Touring - Looking for a new bike on a budget

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
billydscout
02-22-06, 09:18 PM
I have been riding consistently for a few years now, and have accumulated multiple bikes, but have recently come to the realization that I need a bike set up for touring/commuting. Only problem, I went back to school and am now on a tight budget. Any suggestions (and reasons for those suggestions) would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Everest
02-22-06, 10:25 PM
I'd go vintage, you can get a much nicer bike than a new one for much less. For example, say $600, that gets you what a Trek 1000 with Sora and other bottom of the barrel parts, not dissing the 1000 it's a good entry level bike but for the same money or probably less you can pick up a beautiful old Trek 520/720 on ebay, with parts that are very nice and well suited for touring. These are just examples but, I would say an old vintage rig would be your best choice.
mtnroads
02-22-06, 10:31 PM
Not to be rude, but do a search on "budget touring bike" in this forum and you will get three full pages of thread titles with relevant discussions on this. At least several hours of reading material.

becnal
02-23-06, 12:22 AM
Take your most suitable bike and just swap whatever part needs to be swapped to make it a tourer/commuter. That'll cost little.
FarHorizon
02-23-06, 08:52 AM
What is your budget? "Tight" is a relative term...
billydscout
02-23-06, 10:10 AM
What is your budget? "Tight" is a relative term...

probably around $500. In addition, I am most likely looking for a light tourer (minimalist camper)