Current bikes suitable for SE Asia?

[Jugular]

Hi,

I'm back to ask some questions, previous thread here:

https://www.cyclechat.net/

So, we're planning to cycle through Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos (in that order). I want to know if our bikes will be hardy enough for the trip. We wont be camping so we'll be slightly lighter but we are travelling on after the tour (bikes will be posted home) so will be carrying a few extras.

My wife owns a 26" wheeled custom built (~2002) George Longstaff compact framed touring bike, she complains that on her commute the gearing is too low (it has Campag all over, 9spd cassette but I don't know the sizes - in fact how do I easily find out?). She also doesn't get along with the shifters, those double clicks confuse her, tbh they may confuse me too but I haven't used them much. So in conclusion we'll be looking to get the gearing reconfigured, perhaps moving the Campag gear over to my Dawes Galaxy, and maybe getting new wheels.

My Dawes Galaxy currently has 27" wheels and 120mm OLN (or whatever was used back in the early 80s), the paint job is getting a little scratched but otherwise the bike is in absolutely excellent nick. I'm going to get dropouts sorted by a proper framebuilder (suggestions in the North West?), then it probably needs a paint job (comparables to Argos cycles in NW?), new wheels (Sputnik/XL 700C from Harry Rowland ~ £150-200 a pair). A whole new drivetrain possibly using the Campag bits from the Longstaff or, if not Campag, then barends (is this possible with old handlebars?).

What's the current last word on touring tyres? Anything else I should be thinking about bike-wise? Should I really be buying a Thorn and leaving the Galaxy to become a hack bike?

 

[andym]

The easy question to answer is about the cassette. The number of teeth should be stamped on the cogs. If not count the largest cog - the smallest is almost certain to be 11T.

I'd have thought the major issue as far as the Galaxy is concerned would be the OLD and the availability of suitable hubs that will take 36 spokes - and your choice will be even more limited if you want to put a Campag cassette on - but Harry R is the man to talk to. (when you say Sputnik/XL is that a typo for a shimano XT hub? In which case I think you may have problems).

Are you planning on doing a restore on the frame? An argos paintjob seems a bit expensive if you are then planning to take the bike round SE asia. A piwdercoat might be a better idea - or leave it until you get back.

There are alternatives to buying a Thorn eg Surly Long Haul Traveller.

 

[Jugular]

A Sputnik/LX is a Rigida Sputnik 36 hole rim with a Shimano LX Hub equivalent to these:
Spacycles
*Yeah I typo'ed the LX

Yes I'm planning to restore the frame. It's in good nick and after getting a new seatpost I'm happy that it fits me very well. It'll need some rear-triangle jiggerypokery to get a wider axle width. It'll also need new bottle cages (with ss bits) and a new seatpost clamp. Then after that work I assume it will need a respray. I'm hoping I can get all of that done for around £200. Then another £150 for new groupset bits and brakes. So hopefully it will be shipshape for SE Asia for the total of £500.

 

[andym]

The reason I asked about the wheels is that I'm doubtful you'll get LX hubs to fit that frame. Also the hub isn't compatible with a Compag cassette.

I don't know whether you can shoehorn an LX hub into but I'm very doubtful: it's designed to fit a frame with an OLD of 135mm. I think you are probably talking about at least a new frame and I suspect a new groupset rather than being able to cannibalise your wife's Campagnolo kit - unless you could find a Compag-compatible hub that would be suitable for touring.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[vernon]

There's also the change of wheelsize to take into account. If conventional calipers are used they might have to be replaced with long derop calipers.

If cantilevers are being used then the bosses will have to be relocated on the frame and forks.

It's a simple matter to have the rear triangle cold set to accommodate a 135OLN rear wheel.

I think that your rear triangle is currently at 126mm. If so, you could compromise and use a road rear hub as opposed to a mountain bike rear hub and its 130OLN can be accommodated by gently springing the back end apart with needing to cold set the frame.

 

[andym]

Yep a road hub would be less of a squeeze -and when it comes to the internals I don't think there's any difference between Shimano road and MTB mechs.

 

[Jugular]

Harry Rowland implored me not to get the rear triangle cold set (or at least not just that process) the dropouts need realigning as well apparently, otherwise other problems arise. Yep I was aware that the Shimano hub wouldn't be compatible with Campag cassettes but I'm still unsure whether my wife will be keeping her setup or not. I think I'll just buy Shimano parts in the end.

With the rear triangle being rebuilt/realigned I can then use a 135mm OLN hub, and it'll need respraying due to that too.

 

[goo_stewart]

Cycling in Southeast Asia isn't too rough on your bike. I use a basic Trek 3900 and have been using the same model for years. The roads are mostly sealed and the times on rough asphalt will be limited. However, the golden rule for Southeast Asia is to keep it simple. This is because, out of the large cities, good bike shops are hard to find (I am building a list of bike shops for SEA in a blog at Cycle shops in Thailand.

Btw, the links in my sig have changed to www.silk-wheels.com Cycle Information for Southeast Asia

 

[Ticktockmy]

Cycling in Southeast Asia isn't too rough on your bike. I use a basic Trek 3900 and have been using the same model for years. The roads are mostly sealed and the times on rough asphalt will be limited. However, the golden rule for Southeast Asia is to keep it simple. This is because, out of the large cities, good bike shops are hard to find (I am building a list of bike shops for SEA in a blog at Cycle shops in Thailand.

Btw, the links in my sig have changed to www.silk-wheels.com Cycle Information for Southeast Asia

I just read your accounts of the SG to BKK via the East coast of Malaysia, a route I always recommend to peeps, as to cycling from Changi Airport, as you know the first Km is normal road which then becomes expressway for one Km to the Tanah Merah interchange, this bit of expressway I always pedal like mad over that stretch then turn off into the East Coast Park and follow the cycle path from there, only been stopped by police once in 25 odd years, then only got a finger wagging.

 

[ready for the off]

Hi,

I'm back to ask some questions, previous thread here:

http://www.cyclechat..._1#entry1567296

So, we're planning to cycle through Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos (in that order). I want to know if our bikes will be hardy enough for the trip. We wont be camping so we'll be slightly lighter but we are travelling on after the tour (bikes will be posted home) so will be carrying a few extras.

My wife owns a 26" wheeled custom built (~2002) George Longstaff compact framed touring bike, she complains that on her commute the gearing is too low (it has Campag all over, 9spd cassette but I don't know the sizes - in fact how do I easily find out?). She also doesn't get along with the shifters, those double clicks confuse her, tbh they may confuse me too but I haven't used them much. So in conclusion we'll be looking to get the gearing reconfigured, perhaps moving the Campag gear over to my Dawes Galaxy, and maybe getting new wheels.

My Dawes Galaxy currently has 27" wheels and 120mm OLN (or whatever was used back in the early 80s), the paint job is getting a little scratched but otherwise the bike is in absolutely excellent nick. I'm going to get dropouts sorted by a proper framebuilder (suggestions in the North West?), then it probably needs a paint job (comparables to Argos cycles in NW?), new wheels (Sputnik/XL 700C from Harry Rowland ~ £150-200 a pair). A whole new drivetrain possibly using the Campag bits from the Longstaff or, if not Campag, then barends (is this possible with old handlebars?).

What's the current last word on touring tyres? Anything else I should be thinking about bike-wise? Should I really be buying a Thorn and leaving the Galaxy to become a hack bike?

 

[ready for the off]

You may be pleasantly surprised by the roads. There are some bad ones in Viet Nam but they are generally better than here in good old blighty. We did it on a Thorn Nomad & Sherpa. Cant speak highly enough. My Nomad has a Rhollof hub and its awesome. You definitely wont need or want to camp. The hotels are clean and uber cheap. Enjoy. Dont bother with the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. 5500ft of climbing for nothing!!!

 

[Ticktockmy]

You may be pleasantly surprised by the roads. There are some bad ones in Viet Nam but they are generally better than here in good old blighty. We did it on a Thorn Nomad & Sherpa. Cant speak highly enough. My Nomad has a Rhollof hub and its awesome. You definitely wont need or want to camp. The hotels are clean and uber cheap. Enjoy. Dont bother with the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. 5500ft of climbing for nothing!!!

Last I I cycled up there it took me 6 hours, but only 1.5 hours to get back down to Tapah, the biggest pain was the monsoon drains which have there Grills lined up with the road.
I have not been on the road since the new road has been built.
Bob G.