Touring - Road and Touring bikes

This question, I suppose, is for those who have both. I have a Cannondale road bike and thinking a touring bike is more my style, however, I have never ridden one. How different is the ride than a typical road bike? Is it easier by virtue of its ergonomics and triple chain ring? Is the weight and wider tire very noticable? What are the obvious ride differences?
thanks so much! :)

I find that there is a big difference in the feel and also the performance. I thought that when I wrecked my road bike in a accident that I would just ride the touring bike. Well it wasn't long before I really started missing the road bike. The touring bike can do it all to some extent, but it is noticeably slower and a good bit less sporty feeling. I guess a cyclocross bike would be a compromise, but having a road bike and a touring bike is worth it to me. Some people are very happy with only a touring bike so YMMV.

I have both. Maybe it is because my interests are changing, but I feel the touring bike is much more comfortable and forgiving than my road bike. Wider tires, suspension post and stem make the touring bike a softer ride but much heavier, as well. That being said, I enjoy smelling the roses more than I used to.

B

I'm facing a similar conundrum and so I'm looking at the Jamis Aurora Elite. It's more like a cross bike. Somewhere between touring and road.

I'm just trying to make sure the compromise will work before I buy.

What is it about the road bike that you don't like?

I'm facing a similar conundrum and so I'm looking at the Jamis Aurora Elite. It's more like a cross bike. Somewhere between touring and road.

I'm just trying to make sure the compromise will work before I buy.

What is it about the road bike that you don't like?

It's not that I don't like it, but I know I won't be into "racing." I feel a bit cramped on my R1000 and think my riding style is more relaxed. I would like to do touring eventually. Plus, there are so many hills in my area, I think the virtue of a larger cassette and triple ring will help.

It's not that I don't like it, but I know I won't be into "racing." I feel a bit cramped on my R1000 and think my riding style is more relaxed. I would like to do touring eventually. Plus, there are so many hills in my area, I think the virtue of a larger cassette and triple ring will help.

I would think you're right about the larger cassette; however, you can shave a little bit of weight if you so desire by using a double in the front. On any of my bikes I rarely used the highest gearing.

B

This question, I suppose, is for those who have both. I have a Cannondale road bike and thinking a touring bike is more my style, however, I have never ridden one. How different is the ride than a typical road bike? Is it easier by virtue of its ergonomics and triple chain ring? Is the weight and wider tire very noticable? What are the obvious ride differences?
thanks so much! :)

I think the old sport tourer geometry is the way to go. Depending on how you feel you can set it up in a race mode (skinny tires and low bars) or more touring with say 32mm tires and an upright riding position. My gears go from 103" down to 21" which works for me in all situations. In 103" I can move along at 26 mph, but not for long on the flat. The only touring it might not be suited to is off road and expedition.

What is the average weight difference between the two? I'm looking at a Cannondale T2. Considerably more than my R1000?

It's not that I don't like it, but I know I won't be into "racing." I feel a bit cramped on my R1000 and think my riding style is more relaxed. I would like to do touring eventually. Plus, there are so many hills in my area, I think the virtue of a larger cassette and triple ring will help.
Only you can say what works best for you. I find my road bike quite comfortable and set up my touring bike with a similar riding position. So for me riding position is pretty much the same and comfort is fine on both.

If the hills are more than you want to deal with on your road bike, a triple or a cassette with bigger cogs or both can always be added. I find a road bike with a bit lower gearing to be easier to ride in hilly country than a touring bike unless I will be carrying a load. That said I have ridden a number of organized centuries and other unloaded rides with my touring bike mainly because the people I was going with were my touring buddies and would be on their touring bikes.

That said, since you say your riding style is "more relaxed". The touring bike may be perfect. Is they any way you can try a decent length ride on one before commit to only a touring bike?

I don't know what the weight difference will be, but likely not as important as comfort considering you'll be carrying quite a bit of weight in gear, anyway, when touring. And when you're road riding on a touring bike, will 2-3 lb make as much difference to your enjoyment of the sport as the commercial magazines lead us to believe?

B

I don't know what the weight difference will be, but likely not as important as comfort considering you'll be carrying quite a bit of weight in gear, anyway, when touring. And when you're road riding on a touring bike, will 2-3 lb make as much difference to your enjoyment of the sport as the commercial magazines lead us to believe?
2-3 pounds? I really doubt it. My touring bike weighs 30 pounds (pretty normal) my road bike weighs 17.5 pounds (not particularly light). Granted the touring bike has racks and fenders, but I don't want to be taking that stuff off and putting it back all the time. So the difference is more like 12.5 pounds. In addition a good bit of the weight is in the wheels (rotating mass) where weight really matters.

I really love them both but by comparison the touring bike is a tank.

I had a Cannondale R800 and a LHT for several years. Now I just have the LHT as the R800 was sold since I didn't ride it much.

I think the main reason to have a road bike is to ride in a group with others that have road bikes - particularly if they are strong riders. The lightweight, close gear ratios and aero position on a road bike make this easier and more fun.

If you ride by yourself or with folks who are not pushing hard a touring bike unloaded works pretty well. The best part is if you pass a roadie on a LHT with racks, fenders and a sprung brooks you get a ton of street cred....lol....=-)

If I had a few strong friends that were really into road biking I'd consider getting another road bike. It was definitely fun, but for solo rides my LHT is more than enough bike and it's a lot more useful for the other types of riding I do [commuting, getting groceries, touring, etc..]

Think of a touring bike as a Cadillac Escalade and a road bike as a Corvette. They are both great rides, but totally different.

I think the old sport tourer geometry is the way to go. Depending on how you feel you can set it up in a race mode (skinny tires and low bars) or more touring with say 32mm tires and an upright riding position. My gears go from 103" down to 21" which works for me in all situations. In 103" I can move along at 26 mph, but not for long on the flat. The only touring it might not be suited to is off road and expedition.

+1
My Gunnar Sport is set up for commuting, touring. Doesn't look anything like
this picture with the 32c tires, rack and well padded handlebar. But that's the nice thing about it.. swap wheels and it's a dandy group ride bike.
http://www.gunnarbikes.com/sport.php

the think i found a really big difference was steering ,i just have the one road bike now, look kx light top notch gear through out the bike ,so when i first rode the new thorn it just felt so different still does ,the road bike react's instantly to your every command ,so dont expect the same reaction from a touring bike, its not as sharp ,but having said that when you get used to the feel of it sit back and enjoy the ride.

+1
My Gunnar Sport is set up for commuting, touring. Doesn't look anything like
this picture with the 32c tires, rack and well padded handlebar. But that's the nice thing about it.. swap wheels and it's a dandy group ride bike.
http://www.gunnarbikes.com/sport.php

Hey Late!
That Gunnar Sport is really sparking an interest. Not a "race" bike, nor a dedicated tourer. This may be more in line what I'm looking for. Can you share how yours is set up? Pics?

It is worth having both. Even if it is just for the superman feeling you get when riding the road bike for the first time in a while after riding a touring bike. You will never feel faster!:)

It is worth having both. Even if it is just for the superman feeling you get when riding the road bike for the first time in a while after riding a touring bike. You will never feel faster!:)

+1

This question, I suppose, is for those who have both. I have a Cannondale road bike and thinking a touring bike is more my style, however, I have never ridden one. How different is the ride than a typical road bike? Is it easier by virtue of its ergonomics and triple chain ring? Is the weight and wider tire very noticable? What are the obvious ride differences?
thanks so much! :)


I have both. The touring bike is more comfortable, but his considerably heavier. Climbing hills is of course slower, but it has lower gearing to make those climbs just as easy, just not as fast as a road bike. It handles rough pavement much better with the wider tires. The tires don't really seem to slow me down that I notice, but acceleration is slower. Once up to speed on the flats, I can hardly tell any difference, except for the smoother ride of the touring bike.

But honestly, I would hate to have only one of these. I might go for something in the middle (like the Surly Crosscheck) if I could only have one bike.