Light tourer recommendations

[steveindenmark]

I am looking for suggestions regarding a light touring road bike.

It will carry a maximum of 10kg in rear panniers so it will need to have rear braze ons for a rack. I would also like a triple with at least shimano 105 gears.

I know the frame size I need and would prefer to buy it online.

Price about £600.

Jannie is riding a Trek Lexa Sl and so I need something similar.

Any ideas?

Steve

 

[Geoff Crowther]

I bought my Dawes Karakum online earlier this year for, If I remember correctly, £580. Came with front and rear racks, mudguards and butterfly bars. I'm a newbie here but I found it fine on a hilly cycle tour recently, carrying around 20 kgs of luggage.
See here:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/a-highland-camping-tour-pt-1.157647/
and here:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/highland-cycle-circuit-pt-2.157648/
Good luck with your search.

 

[Cycleops]

How about this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kona-honky-tonk-road-bike-2013/rp-prod119473 only prob doesn't have a triple, but has the braze-ons. Steel frame, Sora/Tiagra gears.Reduced to five hundred and fifty quid. If you are desperate for 105 you could swap the r/d out for forty quid.

 

[steveindenmark]

Geoff,

The Karakum is only 2kg lighter than my Koga World traveller.

Cyclops. There are plenty of bikes around where I don't have to go switching parts. I think I will have a look at some Audax bikes and see what springs up.

Steve

 

[vernon]

Try Wiggle

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-defense-wr21-sora-2014/

I know that it's Sora and a compact chain set but it's £500 - there must be something similar available from Wiggle that meets your needs.

 

[vernon]

Then there's the Ribble Winter/Audax aluminium framed bike with Tiagra triple group set @£606

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/r...training?part=BB14AW7005&sub=conf_BBRW&bike=1

 

[steveindenmark]

well I took the plunge and went for a Koga Roadchamp. I like Koga bikes. I paid a bit more than planned so whats new
I changed the grips to ergo grips and thetyres to Schwalbe Marathon 28c. The LBS gave me 40 quid trade in on the tyres that were on the bike. thats a new one on me. I will pick it up ndxt week and start getting some miles on it.

 

[steveindenmark]

 

[Soltydog]

I've been looking at new bikes recently & don't think there will be anything with 105 for £600 Even a lot of bikes at the magic grand price point have Tiagra or even Sora in some cases
The Koga looks good though

 

[steveindenmark]

The Koga cost me £800 on sale. It is basically a 30 geared road bike with a flat handlebar. I may need to change the wheels at a later date. Most of my riding will be on roads but we do go onto hard packed tracks on occasion.

Steve