Touring - Wanted:Blatant opinions

Time to get a serious touring bike, one that can take me across the continent without wimping out. My current touring bike suffers from several design issues, issues that were clearly market driven.
****As I have never seen any of these bikes, the list was compiled based on discussions on this forum and several others. As well, they all fall into a theoretical price range that I have to keep in mind.
****Here is the short list of bikes that interest me, Bruce Gordon's Rock&Roll, and BLT. Co-motion's Nor'wester and possibly the Americano. Although the Americano may be more bike than I'll need as I plan on keeping to paved roads as much as possible.
****Another potential brand are bikes by Revendell, I like their quirkiness.
****So, who here has some blatant opinions on my selection, or alternative makes.**
Cheers

The Co-Motion Americano is one tough machine. It may be the best touring bike available today, and you couldn't work with a nicer company. Here's one vote for the CoMo. The Nor'wester is great if you're going to strip the racks and use it for general road rides too, nice all around bike.
The Burley Hudson is a nice touring bike also, get one quickly before they go out of production. http://www.burley.com/products/road-bikes/default7ae9.html?p=Hudson&i=0

Blatent Opinion: the brands you listed are probably overkill (price-wise) for what is required to go across this continent in the way you describe (done it). Don't get me wrong, I've heard that some of those are sweet rides but you could easily go a little "less" on the bike itself and do just fine.

edit: on the other hand, part of me just wants to say: "oh what the hell, go all out"

I have an 05 Surly Cross Check. I have not done any touring with it but use it mostly for fitness riding and commuting. If you do a thorough search online, you will not find any negative comments about any Surly bikes. If I was looking for a serious touring bike, I'd definitely consider the Surly Long Haul Trucker. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to set out for an extended tour on my Cross Check either. In fact, the Cross Check has a slightly shorter wheelbase than the LHT; other than that, they're virtually identical. I have a Jandd Expedition rack on my Cross Check; I don't have any problem with heel clearance when I put paniers on the rack, so for me the extra wheelbase may not be as necessary.

I have a Bruce Gordon bias.

I helped outfit a Swiss couple with BG BLT's, racks and panniers for a perimeter ride around the US. They were very happy after completing the trip and are still using the BLTs at home in Bern ten years later.

I have been touring on and offroad on a BG Rock N Road since 1990. It has taken me over the Great Divide ride, most of the Western US, Canada, Mexico and parts of South America. It just works well. As do the front and rear BG racks. The somewhat higher initial cost has been amortized over 16 years. An inexpensive investment in healthy fun for me.

Since you're in Montreal why not go for a Marinoni Turismo or Turismo Disc (http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/en_turismo.html)? As far as custom bikes, go it's a pretty affordable option. I think Machka has a Marinoni so maybe she'll chime in.

I'm about a thousand times happier on my Trek 520 than my sister is on her Rivendell Atlantis. Seems like those guys are more about retro-grouch-quirky-attitude than anything else. It's a beautiful bike, though. Looks great hanging in the garage. I did just a few minor things to the trek to make it truly loaded tour-worthy.

Can you test ride any of them? That seems to be the crux of the high-end tour bike purchase problem. Seems like you just can't tell how a bike is going to ride until you ride it. I almost bought a BG, but it was impossible to get a test ride, so I chickened out.

If you're going for the higher price point, consider Thorn too, I've seen a bunch of those loaded.

What are you riding now?

Good luck...

Time to get a serious touring bike, one that can take me across the continent without wimping out. My current touring bike suffers from several design issues, issues that were clearly market driven.
****As I have never seen any of these bikes, the list was compiled based on discussions on this forum and several others. As well, they all fall into a theoretical price range that I have to keep in mind.
****Here is the short list of bikes that interest me, Bruce Gordon's Rock&Roll, and BLT. Co-motion's Nor'wester and possibly the Americano. Although the Americano may be more bike than I'll need as I plan on keeping to paved roads as much as possible.
****Another potential brand are bikes by Revendell, I like their quirkiness.
****So, who here has some blatant opinions on my selection, or alternative makes.**
Cheers

How about a made in Canada custom? Last year I went looking for a new bike and just couldnt find everything I wanted on one bike. After a lot of surfing I found True North Cylces in Ontario. (http://www.truenorthcycles.com/default.asp). After about 6 months of emailing ideas back and forth (they were very patient with me) they built exactly what I wanted: a strong and capable touring machine that gets me to work every day and is great for pleasure rides. It is basically a rigid old style 26" wheel moutain bike. They will build you just about anything you desire.

Independent Fabrications makes a beautiful touring bike. I have a Club Racer which I've used for touring and it's been bomb proof. http://ifbikes.com/frames2/steelindependence.shtml

It is hard to drop $$ on a bike w/o a test drive. You really need to know what you want in a bike in terms of stiffness, ride position etc. If you know all that though, these high end manufacturers will get it right for you. (Otherwise they wouldn't still be in business).

Versus a Trek 520, a Co-Mo gets you a custom fit, more appropriate gearing, better wheels, and the availability of options including disk brakes, brifters, many more colors, and S&S couplers - not to mention a better quality Cr-Mo steel frame. Do you need a BMW 3 series when a Camry will do? If you plan to tour for years to come, Actos is right, the higher initial price seems less important as the years roll by.

BTW, the Nor'Wester is designed for the light loads of credit card touring. If you are fully loaded and self-contained, and especially if you weigh more than 180lbs, you might want to re-consider the Americano. Potholes can come up suddenly when you're flying down a hill. The Nor-Wester would be fine with a BOB. Both models are roughly the same price.

I've been real happy with my Rivendell, both on fully loaded (front and rear panniers) camping tours and on day rides with a light load. If you don't want to go the custom route then an Atlantis frame with your choice of components would be a good way to go.

GM Bertrand (http://www.gmbertrand.com/) in Gatineau will build a custom bike for you. They're actually made by Marinoni.

How about a made in Canada custom? Last year I went looking for a new bike and just couldnt find everything I wanted on one bike. After a lot of surfing I found True North Cylces in Ontario. (http://www.truenorthcycles.com/default.asp). After about 6 months of emailing ideas back and forth (they were very patient with me) they built exactly what I wanted: a strong and capable touring machine that gets me to work every day and is great for pleasure rides. It is basically a rigid old style 26" wheel moutain bike. They will build you just about anything you desire.
I've looked at Truenorth's site, very nice looking bikes, may still consider them.
To answer some of the other responses, my current touring bike is a 2000 Litespeed blueridge, terrible handeling due to the crappy aluminum fork.
My race bike is a Marinoni. Wanted to try something different, Marinoni's are thicker than fleas around here, awesome value though.
May have to give some serious consideration to the Americano as my racing weight was 190 and I've(ahem) gained a bit since then.
Thank you everyone for the responses

If you want an expedition bike that out Sakkitt's Sakkitt's, which in turn out rock and roads bruce gordon, then why not one of Arvon's bikes? He is in Alberta.

http://www.sandsmachine.com/a_arv_r1.htm

by the way the Sand machine links are a good place to look around for custom touring machines.

More here:
http://www.antipodes-expeditions.com/Gallery/Bike-Development

Some of his irrelevant bike interests:
http://www.geo-gea.info/

Unfortunately his touring and tandem site is down, he sent me a pic of one of his more recent touring machines and it has some new ideas, better paint, unfortunately it is way oversized for including here, and I can right click reduce in W98.

My feeling is that you need to start with some basics. How much you want to carry, like is your tent 18" long and doesn't fit on any rack you have so far owned. That sort of stuff. It all starts with the load. Some like Sakkitt and Arvon seem to be actually dealing with the reality of buildin a road bike that carries the stuff actually carry. Customizing racks, and then building a long frame that carries the load. They both do 48 spoke wheels, Arvon even makes his own hubs. That's one end of the spectrum.

I try to work through every major aspect of the ride, and fix all the problems that my bike has presented in the past, as far as load carrying, component failure, fit, and ride quality. It has nothing to do with what someone else likes.

OK this resize might work

Blatant opinion:

http://www.merciancycles.com/frame_king_mercia.asp

About $850 frame and fork delivered to your home. SPECTACULARLY GREAT BIKE.

http://www.waterfordbikes.com/2005/index.php

More specific to what you are looking for.......

http://www.waterfordbikes.com/2005/data/bicycles/stock/ac/index.php

...... from hand carved lugs to tig welds they will do it for you.
With a bit of research you'll find that Waterford made the Rivendells before they imported thier bikes (yes, ONE Riv model is still made here) .

Save yourself time and trouble and look no further than the Rivendell Atlantis. Bruce Gordon's are fine if you can get past their ugliness!

On the cheap--- go Trek or Surly. Great value for the money.

For the kind of money you're talking about-- Go custom. You can get the bike you've always dreamed of! Who cares if it doesn't say Bruce Gordon on it?

The King of Mercia is a beautiful bike, lusted after a top British bike for many years.
I looking to spend about $1200 for frame and fork, have a collection of parts to throw on the frame that will help keep the cost down. Total cost $3000CDN, I hope!
The Waterfords, also beautiful, but the price for a T-14 is more than I'm willing to pay for a bike that is going to see hard use.

I haven't ridden the bikes on your list. I bought a Burley Hudson this year and I'm very happy with it. I weight 220 pounds and I've been fully loaded on some weekend tours - Panniers not a BOB. I did Cycle Oregon this year. I also commute to work on this bike. I am really pleased with the Hudson. Certainly you should add it to your list.

By the way, on the arvon, I think they do provide rubber for the wheels. The normal wheels appear to be 700c so the one above must be for a giant.


"Bruce Gordon's are fine if you can get past their ugliness!"

Gordon will make you a purdy bike if you are willing to pay for it. I can't say I interpreted this:

"a serious touring bike, one that can take me across the continent without wimping out"

as the request for proposal for a fashion show, though so far some pretty cute lugs seem to have drawn most of the glances.

I vote for a Waterford 1900 - just changed out the running gear on mine - plus new 40 hole hugi's on
t217 with tubus racks - I have number of touring bikes and this is my ride across America un-supported steed.

Save yourself time and trouble and look no further than the Rivendell Atlantis. Bruce Gordon's are fine if you can get past their ugliness!

I do have a fancy lugged touring bike for sale on my web page http://bgcycles.com/specials.html

It is the third bike down - it is a 56cm (center to center) frame with 57cm top tube and an 11cm 20 degree rise stem.
Any questions - feel free to call
Regards
Bruce Gordon

I do have a fancy lugged touring bike for sale on my web page http://bgcycles.com/specials.html

It is the third bike down - it is a 56cm (center to center) frame with 57cm top tube and an 11cm 20 degree rise stem.
Any questions - feel free to call
Regards
Bruce Gordon
Hi Bruce
Love your custom bikes, would buy one if I had the bucks. But until then I have to stick to my budget. If I ever win the lotto, you, Dave Kirk and Sacha White would be the first people I'd call:D

Time to get a serious touring bike, one that can take me across the continent without wimping out. My current touring bike suffers from several design issues, issues that were clearly market driven.
****As I have never seen any of these bikes, the list was compiled based on discussions on this forum and several others. As well, they all fall into a theoretical price range that I have to keep in mind.
****Here is the short list of bikes that interest me, Bruce Gordon's Rock&Roll, and BLT. Co-motion's Nor'wester and possibly the Americano. Although the Americano may be more bike than I'll need as I plan on keeping to paved roads as much as possible.
****Another potential brand are bikes by Revendell, I like their quirkiness.
****So, who here has some blatant opinions on my selection, or alternative makes.**
Cheers


I love my Fuji touring: excellent bike for the price. Went across the USA this summer with a grand total of two flat tires, minor cable adjustments, and a few twists of the spoke nipples. This after two years of solid riding in the hills of new england. ROCK ON FUJI!

roughstuff

Bruce Gordon and Co-Motion both make top notch touring bikes. I'd also include the Waterford 1900 in that category. Can't go wrong with these at all. The Rivendell Atlantis is a good tourer, especially for off-road conditions. Of course, I'm a bit biased about my own Heron Wayfarer. It's set up for loaded touring but also rides nicely when unloaded. Made in the USA by Waterford. Lugged and all that.

A bit of advice: get a good frame but pay even more attention to the wheels. I've had lots of cross-country tourists stop by my shop. Wheels are the number one problem area. Find a good wheelbuilder and overbuild. Not many things can ruin a tour faster than bad wheels.

I'm another vote for the Waterford 1900 (Adventure cycle). I own one and love it. I have had S and S couplers added to mine and have taken it as luggage on several flights.

The only downside, besides price, is that it looks so good, you will get bummed when the inevitable nicks and scratches mar the finish while you are on tour.

Oh yeah, you will get people whistling and saying "nice bike" to you all the time.

Ray

I do have a fancy lugged touring bike for sale on my web page http://bgcycles.com/specials.html

It is the third bike down - it is a 56cm (center to center) frame with 57cm top tube and an 11cm 20 degree rise stem.
Any questions - feel free to call
Regards
Bruce Gordon

Wow, Bruce, those are lovely bikes!

The only downside, besides price, is that it looks so good, you will get bummed when the inevitable nicks and scratches mar the finish while you are on tour.

I am with Roughstuff.

I also don't want to have to baby my bike on a tour because of its expense and appearance. It seems that if I am going to put myself in the situation of having to molly-coddle the "BMW" to keep it shiny new -- or perhaps even more importantly, fret about losing thousands of dollars worth of bike to a thief or airline damage -- I'll take the "Camry". The latter is likely to be just as comfortable with appropriate tweaking, cost a fraction of the price, and likely be as, if not more practical. Just like my Fuji Touring that has ticked over 52,000km in every single possible riding condition that anyone could experience on a transcontinental crossing.

If I were fortunate enough to have the readies to go the custom route, I would probaby look to Ti, and if not, then a Thorn from England where they really do know about touring bicycles. And I would seriously consider any bike that has the traditional French touring geometry.

It is worth pointing out that there are fans for every type and make of bike, but in each group, there are several who have had less than satisfactory experiences. Another problematic area is: What if the OP himself wimps out on the big continental ride and decides touring is not for him -- he has an expensive, custom bike that will be a bit difficult to sell.

I figure the only way to determine what is best is for the OP to get riding now on anything and to do some extended rides. This is so he can determine his personal needs for a bike and therefore knows what to order rather than relying on theory.

Cannondale T800 or the Novara Randonee both awsome deals and will easily make it across N. America W-E or N-S.
And since REI sells both you have a lifetime satisfaction garuntee if your a member [$15 lifetime, and you get 10% back.]
Some dude just returned a mountain climbing snow suit from 1976 because he "just wasn't going to climb McKinley after all."(Kept the receipt.)

After much thought I've decided to have a frame built by Curt Goodrich. To see examples of his work check out his website.
Cheers, and thanks for the opinions.

"Thorn from England where they really do know about touring bicycles. And I would seriously consider any bike that has the traditional French touring geometry."

Good luck with that mariage. Just been stupid, a lot of good sense in your post. I really agree if a person is going serious custom and can half way fit a regular bike, they should do as you say and take one touring for a while. For the first few years, one's opinions can change a lot.

Bruce Gordon's are fine if you can get past their ugliness!

Not a bit ugly, especially when they see me ridin' it! Should you get one and feel it's too ugly, please drop me a note and I'll take it off your hands!!! (Prefering 56cm)

BG make great stuff, you'll forget the price in about 14 years (and counting)!

My blatant opinion...

Best regards, John

Blatant opinion on an alternate bike, from left field no less:

Bike Friday New World Tourist
http://www.bikefriday.com/bikeMMI.cfm?bf=5&cat=1

Fully customizable, touring geometry, steel frame, rides like a road / touring bike. And when it's time to get on the plane and go home, you just put it in a suitcase and you're golden. :D

I love my Fuji touring: excellent bike for the price. Went across the USA this summer with a grand total of two flat tires, minor cable adjustments, and a few twists of the spoke nipples. This after two years of solid riding in the hills of new england. ROCK ON FUJI!

roughstuff

If you love your Fuji Touring, you'd die for my Fuji World. Too bad they discontinued it. :(

]Since you're in Montreal why not go for a Marinoni Turismo or Turismo Disc (http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/en_turismo.html)? As far as custom bikes, go it's a pretty affordable option. QUOTE]


I have a Marinoni Turismo that I built up with XT commponents and A-719 rims. Great bike for a big rider. Cost me around 2600$ cdn.

Already have a Marinoni race bike, best deal in Canada and US for a semi-custom bike. I wanted a classic bike with lugs, flat fork crown, semi-wrap seatstays and the type of details you can only get from small builders such as Curt Goodrich, Dave Kirk and Sacha White of Vanilla bikes.

Opinion from someone who has done only one multi-week tour:

Get a steel bike with touring geometry. High end bikes like Bruce Gordons are a true pleasure to ride. I would worry about theft on a really nice bike. Also, expect a pretty bike to look less pretty after a long tour. Unfamiliar roads, physical and mental fatique are all part of the touring equation. I crashed my bike twice on my tour.

Spend for a good set of wheels, good tires, new chain, new cables and new brake shoes.

I love my Atlantis. The most comfortable ridgid bike I have ever ridden. I can run 2.4 tires and fenders and ride in mud. I can run light weight road wheels if my tour is going to be mild. I have ridden it on a three week off road/road tour heavily loaded and been blissfully happy. I just made a full touring outfit for it out of Army Surplus stuff for about $150.00. I can look at it for hours, like watching TV. I love it like I used to love a woman....Well almost like that....

Already have a Marinoni race bike, best deal in Canada and US for a semi-custom bike.

Do you have fenders on your Blue Ridge. I've seen a rider going up through the Glen into Westmount. Why not swap out the fork and get a carbon touring fork?

As an engineer, a pretty bike is one that does what I want. Among other things I want it to hold together when I take it off-road. My BLT did. It was the Nittoo handlebars that bent. Bruce sold me a new set of bars at his cost. I live within riding distance of his shop which gives me a bias.

Already have a Marinoni race bike, best deal in Canada and US for a semi-custom bike.

Do you have fenders on your Blue Ridge. I've seen a rider going up through the Glen into Westmount. Why not swap out the fork and get a carbon touring fork?
Yup, that's most likely me with a yellow MEC rain jacket. I have fenders on the Blueridge and commute up the Glen almost every day. I had Marinoni build me a steel touring fork to replace the POS aluminum fork.