Potential touring bike! what do you think

[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, I'm not too clued up when it comes to bikes.

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! 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

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Steven and .

To start with I don't know the specific model, however Dawes bikes are generally well thought of. They usually aren't the most exciting or best equipped for the price but they have a reputation for producing a bike that just works and importantly keeps doing so, which is what you want from a tourer.

Looking at the links you've provided I'd say it looks more like the Silkstone, although I notice differences in the frame so it may be a different model still.

It has the accessories you want: rack & mudguards. I wonder whether the suspension forks have a lockout, which would be useful for those long roads sections.

It looks a smallish frame to me and is showing a lot of seat post. Do you have any info about the frame size? Is it the right size for you?

The price doesn't seem bad to me for the bike and accessories. Others may be along shortly with a different opinion though.

 

[i hate hills]

Ditto what Phil says in his post. I had a chance to buy a Dawes hybrid a few weeks back at a car boot sale for £45 but backed away and missed out. I am a pillock......

 

[Steven Alley]

Hi Phill!
cheers for the welcome and I thought the same about the frame. closest I've come across though! must be a diff model.

Dawes sounds quite reputable by the sounds of things hmm, Could you explain to me the lockout? I haven't got the technical knowledge unfortunately

I thought about the size also, the person that I may be buying this bike from is far shorter than me so I suspect that would affect my back when riding perhaps? I am six foot and he may be 5'8? He would have bought the bike to fit him of-course. (He said it would not matter too much about the size considering what i'd be using it for.)

Thanks Phil for the information and any more you can help me with!

 

[Steven Alley]

Ditto what Phil says in his post. I had a chance to buy a Dawes hybrid a few weeks back at a car boot sale for £45 but backed away and missed out. I am a pillock......

Would you say this bike is a hybrid then by what you see?

 

[vickster]

Would you say this bike is a hybrid then by what you see?

Yes, flat bars will technically make it a hybrid rather than a road bike and chunky tyres

If it's a bit small, you could try adding a longer stem

 

[i hate hills]

Not entirely sure Steven . The frame / seat post has thrown me a bit. I think i missed out on a good bike. Sorry i cant be more of a help.

 

[biggs682]

looks an ideal tourer but unsure about touring with a bike that has front suspension .

does look a smallish frame size so how tall are you ?

will ride better on road with the slick tyres rather than the knobbly ones

go and give it a spin and see how it rides

 

[Steven Alley]

I'm 6 foot. Yeah I will be doing that soon hopefully! what should I look out for when riding the bike in regards to height?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Phill!
cheers for the welcome and I thought the same about the frame. closest I've come across though! must be a diff model.

Dawes sounds quite reputable by the sounds of things hmm, Could you explain to me the lockout? I haven't got the technical knowledge unfortunately

I thought about the size also, the person that I may be buying this bike from is far shorter than me so I suspect that would affect my back when riding perhaps? I am six foot and he may be 5'8? He would have bought the bike to fit him of-course. (He said it would not matter too much about the size considering what i'd be using it for.)

Thanks Phil for the information and any more you can help me with!

The lockout does what the name suggests. Locks the suspension fork and turns it into a rigid, which is more efficient for riding on tarmac as you don't loose energy bouncing the suspension up and down.

If the seller is 5'8" and you're 6' then this frame might well be too small for you. Link to Dawes sizing guide, which may help you decide. Contrary to what the guy says, frame size does matter and if it isn't the appropriate one for you you could well find yourself hating cycling for as long as you have the bike. (yes, it does make that much difference!)

Ignore the "hybrid" label. It's a useless marketing term for anything with flat bars that isn't a mountain bike. On the continent they would class this as a Trekking Bike (otherwise known as a flat barred tourer).

 

[Steven Alley]

Brilliant phill! thanks for clearing this up for me. I may do some measuring when I see the bike. Is one size smaller ok? You've been a great help and cheers for the link buddy

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Brilliant phill! thanks for clearing this up for me. I may do some measuring when I see the bike. Is one size smaller ok? You've been a great help and cheers for the link buddy

You might get away with one size smaller if you are near to the overlap point between sizes. If it isn't right for you there are plenty more bikes out there so don't rush into buying it if it's too small.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[biggs682]

I'm 6 foot. Yeah I will be doing that soon hopefully! what should I look out for when riding the bike in regards to height?

looking at the pics would make me think this might be too small for you .

a rough guide at 5 ft 10" i normally have the saddle set at 39" from the ground , so would think you would require a saddle height around the 41" area .

@Steven Alley where are you based in the country as if you are local to me feel free to come and try a leg over a couple of my road/touring bikes to get an idea for size .

do you want a flat barred or drop bar bike as not always easily converted

 

[Steven Alley]

I personally would prefer a drop bar. and I think this will be far too small as well :/ I think I will go and check the bike out, see how it rides... and I've moved to london from aylesbury, near?

 

[Steven Alley]

I personally would prefer a drop bar. and I think this will be far too small as well :/ I think I will go and check the bike out, see how it rides... and I've moved to london from aylesbury, near?

You might get away with one size smaller if you are near to the overlap point between sizes. If it isn't right for you there are plenty more bikes out there so don't rush into buying it if it's too small.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

Cheers Phill! I will keep you all updated chat soon and thanks for the advice once again