Long Distance Cycling - another funzies poll

please post your reason why....

have to go with the orbea for the campy components

Or Be A what?
For a long Trek, have not Felt the need to be Specialized!

Or Be A what?
For a long Trek, have not Felt the need to be Specialized!

:lol:

To the OP ... your list hasn't even begun to touch the variety of bicycles long distance riders use.

I'd have to go with a resounding "None Of The Above"!

To the OP ... your list hasn't even begun to touch the variety of bicycles long distance riders use.

i figured as much. however, i just listed brands from the couple of lbs in my area that i feel ok about. the kona dealer also sells scott and bianchi, but i haven't looked at them much. the orbea dealer carries cervelo and pinarello. however, i wanted to keep the choices around $2k or less.

i figured as much. however, i just listed brands from the couple of lbs in my area that i feel ok about. the kona dealer also sells scott and bianchi, but i haven't looked at them much.

When I went on the hunt for my bicycle, I discovered that there were no less than 50 different brands of "sport touring" types of bicycles. That's not counting straight "touring" which could also be used for long distance riding.

Mine is the Marinoni Ciclo - http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/ which is a very common brand here in Canada ... especially among long distance cyclists.

But there are also other very popular brands in the Randonneuring and long distance circles like:
Mariposa - http://www.mariposabicycles.com/
Rivendell - http://www.rivbike.com/
Seven - http://www.sevencycles.com/
Thorn - http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/
Bruce Gordon - http://www.bgcycles.com/
Raleigh - http://www.raleighusa.com/

And a whole heap of others!! :)

I voted Trek Pilot-- because I test rode and loved one. Although these are all quality bikes.


I real life, I ride frames I find cheap or free, bar-con shifters, hand built Open Pro wheels. But it would be nice to have an off the shelf Century Machine!

i figured as much. however, i just listed brands from the couple of lbs in my area that i feel ok about. the kona dealer also sells scott and bianchi, but i haven't looked at them much. the orbea dealer carries cervelo and pinarello. however, i wanted to keep the choices around $2k or less.

I'm with Machka on "none of the above". But it depends on what you mean by "long distance". To me, "long distance" doesn't really start until about a 400km ride, when you'll be on the bike for close to 20 hours, at which point comfort on the bike and reliability count more than any other factors. Among other things, that means the frame needs to have room for fenders and fatter tires (e.g., 700x28 and up). For shorter events like a century or less, these factors are less important.

In the $2K or less range, if I were buying now, I'd look at the Rivendell Bleriot or the Kogswell Porteur/Randonneur. The Bleriot frame can be bought from any bike store that carries Quality Bicycle Parts for $750 or less and then you can build whatever parts you want on top of it. The Kogswell Porteur/Randonneur looks like it'd also be an excellent choice at $540 for the frame, fork, and fenders. Both use 650B wheels, though. I'm told that these are a Very Good Thing but I don't know all the arguments for and against.

Surly has a built-up version of the Long Haul Trucker that has components that should do the job and gearing that is very sensible. Bikeman lists it as $929 but also says it's not available, yet. But you're getting a somewhat heavier frame than necessary for randonneuring loads. Though with 700C wheels. Cross bikes have the clearance for bigger tires and fenders, but their racing geometry would seem to mitigate somewhat against the sort of stable, shock absorbing ride that one might want for long distances.

Wh y such a short list. I'm happy with my Vlope.

Joe

x2 on the marinoni ciclo. Built this one up with Campy Centaur/Veloce. Supple, stable ride that doesn't beat you up. Nice extras too: chomed chainstay and dropout, pump peg, chain hanger tab, eyelets on drop and seatstay, keychain with serial number etc. Here's my '06:

Of your list, I only have firsthand experience with the Specialized Roubaix. It was very comfortable, but I've since given it to my dad since my Cervelo R3 is nearly as comfortable. I've done century rides on all of my bikes (Specialized Roubaix Comp, Specialized Allez Sport, Cervelo R3). They're all perfectly capable, but the Allez certainly beat me up more. The Roubaix and R3 are rather comfortable.

thanks for all the good feedback.

what i have in mind for "long rides" is being on my bike 4+ hours. I'd like to also do a couple of weekend, credit-card tours during the summer.

i'm finding there are lots of nice bikes out there, but precious few lbs's i feel good about. that narrows the selection (for me) significantly.

i'd LOVE a cervelo r3. i'm not ready to spend that kind of $ right now. if i won the lottery today, i'd build up a bike from scratch for every type of riding...including a bent.

thanks for all the good feedback.

what i have in mind for "long rides" is being on my bike 4+ hours. I'd like to also do a couple of weekend, credit-card tours during the summer.

i'm finding there are lots of nice bikes out there, but precious few lbs's i feel good about. that narrows the selection (for me) significantly.

i'd LOVE a cervelo r3. i'm not ready to spend that kind of $ right now. if i won the lottery today, i'd build up a bike from scratch for every type of riding...including a bent. I've seen a few Roubaix's at our local brevets, but don't recall seeing too many Orbea or Felts past a 200k. Lots of racers show up for 200k's because it's essentially a tough century and you can 'suffer through it' with a racing bike. When you get to the longer distances, comfort becomes more important, and the Roubaix and Pilot seem to be the ones that persevere. So, based on that highly scientific sampling method, I'd say go with a Roubaix or Pilot.

When I went on the hunt for my bicycle, I discovered that there were no less than 50 different brands of "sport touring" types of bicycles. That's not counting straight "touring" which could also be used for long distance riding.

It would probably be more effective to have a poll asking folks what they prefer to ride on century+ rides, and just keep it to categories and types of bikes as opposed to specific manufacturers. ie. (steel stock loaded touring bike / steel custom loaded touring bike / steel stock sport touring bike / steel stock sport touring bike with carbon fork and seatpost / etc.)

thanks for all the good feedback.

what i have in mind for "long rides" is being on my bike 4+ hours. I'd like to also do a couple of weekend, credit-card tours during the summer.

i'm finding there are lots of nice bikes out there, but precious few lbs's i feel good about. that narrows the selection (for me) significantly.

i'd LOVE a cervelo r3. i'm not ready to spend that kind of $ right now. if i won the lottery today, i'd build up a bike from scratch for every type of riding...including a bent.

Does "4+" mean 4 to 5 hours, or 4 to 24 hours? From your short list of bikes, I assume you are looking for something to ride 4-5 hours. I which case you probably should address your question to the Road forum. If you're looking to do things like double centuries, and being restricted to the manufacturers listed, you might look at a Trek 520 touring bike.

Most of here are still warming up after 4 hours.

Does "4+" mean 4 to 5 hours, or 4 to 24 hours

i really don't know. i'm guessing at least 4 but not more than 8 or 10.