Touring bike, advice please!

[thistler]

I am interested in doing cycling/camping trips next spring and summer. 

I currently have a Trek Navigator t30 : http://www.bicyclech...productid=15367

and a Specialized Secteur: http://www.evanscycl...ampaign=froogle
I am wondering if the Trek would be okay for touring or if it puts you in too much of an upright position for hours of riding....I'd rather leave the Secteur as it is for training and club rides, I don't know if it is sturdy enough for touring or if I'd need new wheels, etc. but if the Secteur is a better choice then I'd consider it.

I was also was considering getting a used 'touring' bike, or would an older, sturdy road bike be best?  I am completely new to touring and would appreciate any advice. Budget is an issue, I wonder if buying a used equipped touring bike would be cheaper than kitting out what I already have? I don't need the latest thing, just something comfortable, dependable and suitable for the job.

 

[MichaelM]

I am interested in doing cycling/camping trips next spring and summer.

I currently have a Trek Navigator t30 : http://www.bicyclech...productid=15367

and a Specialized Secteur: http://www.evanscycl...ampaign=froogle
I am wondering if the Trek would be okay for touring or if it puts you in too much of an upright position for hours of riding....I'd rather leave the Secteur as it is for training and club rides, I don't know if it is sturdy enough for touring or if I'd need new wheels, etc. but if the Secteur is a better choice then I'd consider it.

I was also was considering getting a used 'touring' bike, or would an older, sturdy road bike be best? I am completely new to touring and would appreciate any advice. Budget is an issue, I wonder if buying a used equipped touring bike would be cheaper than kitting out what I already have? I don't need the latest thing, just something comfortable, dependable and suitable for the job.

I met two ladies ealrier this year doing LEJOG on bikes that looked rather similar to your trek. If it's what you've got and you're comfortable on it, then pack your panniers and off you .......

 

[willem]

As you realize, neither of them is ideal. The Specialized is only suited for very light touring, like hostelling, or just possibly very ultralight camping with a Carradice sadle bag (10 kg max, but preferably less). It also depends a bit on your own weight. Is the Trek a ladies model, as in the link that I see? That would not help either, and again would argue in favour of lightweight touring, though not to the same extent as on the road bike (two rear panniers with 15 kg max).
If budget is limited, I would use the Trek (indeed lower the handlebars), and spend the money you have on good quality lightweight camping gear if you do not already have that. Beyond that, what is most suitable depends a lot on what kind of riding you intend to do. Older road bikes with clearance for wider 32 mm tyres are ok for fast and ultralight touring. Proper traditional tourers like the Dawes Galaxy are fine for most kinds of touring, including some gravel roads and the like (fit the widest tyres possible), and if you want to rough it even more, you will need a 26 inch wheel tourer. I have discovered that off road ability matters quite a bit these days with heavier car traffic. Using the Trek would give you the opportunity to not only invest in quality camping gear, but also to discover which kind of cycling you like.
Willem

 

[thistler]

Yes, the Trek is the ladies frame.

Thank you for the advice - I think it would make sense to try the Trek and see how I get on, then maybe move up to a Galaxy later. 

 

[mcshroom]

I'd start with the trek and see what it feels like. I would be tempted to put bar ends on to allow different hand positions though.

 

[Ben M]

That specialized has braze-ons for a rack doesn't it? If so, use that.