Bike recommendations for Long distance touring

[nm133775]

In a little under a months time I'm embarking on a 3,500 - 4000 mile trip of America. So... I need a bike. A good bike, rather than the £80 Halfords bike I have to tide me over at the moment. (Which by the way, is dreadful)

So I had some touring bikes lined up for test riding at Evans and I didn't like them. These were £1200 - £1500 touring bikes and I just didn't like them. I was riding them thinking these just aren't comfortable for me and I couldn't imagine for any second that I would enjoy riding 4000 miles on a bike like this. I didn't feel stable, it was just all weird and I didn't like it. So I cancelled those bikes for purchase after a discussion with the (very helpful) Evans guy.

It was the first time I'd ever ridden with drop handlebars. And so I wasn't used to it which is probably why I felt so uncomfortable on the bikes. I could barely turn without hitting the front wheel with my feet and there was absolutely no suspension which baffles me... I can ride 60miles on my crappy hybrid and feel nothing but 5 minutes on a standard road with a tourer and my arse was red! I can ride all day on my hybrid if i have to, I'd rather not as it's just not fun... But I recon I'd be done after half on hour on one of those.

So a bit of detail as to me as a cyclist and this trip. I'm a casual cycler and will be a casual tourer. I'm not about distance covered, or speed, or riding out 100 mile days. (Though, It does irritate me when I'm sprinting down a road and then someone overtakes me effortlessly...) In fact, I don't even like riding on roads. I'll usually stick to the pavement unless I have no choice. It's just a nice relaxing way to travel. The reason why I opted out of these touring bikes was because I guess I did my research wrong. I seemed to think that a tourer was a rugged bike you could throw anything at. That you could attach some thick tires to them and take them round the Andes or something but are just as capable with road biking or rocky desert biking. But apparently they're just sturdier road bikes, and if there was a nice wooded passage i wanted to explore, I was advised that I wouldn't really be able to do so on a touring bike. And with the complete lack of suspension I experienced on just a flat road, I'd agree with that...

Most of this trip is going to be on paved surfaces and roads I'd imagine, but like i said, if there's a nice wooded passage that knocks 10 miles off to the next town, it would be nice to take it and so I'm looking at other bike options because I don't think a touring bike is for me. I actually felt like my Halfords bike would serve me better than the expensive ones I was testing.

So I'm asking for recommendations on the 'types' of bikes and components I could research for alternatives. Something that will provide me mainly with comfort whilst being to ride effortlessly for hours. None of the touring bikes i tested supplied me with any comfort whatsoever and I'm quite disappointed with that. As I said, the fact that there was no suspension baffled me. Surely, if you want to be riding for 8 hours a day or so, it's good to not be feeling sore after 5 minutes. I'm interested to know if there are any types of hybrids, or other bikes with flat handle bars that are capable of/built for long distance touring. I've seen them more as a compromise bike that can't generally do anything well but if there's anything lying around?

Sorry it's a little long... =/

 

[KneesUp]

If the bikes were uncomfortable on the road, it is because they were set up incorrectly - or weren't very well designed touring bikes. What models did you try.

What you need is wider tyres - this will give you comfort without the weight and complexity of suspension. If you get one of the bikes with 26" wheels (I think Ridgeback do one) you will be able to get wide tyres (which crucially don't need as much pressure in them) and eliminate any semblance of toe-overlap (the wheel hitting your foot as you steer) I guess you rode bikes with 700c wheels, and it sounds likely they had tyres pumped up to 'road bike' pressures - which would make them uncomfortable.

 

[vickster]

I'd Get in touch with Spa cycles in Harrogate who specialise in touring bikes unlike Evans.

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p0

They may not be local but given how much you will be riding the bike. I'd say they'd be worth a trip. Look at steel frames, avoid suspension for road riding, I'm not sure how much pavement you'll find in the US to ride on, or whether it's allowed for bikes (like it isn't in the uk except shared use paths)

You'll need to fit panniers front and rear, which might not be possible on a suspension hybrid or hard tail

 

[steve50]

You've already answered your own question, a good quality hybrid with decent tyres fitted will take you just about anywhere on or off road. I would suggest the person who advised you at Evans probably thought you wanted a pure road bike (drop handlebar road bike) for touring when the reality is a hybrid will do the job every bit as well as a road bike with the choice of more gears if required, you may also like to consider a hard tail as a touring bike option, front suspension all terrain bikes. The choices are pretty much endless and considering the mileage you are going to cover the build quality and price will obviously affect your choice of bike.

 

[Donger]

Did you try a Ridgeback Panorama? I love mine, and find it very comfortable. Although it is basically a tourer, I use it as my number one bike, enter audaxes on it, and even use it for club rides, where I can just about keep up with the roadies. Although it has drop bars, it does have additional high level brakes that make for added comfort on long rides. When I was choosing it, I remember also researching the oddly named "Surly Long Haul Trucker", which was on my shortlist. (Might also be worth looking at). Good luck with your search for the right bike.

 

[damj]

S

In a little under a months time I'm embarking on a 3,500 - 4000 mile trip of America. So... I need a bike. A good bike, rather than the £80 Halfords bike I have to tide me over at the moment. (Which by the way, is dreadful)

So I had some touring bikes lined up for test riding at Evans and I didn't like them. These were £1200 - £1500 touring bikes and I just didn't like them. I was riding them thinking these just aren't comfortable for me and I couldn't imagine for any second that I would enjoy riding 4000 miles on a bike like this. I didn't feel stable, it was just all weird and I didn't like it. So I cancelled those bikes for purchase after a discussion with the (very helpful) Evans guy.

It was the first time I'd ever ridden with drop handlebars. And so I wasn't used to it which is probably why I felt so uncomfortable on the bikes. I could barely turn without hitting the front wheel with my feet and there was absolutely no suspension which baffles me... I can ride 60miles on my crappy hybrid and feel nothing but 5 minutes on a standard road with a tourer and my arse was red! I can ride all day on my hybrid if i have to, I'd rather not as it's just not fun... But I recon I'd be done after half on hour on one of those.

So a bit of detail as to me as a cyclist and this trip. I'm a casual cycler and will be a casual tourer. I'm not about distance covered, or speed, or riding out 100 mile days. (Though, It does irritate me when I'm sprinting down a road and then someone overtakes me effortlessly...) In fact, I don't even like riding on roads. I'll usually stick to the pavement unless I have no choice. It's just a nice relaxing way to travel. The reason why I opted out of these touring bikes was because I guess I did my research wrong. I seemed to think that a tourer was a rugged bike you could throw anything at. That you could attach some thick tires to them and take them round the Andes or something but are just as capable with road biking or rocky desert biking. But apparently they're just sturdier road bikes, and if there was a nice wooded passage i wanted to explore, I was advised that I wouldn't really be able to do so on a touring bike. And with the complete lack of suspension I experienced on just a flat road, I'd agree with that...

Most of this trip is going to be on paved surfaces and roads I'd imagine, but like i said, if there's a nice wooded passage that knocks 10 miles off to the next town, it would be nice to take it and so I'm looking at other bike options because I don't think a touring bike is for me. I actually felt like my Halfords bike would serve me better than the expensive ones I was testing.

So I'm asking for recommendations on the 'types' of bikes and components I could research for alternatives. Something that will provide me mainly with comfort whilst being to ride effortlessly for hours. None of the touring bikes i tested supplied me with any comfort whatsoever and I'm quite disappointed with that. As I said, the fact that there was no suspension baffled me. Surely, if you want to be riding for 8 hours a day or so, it's good to not be feeling sore after 5 minutes. I'm interested to know if there are any types of hybrids, or other bikes with flat handle bars that are capable of/built for long distance touring. I've seen them more as a compromise bike that can't generally do anything well but if there's anything lying around?

Sorry it's a little long... =/

Agree with steve50, hybrid all the way, surely you wouldn't need to spend so much? If you're doing that in one go you might never ride again! Lol

 

[nm133775]

This was my shortlist.

https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-awol-elite-2016-touring-bike-EV244912 - Dreadful saddle. It was a rock and dug in. I said if i got this bike then I'd HAVE to buy a new saddle, it was ridiculous. Fairly smooth ride and you could ride quickly without much effort. Utterly no suspension whatsoever and I wouldn't have been able to ride it for long periods. My number 1 bike of the tested ones.

https://www.evanscycles.com/jamis-aurora-elite-2016-touring-bike-EV245098 - Ok. Wouldn't have wanted to cover the mileage on it at all. Pretty much ruled it out after the first ride. Didn't at all like the gear placement or how they worked, the ride wasn't as... nice as the specialised and the hardlebars were too far away from the saddle. Had better suspension and a comfortable saddle but not enough to make me think that I'd be riding without pain.

https://www.evanscycles.com/dawes-galaxy-classic-531-2016-touring-bike-EV238302 - generally wasn't very nice... Ruled it out once the specialised was superior.

I'll need to have a look at some hardtails. And in my looking up at The ridgeback Panaramo have come across the 'Ridgeback Expedition 2016 Touring bike'
https://www.evanscycles.com/ridgeback-expedition-2016-touring-bike-EV258092
This also has flats. Might this be the sort of bike I'm after?

Thanks for the responses.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd give this a try, should cope with off-road jaunts.

https://www.evanscycles.com/ridgeback-expedition-2016-touring-bike-EV258092

 

[MarkF]

I tour on hybrids, I did for years without issues but bought a tourer (Dawes Horizon) because I thought it'd be better, comfier and I'd notice the difference. I didn't and sold it after one trip. I've since always toured on flat barred hybrids, Dawes Discovery's and Spesh Sirrus's, they suit me and I can ride all day without any discomfort.

However, I have my mind on a big trip and wanted something tougher, a bit sturdier, something that could take more weight and abuse and be more useful off road. Not having the cash for something in the Thorn bracket I bought a Dawes Sardar.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-dawes-cycles-sardar-08-24163/

 

[Racing roadkill]

The weight and draggier tyres of a hybrid, would mean you probably expended about 20% more effort, over the road bike. But if you wanted a happy compromise, I'd say look at a cyclocross type bike. You'd still have to adjust to drop bars, but if it was set up / fitted correctly, you'd soon get used to it.

 

[steveindenmark]

I have a Koga World Traveller and it has been a wonderful bike from day 1. I have changed the seat to a Brooks B17 and added a bar bag and thats it.

It has a good sit up position for long days in the saddle. It also has a great range of 30 gears which is great for the flat or Sa Collabra in Majorca.

I really cannot fault it for a touring bike. Especially if you have a heavy load. It may not be a Porche, but it certainly is a Rolls Royce.

 

[Bodhbh]

If I was going to tour the US, I'd fly there, visit a Surly dealer, try a few of the bikes then buy one on the spot and save the shipping. They do loads of flavours of touring bike, most capable of taking in some off-road...as well as the racks and whatever else you need for your trip.

 

[nm133775]

I tour on hybrids, I did for years without issues but bought a tourer (Dawes Horizon) because I thought it'd be better, comfier and I'd notice the difference. I didn't and sold it after one trip. I've since always toured on flat barred hybrids,/

I feel much better hearing someone else say this. What you said was essentially why i was opting for tourers in the first place too, and then I had the same feelings as yours whilst testing them. I don't feel like an I'm being an uneducated idiot who knows nothing about touring by wanting to tour using flats now! I actually really like the look of yours. It looks like just the sort of thing I want. Maybe thinner tyres perhaps. I'll definitely look into that. Thanks again.

 

[nm133775]

If I was going to tour the US, I'd fly there, visit a Surly dealer, try a few of the bikes then buy one on the spot and save the shipping. They do loads of flavours of touring bike, most capable of taking in some off-road...as well as the racks and whatever else you need for your trip.

I actually thought of this (well, not the specific dealer) but wouldn't consider it. When I started this all off about 8 months ago, I didn't feel like beginning a trip that way would be viable. I thought that I'd buy a bike that I ultimately don't like and rush buying all the gear and get poor quality stuff on the fly and it ultimately just sort of seemed like suicide. In hindsight, after 8 months of planning and thinking about a 1st trip, it actually doesn't seem like the worst idea at all... But I've managed to find a nice cheap flight that will fly the bike for me, and I'm glad that I can just arrive in America, get a taxi to the hotel in the evening ready to just set off the following morning. So I'm happy.

 

[mjr]

Tour on what you find comfortable and makes you happy. Nothing else really matters.

The weight and draggier tyres of a hybrid, would mean you probably expended about 20% more effort, over the road bike.

Where did 20% come from? If you put a narrow 23mm Gatorskin or Lugano on the road bike and a 37mm Voyager Hyper or even ordinary Marathon on the hybrid, the hybrid will be less draggy... and the weight difference of the bikes is going to be negligible as a fraction of rider+luggage+bike.