Best Touring Bike for a Big Guy

[GatleyJim]

Hi, I am currently looking for a touring bike to buy on the Cycle2Work scheme. I did have a Ridgeback Horizon Audax bike but it was stolen. It was a 60cm frame and probably a little too small for me (I am 6'7"). I'm wondering if anyone knows of any touring bikes that are available in large sizes.

So far I have had a look the Dawes Galaxy, which is nice (apart from the gear shifters) but only goes upto a 60cm frame. I like the look of the Ridgeback Voyage and really like the Ridgeback Panorama but, again, they only go upto a 60cm frame.

I am thinking about going down the cyclocross route and have seen this Kona bike with a 62cm frame:

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/27574/Kona_Jake_Cyclocross_Bike_2010

It looks good to me but I am no expert.

I would rather have a proper touring bike with a long wheel-base and a decent range of gears and I'm happy to spend all the £1k available on my scheme on the bike but I just can't find a touring bike with a frame larger than 60cm.

Does anyone on here know of any? Also, would a cyclocross bike be a good substitute?

Thanks,

Jim.

 

[upsidedown]

I'm the same size as you and ride a 62cm Surly Long Haul Trucker. Brilliant bike. XT gearing and hubs,braze-ons for everything. Exactly on the thousand pound limit.

 

[GatleyJim]

I'm the same size as you and ride a 62cm Surly Long Haul Trucker. Brilliant bike. XT gearing and hubs,braze-ons for everything. Exactly on the thousand pound limit.

Cheers for the tipoff. It looks good to me but I'm not sure what extra I get compared to the Jake (which is £400 cheaper). I can use that £400 to buy accessories with. I will have a look at some reviews of the Surly though.

Cheers,

Jim.

 

[willem]

You get a frame that is designed for touring as opposed to a frame that was not, you get touring rather than road parts, and you get better quality parts. Fahradmanufaktur also do XL and XXL bikes.
Willem

 

[GatleyJim]

You get a frame that is designed for touring as opposed to a frame that was not, you get touring rather than road parts, and you get better quality parts. Fahradmanufaktur also do XL and XXL bikes.
Willem

Thanks for all the replies. I have decided to wait for the right bike to come up on Ebay and buy that. I just missed out on a lovely-looking 62cm Surly last night.

Jim.

 

[GatleyJim]

Quick update for what it's worth.

I spotted a 62cm Kona Jake for £479 on the cyclescheme here

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/kona_jake.html

and have decided to buy it.

Hould be with me sometime this week.

Can't wait!

 

[szygy]

Any feedback on your bike? I am very interested as I have an old cyclocross racer, which is amazing, but I cannot imagine a worse tourer. My bike is old fashioned in that it has a very very high BB and has no braze-ons for rack guards etc. It is an fantastic bike over all surfaces, but really demands being ridden hard for about an hour, after that it is a bit uncomfortable.

 

[GatleyJim]

Any feedback on your bike? I am very interested as I have an old cyclocross racer, which is amazing, but I cannot imagine a worse tourer. My bike is old fashioned in that it has a very very high BB and has no braze-ons for rack guards etc. It is an fantastic bike over all surfaces, but really demands being ridden hard for about an hour, after that it is a bit uncomfortable.

Hi szygy, today was my first ride on the Jake due to the cold weather and a spot of illness over the holidays. Very happy with it. I'm not much of an expert on these matters but it felt good to ride and is a decent size for me. It felt very sturdy and looks the part. I will probably add a longer stem (at a steeper angle) in due course and maybe some 46cm handlebars for my broad shoulders. Also, I will be upgrading the saddle in due course ashte one that comes on it doesn't offer that much protection. There is plenty of clearance for mudguards and adding the rack was very easy. The seatpost is probably long enough for somebody 7 feet tall! I did find on the way in this morning that my big cycling gloves made it difficult to use the Tiagra gear shifters. I think I preferred the set of 105's on my old bike but it's not the end of the world.

All in all I am very happy with it. I would have preferred a proper touring bike due to the steel frame and longer wheel-base (my feet did once catch my pannier bag this morning) but, for £500, I am very happy. I will be using it for commuting and touring. I will post more after a long day-ride if you are interested.

Cheers,

Jim.

 

[doog]

I have a specialised Tricross that I have used for commuting for nearly three years now after nearly getting a Jake. Also used it last year for two fully loaded short tours, ive done about 5,000 miles on it.

People talk about comfort but surely that only applies to people who dont cycle on a regular basis, if you are commuting on your bike you can tour on it within reason.


To be honest I love the bike and it has the gearing to handle most hills, its also fast (if you want fast) so I use it to train on as well. Would recommend this sort of bike (cyclocross) to anyone who wants a fast commuter and tourer all in one.

 

[Paul Walters]

Claude Bulter Dalesman. Same tubing as a Galaxy but with better equipment for the same size/priced bike. Done 1000's of miles on mine now. Snapped a chain and worn out a cassette, but otherwise no trouble. All built abroad now, so more £'s than before due to weak Stirling :-(