Touring bike under 2k

[dim]

I have a Surley Cross Check , you can fit racks front and rear , put wide tyres in , I had a granny ring fitted , they claim it is capable of carrying 170 kg laden weight,
Down side, bar end gear levers,
Chainset ,
Luvly ride though ,
Due to medical probs and work I never got to tour with it this year , but I will by next April ,
And will get drop bar levers snd higher spec chainset ,
Cost , £1100

what's not to like about the bar end shifters? ....

reason that they use them is that they seldom give problems. The left hand one is always in friction mode, and the right hand one for the rear derailer is either friction mode or index (you set it to what you want). If the indexing system goes out of alignmement when you are touring, you set it to friction mode and you can still change gears smoothly.... they are easy to strip and clean as there are few parts ....

It took me a while to get used to them, but now I think that they are great

another 2 quick points about a Surly LHT .... if you are going to tour fully laden, you need to buy a bike one size smaller than what you normally use .... 2nd point, is that it's a no-no to use a kickstand on a Surly LHT

 

[ozboz]

what's not to like about the bar end shifters? ....

reason that they use them is that they seldom give problems. The left hand one is always in friction mode, and the right hand one for the rear derailer is either friction mode or index (you set it to what you want). If the indexing system goes out of alignmement when you are touring, you set it to friction mode and you can still change gears smoothly.... they are easy to strip and clean as there are few parts ....

It took me a while to get used to them, but now I think that they are great

another 2 quick points about a Surly LHT .... if you are going to tour fully laden, you need to buy a bike one size smaller than what you normally use .... 2nd point, is that it's a no-no to use a kickstand on a Surly LHT

Easy , my knees hits the levers 'whilst turning sometimes , a friend had a cabbie on it , he had the same problem , I saw a CC in London on Tuesday with down tube levers , for me its the way to go ,

 

[cisamcgu]

Check out http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk
they make very pretty bikes, and I am sure they can put on drop bars if you ask them

 

[ozboz]

Check out http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk
they make very pretty bikes, and I am sure they can put on drop bars if you ask them
View attachment 150707

Very , very nice !!
Ive already mailed them to see if I can call in ,

 

[dim]

I walk past a bike shop in Cambridge every Tuesday morning .... It's called the Light Blue

some really smart looking bikes there and they have a sale on at the moment . They also sell Surly bikes. There is one of the Light Blue bikes that seems like it is chromed or stainless steel. Superb looking bike. Here is their website:
http://www.lightbluecycles.co.uk/Sport/complete-bikes

 

[Tin Pot]

Hobootleg fully loaded

 

[raleighnut]

Hobootleg fully loaded

You could lose a bit of weight by leaving the hanging basket at home, it might make the tent more 'homely' but you don't really need it.

 

[ozboz]

Very serious tourer !
I notice it has a tripple fitted , is that your own spec or standard ?
Do you have a w'proof covers for your load , one last question , do you also don a back pack ?

 

[Tin Pot]

I don't own one yet, sadly. I just pine for one...

It is a triple as standard, bar end shifter for easier maintenance, cabling runs over the top tube so it's easier to heft on the shoulder too.

 

[recycling]

Have a look at Thorn Cycles of Bridgwater. They only make touring bikes, either 700c or 26" and the quality is excellent. http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/contact-us

Richard

 

[Polite]

Christmas is coming etc..etc

If you could pick a drop handled touring bike up to 2k that takes at least rear pannier.

Which would you choose?

http://pilgrim-cycles.co.uk

Mine is the second row on the left so I can definitely recommend, it's a beautiful bike and the owner knows his stuff.

 

[GrahamG]

I'd struggle to justify 2k on a tourer, but then otp bikes are dearer than when I put mine together and you only end up spending on upgrades and essential accessories so maybe I should reconsider.

Never custom or anything exotic for me as I'd be gutted to see it battered, bruised and possibly nicked - my tourer is the only bike that looks 10 years older than it is after actual duty of ~5 months worth of tours and a bit of shopping and town pootling. I'd probably look to better integration of things like dynamo light cables and possibly disc brakes if repeating the exercise now.

.. I feel like I've been through too much with my bike to consider replacing it, even in a lottery win situation!

 

[Dave 123]

Ive been looking at Spa Cycles. That is a really nice bike.

I have one of these

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b17s21p2554

It's a very nice bike indeed.

 

[GuyBoden]

I have one of these

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b17s21p2554

It's a very nice bike indeed.

Lucky you, yes, the Spa Ti Tourer bike looks very good indeed.

 

[e-rider]

Lucky you, yes, the Spa Ti Tourer bike looks very good indeed.

those handlebars just look stupid that high