Best tour bike for around £1000

[Cycleops]

Looks good @Spiderweb but the calipers are Avid BB5s which have had a bit of a bashing on here and have been superseded by the 7s.Apart from that bike should be well up to the job.

 

[raleighnut]

The Voyage is steel, it's the model below - the Tour - which is alloy. My missus has one of them and it's a nice bike, well up to the job.

I wasn't sure, my Ridgeback is a 90s Adventure Hybrid that I acquired when Maz's daughter and her husband moved into Army Quarters and what was left of the bike was in the garage. They were 'Officers' quarters too, a 4 bed detached house (Ian was a Sargeant) so highly unlikely to have been nicked.

EDIT - BTW the frame is Tange CrMo.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

You have set a very difficult question because you can tour on anything from a beaten up steel bike from the 50s to a modern touring bike. Drop bars, flat bars? Going fast or pootling. Tent and all the gear or hostels, hotels and B&Bs. It all makes a difference on what bike you choose.

This. OP, can you assist with some more info? Without it you'll simply get a list of bikes

 

[Danny1502]

Thanks for the replies folks, lot of good stuff. I suppose i want something quite light, panniers, mudguards and disc brakes. I actually bought a genesis and hated it, sold it at a loss. I do plan on using panniers and probably occasionally camping rough. Steel seems to be the best approach fromwhat i read. Again thanks for your advice up till now. D

 

[Cycleops]

@Danny1502 I'd be interested to know what put you off the Genesis.

 

[Danny1502]

Hi C,
I had three punctures in around 15 Miles. Checked the tyres and wheel with no obvious cause and the puncture s at different points. It may have just been bad luck but really put me off them!

 

[Cycleops]

Hi C,
I had three punctures in around 15 Miles. Checked the tyres and wheel with no obvious cause and the puncture s at different points. It may have just been bad luck but really put me off them!

Oh dear, sorry about that but remember that OE tyres are rarely substantial affairs.

 

[User169]

Unfortunately Danny there is no ‘best bike for the money’ simply because there now such a bewildering choice of options. Much of it comes down to personal preference and price. I would go for a quality steel frame and forks, combined brake/gear shifters, drop bars and disc brakes. Most will now have discs.

The Panorama suggested by raleighnut is a good one but they have some cheaper options if you feel that is too pricey: https://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bikes/touring

Something else to consider, you don’t necessarily need rack and panniers, there is now a trend for ‘bikepacking’ meaning everything is carried in packs attached to the frame/bars/seat tube. It means you travel lighter with better weight distribution but forces you to take just the essentials and it also opens up the choice of bikes. Loads of videos on YouTube.

View attachment 390814

Good luck with whatever you decide.

All City bikes. V nice.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

What I would really like you to do is buy one of these http://www.bootleg.it/b-product2/hobo-rats/ so we can get an honest review. I’ve seen a guy locally on one and it’s a lovely looking machine. I just haven’t met anyone who has toured on one long term or found a long term review to read. Haven’t tried YouTube.

Ever so grateful

On budget too: https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cinelli-Ho...Iip_j963L2AIV7rvtCh2ykgt1EAQYASABEgIwV_D_BwE#

 

[GrumpyGregry]

View attachment 390831 I think this Tiagra specc'd steel framed Holdsworth from Planet X looks great value for money at £699. Mudguard & pannier mounts included and if you require extra gears for hills I'm sure they would supply with a 34 or 36t cassette.
Plenty of money left over for racks and some Ortlieb panniers.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOL...io-shimano-tiagra-4700-touring-adventure-bike

Very nice. But there's a but...

Avoid Avid BB5's on a long haul load carrier, is my advice. BB7's are a much better bet for that sort of usage.

EDIT : tmn to @Cycleops

 

[vickster]

Could change to BB7 or TRP Spyres for £100 or so. PX might even do as a custom build

 

[Danny1502]

Thats not a problem with the bike its the tyre!, Its really sad that you sold it just because of this, all you needed was more puncture resistant tyres.
If you struggle with bike maintenance then I'd try to improve before you go on a tour.
Steel tourers dont tend to be light.

Hi,
I’ve no problem with maintenance, had bikes most of my life but repairing punctures On a brand new bike three times over a relatively short distance did not breed confidence in the bike. Two of the punctures were over a 8 mile trip.

 

[vickster]

Or get the wheels replaced under warranty if they were potentially the issue if better tyres didn't resolve?

 

[jay clock]

View attachment 390831 I think this Tiagra specc'd steel framed Holdsworth from Planet X looks great value for money at £699. Mudguard & pannier mounts included and if you require extra gears for hills I'm sure they would supply with a 34 or 36t cassette.
Plenty of money left over for racks and some Ortlieb panniers.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOL...io-shimano-tiagra-4700-touring-adventure-bike

It looks lovely but only for ultralight touring. Those wheels ( i have counted three times) appear to have 21 spokes (which must be wrong?) and there is no way I would sling panniers on there

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You could do worse than a Jamis Aurora. You may even find an Aurora Elite at the right price.