Bike Advice

[Ben M]

Hey guys and gals,

A friend and I are thinking of doing a ~10 day tour along the North coast of France this summer. He did a similar tour last year and really enjoyed it.

Bike wise, last year he used his Marin Hybrid with some panniers and road tyres, he's thinking of either using that bike or getting a tourer for this year.

At the moment, I only have a commuter hack bike, and am going to buy another bike for the tour. The thing is, I don't think that I want a touring bike, I'd rather have something that I can have a bit of fun on around the roads near where I live, I may not do many other tours, so it seems a waste to buy a big heavy tourer which won't be as much fun to go on countryside afternoon rides on.

So the real question, how would something like this fare with rear panniers fit to it? And how would it be riding it for a few hours a day? Obviously I'd fit a nice comfy saddle =] That particular bike is pretty much at the top end of my price range I think.

Cheers in advance guys and gals.

 

[jags]

yeah nice bike and a good price,but fitting rear rack and panniers, emm might be a bit on the dodgy side.maybe if you could hire a bob trailer that might work.
paul smith on this forum will give you expert advice .

 

[Ben M]

A trailer is a big no I think.

I thought that that bike looks pretty sturdy by road bike standards...Would any road bike be able to handle rear panniers?

 

[samid]

...also, for touring, mudguards are highly recommended (hence, yet another need for eyelets missing on that bike). I would look for "audax" bicycles if I had a mix of light touring and fun rides in mind (and, in fact, my own touring bike is somewhat like that - definitely not a full-on heavy expedition style touring bike).

 

[Ben M]

I had thought of Audax bikes... but where would I find them? There isn't a category for them on the evans site. I thought that that Specialized was pretty audax-ie

edit:
is this more like it?
http://www.southwatercycles.com/products.php?plid=m1b5s6p3459&rs=gb

 

[vernon]

I had thought of Audax bikes... but where would I find them? There isn't a category for them on the evans site. I thought that that Specialized was pretty audax-ie

edit:
is this more like it?
http://www.southwatercycles.com/products.php?plid=m1b5s6p3459&rs=gb

Your pre-occupation with weight is a tad misplaced. Forwards progress is more dependant upon the 'engine' rather than the 'vehicle'. Tourers along the lines of a Dawes Galaxy are far from slow when ridden unladen - I know so because I've ridden around 100 Audax rides on mine and have kept up with much lighter bikes ridden by much younger riders.

The specialised is a nice bit of eye candy and is good at what it's designed for but it's not ideal for touring without modifying the gearing i.e. chainging the chain rings, cassette and rear derailleur. If you are a lightweight, fit rider touring with minimal loading then it might fit the bill but do consider fitting mudguards and whether or not a rack can be fitted.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

Are you racing or touring? Your hack bike may well be up for the trip, especially if you're there sightseeing and soaking up the atmosphere rather than chasing the horizon.

I'm off on a five day tour of the same area at the end of May. My fast bike is staying at home, and I've fitted a rack and panniers to my 1990's hybrid that I pulled out of a hedge in pieces.

 

[Ben M]

Hmm, I guess then I need to look into two things:
getting a ride on a tourer unladen to see what it's like
finding out if I could put up with my current bike for a week

cheers guys and gals =]

 

[jags]

ben-m take a look at the thorn range, mk3 might be of intrest to you.
also vernon gave you great advice ,dawes are also good.

 

[Jugular]

Or you could spend very little and buy a Edinburgh Cooperative tourer. It'll be around £300-£400 and after the tour you could probably sell it for little less than that. Alternatively, I'd second using the hack bike if it it'll take panniers and is steel.

 

[nigelnorris]

I have a very similar thread in the Commuting section, the only real difference being that I posted a picture of a Trek 1.5 from the Evans site as opposed to your Specialzed.

Since I started browsing I also came across the cyclo-cross section of Evans, something like this comes fitted for guards and a rack,comes with chunky tyres [presumably need changing for slick road tyres] and am hoping might fit the bill.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tricross-sport-2009-road-bike-ec016874

Also potentially this own branded one is well reduced, but limited sizes available.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/expede-10-cyclo-cross-bike-ec000947

Will be going to Evans in Brum in the next 2 days to chat with the staff. They have a ten percent off thing going on as well which helps.

 

[cisamcgu]

Dawes do a stortif/audax bike - which may fit the bill.

Or get the 2008 model for quite a good price !

 

[Randochap]

In my opinion, racing bikes are least suited of all to touring, for some of the reasons given above and many more.

Check out the touring pages at VeloWeb, including the page on touring bikes and also randonneuring pages, incl. "audax"/randonneuring bikes.

 

[chris667]

At the money you have to spend, I'd consider a secondhand touring bike; if you don't like it, sell it after the trip and get all your money back.
The reason tourers look so old fashioned with their mudguards, fatter tyres, and racks is because they are a design that works supremely well. My Galaxy is fast, comfortable, and efficient, all other things being equal it wouldn't lose anywhere near as much as you'd think to a "pure" road bike, but I can also load it up with a week's shopping and ride it through a field.
If I were you I'd join my local CTC group, and see if anyone has anything suitable available. Buying a bike for touring from the internet is madness.

 

[oscarplu]

Hi Ben, dont know what your budget is but last year i purchased a Koga Miyata Road Runner, and from what you are saying this would cover all your needs and last you a lifetime.
http://www.koga.com/nl/bike.asp?collectionid=10&segmentid=83&id=7585287