Cannondale Topstone
- Thread starter Fraz21
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HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
Maybe throw up a link?
How about some other information such as where you plan on touring, for how long, on what kind of surfaces, what baggage you plan on bringing, what distances you plan on covering?
Not trying to be obtuse, just these things are kind of important in judging the usefulness of a bike.
For what it's worth, I tour on a 20+ year old MTB. I'd suggest to anyone starting touring to go easy on the gear investment until you've a bit of experience under your belt. My idea of touring has evolved so much that any investment in a new bike at the start would have severely limited my options further down the road.
Good luck!
How about some other information such as where you plan on touring, for how long, on what kind of surfaces, what baggage you plan on bringing, what distances you plan on covering?
Not trying to be obtuse, just these things are kind of important in judging the usefulness of a bike.
For what it's worth, I tour on a 20+ year old MTB. I'd suggest to anyone starting touring to go easy on the gear investment until you've a bit of experience under your belt. My idea of touring has evolved so much that any investment in a new bike at the start would have severely limited my options further down the road.
Good luck!
Hi Hobbiesontour
HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
Have you toured before?
What cycling experience do you have?
80 to 100 miles a day are long days! If I do those numbers in kms I'm happy. Don't forget to take rest days into account - your body will need them at that rate.
With 4 panniers I'm assuming you're camping?
The northern end of that route gets quite cold!
It's a hodgepodge of routes joined together so some will be easy to navigate but others will be more challenging.
I still don't see a link to the bike but I'm not really one for discussing the merits or otherwise of different machines. We all make our own journeys.
Generally, comfort is the most important. A few basic mechanical skills help, but are not essential. Knowing the basic adjustments you may need to make to brakes or gearing can reduce costs and stress. After that, it's all personal preference.
Tim Moore wrote an entertaining account of that route that may help with inspiration (not so much the practicalities) and this route has been discussed here before if you use the search function.
Good luck!
What cycling experience do you have?
80 to 100 miles a day are long days! If I do those numbers in kms I'm happy. Don't forget to take rest days into account - your body will need them at that rate.
With 4 panniers I'm assuming you're camping?
The northern end of that route gets quite cold!
It's a hodgepodge of routes joined together so some will be easy to navigate but others will be more challenging.
I still don't see a link to the bike but I'm not really one for discussing the merits or otherwise of different machines. We all make our own journeys.
Generally, comfort is the most important. A few basic mechanical skills help, but are not essential. Knowing the basic adjustments you may need to make to brakes or gearing can reduce costs and stress. After that, it's all personal preference.
Tim Moore wrote an entertaining account of that route that may help with inspiration (not so much the practicalities
) and this route has been discussed here before if you use the search function.Good luck!
Yes only in the Uk over 3 days with camping I’ve got an old Specialised rim break aluminium so I’m just wanting a upgrade https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/bikes/road/gravel/topstone-alloy/topstone-105Have you toured before?
What cycling experience do you have?
80 to 100 miles a day are long days! If I do those numbers in kms I'm happy. Don't forget to take rest days into account - your body will need them at that rate.
With 4 panniers I'm assuming you're camping?
The northern end of that route gets quite cold!
It's a hodgepodge of routes joined together so some will be easy to navigate but others will be more challenging.
I still don't see a link to the bike but I'm not really one for discussing the merits or otherwise of different machines. We all make our own journeys.
Generally, comfort is the most important. A few basic mechanical skills help, but are not essential. Knowing the basic adjustments you may need to make to brakes or gearing can reduce costs and stress. After that, it's all personal preference.
Tim Moore wrote an entertaining account of that route that may help with inspiration (not so much the practicalities
Good luck!
newfhouse
Resolutely on topic
I’d be wary of putting front panniers on a carbon fork that wasn’t designed for the extra load. Any attachment is going to be a bodge of some sort.
HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
I think it's important when someone speaks of upgrading to ask the simple questions of what and why.
What is "wrong" with your current bike, what do you want to improve about it and will the new bike satisfy those without bringing new challenges?
I built my bike to my own specs based on what I learned touring on a hybrid.
Two things leap out at me from your link:
The first is the carbon fork. How compatible is that with a front rack?
The second is the gearing. At first glance that looks a little off for climbing with a loaded bike.
Since I'm a frugal sort, I'd always advise anyone to first look at their existing bike and see how it can be improved.
Upgrading an old bike has three main advantages in my book
It's less likely to be stolen, and therefore less stressful to take to strange places
Since it's already a bit old and battered, it's (psychologically) easier to take apart and play with, to understand how it works rather than a gleaming high tech new one. Such knowledge and confidence is very valuable on a tour away from home. Not essential, but comforting.
Thirdly, generally components are cheaper. More money for time on the road!
Have you tried searching Topstone on the forum? I'm sure you can call on the advice of other owners. Using @ like @Fraz21 will give them a notification - fill in the first letters of their name.
My personal view is that touring is less about what's under your ass and more about what's beating in your chest.
Good luck.
What is "wrong" with your current bike, what do you want to improve about it and will the new bike satisfy those without bringing new challenges?
I built my bike to my own specs based on what I learned touring on a hybrid.
Two things leap out at me from your link:
The first is the carbon fork. How compatible is that with a front rack?
The second is the gearing. At first glance that looks a little off for climbing with a loaded bike.
Since I'm a frugal sort, I'd always advise anyone to first look at their existing bike and see how it can be improved.
Upgrading an old bike has three main advantages in my book
It's less likely to be stolen, and therefore less stressful to take to strange places
Since it's already a bit old and battered, it's (psychologically) easier to take apart and play with, to understand how it works rather than a gleaming high tech new one. Such knowledge and confidence is very valuable on a tour away from home. Not essential, but comforting.
Thirdly, generally components are cheaper. More money for time on the road!
Have you tried searching Topstone on the forum? I'm sure you can call on the advice of other owners. Using @ like @Fraz21 will give them a notification - fill in the first letters of their name.
My personal view is that touring is less about what's under your ass and more about what's beating in your chest.
Good luck.
- Location
- London
Lots of things wrong with that bike for lugging 4 panniers and possibly more.
Not least the carbon fork as mentioned upthread.
105 doesn't strike me as best for a touring bike - needless expense.
I'd avoid 11 speed as well.
Suggest you dump the "upgrade" word, I fear someone has "upsold" you.
I'd pause awhile and take Hobbes' advice about feeling your way before splashing out on a new bike for your planned adventure.
Winter is upon us - ideal fettling time.
Might be an idea to post a pic/specs of your existing bike.
may be a good fettling platform.
Not least the carbon fork as mentioned upthread.
105 doesn't strike me as best for a touring bike - needless expense.
I'd avoid 11 speed as well.
Suggest you dump the "upgrade" word, I fear someone has "upsold" you.
I'd pause awhile and take Hobbes' advice about feeling your way before splashing out on a new bike for your planned adventure.
Winter is upon us - ideal fettling time.
Might be an idea to post a pic/specs of your existing bike.
may be a good fettling platform.
andrew_s
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gloucester
The Topstone is intended for unladen day rides, and over the course of a couple of years that's what you'll do most of, by some margin.
If you want one bike, there's nothing wrong with getting a bike that's more suitable for most of the year, and making do for the tour.
So, lightweight hotel/hostel/B&B touring will not be a problem. Just bear in mind that you can wash stuff during the tour and don't need to carry enough to last.
Camping touring is more difficult. The bike isn't designed for carrying a load, so there's just the rear pannier rack and whatever you can put on the handlebars available for storage (handlebar bag or bikebacking style swag roll).
It's quite possible to fit camping gear in two panniers and the tent on top of the rack, but the more weight you load up with, the more the handling of a bike that's not designed for it will be affected.
Maybe you'll get used to the different handling after a couple of days and stop noticing it, maybe it will be a problem for the whole tour, but the only way to tell which is to try it and see.
If you do use a Topstone for a camping tour, make every effort to keep the weight down, particularly high up at the back.
Bear in mind that lightweight and compact camping gear generally isn't cheap, and that what you don't take weighs nothing.
If you want one bike, there's nothing wrong with getting a bike that's more suitable for most of the year, and making do for the tour.
So, lightweight hotel/hostel/B&B touring will not be a problem. Just bear in mind that you can wash stuff during the tour and don't need to carry enough to last.
Camping touring is more difficult. The bike isn't designed for carrying a load, so there's just the rear pannier rack and whatever you can put on the handlebars available for storage (handlebar bag or bikebacking style swag roll).
It's quite possible to fit camping gear in two panniers and the tent on top of the rack, but the more weight you load up with, the more the handling of a bike that's not designed for it will be affected.
Maybe you'll get used to the different handling after a couple of days and stop noticing it, maybe it will be a problem for the whole tour, but the only way to tell which is to try it and see.
If you do use a Topstone for a camping tour, make every effort to keep the weight down, particularly high up at the back.
Bear in mind that lightweight and compact camping gear generally isn't cheap, and that what you don't take weighs nothing.
Correct don’t think it’s advisable putting panniers on carbon forks
I’ve done a bit of research on this today and discovered the difference with bike packing and bike touring it’s all about the amount of days and kit looking at a Kona now 🙈
I’m not waiting to tweak to much with my old trusty bike as I tend to use this in the winter when the gritters have been out and it al has rim breaks that might be a problem with the added weight of my kit
newfhouse
Resolutely on topic
I'm sure it can be done if they're designed for the job, but not the stock ones on that Cannondale.
Why not look at a tourer thats designed for the job, or if you want a multi purpose bike, something like a Genesis CdF or TdF. Plenty of fans (and threads) on here, me included.
HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
Forgive me if it seems like I'm badgering, but I haven't actually seen anything that you are looking for in a bike other than to do the Iron Curtain route with 4 panniers.
A bike is for life - not just one trip, so again, I'd focus on having a really good think about what else you might fancy doing.
Going online and looking at what's available without a reference point? That way lies madness!
As for the touring/bikepacking debate? Give me 10 people and I'll give you 20 definitions!
On the bikepacking theme there's a great write up here on a Slovenian trip. That bike can be set up for panniers too, if I remember correctly.
You haven't mentioned budget either and I've no idea what gear you have, but remember to put some money aside for equipping the bike and yourself, if necessary.
There are lots of previous threads about touring bikes, equipment etc. Have a look through or use the search function.
On a housekeeping note, if the Topstone is no longer interesting maybe ask the mods to change the title or start a new thread - you'll probably attract more replies.
Good luck!