Touring - Help with a Decision

Hi, my name is Ray and I'm from Toronto. Within the last year I've built up an ineterest in bicycle touring. I'm pretty much a noob. I did a couple of small tours last summer but thats all I pretty much have under my belt. My brother, a few friends, and I are planning a rather extensive tour through Ontario for the summer. We are going north up to Algonquin provincial park, across to ottawa, then returning to toronto due west. I was using a 10 Speed Pugeot 1980's model for my previous small scale tours. I damaged the bike in the fall (that is I ran into the back of a car and bent the top/down tube to ****--buckles where the the tubes meet the front fork) I don't think it is really at all fit for this rather big tour. I'm looking to upgrade to something more suitable for touring (something actually designed for touring) After doing some reasearch I found I am quite keen on the the trek 520, though its not really in my budget. That being said I've been looking to Craigslist/Ebay for something more in the line of my budget. I spotted a couple of decent bikes on craigslist and just wanted to hear a second opinion.

http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/285252236.html
one bike is a Mayiata 1000 (very reputable japanese made touring bike) priced for $675 includes back rack already equppied with two cannondale panniers.

The second bike I came across was a FUJi S10-S touring bike priced at 450. (is it actually a touring bike? its indicated to be by the seller but i'm not quite sure) Though 29 years old it seems to be in pretty good shape. http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/284934683.html

Please let me know what u guys think. Thanks a lot.

The Fuji is a nice old bike, but not a tour machine, by what I can see in the pics - which isn't much. Looks a little close-coupled with short chainstays. Also, that's a road double crankset, not a mountain triple, which would be better for touring. Probably alot of fun, and just the type I'd like to add to the stable for grins.

The Miyata is probably as good as they got back then. Deore is rock solid stuff and the bike has all the hardpoints for attaching accoutremon. I'm an advocate of Shimano BioPace/Sakae OvalTech chainrings so that would be a huge plus for me. Totally knocks down the hills, especially if it has the 28 granny.

Now, I paid $550 for a mint '98 Trek 520 last year, fully dressed out. I think that Miyata is every bit as good a bike, probably as good as the old Trek 720. Maybe someone can add to this by confirming my hunch that it has Ishiwata tubing???

$675? I think the seller knows what he has. I'd be sorely tempted if it's in great shape.

I have a 1982 Miyata 1000 Touring bike. I bought this bike used in 1986. If the Craigslist Miyata is your size, and it is not damaged, buy it! This is a great touring bike. It will handle anything, i.e. racks and panniers or trailer. It really excells when loaded. I agree with the post that said the seller knows what he has, ergo $675.

Man, anything over $200 is a lot of money for used bike.

Try this....

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

It's a ok touring bike. (you'll run into folks with much better touring bikes)

The only thing is....you better completely take this bike apart, lube it, torque it, and adjust it.

Of course, any used bike you buy is going to need a lot of work as well-- the bottom bracket, hubs, cables/housing, who knows what's about to crap out?

The cheapest bike you can buy is a....new Trek 520 form a local bike shop. I know it's a lot of cash up front, but over time, your cost per mile goes way, way down. Don't cheap out on this, bite the bullet and get a new bike. You can keep it for the next 10-20 years.

Something else comes to mind: If that Miyata is not your size, and it looks like a 25", you should be aware that the Trek 520 doesn't come in a 24" frame. They jump from 23" to 25". Mine is the 23" and I kinda wish they would have offered a 24".

What size are you looking for? I have a 58 in Pickering.