Touring - What should I use to build a custom Touring bike from Scratch?

I now have a Trek Singletrack 920 with a cromo frame and a rigid cromo fork. I have been using it for commuting for a long time. I put a rack on it and I have been using slcik 26x 1.9 tires and a second set of 16 x 1 3/8 rims and tires. the later hhas a compact 5 speed cassette that I use for speed rding and on the streets, etc. What should I use. Should I use Drop bars, Flat Bars, Aero Bars. Money is an object but I have a ton of spare parts to play with. I don't have th emoney for anew one so that is why I have to make one myself. I need your help.

I'm not sure you really need to change anything. Try fitting a frount rack and bags all the way around. Take it for a weekend ride loaded. Change only what doesn't work.

Good panniers cost $$, so I wouldn't mess witht he bike if you don't have to. How's your camping gear? A top shelf tent and sleeping bag are more important than the bike. I'd think about nice touring clothes as well-- good touring shorts, good long johns, micro fiber stuff, good wool stuff.

If I was taking a world tour, I'd ride a $200 MTB with well over a $1000 in racks, bags, clothes and camping gear. (not including GPS...although I'd want that too)

Don't worry-- you're on the right track.

One tip about the bike. Barcons are my favorite. The're cheap, work with all kinds of parts, work in friction mode. You might even choose to go 100% friction if you want. That won't break and it's cheap.

I already decided to go all friction because index shifting is a pain in the ass when I am changing around parts.

Should I use Flat Bars or Drop Bars, This question is plaguing me because I dont know. On my flat bars I have bar ends, and on my drop bars thay are wrap in bars from Scott... when either side bends down they turn inboars almost touching eachother. On both I have AeroBars.

Also should I use 26 x 1.9 or smaller 26 x 1.5 tires... what should I look for when I get High Pressure tires and should I use presta or schrader?

Should I use Flat Bars or Drop Bars, This question is plaguing me because I dont know. On my flat bars I have bar ends, and on my drop bars thay are wrap in bars from Scott... when either side bends down they turn inboars almost touching eachother. On both I have AeroBars.

Also should I use 26 x 1.9 or smaller 26 x 1.5 tires... what should I look for when I get High Pressure tires and should I use presta or schrader?

I'd probably avoid the Scott bars. The drop-ins don't have much use, in my opinion, for touring. You don't need the aerodynamic advantage while you tour and you probably won't speed much time on the drops anyway so why carry the extra metal?

I've done mountain bike touring and find that flat bars cause more problems for me than a regular drop bar, even with barends. But it's only slightly worse. I almost always end a tour with some kind of numbness in my hands. It usually takes several weeks for the feeling to come back. Flat bars just take a little longer.

For tires, I'd probably go for the 1.5". Those are going to still be very wide (I run 37mm on a 700C rim) and give you lots of cushion without being overly heavy. I'd go with prestas because I find them easier to pump up with a hand pump, but it's really a personal choice.

I'd probably avoid the Scott bars. The drop-ins don't have much use, in my opinion, for touring. You don't need the aerodynamic advantage while you tour and you probably won't speed much time on the drops anyway so why carry the extra metal?

I've done mountain bike touring and find that flat bars cause more problems for me than a regular drop bar, even with barends. But it's only slightly worse. I almost always end a tour with some kind of numbness in my hands. It usually takes several weeks for the feeling to come back. Flat bars just take a little longer.

So what should I use then, you said dont use drop bars and you said flat bars make you knumb, so what should I use?

So what should I use then, you said dont use drop bars and you said flat bars make you knumb, so what should I use?

I'd use a regular drop bar but not the Scott Drop-ins. The ones you describe wouldn't be that useful for touring. Putting a load on your bike and then using the low position could be kind of twitchy. A regular drop bar without the extra tubing that turns inward work just fine. I've recently obtained a pair of Salsa Bell Lap bars that might be the best touring bars I've used in a long time. Nice wide top, the drops flare outward a little, drop isn't too deep and the reach isn't too long...all make the bar more comfortable for long hours on the road.

About your bars....

Some folks like drop bars.

Some folks like flat bars.

You just need to hook up what you have and do a weekend ride. Change it if doesn't work.

We don't really have the answers.

You're just going to have to find them on the road!

I think that bar wise you need to think of your frame and position. The short wheel base my Mountain bike is equipt with would not be my choice for drops, if yours is similar your upper body can get an inchworm loop to it with the short top tube. I would prefer standard touring geometry and drops, but as said if I had to ride a mountain bike it might not be all that bad a choice. Standard touring geometry is that your horizontal seat tube height and top tube length are the same in a frame of about 56 cm.

What is the best front rack? I dont have front rack mounts but I'm sure I can fashion it on there if I had the right one.

You could do something like this. I use Blackburn lowriders in front, cheap and works ok.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=197161

Old Man Mountain makes racks for bikes that don't have rack mounts. My friend used one of their front racks and was much happier with it than the rear rack that he rigged himself.

+1 for OMM racks I own three and they are a excellent product. I have also rec'd great service from them when I needed anything.

What is the best front rack? I dont have front rack mounts but I'm sure I can fashion it on there if I had the right one.

Do you have the fork braze-on or fender mount on the fork? If so, probably the cheapest route is the Blackburn rack mentioned before. This rack doesn't work with all panniers however...not without surgery. The Old Man Mountain AC model isn't that much more expensive and doesn't require the surgery. There are others from Delta, Jandd, Tubus and others. All of them are more expensive then either the Blackburn or OMM. Most all of them have some way of attaching the rack mid-fork without the braze-on. The Blackburn uses a u-bolt and I toured this way for many years without problems.

If you don't have fender/rack mounts, the Old Man Mountain Ultimate might be the only option. These mount using the quick release skewer on the front wheel. It makes changing a flat a major pain but at least you can carry your stuff. They aren't cheap - around $80 - or pretty but they get the job done.

+1 for OMM racks I own three and they are a excellent product. I have also rec'd great service from them when I needed anything.

+1 for OMM racks - not cheap but how often does one buy racks, anyway?

I doo have fender mounts.

Does anyone have a used front rack for sale or trade? I have a ton of old NOS vintage items