Touring bikes

My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about getting
a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real touring
bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having the
capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the open road.

Who am I to argue with him? I'm pleased as all heck that he's liking
riding enough to want a new bike.

So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 21:20:40 GMT, the black rose
wrote:

My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about getting
a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real touring
bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having the
capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the open road.

Who am I to argue with him? I'm pleased as all heck that he's liking
riding enough to want a new bike.

So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?

-km

Howdy,

I have, and love, my Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Road. Expensive... and worth
every penny.

HTH,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

the black rose wrote:
So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?

there's always the trek 520 or cannondale t800/2000. but if ya got $3k
i'd go co-motion s&s equipped.

http://www.co-motion.com/norwester.html
http://www.co-motion.com/Amerc.html

see also

http://www.bgcycles.com
--
david reuteler

"the black rose" wrote in message
.. .
My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about getting
a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real touring
bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having the
capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the open
road.

Who am I to argue with him? I'm pleased as all heck that he's liking
riding enough to want a new bike.

So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?

I've been riding an Urbanite Tourer for about two years and am delighted
with it. It is possible to customise it to your liking as I did. Urbane
Cyclist is a co-operative and use wisely purchased components (some NOS).
Hence their prices are very reasonable indeed. I even prefer the bike to my
long lamented Miyata 1000LT. See:

http://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?nam...r&cat=urbanite

Good luck!

Roy

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 21:20:40 GMT, the black rose
wrote:

My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about getting
a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real touring
bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having the
capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the open road.

Who am I to argue with him? I'm pleased as all heck that he's liking
riding enough to want a new bike.

So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?


There was a thread recently about this.

My Jamis Aurora is a tourer, apparently. google me for much praise
for my bike.

-Luigi

-km

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 17:42:58 -0400, Kenneth
wrote:

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 21:20:40 GMT, the black rose
wrote:

My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about getting
a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real touring
bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having the
capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the open road.

Who am I to argue with him? I'm pleased as all heck that he's liking
riding enough to want a new bike.

So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?

-km

Howdy,

I have, and love, my Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Road. Expensive... and worth
every penny.

HTH,

Oooops, I should have provided:

http://www.bgcycles.com/rnr.html for Bruce's bikes, and will add that
the finest panniers I have ever seen are made by Bob Beckman Designs.
They are at http://www.coinet.com/~beckman/index.html

All the best,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

the black rose wrote:
My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about getting
a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real touring
bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having the
capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the open road.

Who am I to argue with him? I'm pleased as all heck that he's liking
riding enough to want a new bike.

So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?

What you're going to hear is fifteen different versions of "I've got an
XXXXX bike, and it's great!!!" You won't hear many complaints.

As for my part: My wife and I have 1986 Cannondale ST-800, which was
'Dale's top of the line loaded touring bike back then. They're great!!!!


What I like is the long chainstays, so my heels don't hit rear panniers,
as they did on my previous bike. I like the rigidity of the 'Dale,
which has never given a wiggle no matter how heavily loaded. I like the
cantilever brakes. Plenty of fender room. I couldn't ride distances
without drop bars. Three water bottle cage mounts, threaded bosses for
fenders & racks. It came with matching racks, which was cool.

I also like the fact that it's (of course) non-STI. A good friend's
4-year-old bike had it's front Ultegra STI shifter lock her into low
gear last weekend. She's bikeless for a week while the shop probably
replaces the entire expensive lever. I think that's not what you want
on a touring bike.


Dislikes are very minor. One is (was): front fork had double eyelets,
for fender and nice front low-rider rack, but both fenders and racks had
to share the _same_ eyelet! (Why??) The extras were never used.

The rear handles a 32 mm tire fine. But it could take a 37 if they put
just a tiny bit more space between the inside of the chainstays, and
there was one tour when I wanted 37s, for some extensive off-road riding.


You need to check our Adventure Cycling Association and their magazine.
Once a year they do an entire article on touring bikes. It's free of
the "I got an XXXX and it's great!!!!" stuff, and it'll tell you what to
look for.


--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

In article ,
the black rose wrote:

My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about getting
a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real touring
bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having the
capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the open road.

Who am I to argue with him? I'm pleased as all heck that he's liking
riding enough to want a new bike.

So you guys that gots tourers -- what do you got, and what do you like
about it, and what do you recommend?

-km

You'll get colossal amounts of advice on this subject, but depending on
your husband's willingness to go without indexed shifting, the best
values are in old road bikes. I think the sweet spot is mid-80s stuff,
but if you're willing to pay $200-300, early SIS-equipped touring bikes
are great value.

My argument here is that brifteurs (STI/Ergo integrated brake-shifter
levers) are exceedingly useful if you're racing, but not terribly
important otherwise. They're nice, and if you like them, go for it, but
there isn't a significant advantage for touring, commuting, or even
training. If your husband hasn't used friction shifters before, or is
reluctant to go back to them, you may want to consider that.

Meanwhile, there's this huge surplus of used hardware that just sits
around, unloved, and is perfect for the sort of use your husband would
put it to.

I have a half-decent, half-STI race bike, but I also have a very happy
do-everything mid-80s Bianchi with a Suntour friction drivetrain, 2x6,
with fenders and a rack. That bike takes me to work almost every day,
and it suits me fine.

But, de gustibus et cetera. Your husband may desire the motivation of a
really nice new bicycle. It is a scientific fact that shiny new bicycles
are faster than rusty old bicycles, even when all variables (weight,
gearing, de-rusting the drivetrain) are controlled for. The current
theory is that the slight performance gain comes from the rider having a
lighter wallet.

Considering buying a track bike,
--
Ryan Cousineau, http://www.wiredcola.com
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

My argument here is that brifteurs (STI/Ergo integrated brake-shifter
levers) are exceedingly useful if you're racing, but not terribly
important otherwise. They're nice, and if you like them, go for it, but
there isn't a significant advantage for touring, commuting, or even
training.

I don't agree--not having to take a
hand off the bars is a significant advantage
in heavy traffic.

Considering buying a track bike,
--

Once you are considering it,
it's already too late.

Robert

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 20:39:59 -0400, Kenneth wrote:

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 17:42:58 -0400, Kenneth
wrote:

On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 21:20:40 GMT, the black rose
wrote:

My husband is not liking his hybrid and seriously thinking about
getting a more road-bike-shaped bike. He's decided that maybe a real
touring bike would be just the ticket -- he likes the idea of having
the capability of piling on racks and panniers and taking off on the
open road.

I have, and love, my Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Road. Expensive... and worth
every penny.

HTH,

Oooops, I should have provided:

http://www.bgcycles.com/rnr.html for Bruce's bikes, and will add that
the finest panniers I have ever seen are made by Bob Beckman Designs.
They are at http://www.coinet.com/~beckman/index.html

All the best,

I like my Rock 'n Road Tour, too. However, for a newbie just getting into
touring bikes, they perhaps should look also at the Bruce Gordon BLT
(Basic Loaded Touring) model, which is considerably less expensive than
the R 'n R and almost as much bike. Another excellent touring bike is the
Rivendell Atlantis.