strong enough etc?

He is tall and the cheap Tricross is availible still in his size. Will that do the job?

try it and see.

preferably french, they get a bit funny.

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If that's the geared tricross, then a very good idea, think they may even come with rack bosses too...but check that

Clue's in the name.

The only other thing is that he needs to make sure his bike is left-hand drive, as I believe they drive on the left in Continental Europe. Left-hand drive bikes should be cheaper in this country, as most are imported and then sold on because their owners find them not the most practical for British roads.

I shall refer to "left-hand drive bicycles" as "l-hdb" from this point on so as to limit repeating it unnecessarily.

Once he has found a l-hdb bike that has wheels and is capable of proper riding I would refer you to this post http://www.londonfgss.com/thread15292.html for some other accessories that would be essential, whether in town or country. There are good tips here on how to keep warm and where to put your stuff if your hands are full of things like handlebars. Be sure to get a bag that's compatible with a l-hdb, as British Standard ones will fall on the wrong shoulder, and are apparently too gay for Parisians anyway.

I could go on but I really should go out and enjoy this weather.

lol, good one :D

Except they drive on the right side in Europe? - Or was that the point of the joke?

Thy put the brakes on bikes the other way round too, but im guessing it wont make a difference and probably just confuse you.

My housemate is planning a trip in the summer and wants to spend about £300 on a bike. He wants an out and out road bike - but is that not strong enough etc?

He is tall and the cheap Tricross is availible still in his size. Will that do the job?

The cheap tricross will do the job but its single speed and not geared. If he's planning on heading away from the northern flatlands then he'd going to get into difficulty. The geared tricross is more expensive.

Also the bike doesn't come with a rack, mudguards, panniers and other touring neccessities and his remaining £25 isn't going to go far on that.

Is you housemate used to riding SS? If not I would seriously advise considering a different bike.

Clue's in the name.

You mean it has three gears?

i reckon you could ride a penny farthing and still have an awesome time

i reckon you could ride a penny farthing and still have an awesome time

@jar, good stuff :)
@lethal, do they not have left hand drive cars in europe???????????

The only other thing is that he needs to make sure his bike is left-hand drive, as I believe they drive on the left in Continental Europe.

@jar, good stuff :)
@lethal, do they not have left hand drive cars in europe???????????

yes left hand drive cars, but for driving on the right hand side of the road.