Potential touring bike, Advice appreciated!

[Steven Alley]

Hi all,

This is a second-hand bike I am looking to buy but i'm not sure whether it's suitable for me or not, as I'm pretty stupid when it comes to bikes.

I am looking to tour France in the summer, 50 miles per day for 11 days and Train for a few months before on the roads in England. I wont be going off-road much.

This is what I know about the bike and below are some pictures of it... He's asking for £250, It's a Dawes aluminium frame 6061, 24 speeds ( 3 chain-rings, 8 sprockets), Shimano deore derailleurs, Shimano wheels, disk brakes, city slicks tires on the bike. It also comes with a back pannier rack, 2 bags, water bottle holder, cat-eye, speedometer, 2 spare city slick tires as well as 2 off-road tires( both only used twice) and ofcourse the set already on the bike... The bike will be fully serviced by the owner and it's been kept in good nick.

The answers I'm desperate for:
- Is this bike suitable for touring? will it be comfortable, easy to maintain...
- If you've owned one tell me how your experience of it was!
- How much would you purchase or value such a bike (with all of it's accessories) at?
- Do I really need the Extra sets of tires?
- Any valuable information actually! and thanks to any who can help me out with this.

If the photo's don't work here's a link to my flickr where they are! http://www.flickr.com/photos/106976932@N04/

ALSO, these are two links to a couple of bikes that I think are very similar to the one I'm being sold. Is this bike one of them?

http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/dawes/thorn-hill-2006

http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/dawes/silkstone-gents-2006

 

[steveindenmark]

The first thing that jumps into my mind is that you said you will not be going off road.

You certainly dont need front suspension forks. They add a lot of weight to the bike, are a PIA if they break on you and even though you can get a rack to fit them, they are expensive and hard to get hold of.

No you do not need 2 sets of tyres to go to France. I would take 1 and it would be a foldable tyre and go in my bag. I am sure some of the guys on here will take a couple of tubes and repair kit and leave the tyre at home.

Personally, I would look for a bike without suspension forks where you can fit racks front and back, unless you are travelling light..ish and just need a back rack and bar bag. A bar bag is very useful. Getting a bike without front braze on for front carriers makes the job even easier.

You do not need to spend a fortune to get the right bike to make the trip you are planning but dont throw money at the first wrong bike just because it is cheap.

Steve

 

[jay clock]

Agreed, suspension a waste of weight, and will sap energy in my view. And no need for spare tyres either!

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Not going off road much is not the same as not going off road. All the bikes linked
to are not touring bikes. However if the off road sections are serious a touring
bike isn't going to cut the mustard. If they are mild they will be fine with the
right tyres let down in pressure when compared to riding on the road.

You need the right bike for the 11 day tour. Organised or on the hoof ?

rgds, sreten.