Which touring bike?

[steveindenmark]

I am looking for a long distance touring bike. I am about 11 stones and will be carrying about 20kg of gear. The bike must be able to go on a plane.

Ideally, I would like it with front and rear pannier racks and at least 2 bottle holders. The bike will be used for non speedy Golazez touring.

The budget is about £1500 but can be taken up a notch at a push.

I have just started searching and the Koga bikes look appealing.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Steve

 

[stumpy66]

I am looking for a long distance touring bike. I am about 11 stones and will be carrying about 20kg of gear. The bike must be able to go on a plane.

Ideally, I would like it with front and rear pannier racks and at least 2 bottle holders. The bike will be used for non speedy Golazez touring.

The budget is about £1500 but can be taken up a notch at a push.

I have just started searching and the Koga bikes look appealing.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Steve

I have a hewitt chevoit se and its been faultless, you can spec whatever you like on the bike and Paul Hewitt is well known for building great wheels. He also offers a fitting service and is useful to chat through with him about the options. the chevoit se has stainless steel dropouts, 3 sets of bottle mounts. I went for tubus racks and have been great, think the cheviot se can be had for around 1500. My mate has a thorn sherpa which he loves, there is also the dawes galaxy, but im sure there will be others along with more knowledge of other bikes.

 

[jakegil]

Hi Steve

I fancy this if I was going to get a new tourer

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/disc_trucker

Can be had for £1078. I have heard good things about Koga though. I do like steel though

Jake

 

[stumpy66]

I am looking for a long distance touring bike. I am about 11 stones and will be carrying about 20kg of gear. The bike must be able to go on a plane.

Ideally, I would like it with front and rear pannier racks and at least 2 bottle holders. The bike will be used for non speedy Golazez touring.

The budget is about £1500 but can be taken up a notch at a push.

I have just started searching and the Koga bikes look appealing.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Steve

My preference is for a steel frame, more comfortable than alu and easier to repair, titanium would be great but more expensive

 

[HelenD123]

I'd second Stumpy's suggestion of a Paul Hewitt bike. It would definitely be top of my list for a new tourer. I've got a Dawes Ultra Galaxy but don't think they're great value.

I don't know what the Spa Cycles tourers are like but I'd also have a look at one of those. They know they're stuff and are usually good value.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Primarily sealed or unsealed roads and where in the World will you be touring? What is Golazez touring please?

 

[numbnuts]

Not the prettiest bike in the rack, but the Thorn Club Tour is a nice bike to ride

 

[Aushiker]

I am probably biased but I am pretty happy with my Surly Long Haul Trucker. Another option is the Vivente Randonneur but I am not sure that you can get these in the UK.

Thorn bikes are seem to get favourable mentions.

Andrew

 

[oldfatfool]

I am happy with my Ridgeback Panorama,

 

[Danny]

I also have a Hewitt Cheviot and would definitely recommend one. It is a good touring bike and Paul will fit it out with any combination of components you want - and if you are not sure what you need he can offer good advice.

Even more importantly I would recommend that you buy from somewhere with the sort of bike fitting service that Paul Hewitt offers as you really want a machine that fits you well if you are going to be doing long distance touring.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I'm getting a Hewitt for Audaxing. Great bikes and service.

 

[steveindenmark]

I will pour through your suggestions and come back with questions. Thanks a lot for sending them.

I just had to say to middleagecyclist "Do you not know who Speedy Gonzalez is?"

Being middleaged, you must do. That is unless I am very old

I am 54.

By the way guys, as my name suggests, I am in Denmark and even though a trip to a bespoke British bike builder sounds appealing. It would add a bit too much onto the cost of the bike. Any off the peg bike suggestions would be good.

Steve

 

[middleagecyclist]

I will pour through your suggestions and come back with questions. Thanks a lot for sending them.

I just had to say to middleagecyclist "Do you not know who Speedy Gonzalez is?"

Being middleaged, you must do. That is unless I am very old

I am 54.

By the way guys, as my name suggests, I am in Denmark and even though a trip to a bespoke British bike builder sounds appealing. It would add a bit too much onto the cost of the bike. Any off the peg bike suggestions would be good.

Steve

Ahh! The fastest mouse in all of Mexico. Now i comprende!

 

[steveindenmark]

and I don`t want to be riding like him,

 

[Milo]

I am happy with my Ridgeback Panorama,

I have a Ridgeback romany which looks similar to this. Much older though I would guess. Athough I have struggled to find out much about it. I'm assuming the op wants new though so wont start recommending anything second hand.