Touring on My Road Bike

[marchorsbrough]

I've been reading various posts and threads about touring recently and was wondering why there's so much opposition to using a standard carbon road bike for touring? I've got a Bianchi Sempre 105 road bike and I'm just about to embark on a 1000 mike trip in the States. I'm beginning to worry the bike just won't be up to the job, even though it's really comfy and I've got rear panniers which fit fine. The friend I'm going with has been many times before and just uses his Boardman road bike with great success!

I didn't want to fork out the expense of a new bike purely for the one trip, so I was wondering if anyone has toured successfully on a standard "off the peg" road bike, just to put my mind at rest!?

Marc

 

[MikeW-71]

It can (and has) been done, see Ultralight Touring, but carbon frames aren't usually built with racks in mind and manufacturers don't recommend fitting luggage.

A steel/aluminium road bike is much better off and can carry more, the only remaining consideration is having to use thin tyres, where something wider is more suited to the task and more comfortable.

IMHO, the best "light touring" bikes are CX's. Sturdy and can accept wider tyres. Get the gearing right and you'll be well away.

 

[Profpointy]

If you can get away with everything in a saddle bag - eg a big Carradice thing, then the bike won't know or care whether you've got luggage or are merely a stone heavier. You'll get a wet arse without mudguards though. Other than that, why not?

 

[MikeW-71]

On our recent tour of Islay, one of the party resorted to using his carbon race bike and a whopping great backpack. The bike did fine.

I used a CX with about a 6kg load on a rack.

One had a Touring bike

The rest had stock alloy road bikes with racks on, or hybrids with racks.

 

[midliferider]

I have toured on my B Twin Triban 3. I carried a over night bag weighing about 5Kg on a saddle post rack.

 

[steveindenmark]

This is not a problem at all. I have a Trek Lexa SL Roadbike and use it for touring. I dont mean ultra lite crédit card touring. I carry a 2 man tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag. I think the total weight I carry is about 10kg, using rear panniers and bar bag. It still has the original wheels but I changed the tyres from 23C to 25C. Most of the riding is on the road but we have also done many miles on hard packed mud and gravel.

I also Tour on a Koga World Traveller, which is designed and built for round the World cycling. I do not carry much more weight than I do on the Trek. I found out a long time ago that we carry masses of gear when we Tour that we dont need. My Golden rule is that you dont need 3 of anything when you are touring.

Go and enjoy your trip and just bear in mind the limitations of your bike.

Steve

 

[TheDoctor]

It's more that a road bike isn't the best tool for the job.
If you can get a rack on it, with heel clearance on the panniers, then it'll be usable, but a touring bike will take wider tyres, which will be more comfortable. And will probably have lower gears, if that's important for your terrain.
But if your set-up works for you, then great. I've toured on most of my bikes, with varying degrees of success. The next challenge is a weekend tour on the fixed...

 

[steveindenmark]

Doc, you are totally correct. The only "problem" I have with rear panniers on the Trek is that I have to mount them as far back as possible for Heel clearance. But it works ok. On the Koga I have lots of space.

Steve

 

[Gravity Aided]

@steveindenmark , that's a great golden rule...

 

[bigjim]

Check this out
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=Sh&page_id=279737&v=HN

 

[Gravity Aided]

Check this out- Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas on a 3 speed Trek Belleville https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=Sh&doc_id=11646&v=12t
Fact is, you can tour on anything. This fellow did another tour or two on an old Montgomery Wards Open Road Three Speed. Both much less suited than say, a racing bike.

 

[TheDoctor]

Oh no no no. That's just wrong.
*shudders*

Yes, that is a Carradice on my carbon bike. With a change of clothes and a folding toothbrush in it.
What more luggage do you need?

 

[Drago]

All that weight levering on a seat post!

 

[Simon_m]

My BMC got me across America, although we were van supported for the tents and luggage, I easily fitted a large rear bag on the back.

http://www.webm8.co.uk/riddler/photographs_other/transam-2012/day-0034/0022.htm

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I met a guy on the transam riding unsupported on a carbon road bike. All he had with him was tiny one man ten/bivvy, an ultra light sleep bag and the clothes he wore on the bike. He had both tent and sleep bag attached to his back on some kind of rucksac like strapping. He must have froze his arse off at night in places, and I would hazard a guess that his motel bill was bigger than mine. But he wanted to be fast...something to do with a new girlfriend in Virginia!