Best bike for touring AND commuting

[naitreid]

I am planning to purchase a bike for some touring. I am planning to go for some trips mostly around Europe where roads are good.
I will also want to use the same bicycle for commuting.
My budget is around 3500£.

What do you suggest?

I have been doing some simple mountain biking but nothing else, so I know NOTHING about touring bikes.

 

[HelenD123]

Will you be buying the bike in Finland? I don't know what bikes are available over there.

 

[naitreid]

Well, it would be the best if I can find it here.
I don't really know how else I could buy it.

 

[srw]

At £3500 the world is your oyster - and I'd recommend looking at the Van nicholas range and the Thorn range, especially the Rohloff models. But do you really want to leave such an expensive bike at your place of work? Why not buy two bikes? £3000 would still get you a very very good bike, better than most people tour with, and leave you with £500 for a fairly cheap commuter.

 

[upsidedown]

Koga Miyata World Traveller Signature would be my choice, fat chance of that though.

 

[andym]

A difficult question to answer withou knowing things like how long your commute is and whether you live and work in the city or in the country.

I take it you have somewhere secure to leave your bike at work, but what about if you want to stop off at the shops.

Also do you plan to camp? Also do you need/want to ride with snow tyres? And is you commute flat or hilly.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Like srw says, anything with a Rohloff hub gear: I've got one and they are bomb proof. If you want off the peg get a Thorn (also very tough machines) or go tailor made.

 

[SurlyNomad]

+1 on the koga miyata, you can go on their website and design your own settup. but failing that i am very happy with my sury LHT.

 

[pshore]

+1 to getting two bikes.

I commute on my Dawes Galaxy but sometimes wish for a cheap bike I am more prepared to leave anywhere, I just love my Galaxy too much to risk it (except on tour). Other times I wish for a lighter audax bike with skinny tyres as a commuter/training bike (bought a used road bike to scratch that itch). I have a mountain bike too. Love them all.

You always need n+1 bikes !

 

[andrew_s]

Fully kitted up touring bikes (mudguards, rear rack, dynamo lights) make good commuting bikes if you've only one bike, but are a bit expensive if you don't have safe bike storage at work.
Something along the lines of the Galaxy, with flat bars if preferred.
Tyres can go down to 28 or 25mm for a faster ride if you've a longer commute.

 

[Muddyfox]

If i had 3.5k to spend i'd get a Rohloff Belt Drive Santos Travelmaster

Simon

 

[danrees]

I don't know about 'best' because I have only tried one, but I have the Dawes Galaxyplus. The RRP was £1,300 but I managed to get it for £1,000 and then through the UK Cycle to Work scheme so it ended up costing me less than £500 over 12 months.

I have used it pretty much every other day on average to cycle to work as well as approx 40 mile day rides in the Kent High Weald and South West Wales (both of which have the odd hill), and it is very comfortable.

 

[willem]

This is the kind of money that will buy you almost any bike you decide you need. It is also the kind of budget where a custom frame seems like a good idea: fit is everything, after all. I don't know of a Finnish frame builder, so you may have to get it from a Dutch frame builder like m-gineering or a German frame builder. Of off the peg bikes, I think the German Idworx brand may have what you need, and you may be able to get it in Finland.
Beyond that, I think it pays to carefully consider the type of bike. A Rohloff hub is a good idea, and so is a SON hub generator (with edelux headlight and B&M generator taillight) for reliable lights. I am not sure how far into the winter you intend to ride, but I would expect provision for wide winter tyres with or without spikes (of the latter I like the Conti Topcontact Winter II). This suggests a bike with 26 inch mtb wheels and mudguards with pretty wide cleareance. In summer you could then fit faster tyres like 50 mm Schwalbe Big Apples. Handle bar choice is very personal. I like drops, but others prefer straight bars. In cold weather hydraulic brakes are an advantage.
Willem

 

[tbtb]

I have been doing some simple mountain biking but nothing else, so I know NOTHING about touring bikes.

My advice is not to walk into a bike shop and tell them you have 3.5k to spend. Start at 1k and see how it goes. You could do worse than buying the bottom of the range tourer from Edinburgh Bicycle online. There aren't many sizes so sizing is easy (with a bit of forum reading). Nice blue colour. £500 or so. You can view it as a learning tool before you spend 3k, or end up keeping it and rolling the spare cash over onto camping gear or hotels, a great aeroplane bike box and flights to sunny climes.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

My advice is not to walk into a bike shop and tell them you have 3.5k to spend. Start at 1k and see how it goes. You could do worse than buying the bottom of the range tourer from Edinburgh Bicycle online. There aren't many sizes so sizing is easy (with a bit of forum reading). Nice blue colour. £500 or so. You can view it as a learning tool before you spend 3k, or end up keeping it and rolling the spare cash over onto camping gear or hotels, a great aeroplane bike box and flights to sunny climes.

Get the next one up, with the steel frame