Looking for a robust bike that can climb all day!

[Alastrp]

This Summer I'm doing a week's cycling in Portugal where we will climb the equivalent of Mt Everest across the 7 days. The roads are not the best where we're going and can get quite rough at times however each day will include some very long climbs. I need a bike that can climb all day and that can stand up to bad road surfaces. I was looking potentially at a Dawes Kara-Kum Tourer - any comments, suggestions, alternatives, experiences or advice?

Thanks in advance.

Alastair

 

[Moodyman]

I'm not an expert, but as far as I know, it's the chainset that makes the climbs easier. I think you'll need to look for 22 toothed (small) ring on the front.

The Dawes Karakum is nice. I test rode one and the butterfly bars, although ridiculed by purists, are very comfortable. Aluminium frame is light too. Good price bike.

 

[jags]

think wheel's /tyres,get some handbuilt wheels plus schwalble supreams tyres .

 

[Anthony]

The Dawes Kara Kum is a good choice good IMO, although I have never ridden one. Butterfly bars are good for tours and bumpy roads; I have just upgraded (yes I said upgraded ) my Dawes Galaxy with butterfly bars.

The only thing I would say, is that if you are doing alot of off road then 26'' wheels would be better. But if you the roads you are talking about are tarmac, but just bad surfaced tarmac, then the 700cc wheels on the Dawes should surffice.

You can't go wrong with a set of Schwalbe Marathon xr tyres for bumpy roads.

 

[Brains]

The problem is not the bike, I'd suggest you need to upgrade your legs. Whilst a pair of "lance Armstrong's" may be beyond your budget, the French in particular have quite a number of other good models

 

[jags]

The problem is not the bike, I'd suggest you need to upgrade your legs. Whilst a pair of "lance Armstrong's" may be beyond your budget, the French in particular have quite a number of other good models

good one brain's i like that

 

[Ian H]

If you're carrying luggage then a touring bike with lowish gears - I'd go for a triple - and good wheels, with clearance for largish tyres. If it's supported then you can make do with a lighter bike, though I'd still go with reasonably low gears.

 

[willem]

Low weight is the key, primarily of the luggage, as that is easiest to change. So try to go ultralight, and you will not regret it. For climbing I would definitely prefer a drop bar, as it allows you to lean further forward. spd style pedals willl transfer your energy more efficiently. A lightish bike also helps, with light tyres such as Panaracer Pasela's in a wide size. Finally, use low gears, and lower than you think you may need. Nearly all tourers now have mtb like gearing, and with that you should not have a problem.
Willem

 

[Crankarm]

The problem is not the bike, I'd suggest you need to upgrade your legs. Whilst a pair of "lance Armstrong's" may be beyond your budget, the French in particular have quite a number of other good models

+1.

Also you should do some training to prepare you which will make your holiday so much more enjoyable. Also buy your bike well before you depart to give you time to train on it and get used to it.

Find some modest hills near you, partially load the bike up, seek out the hills and ride them 1,2,3,4,5 times until you can't ride any more or puke. Then go home stretch your muskills and relax, do some gentle riding. Then repeat the climbing the next day or two days later or certainly with in one week. Keep this regime up until you can ride the hills with the load you intend to take on holiday without breaking sweat. Simples .

 

[Bandini]

I'm not an expert, but as far as I know, it's the chainset that makes the climbs easier. I think you'll need to look for 22 toothed (small) ring on the front.

The Dawes Karakum is nice. I test rode one and the butterfly bars, although ridiculed by purists, are very comfortable. Aluminium frame is light too. Good price bike.

+1 - I love my Karakum and the handlebars are great. So there. Very comfy, sails up hills (I am just starting to sail, after sinking - but that was me not the bike!). For the money, I think you can't go wrong. If I do get another bike, I would be looking to get butterfly bars.

 

[srw]

For climbing I would definitely prefer a drop bar, as it allows you to lean further forward.

I read somewhere on line that when you're climbing it's better to keep upright, because that uses the muscles more efficiently and transfers your weight over the back wheel, where it helps improve traction.

It certainly seems to work for me.

 

[GrahamG]

Your post is one of those 'more info needed' starters!

Loaded/unloaded?
Vehicle support?
Miles per day and speed aiming for?
Camping or hotel/B&B?
Cooking own food or eating out?

Without that kind of information any recommendations made are a waste of time.

 

[Alastrp]

We’ll be riding in the Minho Region in NW Portugal unloaded but with support. We’ll probably be doing around 40/45 miles every day for a week with lots of hills; some long and energy sapping with a few scary ‘walls’ thrown in. Great advice on the bike as well as on the tyres. Heard lots of good things about the Karakum and whilst its not going to earn me street cred. points, I need something that’s going to be able to cope with anything as well as climb all day. I’ve got a set of Schwalbe Big Apples on my Dahon so I’m a big fan of the marquee. With a couple of Sportives coming up as well as Portugal in the Autumn, I’m working hard at finding a new pair of legs and sort the training – thanks Brains and Crankarm – and want to get training on the new bike as soon as possible. Otherwise, I think I’m going to like the Butterfly bars although I’ve never come across them before. On my road bike I climb with my hands out of the drops so the upright style will suit me better and I guess will minimise back strain. Thanks everyone for your comments!

 

[Randochap]

As Armstrong has said: "It's not about the bike."

My advice: Always carry a gear you "don't need."

 

[Madcyclist]

+1.

Also you should do some training to prepare you which will make your holiday so much more enjoyable. Also buy your bike well before you depart to give you time to train on it and get used to it.

Find some modest hills near you, partially load the bike up, seek out the hills and ride them 1,2,3,4,5 times until you can't ride any more or puke. Then go home stretch your muskills and relax, do some gentle riding. Then repeat the climbing the next day or two days later or certainly with in one week. Keep this regime up until you can ride the hills with the load you intend to take on holiday without breaking sweat. Simples .

I think I best heed your advice, I'm heading for the Manali - Leh highway at the end of June on my new Thorn Sherpa. Found the bike heavy and sluggish on my first ride on Saturday unladen. it's going to be interesting fully loaded. I took in a couple of the local 10 - 12% climbs, deliberately spinning up them in the granny ring, a very strange experience for me after honking up them on a 66' fixed for the past couple of years. Hill repeats begin this week !!