Help me to find a Touring bike please

[midliferider]

Just a few weeks ago, I took my trusted B Twin Triban 3 on a week long tour to Portugal. All went well, I had no problem what soever. In Majorca and Holland, I have rented road bikes to tour.
Now I am planning to do Euro Velo routes (Oder Neisse and Danube river routes) and later Lon Las Cymru. The information advises that road bike is not suitable. Therefore I need to get a touring bike.

I am a credit card tourer. I will never camp while cycling. Therefore I carry very little luggage. Perhaps the heaviest item will be my bike carry bag. Therefore I do not think that I will need a very sturdy steel bike. That is what I gathered from reading various information. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I think I just need a reliable machine which is light weight and has a good gear ratio. I have narrowed it down to following 3 bikes. I would really appreciate your views. Not just on bikes my whole concept of touring bike.

http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/tour#details

(Designed for long periods in the saddle in remote locations, World series bikes are sensibly specified. A square taper bottom bracket allows replacement with a simple readily available cup and axle unit, whilst brazed down tube cable stops mean traditional gear levers can be used if required.)

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dawes/galaxy-al-2014-touring-bike-ec050874

http://www.raleigh.co.uk/ProductType/ProductRange/Product/Default.aspx?pc=1&pt=14&pg=9049

It is a steel..

 

[mcshroom]

If you are only ever credit card touring then you may find a CX bike would be lighter than a dedicated tourer. OTOH they don't leave the same scope for adding front racks and even more weight if you do later decide to go for a camping tour.

All three of those bikes look decent. I had a Dawes Vantage (predecessor to the Galaxy AL) which I toured on very happily for a few years. I now have a steel framed tourer which has slightly more flex than the Vantage and is possibly marginally more comfortable than the aluminium predecessor, but there is little if anything in it IMHO. I'd also throw in the Revolution Country Explorer with disc brakes, and my current bike, the 2012 Dawes Horizon if you are the right height. The ridgeback has the newest shifters with paddles (2400 'Claris' vs. 2300 on the others), but they all have similar kit and all would probably serve you well.

 

[midliferider]

Thank you so much for that link.
I am about 168 cm or 5 '6". So my size 53 cm is available. Now the question is Galaxy or Horizon?
With regard to cyclocross, I think their geometry or the riding position is not suitable for a long day rides. I did consider a hybrid like, Specialized Sirrus Elite. But the drop handle bar gives so many riding positions that makes long ride easier.

 

[the snail]

If you're not carrying luggage, maybe you would be ok on the triban - perhaps with wider tyres?

 

[mcshroom]

Be careful with that as the Dawes are sized a bit big. I'm 5'10" and ride a 53. I'd check the size guide (though checking the Evans one they think I should be on the 58, so their guide is a bit conservative - http://images.evanscycles.com/product_document/file/edf/ee9/d67/91/dawes-horizon-sizing-chart.pdf).

Yo give you an idea, this is mine setup for me: -

I like drop bars, to me they are just naturally very comfortable. I have toured on a hybrid with bar ends before though and with the right positioning of the bar ends that was comfortable too. Before I bought the tourer I did a short trial with Butterfly bars on that bike (but never got round to touring while they were fitted). They could be another option

 

[midliferider]

If you're not carrying luggage, maybe you would be ok on the triban - perhaps with wider tyres?

Yes, I use 25 c tyres but I think it is the brakes which makes it difficult to ride along canal/ river paths. I too it out and it was not possible to ride once the surface is wet.

 

[midliferider]

Be careful with that as the Dawes are sized a bit big. I'm 5'10" and ride a 53. I'd check the size guide (though checking the Evans one they think I should be on the 58, so their guide is a bit conservative - http://images.evanscycles.com/product_document/file/edf/ee9/d67/91/dawes-horizon-sizing-chart.pdf).

I like drop bars, to me they are just naturally very comfortable. I have toured on a hybrid with bar ends before though and with the right positioning of the bar ends that was comfortable too. Before I bought the tourer I did a short trial with Butterfly bars on that bike (but never got round to touring while they were fitted). They could be another option

I will go to Evans and try the size. Then buy it from e bay or on line.

 

[midliferider]

I found this old thread as well.
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/horizon-vs-galaxy.47892/

 

[vickster]

And soon there will be no shops to try bikes at . Remember Evans will match quite a lot of online retailers and are doing a trade in if you have a clunker to part x

Spa cycles in Harrogate do a good range of Dawes and other tourers

 

[growingvegetables]

I'd also throw in the Revolution Country Explorer with disc brakes,

+1 - worth a look? Only because I've had one since Feb - and

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'd also throw in the Revolution Country Explorer with disc brakes,

+1 - worth a look? Only because I've had one since Feb 2008 - and

I was going to say both those things.

 

[Crackle]

As Vickster says check Spa cycles as well for prices http://www.spacycles.co.uk/index.php Worth saying that again. It might even be worth a trip to them.

Disc equipped Raleigh is interesting.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

As Vickster says check Spa cycles as well for prices http://www.spacycles.co.uk/index.php Worth saying that again. It might even be worth a trip to them.

Disc equipped Raleigh is interesting.

BB5's. Work of Satan.

 

[mcshroom]

And also featured on the Country Explorer

 

[midliferider]

Thanks everyone. You have given me more choices, bikes that I never knew exists!