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.BikeNC
06-03-07, 02:43 PM
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1000.htm
I know it's not "top of the line", but it's what I ride, and it's performed very well, since I returned to cycling, four months ago. I've basically been training, for distance, and have logged quite a few 50+ milers, including a recent century. I've logged over 1,100 miles on it, in three months. While on a 60 miler, yesterday, I ran up with a guy that was touring from Pennsylvania to Charlotte, NC. He had logged over 500 miles, in four days, and I helped him with directions into Asheboro. We chatted for thirty minutes, shook hands, and went our separate ways. On the way home, I kept thinking about how awesome it must be to travel cross country, self sufficiently, on your bike. I would like to try it, on a small scale, before taking the plunge, which brings us back to the original question. Is it suitable? Here are some details:
The Dawes's geometry is designed for a more comfortable upright position, it has eyelets for front, and rear racks, and the chainstay measures 42.5cm, which is similar to the Trek 520's 45cm. The factory tires are 25mm. The frame has enough clearance to handle a 32mm easily, but it appears that 32mm would be pretty snug, in the fork. Would 28mm be suitable for a lightly packed road tour? If I decide that touring is definately for me, I'll upgrade later to a more suitable touring bike, but for now I would like to "test the waters". I figure this autumn will be a good time to give it a try. That will give me time to round up the basic odds and ends, and more time to work on my long distance training. Well, whad'ya think?
Thanks, Mike
I know it's not "top of the line", but it's what I ride, and it's performed very well, since I returned to cycling, four months ago. I've basically been training, for distance, and have logged quite a few 50+ milers, including a recent century. I've logged over 1,100 miles on it, in three months. While on a 60 miler, yesterday, I ran up with a guy that was touring from Pennsylvania to Charlotte, NC. He had logged over 500 miles, in four days, and I helped him with directions into Asheboro. We chatted for thirty minutes, shook hands, and went our separate ways. On the way home, I kept thinking about how awesome it must be to travel cross country, self sufficiently, on your bike. I would like to try it, on a small scale, before taking the plunge, which brings us back to the original question. Is it suitable? Here are some details:
The Dawes's geometry is designed for a more comfortable upright position, it has eyelets for front, and rear racks, and the chainstay measures 42.5cm, which is similar to the Trek 520's 45cm. The factory tires are 25mm. The frame has enough clearance to handle a 32mm easily, but it appears that 32mm would be pretty snug, in the fork. Would 28mm be suitable for a lightly packed road tour? If I decide that touring is definately for me, I'll upgrade later to a more suitable touring bike, but for now I would like to "test the waters". I figure this autumn will be a good time to give it a try. That will give me time to round up the basic odds and ends, and more time to work on my long distance training. Well, whad'ya think?
Thanks, Mike