Touring bike

[cnb]

Just had a thought on this...Have you looked at the moulton range...they have a different type of suspension and have their own carrying system(for luggage). bit expensive though

 

[Muddyfox]

I saw this on ebay and thought it looked pretty nice:

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAXT

I've never ridden a bike with that type of front suspension....this bike can take both front and rear panniers, with a sprung seat I'll bet it's quite smooth....?

Thistler has an eye for finding nice bikes on e-bay

My Cannondale MTB has the ultra fatty headshock front suspension which is lighter than conventional front forks and works brilliantly and the lock out is also extrememly good

and with a set of slicks and racks it'd be ready for touring

Simon

 

[yello]

A Cannondale Tesoro might fit the bill.

I like the look of that. Cannondale make decent bikes too.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I saw this on ebay and thought it looked pretty nice:

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAXT

I've never ridden a bike with that type of front suspension....this bike can take both front and rear panniers, with a sprung seat I'll bet it's quite smooth....?

Got to say that's a bloody good spec for the money if it's in decent condition. A 22" frame is quite large, I believe. I wonder why the photo was taken in in a bike shop.

 

[rualexander]

Not sure what sort of budget you are looking at but you might get what you are looking for with an Airnimal Rhino which also has the extra versatility of folding. It is capable of taking a rear rack for panniers etc. see FAQs.

 

[cnb]

I've been reading some reviews on the cannondale bikes(user reviews) and that head shox system doesn't seem that reliable.. Its something that would concern me

 

[chassyp]

Anyone any ideas about using a trailer like this?
http://www.bikesandtrailers.com/dog-trailers/rover_pet_trailer.html
I guess the weight is just being transferred? Just a thought though!

 

[andym]

17kg aounds like a lot and if you need to lighten the bike then the cheapest option would be to change the frame for a steel hardtail MTB frame. If that's not enough buy some scales and work out where that weight is (unfortunately adjustable headsets and suspension seatposts both tend to be heavy).

I don't know what sort of protection you need, but IME while suspension will help cushion the impact if you ride into a pothole or off a step, it won't cushion against normal road/trail vibration.Your best bet is to ride with nice fat tyres, and a sprung saddle and/or a Thudbuster suspension post. You might also want to consider getting nice soft rubber grips - or even butterfly bars and wrapping them with thick rubbery tape. Specialized BG gloves are good.

It's a personal thing, but my experience is that a steel frame will give ales harsh ride than an aluminium frame. Of course you could consider mire radical solutions - like a recumbent or a tikre.

The trailer would be a great help ... if you have a dog. Otherwise it won't help you at all.

 

[chassyp]

Thanks for that. I`ll try and strip the bike down to a frame over the winter and rebuild with a lighter one if I can source one. Thanks again.

 

[andym]

Thanks for that. I`ll try and strip the bike down to a frame over the winter and rebuild with a lighter one if I can source one. Thanks again.

Check out, for example, on-one.co.uk

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Thanks for that. I`ll try and strip the bike down to a frame over the winter and rebuild with a lighter one if I can source one. Thanks again.

Model spec do change, but unless it is 15 years or older the Redwood is an aluminium hardtail (with no rear suspension, but might have a suspended seatpost). If so I don't see how replacing the frame with a steel one will lighten it at all given Marin alloy frames are generally highly quality, reasonably light frames.

A somewhat informed guess, based on knowing that a similarly equipped 3 year old standard Marin Pioneer Trial hardtail weighs 13 kgs, is that I don't think a standard Marin Redwood as specified above weighs as much as 17kgs. I would expect it weighs around 14kgs. I wonder if the OP's 17kg bike includes some or all of racks, panniers, locks, or includes bigger tyres or heavier saddles etc. that are not original equipment?

 

[Zoiders]

Cannondal did at one stage sell a drop bar 700c wheel bike aimed at roughtstuff riding that had a headshock.

Can't recall if they still do it.

 

[chassyp]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I did weigh the bike with its bits and bobs which have been added. Stand/lights/bell/trip meter/blackburn rack/mudguards. Mmmmmm! Maybe a strip down and re weigh?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I did weigh the bike with its bits and bobs which have been added. Stand/lights/bell/trip meter/blackburn rack/mudguards. Mmmmmm! Maybe a strip down and re weigh?

If you need them on your ride, stripping them weighing them is not really going to achieve very much, because a) these add-ons won't be very far off 3 kgs, and b) you will be putting them all back. On the other hand, as I mentioned in an earlier post, an alternative is to travel light and with that objective you might find that you can forgo the stand, rack etc. If you are prepared to do that, then stripping and minimising/upgrading components in order to reduce weight is certainly an alternative - you have already got a reasonably light frame.

However, looking at the Redwood's component spec, I think one can make it lighter, but it will be costly, because a) you will have to replace a lot of components to make a substantial dent in weight, and b) light components are expensive new and potentially tricky to buy/fit secondhand.

 

[samid]

IMHO front suspension is not needed unless you're riding off-road - and weights quite a bit extra. Properly fitting bike with a comfortable (for you!) riding position, fattish slick tyres at lower pressure, and maybe plushy grips and a suspended Brooks could do lots of good on the other hand. Just my CAD$.02