'Making' a touring bike

[mickle]

I thought I was being very clever buying this Tifosi Classic audax bike for touring:

Which ended up looking like this:

However, the clearance was so terrible that the 28c tyres clogged up at the sniff of a muddy puddle. I realised it wasn't going to do. I now know that the kind of touring I'll be doing requires 32c and decent clearance. So I bought this ancient old Marin for £35:

And made this:

The front rack needs braze ons and I'll add a pair of bottle eyes under the down tube at some point and then my customary don't-give-a-sh!t rattle can paint job. Amazingly, as the Marin has decent tubing it's not measureably heavier that the Tifosi. I now has cantilevers - £5 off of ebay so it'll stop better too. I'm pretty chuffed with it. I binned the old chain so can't ride it until me fresh SRAM 991 arrives next week.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

A 90s MTB in steel is a very good starting point for this type of project. I reckon you could get around the world for way, way (and indeed way) less than Thorn et al would charge - like perhaps a fifth, maybe less.

 

[dnrc]

what the F did you do to that lovely tifosi?

absolutely butchered it!

 

[cisamcgu]

I don't really understand what you have done, and what picture is what

 

[mickle]

what the F did you do to that lovely tifosi?

absolutely butchered it!

Don't worry I'm gonna fix it up.

 

[Crankarm]

Surely you got the before and after shots around the wrong way? Otherwise you turned a nice looking bike into an absolute shed.

 

[uphillstruggler]

I like what you did with the marin, looks bombproof

@mickle Who does the brazing for the rack?

 

[mickle]

I like what you did with the marin, looks bombproof

@mickle Who does the brazing for the rack?

I might do it myself. What's the worst that can happen ..... ?

 

[Blue Hills]

A 90s MTB in steel is a very good starting point for this type of project. I reckon you could get around the world for way, way (and indeed way) less than Thorn et al would charge - like perhaps a fifth, maybe less.

Careful mickle and bonefish - you'll let folks know you don't need to spend a wad of cash to buy something with 10 plus cogs on the back to get a wonderful bike. Then where will we get our frames from?

I'm going to ask the mods to remove your post.

 

[Blue Hills]

However, the clearance was so terrible that the 28c tyres clogged up at the sniff of a muddy puddle. I realised it wasn't going to do. I now know that the kind of touring I'll be doing requires 32c and decent clearance.
------

The front rack needs braze ons .

Personally I'd want a tourer to take 38s unless travelling light.

You don't need braze ons.

You can use these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tubus-lm-1-...48uk&pgrid=17507339822&ptaid=pla-296624071193

though not of course with a carbon fork

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Careful mickle and bonefish - you'll let folks know you don't need to spend a wad of cash to buy something with 10 plus cogs on the back to get a wonderful bike. Then where will we get our frames from?

I'm going to ask the mods to remove your post.

Yes but no but it's not the latest and greatest and all shiny and with all that new technology and not a sexy brand and everyfink so I think that the thinking cyclist is perfectly safe. Let's agree to keep it as our dirty little secret.

I mean, look at this as an example: http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/expedition/

It's obviously better because, well, it must be because it costs much more (no slur on OBW intended by the way, whose jib I like the cut of )

 

[uphillstruggler]

I might do it myself. What's the worst that can happen ..... ?

not much. a cheap new pair of forks at the worst

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes but no but it's not the latest and greatest and all shiny and with all that new technology and not a sexy brand and everyfink so I think that the thinking cyclist is perfectly safe. Let's agree to keep it as our dirty little secret.

I mean, look at this as an example: http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/expedition/

It's obviously better because, well, it must be because it costs much more (no slur on OBW intended by the way, whose jib I like the cut of )

cripes - the price of that has gone up. I considered one at one time (and I too have time for Oxford Bike works and particularly Tom of Tom's Bike Trip who helped design it) but was put off partly by the lack of flexibility in the package offered.
So ended up with a Ridgeback Expedition 2016 model for £700 which I reckon is the equal of that bike - or will be with the small matter of some Sputnik wheels from Spa Cycles - and of course I have the use of the original wheels in the meantime, which have already served on some monstrously loaded trips, including the Dynamo.

 

[uphillstruggler]

your Marin reminds me of this, ive had it for nearly 25 years. needs new wheels and drive train and is very heavy but I really like it

Edit: I would have liked to update the wheels to 700s or even 650bs but the 700s don't quite fit and the only 650b's I can find with rim brakes have a screw on 7 speed cassette.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I think that the sweet spot is their touring lite (or something like that iirc) version tbh.