Need a proper tourer. What should I get? And can you please all agree...

[funnymummy]

I love my Dawes Horizon, Spent ages choosing the right bike, tested all different kinds/styles before finaly settling on her - I was a little terrified first time I rode her, having been used to riding in a much more upright position for years, and it took some getting used to being on the drops too, but once over the initial nerves & wobbles It was fabulous.
I have covered many miles & loved touring on her - Sadly though I am now selling her & reverting back to a flat barred bike, after an accident last year (sliced my thumb in half & needed surgery to repair it) I have suffered from carpal tunnel & limited use of my left thumb, I can't use the drops for long & spend most of my rides on the cross/flat part of the bars, which means if I need to brake quickly I am kind of stuffed!!

 

[jay clock]

I live in Winchester too! The two local LBSs are actually quite good, but agreed they will not go to much effort in getting in models they dont stock.

Having had a Dawes Galaxy equivalent I have moved to a flat barred tourer. Koga Miyata. Now it is well above £700, but you are welcome to have a look/ a chat, to get some ideas. My partner has Specialized Sirrus which she has also used for touring and it was fine.

It is only the Brits who have this "must have drop bars" attitude to tourers. The massive disadvantage is the brakes are feeble compared with v brakes (unless you go for some "clever" solution to allow V brakes with STI levers, or disks)

I am in Orams Arbour. Ping me a PM if you want a chat/ have a look etc

Jay

 

[HelenD123]

I have ordered a B17 to try out already, and will pick it up today.

Hmmm... Just rang LBS and they were useless! Apart from not having the saddle that I ordered 8 days ago (and was promised within 2-3 days),

I think you need a B17S, the ladies version. My Ultra Galaxy came with a B17 which was comfortable to start with but really not after I'd changed the set up to stop my wrists hurting. It's now on my commuter and fine for short distances. Maybe you could change your order as they haven't got it in yet?

 

[HelenD123]

Is there an Evans near you? They could probably get you a Dawes to try.

 

[TwoInTow]

Helen, you're right. I did order a B17S - I just forgot to type it.

Thanks to aberal's link, I've found a Dawes dealer in Basingstoke, and rang them this afternoon. They just got a whole lot of stuff in and are setting it up, they say, so I'll go in about a week and check it all out.

(Thanks for your experiences, funnymummy - encouraging!)

 

[MarkF]

I need a tourer. I've done two tours on my very nice hybrid/road type bike, but it's not right for a variety of reasons (including carbon front forks, so no front panniers).

What's made you give up on the hybrid? Just asking, mine got me to Barcelona and it also has carbon forks. I bought a Dawes Horizon tourer to replace it but, surprisingly, I found the hybrid more comfortable over long distances. I had a big bag on the front, at least one and a half panniers worth of space and the weight (over the front) helped the handling.

I'd love another tourer but next time, when I can aford one, it'd be a made-to-measure bike. The Dawes Vantage looks incredible value. Good luck.

 

[funnymummy]

Helen, you're right. I did order a B17S - I just forgot to type it.

(Thanks for your experiences, funnymummy - encouraging!)

Can't beat a Brookes, i've had one on my MummyBike for years & it's so comfy, kept moaning that needed to get one for my Dawes, my bubs bought me one for Christmas - it'll be getting moved to my new bike on Friday

 

[PpPete]

Hmmm... Just rang LBS and they were useless! Apart from not having the saddle that I ordered 8 days ago (and was promised within 2-3 days), the guy on the phone said he couldn't remember the last time they sold a tourer, and he couldn't get a Dawes, Kona, Revolution etc etc.

So now I need a specialist - either online or down south somewhere. I'm in Winchester, so London and Southampton are close enough (Southampton much easier). Online is fine except I'm concerned about fit...

Suggestions welcome!

IIRC Portswood Cycles are Dawes dealer in Southampton. Walking distance from StDenys station. Although I've heard they can be a snooty if you on limited budget.

IME experience one the most helpful local LBS is CycleWorld in Romsey.

 

[TwoInTow]

What's made you give up on the hybrid?

It's like a road-bike, basically, but with granny gears. It has about 3 spokes in each wheel, so I figure I'm asking for trouble over the longer term. There are no screwhole things on the front forks for front panniers. For now, I'm carrying most of the children's luggage as well as mine, so there is no possibility of not having front panniers - I need all the carrying space I can get. The wheels are narrow ones, so no possibility of going off-road except in the driest of weather on the smoothest of paths, and I think even some bike tracks would be a problem if they got muddy... But most of all, I love my hybrid the way it is for just going out for a ride, and I'm being precious and don't want to cannibalise it or compromise its lovely feel for now!

(I know I sound really spoilt, but I really don't spend money on myself - except now I've started cycling! Bad sign, hey?)

 

[TwoInTow]

I live in Winchester too!

Yes, I know! If you recall, you were generous enough to map out some rides for me around Winchester last year... Sadly, I've only used one of them because it got wet and dark and cold, and I've been working too hard. But I launched out on one of yours on Sunday - although that particular one was too long for me in my unfit state and I cut it in half!

Oram's Arbour's just up near the hospital, isn't it? I'd love to have a chat sometime. I'll probably pop out to Basingstoke in a week or two to look at some Dawes, so maybe after that when I have some specifics to discuss? You'll have to talk down to me, though, as I am a total novice and very unfit and non-technical!!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

At least do yourself the favour of phoning Edinburgh Bike Co-Op to speak to them about sizing for their steel framed tourer. They are, ime, easy to deal with over the phone, will put your mind at rest over what size you need, etc., etc..

I've bought two bikes from them sight unseen by this method, without problem, and I live in Sussex.

There isn't much wrong with their aluminium framed bikes btw, a modern ali design does not have to be harsh at all, and my ali framed country explorer, which pre-dates the current steel model, is fine for all day every day loaded riding at touring pace.

 

[willem]

My personal preference is for drop bars. The best not quite budget drop bar tourer in my view is the Surly Long Haul Trucker, with 26 inch wheels. The Thorn Sherpa is a more expensive version of the same idea. The LHT is a really good bike, with sensible but often neglected things like size specific cranks length, ditto brake levers etc. It is over your budget, but a very good buy.
With kids, I might go for a straight bar tourer, however. Pushing along a young child riding next to you with one arm while you are holding your handlebar with the other (this is what you have to do in real life) is not fun with a drop bar. Been there, done that. Similarly, if you ever want to hitch a trailer bike to your bike, a more upright position and a straight bar will be much better. My advise for a straight bar tourer would be the German Fahrradmanufaktur T400, with 26 inch wheels (get the men's version for a better frame, but make sure it is not too long). It comes in two versions at two price points. The cheaper of the two is in your ballpark, but the more expensive of the two is much more value for money. You can get them in the UK.
I am sorry both suggestions are at the higher end of what you might have in mind. Below a certain price point bikes don't get that much cheaper, but they do get a lot worse, I am afraid
hope this helps a bit.
Willem

 

[Fab Foodie]

I love my Dawes Horizon, Spent ages choosing the right bike, tested all different kinds/styles before finaly settling on her - I was a little terrified first time I rode her, having been used to riding in a much more upright position for years, and it took some getting used to being on the drops too, but once over the initial nerves & wobbles It was fabulous.
I have covered many miles & loved touring on her - Sadly though I am now selling her & reverting back to a flat barred bike, after an accident last year (sliced my thumb in half & needed surgery to repair it) I have suffered from carpal tunnel & limited use of my left thumb, I can't use the drops for long & spend most of my rides on the cross/flat part of the bars, which means if I need to brake quickly I am kind of stuffed!!

NOOOOO
Don't sell.
Just put flat bars on the Horizon, or Butterfly bars ... if you really loved her you would.

 

[Baggy]

NOOOOO
Don't sell.
Just put flat bars on the Horizon, or Butterfly bars ... if you really loved her you would.

Or...you could have a pair of Cane Creek/Tektro Bar Top levers fitted, as pictured here !

I'm another happy Dawes Horizon owner (a 2003 steel version), though I had to change the bars to a narrower pair as i found the frame a little bit long. It's given me over 10,000 miles of reliable, stable riding.

 

[TwoInTow]

Right, lots of good advice.

Willem, one of your comments made me think - about the LHT having size-specific components. I am small (5' 1"/156cm) and have small hands and small fingers. I have had trouble in the past in various contexts with my hands being too small to use things that other people find no problem. I know on kids' bikes it's important to have brake levers positioned for little hands etc. Does that apply to bikes too? Should I be thinking about this, or am I imagining problems where there are none?

Truth be told I could afford the £1K for a serious tourer, but not without a bit of pain. Most of all, I would have trouble justifying it to myself. It's so much money! And I work long hours 6.5 days of the week most of the year, so don't get out much except when actually on holiday (although I do get good holidays)... On the other hand, I invested in a Hilleberg test which was outrageously expensive, largely on your advice, Willem, and am so glad I did. It makes a real difference comfort-wise, compared to the alternative I got for the kids, so I can be persuaded to spend money.

My youngest is 9 now and just heading into the world of longer rides on a geared bike, so I think I can leave behind the days of pushing them along/pulling the tag-along. So it does sound like drops are worth a try.