Road bike versus Road touring bike

[Welsh wheels]

I've offered the guy £85 for it, he's advertised it for £130. If he accepts the offer, I might consider buying it. Depends how desperate it is, has been listed for a while. Cheers for the replies everyone.

 

[mustang1]

Pardon me, but surely you can spot the contradictions in your claims?

I do. But I have to tread carefully else this may become a wide tires versus skinny tires thread and then the "but wide tires have lower rolling resistance" brigade won't shut up.

 

[boydj]

My personal issues with touring bikes are the canti brakes. I find them an abomination on a heavily laden touring bike. Hard to keep adjusted, squeal and difficult to set up. I've removed them from two of my tourers and fitted standard sidepulls. I don't need wider than 28c tyres so suits me.

If you were buying new, though, your tourer would almost certainly come with disc brakes.

 

[bonsaibilly]

Needs new tape, I wouldn't put my hands anywhere near that!

Zaffiro tyres are average, and that looks like a £15 Madison saddle

I'm sure it's fine as a stopgap and future winter hack, you may not get your money back though

Go test ride it

Be a start and a great frame to restore / upgrade as you go!

How do you know it will be the right size though, and how do you know your current bike is the wrong size? Sometimes just a change of stem length or a repositioning of parts can make all the difference.

What bike have you got in what size and how tall are you?

 

[vickster]

Be a start and a great frame to restore / upgrade as you go!

How do you know it will be the right size though, and how do you know your current bike is the wrong size? Sometimes just a change of stem length or a repositioning of parts can make all the difference.

What bike have you got in what size and how tall are you?

Why have you quoted me and not @Welsh wheels ?

 

[bonsaibilly]

I'm not sure it matters if it adds to the thread, but I suppose subconsciously it was because your post said it could be a stopgap and not to expect a return on it, whereas I think the OP could fix it up and upgrade it so it would be more than a stopgap.

 

[Welsh wheels]

Be a start and a great frame to restore / upgrade as you go!

How do you know it will be the right size though, and how do you know your current bike is the wrong size? Sometimes just a change of stem length or a repositioning of parts can make all the difference.

What bike have you got in what size and how tall are you?

I have got a 58 cm frame 2016 Dawes Giro 300 and I'm 5'9. It was much too big when I brought it. I hadn't ridden a road bike before, so when I test rode it I assumed that was the correct position, and being an idiot didn't really pay any attention to recommended frame sizes. I changed to a shorter stem, which was an improvement. I have ridden it about for six weeks like that, and it's still not perfect. I'm starting to get consistent back pain so I think it's time to find a smaller frame. I don't know the exact frame size of the Saracen, I only know it's a medium. Haven't decided whether to get it yet though, but if I do I will measure it before I buy it.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Not going to happen for the sake of £10 tape That looks shagged and filthy. Red tape to match the tyres...

which is fine providing you never need to mend a puncture on the road, at which point they get, and stay, horribly grubby. lesson learned and back to black when the time for new tape came around…

 

[vickster]

which is fine providing you never need to mend a puncture on the road, at which point they get, and stay, horribly grubby. lesson learned and back to black when the time for new tape came around…

Latex gloves?

I have got a 58 cm frame 2016 Dawes Giro 300 and I'm 5'9. It was much too big when I brought it. I hadn't ridden a road bike before, so when I test rode it I assumed that was the correct position, and being an idiot didn't really pay any attention to recommended frame sizes. I changed to a shorter stem, which was an improvement. I have ridden it about for six weeks like that, and it's still not perfect. I'm starting to get consistent back pain so I think it's time to find a smaller frame. I don't know the exact frame size of the Saracen, I only know it's a medium. Haven't decided whether to get it yet though, but if I do I will measure it before I buy it.

Don't measure it - test ride it!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Latex gloves?

tried that, but they tend to get caught between tyre and rim, simultaneously getting in the way and, when ripped, making sod all difference from a cleanliness perspective…

 

[Welsh wheels]

Latex gloves?

Don't measure it - test ride it!

I decided not to get that one anyway

 

[vickster]

I decided not to get that one anyway

Why not?

 

[Welsh wheels]

Why not?

Decided I'd put up with my current bike for a while longer, until I'd enough for a nicer bike

 

[si_c]

Decided I'd put up with my current bike for a while longer, until I'd enough for a nicer bike

Sometimes the best way, I've been hitting ebay looking at second hand stuff as my current bike has a few limitations (gearing being one, hills are doable but irritating with a 42-28 smallest gear). In the end I've decided to get a new one when I can afford it.

 

[vickster]

Decided I'd put up with my current bike for a while longer, until I'd enough for a nicer bike

Does your current bike have an in line or layback seatpost. If the latter, you might find the former could bring you closer to the bars