do i need a custom bike

[jags]

ok this is the plan i want to get a touring that's super light super strong,, drop bars, rear rack only, carbon forks, 700 wheels, bar bag.
now the only way i can do this is by selling my thorn sherpa and look kx light road bike both of which are in perfect condition with all top notch gear.
reason being i really don't think the touring i do call's for a full on expedition bike .and i only ride the look in the summer months.
so i need basically a touring bike that can carry the load without stress on the frame.i have all the light weight gear for camping but i would still be carrying around 25 to 30 lbs on the rear .
so is there a bike out there that will do all this for me or am i looking to go the custom route.

 

[jags]

well the sherpa has 599,i reckon the 700 are much faster lighter especially with the right tires .

 

[willem]

Yes I think the bike you have in mind will indeed be rather faster, and almost as fast as your road bike. However, I think the first thing would be to reduce your camping load even more. Aim for less than 25 lbs. What you then want is in effect an audax bike, but of the slightly sturdier kind. And you want one that has clearance for tyres wider than 30 mm, i.e. for the new Tektro 73 mm drop brakes so you can use 38-40 mm tyres such as the Vittoria Hyper Randonneur. I would suggest the new ultralight Velo Orange Grand Cru ultra compact double cranks. These are a modernized imitation of the venerable TA Pro Vis 5, and come standard with 46/30 chainwheels, but allow you to go down to 26 t.

I do indeed think that if you go this road custom is the way to do it. And to have the clearance for wider tyres, you will almost certainly have to give up the idea of a carbon fork. In the meantime, I suggest you first sort out your load reduction and experiment with faster tyres on your Sherpa, such as Panaracer Highroads. These will also give you a nice turn of speed.

Willem

 

[jags]

cheer's willam i did change the tires to supreams great tires and it did make a big difference .

 

[JackE]

I would suggest you have a look at the Van Nicholas Amazon. Without rack/mudguards the basic bike weighs around 9.5kg and it's one of the lightest touring bikes there is. I have an Airborne Carpe Dieum (predecessor to the Amazon) and, in over 30 years of touring, it's the best/most comfortable bike I've owned. I alternate between 28 & 32 Marathon's depending on weight carried. It's brilliant for lightweight touring IMO
Take a day trip over to Paul Hewitts in Leyland and he will do a fitting session for you at no extra charge. It's almost as good as "made-to-measure.

 

[jags]

thank's jackE im in ireland so i won't be popping over but i will take a look at that bike .thank's again.

 

[Ben M]

No of course you don't. Just got a normal road bike and use that. I toured Bristol- Strasbourg on a Raleigh Airlite with Litespeed carbon forks. One of my companions used a Genesis Vapour which has a carbon fork:

https://www.cyclechat.net/

 

[Andy in Sig]

How about the Dre San Ti-Touring which as the name suggests is a touring bike made out of titanium?

http://www.dresan.de/ti_touring.php

They also have a custom shop service. There are pics of a bike made for a bloke who wanted a "racing tourer".

 

[jags]

ben M you sure had a lot of flat tires was that down to wrong tires or to much weight .btw what weight were you carrying on the rear.
oh i don't think my look kx light carbon bike would carry the load it's just not made for it.

 

[andym]

Why 700 wheels?

and why carbon forks?

Answer BTW no you don't: if you really think 700c wheels will make much difference (they won't) just buy a frame and canabilise the other bikes.

But of course this is a 'help-me-justify-spending-money-on-a-new-bike' thread.

 

[jags]

andym it's not really me trying to justify spending money ,first my road bike i seldom ride it these days it comes out maybe on a good weekend.and there's no way im going to cannibalize my bikes there way to good for that besides im trying to sell just no point in doing that.