Ridgeback Tour 2013
- Thread starter Ben1981
- Start date
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Big T
Guru
- Location
- Nottingham
I have a Ridgeback Panorama, which is a bit further up the range. I've had it for 4 years. it's been a great bike, I rode John O Groats to Lands End on it and it's used every workday on my commute. One weak point has been the wheels. The rear rim split after about 5000 miles. It's a known fault of the Alex rims that come with the bike.
Having looked at the spec of the Tour, it looks a good VFM bike at £599. It has an aluminium frame, whereas the more expensive bikes in the range are steel, but don't let that put you off. My brother in law has a Dawes Vantage, which also has an aluminium frame and he gets along just fine with it.
Having looked at the spec of the Tour, it looks a good VFM bike at £599. It has an aluminium frame, whereas the more expensive bikes in the range are steel, but don't let that put you off. My brother in law has a Dawes Vantage, which also has an aluminium frame and he gets along just fine with it.
Titanium
Guru
- Location
- Penarth, South Wales.
I've used both steel and aluminium for touring. After many tours and many miles I have realised the best thing to do is just use a decent bike that does everything you want from it, and not get too concerned about which material is the best, because most good frames will do an excellent job.
Even though I do have a slight preference for steel, I wouldn't mind either one actually.
Magazine reviews with often mention steel has the advantage over aluminium for touring, because steel can be fixed/welded if part of the frame snaps or breaks whilst abroad. Even though that is true and relevant, how often does that sort of thing happen? There must be thousands of cycle tourists on all types of bikes cycling parts of the world... only a few will prang their bike to the extent of breaking it. So if there's an aluminium tourer that appeals.... I'd say go for it.
Cannondale make some superb Aluminium tourers; I've owned a couple and they feel fantastic to ride. I've also toured on steel Dawes Galaxy's and the like - all are just fine.
So yes, I'd plump for steel myself, but it's definitely not a night and day thing. Cheers. Mark.
Even though I do have a slight preference for steel, I wouldn't mind either one actually.
Magazine reviews with often mention steel has the advantage over aluminium for touring, because steel can be fixed/welded if part of the frame snaps or breaks whilst abroad. Even though that is true and relevant, how often does that sort of thing happen? There must be thousands of cycle tourists on all types of bikes cycling parts of the world... only a few will prang their bike to the extent of breaking it. So if there's an aluminium tourer that appeals.... I'd say go for it.
Cannondale make some superb Aluminium tourers; I've owned a couple and they feel fantastic to ride. I've also toured on steel Dawes Galaxy's and the like - all are just fine.
So yes, I'd plump for steel myself, but it's definitely not a night and day thing. Cheers. Mark.
There is one review on here http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/tour-2013-touring-bike-ec043421#BVRRWidgetID
Ticktockmy
Guru
- Location
- Crawley, West Sussex
I toured through South East Asia some years ago using a Trek Alloy framed bike, had no problems with it at all. I now use a steel framed bike, as some nice person felt that I had owned the Trek too long. Comparing the two, the steel frame is much more lively, whereas the alloy frame felt less so, as I like to tour on and off road, I find the steel frame the best of the two as it helps to absorb more of the lumps and bumps.
It looks a capable bike... albeit slightly unexciting imho. To be fair, at that price, you're not going to get an awful lot but it looks to be a good basically solid bike that ticks the important boxes.
