what touring bike

[Pjays666]

Hi all I am currently looking into purchasing a new touring bike and im toying between a titanium tourer from spa or a sabbath silk route. I have got a road bike so only want for touring with panniers. What are views from the good people here please. I am open to other suggestions,, thanks in advance

 

[Onyer]

A good review by Chris Jurden when he was at CTC http://www.ctc.org.uk/file/member/201103054.pdf of the 'audax' bike plus http://www.spacycles.co.uk/info/TiTourerreview.pdf the touring bike. My cycling buddy has a Sabbath Silk Road, which he loves. He uses a rack fixed to the seat post when we go touring. I have had an Enigma Etape which is another good bike.

 

[steveindenmark]

A couple of questions.

Why Ti? Hard to repair and expensive compared to steel.

Do you want drop handlebars.

My touring bike is a Koga World Traveller and it is a fantastic bike.

 

[Pjays666]

Thanks for that Onyer i couldnt read the CTC review though but the other was interesting.

 

[Pjays666]

A couple of questions.

Why Ti? Hard to repair and expensive compared to steel.

Do you want drop handlebars.

My touring bike is a Koga World Traveller and it is a fantastic bike.

Hi Steve the main reason i was looking at titanium was that it would fair better with regsrdsvto scratches and wouldnt rust so nothing to do with weight.

 

[vickster]

Will it be living outside? There's no rust on my Genesis after 2 years

 

[steveindenmark]

Modern frames are so well protected, I wouldnt pay the extra just to prevent rust. Non of the frames on my bikes have rust.

 

[midliferider]

I tour on a Specialised Sirrus Elite. It is very light weight, easy to carry in a bag. But I do not carry weight on the front.
But then I never camp and travel very light.

 

[stumpy66]

Hewitt cheviot, great bike and service from the shop

 

[vickster]

Hewitt cheviot, great bike and service from the shop

Sounds like a breed of sheep

 

[DanZac]

I don't know much about the Sabbath Silk Road, but have done a considerable amount of touring on a Roux Etape (which was cheap as chips, has never let me down and is probably my favourite ride). However I've also got a Spa Audax and if I was going to buy another specialist touring bike they would be my first port of call. If their touring frame is anything like the Audax (and having spoken to a couple of owners believe it's pretty good) I don't think you will be disappointed.
At the end of the day you need to give them both a go and see which one feels best. I wouldn't fancy spending all day in the saddle on something that didn't feel right.

 

[AndyRM]

My recommendation would be a Dawes Galaxy.

Great frame, wide range of specs available, popular in the touring scene for years.