I might get a new bike for my tour

[steveindenmark]

Because he is me

• I assume you know where you are going then

I have 30 gears on my tourer. I could have used 60 on Monte Grappa and Sa Collabra.

Just because you have 28. It doesnt mean you have to use them. But its good to have them when you need them. I can never remember standing at the bottom of a mountain and thinking.. "Sh1t, I wish I had less gears"

 

[galaxy]

It’s better to have the gear then not.

 

[Blue Hills]

I have 30 gears on my tourer. I could have used 60 on Monte Grappa and Sa Collabra.

Just because you have 28. It doesnt mean you have to use them. But its good to have them when you need them. I can never remember standing at the bottom of a mountain and thinking.. "Sh1t, I wish I had less gears"

Mm - can see where you are coming from steve but disagree that more more is good for touring climbing lugging. As many have said before it's the gear range which is important. I'd use a triple with 8 or 9 at the back. 36t 9 speed cogs at the back are easily and cheaply available. Can't see the need for 10 speed on a tourer and in fact it's one reason i eventually decided against a LHT. Only bike i have ever climbed mountains on and wished for more gears was a 5 speed brommie but that was a perverse trip.

 

[albertramsbottom]

I am giving up the will to live when trying to find a suitable bike for £500 quid

I was looking at this one as it has mud guards, disk brakes rear and front and most importantly a hub dynamo with fitted lights

https://hollandbikeshop.com/en-gb/b...-men-s-bike-28-60cm-24s-matt-bl-green-597216/

But the postage is £147.00

I was intending to change the front light to one that has a USB socket to charge my pass-through RAV power bank

Has anyone any ideas on a touring bike with mud guards, disk brakes and a dynamo hub that I can get in 58 or 60cm. I am 6 foot three

Cheers folks

 

[RobinS]

If buying new I'm afraid your £500 budget is completely unrealistic. You can get a Dawes Galaxy for just under £600, but that model has rim brakes (not a problem), and Alloy frame (which I would not want on a touring bike). Spa Cycles do a flat bar tourer for £750, looks good with a steel cromoly frame, rim brakes, no dyno hub, but you could get them to add one for you at extra cost. Prices go up from there...
Also note - few touring bikes have disc brakes (our Revolution ones do, and they are superb, but they don't make that model anymore). Dynohubs are not standard on UK specced bikes - a specialist could supply one fitted, otherwise it is a retrofit job. Unfortunately a sensible budget for a decent UK tourer fully equipped with mudguards, racks, dyno, lights etc is pretty much minimum £1000.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Surly Disc Truckers sport discs but you are looking at three times north of £500 which is totally unrealistic new on your budget to include a hub. Even second hand for DTs you won’t find anything lower than £800. We’re not letting you down gently. Sorry.

I did Europe on a £20 Mongoose mountain bike that was a bit too big for me. No electrical gadgetry to worry about then and I don’t know many who tour at night. I only really use my light on my latest tourer for trips into the city for food/entertainment. And of course there are gadgets now which is why my latest tourer is such a different beast.

 

[jay clock]

It hasn't got a dyno, but I am sure someone can suggest a solution for fitting one, but I am considering selling my Koga Miyata that is here https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=2sf&page_id=529756&v=Rs . www.jmhr.com for what it has coped with. I have bought a new lighter bike which means the KM is getting even less use. Happy to have a chat. Bike has taken me across Europe a couple of times and across the US last year.

 

[jay clock]

It hasn't got a dyno, but I am sure someone can suggest a solution for fitting one, but I am considering selling my Koga Miyata that is here https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=2sf&page_id=529756&v=Rs . www.jmhr.com for what it has coped with. I have bought a new lighter bike which means the KM is getting even less use. Happy to have a chat. Bike has taken me across Europe a couple of times and across the US last year.

also to add it has a new chain, cassette, tyres and some cables 300 miles ago. Saddle/pedals not included. Comes with spare mech hanger. Wheels brand new a year ago and took me across the USA without a problem.

 

[albertramsbottom]

interesting, so no hub, peddles or saddle. Which means would probably need a new front wheel with a fitted hub and then buy my light with the USB socket -uummmm

PM I think

 

[Pale Rider]

Have a look at the Radon bikes as sold by Bike Discount.

They have lots of what the Europeans call trekking bikes - similar to the one you liked at Holland Bike Shop.

Bike Discount are reliable, and regularly supply to the UK so hopefully carriage will be a sensible price.

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/trekking-bike

 

[albertramsbottom]

OK I have a look at those radons on https://www.bike-discount.de/en/trekking-bike and they seem to have all I need. And free shipping. I know this is shallow but the only thing that puts me off is the colour? I know, I know

 

[RobinS]

To be honest - the Koga Miata secondhand mentioned above looks like a brilliant touring bike. Also note, decent bikes come without pedals - you are expected to choose your own, if they do come with pedals the pedals are normally rubbish and you chuck them away when you get decent ones. Saddles - a very personal choice - it is quite likely the supplied one will not suit you so you will replace it anyway - all our bikes have had saddles swapped to our chosen model. Dynohubs are a nice to have, but by no means essential. We have toured 3 months at a time around Europe keeping our smartphones going just using solar power. Dyno lights are not needed for touring - again we just have cheapo Chinese frog lights for use in emergency.
Be aware that the European trekking bikes you are looking at are different to british bikes, they have a more upright riding position, with built in lights (required by law in Germany) and suspension forks they are heavy. The suspension forks make it difficult to fit front panniers. They have aluminium alloy frames, not ideal on a touring bike. Please don't take offence, but your requirements for disk brakes, built in lights, and dynohub are things that are not important on a touring bike, especially for a first tourer on a budget.

 

[jay clock]

To be honest - the Koga Miata secondhand mentioned above looks like a brilliant touring bike. Also note, decent bikes come without pedals - you are expected to choose your own, if they do come with pedals the pedals are normally rubbish and you chuck them away when you get decent ones. Saddles - a very personal choice - it is quite likely the supplied one will not suit you so you will replace it anyway - all our bikes have had saddles swapped to our chosen model. Dynohubs are a nice to have, but by no means essential. We have toured 3 months at a time around Europe keeping our smartphones going just using solar power. Dyno lights are not needed for touring - again we just have cheapo Chinese frog lights for use in emergency.
Be aware that the European trekking bikes you are looking at are different to british bikes, they have a more upright riding position, with built in lights (required by law in Germany) and suspension forks they are heavy. The suspension forks make it difficult to fit front panniers. They have aluminium alloy frames, not ideal on a touring bike. Please don't take offence, but your requirements for disk brakes, built in lights, and dynohub are things that are not important on a touring bike, especially for a first tourer on a budget.

(I can stick pedals and a saddle on if I do sell)

I agree with all that stuff, apart from the alu frame (partly because I have an alu frame!). You are not going to find a new bike in your budget (or likely second hand) with a dyno hub and USB socket, so even if you buy second hand at a good price you going to have £200+ (am guessing) to upgrade the hub and have a rebuild

I have not tried solar, but my last trip across the USA had 60 nights of which 30 camping, and I took two USB battery packs and sent the bigger one home as unused. And unless you plan to cycle a lot at night I really would doubt how useful dynamo lights are going to be

 

[Bonefish Blues]

OP. If Jay Clock is discussing selling that bike in or around your price range, and it fits you, simply buy it. You won't get what you are looking for in a new bike at the price you're looking, as others have said.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

I am giving up the will to live when trying to find a suitable bike for £500 quid

I was looking at this one as it has mud guards, disk brakes rear and front and most importantly a hub dynamo with fitted lights

https://hollandbikeshop.com/en-gb/b...-men-s-bike-28-60cm-24s-matt-bl-green-597216/

But the postage is £147.00

I was intending to change the front light to one that has a USB socket to charge my pass-through RAV power bank

Has anyone any ideas on a touring bike with mud guards, disk brakes and a dynamo hub that I can get in 58 or 60cm. I am 6 foot three

Cheers folks

I wasn't going to reply given your sarcastic responses in your dynohub thread, but I have some spare time and it might help someone.

First of all, if the Koga mentioned above fits and you can agree a decent price you should snap it up. Koga are well established as serious bike makers, especially in the touring/expedition areas. These are bikes that can go anywhere and do anything.

Second of all, I'd be very wary of buying a bike from one of the international discount bike sellers. If you get a lemon just how does the situation get resolved if you are physically in a different country? Depending on your skills you may need to get the bike assembled professionally. More cost, although, probably not significant.
Thirdly, I would not trust that combined light and charger. It's priced too low for what it is supposed to do and I don't see it for sale anywhere else. If you want a light get a light. If you want a charger, get a charger.

Finally, I'm not a fan of buying a new bike, that should last years if not decades based on the needs of a one month trip. It's fine if you have an unlimited budget and can replace on a whim. Not so good if you are working off a budget.
The thing with touring is that the touring you actually do probably ends up being very different from what you think it will be before you begin.

I've advocated here before on re-purposing an old MTB and since I have a bit of time here are some numbers
** I use the $ 'cos my Dutch laptop has lost the pound sign
** I am not recommending any of the items below. I have sought out the cheapest, or nearly cheapest options from a reputable seller. One seller, minimum hassle, but I have no doubt that these will work well for most touring situations.
** It could be done cheaper by looking for suitable second hand gear.
** In regards to the frame, it should be in good condition with decent length chainstays. Short chainstays will mean that your feet hit the panniers as you pedal.
**

Basic 80's/90's Non-suspension MTB in decent working order $50 (Any second hand site, or go to LBS, expect to pay up to 4 times, but may be able to deal for adding the new bits. Given your height, you may have to look a little harder or longer.
Front Dyno Wheel $80 https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/wheelsw...th-shimano-nexus-dhc30003n-dynamo-hub-silver/
Rear Wheel $95 https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/wheelsw...36h-rigida-andra-30-rim-with-deore-hub-black/
Tyres 2 @ $16, $32 Total https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres/2...albe-marathon-mondial-hs428-tyre-26-inch-559/
Rack: $35 https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carrier...cycle-rack-for-26-559-700c-622-wheels-silver/
Dynamo Light $22 https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/lighting/axa-pico-30-switch-dynamo-front-light/
Hub Charger $84 https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/dynamos/busch-muller-usbwerk/
New Cassette (Indication only): $20 https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cassettes/shimano-cshg50-8-speed-cassette-1132t/

By my reckoning that is a total of $418 for a bike that is ready to tour carrying a reasonable load and charge you as you go.
Get a full service for brakes, gears etc and you still have budget less than $500.
You might want to consider mudguards, a new saddle and perhaps looking at the comfort of the handlebars.

With the exception of the wheels and tyres, everything else will work on a 26 or 700 size bike. Should you decide to upgrade the frame in future, most if not all components will transfer over.

Keep the original wheels to use when not touring, protecting your "good" wheels.