Bike suggestions for touring

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Hi,
I currently am using a Felt racer and have realised that i have done all I can to set it up as a touring bike with a nice easy gearing, fatter tyres and a rack.
I go for day rides and have done a few 100 milers and a London - Paris. Not worried about top speed, more about comfort and getting off the bike at the end feeling OK.
So I am looking at the options for buying a touring bike. Problem is I dont have much spare cash- certainly not to spend £1500 on a Super Galaxy. Looking at various Galaxys on ebay but a 10 year old one is still £500+
My present bike was £800 when new but I got it for £120 in good (ready to go) condition, so although I can see cycling is not expensive as far as sports go I am really looking at any way I can get sorted out with a good Touring bike for minimum cash. I cannot see any option but the new V expensive or second hand ebay but still quite a lot routes. While there are other makes other than Dawes they seem to be in the same price range. Any other alternative options out there?
 

suffolkcindy

Active Member
I love my Specialised Tricross for touring. It's a cyclocross bike but that means its light and has a triple chainset so it will go up hills easily but still cover good speed. Light, good at climbing and speed when you need it AND it has enough bottle carriers and pannier potential for fully loaded tours. Has stood me in good stead with no mechanicals over some long rough tours ... been thrown on boat roof tops, stuffed into bus storage and plane boxes, battled over rubble roads and through rivers...great bike! Nowadays aluminium is pretty sturdy for thousands of miles but if you want a 'tourer for life' then a high-tech steel or titanium frame would be better. The wheels are the important bit...too long a conversation for me on a Sunday morning...
Hope this helps a little (personally dont like Dawes at all at all...wrong weight/shape thing for my comfort but its personal)
 
Thanks Cindy, a line of attack I had not really thought about. I rather like the touring gear setup and the tricross may be too harsh for me (getting on a bit with dodgey knees I like a super small granny ring) although I can of course play about with the bike.

Jimmy the Country Traveller seems to tick all the boxes and I have had a look on CC as some old posts with them having good reports.
 

doog

....
Thanks Cindy, a line of attack I had not really thought about. I rather like the touring gear setup and the tricross may be too harsh for me (getting on a bit with dodgey knees I like a super small granny ring) although I can of course play about with the bike.

Jimmy the Country Traveller seems to tick all the boxes and I have had a look on CC as some old posts with them having good reports.


I have a Tricross but have virtually nothing of the original left as its been morphed into a semi - tourer. As you state even the triple isnt low geared enough for serious hills and replacing the granny ring may cause problems if you go too small. As Cindy says the wheels are no good for loaded touring so would need replacing,the stock tyres are poor and carbon forks dont sit easy with me either. In addition the centre of gravity is too high and its not really a relaxing ride. Fast yes but doesn't inspire confidence.
 
Bought a Super Galaxy on Ebay - going to pick it up later today!!

10 years old. Last of the horizontal bar types I think. Only supposed to have done 100 miles in its life!
Cheap for a Galaxy or daftly expensive for a 10 year old bike.

Just collected it and looked it over. It does look like new, there is no wear on anything and the rims dont look like the brakes have touched them. Really could be new in showroom.
It has a full set of Altura panniers (front, back and rack bag).
Only downside is it has a Selle San Marco saddle that has rather brash gold bits all over it which is a bit tarty. I will give it a try to see if I like it though.
Really pleased with it and hopefully will get some wear on it over the summer. Shame that it has been shut away for years.
 

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
Can't really go wrong with a Super Galaxy. :-) I had one for ten years, did everything and did it well.
 

willem

Über Member
Congratulations on a great find. However, bikes that have been in the shed this long may need new grease in the bearings, and a good inspection of the brake cables. You will also benefit from new brake pads (Koolstop Salmon) as the old ones will have deteriorated. Beyond that: enjoy,
Willem
 
Congratulations on a great find. However, bikes that have been in the shed this long may need new grease in the bearings, and a good inspection of the brake cables. You will also benefit from new brake pads (Koolstop Salmon) as the old ones will have deteriorated. Beyond that: enjoy,
Willem
Good points. I thought I would run it for 200 miles to let it bed in as it probably still needs the cables to stretch and then I will give it a really good going over. Costs nothing but time to re grease it and would be a shame to neglect it. I was thinking about the tyres and tubes being 10 years old but had not thought about the pads - but then the ones on my present bike are probably that old!!

It has been tucked away in a decent garage so has still got that new look to everything. All the bolts and screws I have touched free up fine so it seems to be ok but certainly rubber will age whatever. I will try to resist my urge to use gaffer tape on everything and use the proper fittings.
 
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