Hi all forumers, been using this site for information gathering for previous tours, but here's my first post - please be gentle....
Why
I require a new bike (thieves got the last (two) bikes).
What I use my bike for
- most days, cycling to work (6 miles, urban, but hilly Bristol)
- some days, day touring, occasionally weekends
- once a year, 2-4 weeks tour. about 10kgs, all put in 2 rear panniers with a tent across the pannier.
Before
I've had a Felt Hybrid before, recently a Boardman hybrid (which apart from hating having a white and pink halfords bike, performed splendidly in both Alps and Pyrenees, for under £400). I simply added bar ends and city toe clips to the basics.
Most recently I have been lent a Specialised Allez racer. My first drop handlebar, not sure I like this. I love the speed, but I feel a little unsafe when braking in the Mendip hills - I'm not in the drops so I feel I simply don't have enough breaking leverage on the levers, or on the bit I can push down on on the top - and going into the drops is equally unsafe during a steep downhill - suicide bars I feel may be the answer - and can be fitted to most bikes (right?)
In summary I've never used an out and out tourer, but hope this forum might give some direction. Any help appreciated!
Now
The top end of my budget is £800, not including accessories (such as pannier rack).
I've mentioned about handlbars above.
And due to my desire to go the "scenic route", a racer that can take some panniers isn't going to work, I think I need something stronger - Cyclocross bikes have been mooted by a few friends and shops. Thoughts? I like the idea of a faster set-up than a hybrid, but more upright (considering my style and the commute) and a general all-purpose bike,such as Specialised tricross?
Due to my desire to tour warmer climates than the UK, I have also put a bike in a plane for a couple of holidays, which always upsets my nerves - wondering if my bike will survive... Which brings me on to brakes. The last bike, the Boardman, had disc brakes, which initially was a bonus - but if I'm increasingly going to be relying on the bike going through airports and coming through OK - maybe dual pivot, canti, Vs?? As I'm worried discs might be more prone to damage - I don't use a hefty bike bag, as usually I fly in and out of different places.
So... Any thoughts appreciated.
I realise the budget is at the lower end of what could be an eternal spend.
Oh yes, I'm 5ft 7, 27, relatively fit (fitter at the end of each tour!), female with long legs.
Looking at SPecialised, Whyte, test rose a Pinnacle -which was OK, but felt a little cheap on the brakes and I'd rather have a non-shop brand (snobbery at its finest, sorry!
Many Thanks
Happy pedalling!
Meg
Why
I require a new bike (thieves got the last (two) bikes).
What I use my bike for
- most days, cycling to work (6 miles, urban, but hilly Bristol)
- some days, day touring, occasionally weekends
- once a year, 2-4 weeks tour. about 10kgs, all put in 2 rear panniers with a tent across the pannier.
Before
I've had a Felt Hybrid before, recently a Boardman hybrid (which apart from hating having a white and pink halfords bike, performed splendidly in both Alps and Pyrenees, for under £400). I simply added bar ends and city toe clips to the basics.
Most recently I have been lent a Specialised Allez racer. My first drop handlebar, not sure I like this. I love the speed, but I feel a little unsafe when braking in the Mendip hills - I'm not in the drops so I feel I simply don't have enough breaking leverage on the levers, or on the bit I can push down on on the top - and going into the drops is equally unsafe during a steep downhill - suicide bars I feel may be the answer - and can be fitted to most bikes (right?)
In summary I've never used an out and out tourer, but hope this forum might give some direction. Any help appreciated!
Now
The top end of my budget is £800, not including accessories (such as pannier rack).
I've mentioned about handlbars above.
And due to my desire to go the "scenic route", a racer that can take some panniers isn't going to work, I think I need something stronger - Cyclocross bikes have been mooted by a few friends and shops. Thoughts? I like the idea of a faster set-up than a hybrid, but more upright (considering my style and the commute) and a general all-purpose bike,such as Specialised tricross?
Due to my desire to tour warmer climates than the UK, I have also put a bike in a plane for a couple of holidays, which always upsets my nerves - wondering if my bike will survive... Which brings me on to brakes. The last bike, the Boardman, had disc brakes, which initially was a bonus - but if I'm increasingly going to be relying on the bike going through airports and coming through OK - maybe dual pivot, canti, Vs?? As I'm worried discs might be more prone to damage - I don't use a hefty bike bag, as usually I fly in and out of different places.
So... Any thoughts appreciated.
I realise the budget is at the lower end of what could be an eternal spend.
Oh yes, I'm 5ft 7, 27, relatively fit (fitter at the end of each tour!), female with long legs.
Looking at SPecialised, Whyte, test rose a Pinnacle -which was OK, but felt a little cheap on the brakes and I'd rather have a non-shop brand (snobbery at its finest, sorry!
Many Thanks
Happy pedalling!
Meg
