Steel Or Titanium

[MarkF]

I am doing similar, down through France and on through Spain, carousing and watching the football every night. I am using a £75 hybrid so am sure you'll manage on either.

 

[sidevalve]

But 13kg for the Dawes?

About right. It's not just the frame, the galaxy is set up as a full tourer - lots of fittings for panniers and larger tyres for example. It will take you to Cairo and back but it isn't a racer.

 

[raleighnut]

I'd stick with steel.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Horses for courses.
Touring - Steel (heavy workhorse and reliable)
Racing - Carbon (light, high pedal to speed ratio)
Overall / Sportives - Ti or Aluminium Alloy ( less weight and durable)
Least frame maintenance and lifetime of riding - Ti (impervious to rust, no paint required)

 

[MichaelW2]

It will take you to Cairo and back but it isn't a racer.

Across Sinai or Libya?. Whichever route you choose, adrenaline will make up for any extra weight.

 

[vernon]

For touring I'd go with steel.... just about anybody can weld steel tubes. With TI you need a specialist.

And how many people break their frames on tour?

It's an oft quoted reason for going down the steel route. Just about anyone can weld/braze steel tubes but how many of the 'anyones' can do it well?

It just so happens that I've had steel frames break on my on two separate occasions. Technically it wasn't the frames but a rear drop out both of them on Dawes Galaxy bikes.

The first time was in Chorley on a Friday evening and it was brazed and I was back on the road within 1.5 hours. The repairer? Bill Nickson, the last British winner of the Milk Race. I lucked out on that breakage.

The second time, I was in Orleans. The bike was getting close to needing a new drive train and derailleurs, new rims and tyres and after factoring in a repair and restorative respray on my return to the UK I'd have ended up spending a lot more money than I did on an aluminium framed replacement tourer/hybrid bike that I bought from Decathlon. I finished my tour on a near brand new bike and the Brooks B17 saddle from the Galaxy. Someone finding the abandoned Galaxy would have been able to salvage some serviceable cantilever brakes, a new Decathlon saddle, and a decent set of handlebars with bar end shifters and brake levers.

 

[vernon]

Seems pretty unanimous, how does the Reynolds 853 compare to the 631?

Makes no discernable difference in ride quality to the average cyclist but it does make a difference to your bank balance.

 

[Ian H]

Lighter bike and a lighter wallet sounds like win-win to me.
I like my Ti, but I don't kid myself that they ride better than similarly well-designed steel frames.

 

[samsbike]

I have a ti bike and tbh it's still quite heavy. I am not sure it offers anymore in terms of ride quality than a good steel bike so I would rather have the steel bike and a good set of wheels.

 

[Onyer]

About right. It's not just the frame, the galaxy is set up as a full tourer - lots of fittings for panniers and larger tyres for example. It will take you to Cairo and back but it isn't a racer.

Just for interest I weighed my bikes this morning - only using bathroom scales so not super accurate. First up was my carbon that came in at 7kg. This is about right as when I bought the bike it was weighed in the shop at 7.2kg. Next up was the Ti with mudguards, rack, bottle cage, pedals. Came in at 10kg. So I still think that 13kg for the Dawes is heavy.

 

[steveindenmark]

I like that steel Galaxy and its got a good drive train on it.

The extra £500 will go a long way to your tour. I have a Koga World Traveller and its heavy but superb. I dont care about the weight. I ride it, I dont carry it.

 

[Bodhbh]

Just for interest I weighed my bikes this morning - only using bathroom scales so not super accurate. First up was my carbon that came in at 7kg. This is about right as when I bought the bike it was weighed in the shop at 7.2kg. Next up was the Ti with mudguards, rack, bottle cage, pedals. Came in at 10kg. So I still think that 13kg for the Dawes is heavy.

Assuming your comparing it to a road bike build: 36h wheels with touring rims, touring tyres, heavy duty rack. I think you can account for most of the 3kilos there, but I'm probably missing something too. Agree with most of the posts above tho, that you may as well go steel if it's a full-time tourer.

 

[gilespargiter]

I think in proportion to the weight you will be carrying, titanium is not a very effective way to spend £500. Could put it into your tent, clothing or even perhaps accommodation budget and save more weight.

 

[toontra]

Apart from no corrosion (I've lost 2 steel frames to rust around the bottom bracket shell) unpainted titanium means not having to worry about the scratches and chips that you tend to pick up when touring. Several (Van Nic for example) also have lifetime warranties.