A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » rec.bicycles » Techniques
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Convert Hybrid to Touring bike



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 20th 04, 07:29 PM
Willy Smallboy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

Can a good hybrid be made into an adequate good touring bike?
By adding dropped bars and going to bar end friction shifters?
It seems that it would be cheaper for me to get a hybrid because they
have a 26" tires, canti breaks, and low gears. These three things add
a lot of cost to a bike.

I would want to be able to add front and rear bags and I am not sure
if racks would fit.

The touring bike I like would cost 4k and is more than I can afford.


Ads
  #2  
Old March 20th 04, 10:16 PM
scituatejohn
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

Willy Smallboy wrote:
Can a good hybrid be made into an adequate good touring bike? By
adding dropped bars and going to bar end friction shifters? It seems
that it would be cheaper for me to get a hybrid because they have a
26" tires, canti breaks, and low gears. These three things add a lot
of cost to a bike.
I would want to be able to add front and rear bags and I am not sure if
racks would fit.
The touring bike I like would cost 4k and is more than I can afford.



Which hyrids have 26" wheels


-


  #3  
Old March 20th 04, 10:30 PM
daveornee
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

Willy Smallboy wrote:
Can a good hybrid be made into an adequate good touring bike? By
adding dropped bars and going to bar end friction shifters? It seems
that it would be cheaper for me to get a hybrid because they have a
26" tires, canti breaks, and low gears. These three things add a lot
of cost to a bike.
I would want to be able to add front and rear bags and I am not sure if
racks would fit.
The touring bike I like would cost 4k and is more than I can afford.




$799 will get you either the 26" wheeled REI Safari:
http://tinyurl.com/vcqi or the 700C wheeled Randonee with drop bars:
http://tinyurl.com/2fus3

Converting a hybrid can work, but mounting racks is usually a challange.
There are also many other toruing bicycles worth considering that are
far less that $4K. Adventure Cycling's magazine just published a page
full of choices, including some recumbents, and "folding" bicycles
suitable for touring. They also have an article in the most recent
edition about touring with a BOB trailer.



--


  #4  
Old March 20th 04, 11:45 PM
Jonathan Kaplan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

Check out the new surly long haul trucker. It is a real touring bike and the
frame/fork is going to sell for $400 range. The 54cm and smaller frames are
spec'd with 26" wheel sizes for clearance. You could mount your mountain
bike components. It's going to have front and rear rack mounts, all the
brazeons including a spoke holder. It's supposed to be available in April or
May. It's only drawback is the ugly pea soup green color.

www.surlybikes.com



  #5  
Old March 21st 04, 12:38 AM
Willy Smallboy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 10:29:53 -0800, Willy Smallboy
wrote:

Can a good hybrid be made into an adequate good touring bike?
By adding dropped bars and going to bar end friction shifters?
It seems that it would be cheaper for me to get a hybrid because they
have a 26" tires, canti breaks, and low gears. These three things add
a lot of cost to a bike.

I would want to be able to add front and rear bags and I am not sure
if racks would fit.

The touring bike I like would cost 4k and is more than I can afford.


I looked first at the REI bikes but I would like steel - maybe there
are no steel hybrid bikes ??

  #6  
Old March 21st 04, 02:12 AM
Phil Brown
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike


The touring bike I like would cost 4k and is more than I can afford.


Dunno who told you that but there are many tpuring bikes way under $4000. Hell,
I'd buyild you one for $2500 that would make you the envy of every tour you
went on.
For starters, a Bruce Gordom BLT with racks is about $1850 and they don't get
any more touring than that.
www.bgcycles.com
Phil Brown
  #7  
Old March 21st 04, 07:07 AM
Chris Zacho The Wheelman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

Have you tried looking into used machines? I'll bet you can find some
good deals there.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

  #8  
Old March 21st 04, 07:12 AM
Chris Zacho The Wheelman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

From: (Jonathan=A0Kaplan)

Check out the new surly long haul
trucker. It is a real touring bike and the
frame/fork is going to sell for $400
range. The 54cm and smaller frames are
spec'd with 26" wheel sizes for
clearance. You could mount your
mountain bike components. It's going to
have front and rear rack mounts, all the
brazeons including a spoke holder. It's
supposed to be available in April or May.
It's only drawback is the ugly pea soup
green color.


http://www.surlybikes.com

"Ugly pea soup green color"? You mean Celeste? lol

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

  #9  
Old March 21st 04, 08:29 AM
Gearóid Ó Laoi/Garry Lee
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Convert Hybrid to Touring bike

You can tour on lots of different types of bikes.
I have.

The two musts are

1. You must be able to carry your luggage without it banging off your heels
or similar.
2. You should have low enough gears for the terrain you are going to.

I've toured (mostly) on touring bikes, but have done several tours on
mountain bikes, have done about 4 on a Moulton APB small wheel bike and done
a couple on a hybrid.


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Convert hybrid to road bike. TinManX General 18 June 2nd 04 02:58 AM
Trips for Kids 13th Annual Bike Swap & Sale Marilyn Price General 0 June 1st 04 04:52 AM
Who is going to Interbike? Bruce Gilbert Techniques 2 October 10th 03 09:26 PM
hybrid bikes Doug Purdy General 8 August 10th 03 05:20 PM
Bike Friday for a touring bike? John Everett Techniques 25 July 19th 03 04:13 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.