Need a touring bike, but don't know which to buy

[vernon]

MTB's are not smaller.

This is a misconception, while standover may be greater the virtual top tube height and all importantly the reach will be about the same with some variations depending on the intended use of the MTB.

To clarify what I meant:

The physical dimension of the seat tube of a MTB is appreciably smaller than that of a conventional horizontal cross barred bike.

The MTB might well have a 'virtual frame size' equal to that of a rode bike if you got out a spirit level and performed some peculiar measurements to find its equivalent size but I was sold my mountain bike based on its actual seat tube length not its virtual size.

 

[BSRU]

Panorama is a really well-specced bike. If I were not a bit more picky*, one of those would suit me really well.


* I'm after hub gears & disc brakes, cause that's what suits me and my riding.

How about On-One Pompetamine Alfine 8 Speed from Planet-X?
Hub geared with BB7 disc brakes.

 

[clarion]

Both that and the Genesis Day One Alfine 11 have got close, but I'm aiming for a Singular Peregrine.

 

[mmmmartin]

I'm looking for a 'touring bike' .

Jen
Ring Thorn. Tell them what you want it for. You won't be camping so a Club Tour would do, or the Audax Mark 3 (which I have for audax) will carry a couple of Ortleib Small Panniers. You can have one made for you or buy a pre-made. Thorn do only four bikes, but do each in six sizes. I found them the cheapest of the quality builds, now have two, the Audax and the Sherpa. Worth one phone call. And they can do them in sizes to fit really titchy little peeps, too. .....

 

[Banjo]

I did the Yorkshire Dales cycle route (around 130 miles in 3 days) on an MTB with a rucksack on my back (this ride was.... ineffable) and want to do the ride again, but do it with the right bike as I plan on riding the 110 miles from my house to the start of the route, do the loop, then back again. So all in all around 350 miles.

None of the 3 local bike shops in my town have any touring bikes, so I have been looking online, but don't know what to look for. Please can you recommend a sub £1000 touring bike.

I have been riding MTB for many years and never had a road bike. The frame size and wheels are different so I am worried I will buy the wrong size bike for my size. For example i was looking at the Jamis Aruora 2013 Touring bike, but the smallest frame size they have is 53cm and 700c wheels, but my MTB is a 17" (43cm) frame with 26" inch wheels, so will this bike be far too big for me?

Please help I am confused about frame sizing on road/touring. If the frames and wheels are much bigger, will I need a ladder to get on a touring bike???


Thanks for your time and patience.

I have a 55 cm Aurora and a 20 inch hybrid. The top tube on the Aurora is horizontal so suggest you sit on one be3fore ordering better still ride one. Its a great bike, bit heavy compared to a racer but very comfortable and surprisingly quick. Seat is crap but changed it for a B17 anyway.

Dont be tempted by a 2012 Aurora IMHO the gearing is too high .The 2012 has 30 tooth smallest chainring 28 tooth biggest cog on cassette.
2013 Aurora has 26 tooth granny ring which really helps on a heavy bike on a hill.