Ridgeback Expedition 26 inch tourer

[Rymo]

This bike - http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/static/image/asset/bikes/expedition/xxl.jpg

I can't find one anywhere in London to have a proper look at, can anyone here comment on this bike? I have heard good things about others in their range just nothing about this one in particular.

Main reason I like the expedition is the two sets of brake levers, 26 inch wheels and the Reynolds steel frame - I am planning on cycling outside Europe on it, price ain't bad at £950 too.

Any advice appreciated regarding sub £1000 touring bikes with the aforementioned criteria included would be great!

Thanks, Ry

 

[Cycleops]

Surprised nobody has commented on the expedition. Ridgeback have a good name so I don't think you can really go wrong and all the components are pretty much tried and tested. If I were you I'd go for it.

 

[mmmmartin]

There are only three bits to any bike: the bit that makes it go, the bit that makes it stop, amd the bit that holds it together.
The frame will be OK, steel, perhaps a bit heavy but that won't matter. You get a free rear rack, but you'll have to buy front racks and that can be £70 for good stuff. The frame is good. A plus point.
The brakes are not so good, you might want V brakes which will deffo stop a heavily laden touring bike going downhill quickly, but changing the ones on there might be tricky. The tyres are good, Marathons, but the rims are drilled to take Schrader valves, and they do not hold the air at high pessure as well as Presta valves and also necessitate a bigger hole in the rim (point of potential weakness).
The bit that makes it go: this is where they have cut costs to get the selling price below £1,000. This is bottom of the range stuff. It'll be OK but you will have a bit of trouble with it in your second year and may need to replace it with better stuff. You have bar end shifters so a small tweak will set the derailleur in the right position, whereas if you had STI shifters you will find a load of dirt will make it hard to get the chain running smoothly. A minus point.
The wheels are 36 spokes, good, but hand built wheels are a neccessity IMO, for touring.
If your heart is set on it, then buy it. Ride it first, though. If you look carefully you can get a Dawes Galaxy from last year cheaper: look at SJS Cycles and see if they have something in your price range. 26 inch wheels are a good idea but for Euopean tarmac not really essential.

 

[biggs682]

@Rymo i have a Ridgeback Horizon that i have used very rarely but all in all its a nice looking bike that seems well put together and goes well on the rides i have done

 

[Rymo]

There are only three bits to any bike: the bit that makes it go, the bit that makes it stop, amd the bit that holds it together.
The frame will be OK, steel, perhaps a bit heavy but that won't matter. You get a free rear rack, but you'll have to buy front racks and that can be £70 for good stuff. The frame is good. A plus point.
The brakes are not so good, you might want V brakes which will deffo stop a heavily laden touring bike going downhill quickly, but changing the ones on there might be tricky. The tyres are good, Marathons, but the rims are drilled to take Schrader valves, and they do not hold the air at high pessure as well as Presta valves and also necessitate a bigger hole in the rim (point of potential weakness).
The bit that makes it go: this is where they have cut costs to get the selling price below £1,000. This is bottom of the range stuff. It'll be OK but you will have a bit of trouble with it in your second year and may need to replace it with better stuff. You have bar end shifters so a small tweak will set the derailleur in the right position, whereas if you had STI shifters you will find a load of dirt will make it hard to get the chain running smoothly. A minus point.
The wheels are 36 spokes, good, but hand built wheels are a neccessity IMO, for touring.
If your heart is set on it, then buy it. Ride it first, though. If you look carefully you can get a Dawes Galaxy from last year cheaper: look at SJS Cycles and see if they have something in your price range. 26 inch wheels are a good idea but for Euopean tarmac not really essential.

Thanks for the information people.
Found a Galaxy Plus '13 for £900 but 700c wheels as well as disks, not so keen..
LHT is now what I'm thinking, found one for £985.

Martin - 'The bit that makes it go' on the LHT is Shimano XT rear & Sora front with an Andel RSC6 crankset, sound OK or again, similar to the Shimano entry level gear on the Expedition?

Cheers