Veron I had thought of the Dawes Nomad as I allready ride a Kharakum but I dont need the front panniers and I would like disk brakes . I also looked at the Trek Soho but canot find a spec for a 2012 model or how much any extra's will cost. All so looked at the Ghost, but thought it may be a little too Germanic, though I realy fancy the Alfine hub . Both you and Blue are right about the training but the soding weather up here at the moment is damp and windy in three varitys Bad very bad and Bugger me.
Looks aren't everything.
Until the summer before last I was an avowed Dawes Galaxy/dropped barred touring bike advocate. One one fateful tour, the drop out of my Galaxy fractured in Orleans. I could have spent time trying to find somewhere that could repair the drop out or I could source a new replacement bike.I must add that the Dawes was due a complete drive train replacement, would have needed a frame respray and possibly a new wheel with the year so when i found a
Decathlon flat barred tourer with hub dynamo lighting and a rear rack in a ready to ride condition for 400 Euros, I bought it despite it having unconventional looks.
It proved to be a sound purchase. The comfort was equal to that of the Galaxy and despite fatter tyres I was covering the ground at the same average speed as I had done with the Galaxy
Over the past three years I have done most of my touring in France and Germany and there's barely a dropped barred tourer to be seen and when one it, it's usually pedalled by a Brit. I have grown lo like the appearance of the continental tourers and was increasingly drawn to Rohlhoff hubbed bikes though I remained unconvinced of their merits e.g. weight advantage, simplicity advantage and managed to talk myself out of owning one when talking to a pair Rohlhoff hubbed owners in Switzerland though I was intrigued by a belt driven Rohloff hubbed dutch built tourer. It's owner was full of praise for it. He had rim brakes but had upgraded them to magura hydraulic brakes which he claimed were as good as disc brakes.
In the background to all of these events, my local bikeshop was building their prototype belt driven Rohloff hubbed bike. I was taken to the inner sanctum to see it in it's naked metal form and it looked nice. I was promised a test ride when it was finished and I took advantage of the offer in October. It was eyeopening. The XT rim brakes were the most powerful rim brakes that I've used and were more than up to the job of hauling my carcase to a halt.
I paid a deposit on one at the end of November and I'll collect it in March.
It will look like this though it will not have the S&S couplings on the frame and the seat and down tubes will have white panels to relieve the monochrom nature of the current paint scheme.
As for the weather - it's just as 5hite here in Leeds as it is in your neck of the woods.
