Touring - Weight limit on Fuji Touring?

Hi,

a guy at a local bike shop told me that the Fuji Touring could only safely handle 20-25 lbs of gear. I've been looking at this bike as the one to buy for my upcoming trans-america trip, but might want to carry more than that in my panniers. Was this guy right? Nuts?

Another option I've been thinking about is using my dad's old 1976 Fuji Special Road Racer frame with all new gears, wheels, handlebars, shifters, etc. Anyone know if this frame could support loaded touring, or how cost-effective this option would be?

Thanks!!!!

Abramprune, It would be worth your while to seek a local bicycle shop that 'knows touring'. In KCMO we have many shops. I know of two that understand 'loaded touring'. Also you may try to contact Harris Cyclery (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/fujits00.html) They sell the Fuji and may have some good ideas. They "know touring" I honestly think I commute to work with more than 25lbs of stuff on my bike! This forum is also a great place to post your question. Good luck with your search. Happy riding!!

Hi,

a guy at a local bike shop told me that the Fuji Touring could only safely handle 20-25 lbs of gear. I've been looking at this bike as the one to buy for my upcoming trans-america trip, but might want to carry more than that in my panniers. Was this guy right? Nuts?

Another option I've been thinking about is using my dad's old 1976 Fuji Special Road Racer frame with all new gears, wheels, handlebars, shifters, etc. Anyone know if this frame could support loaded touring, or how cost-effective this option would be?

Thanks!!!!

WHere do these guys get these ideas? Sounds like another attempt to relentlessly promote the ga-ga bike of US bicycle shops, Trek. In any case, I have toured with my Fuji touring pretty well loaded front and rear and had no problem. The variation in weight of riders is probably greater than the variation in weight due to equipment, anyway. With good solid blackburn-type racks and proper distribution front and rear, I'll bet ya will do fine. Enjoy your tour(s)!

roughstuff

I haven't had my Fuji Touring long, but I'd say that's nonsense. If you're worried about it, swap the stock rack for something more solid, and you'll be good to go - but the rack mounts seem just as solid on the Fuji as on any of the other touring bikes I looked at when I was shopping!

-chris

I don't recall any mention of this in my Fuji manual..When I bought it my mechanic critiqued it.. Not high end components, but decent Shamano stuff.
He said the rims are good solid rims...We did have to replace the original spokes for heavier spokes. The original spokes began breaking quite soon.
I have taken the bike on 4 tours...Two were unsupported..Carried far more than 25 lbs.

Usually when a salesman denegrates one product, he will promote another. What did he suggest you get instead of the Fuji? Did he suggest you get the Fuji and have his shop modify it, suggest a different bike, or suggest not bicycle touring at all?
Maybe he is a hiker a motorcyclist or owns an RV and thinks that is the way to tour.

WHere do these guys get these ideas? The variation in weight of riders is probably greater than the variation in weight due to equipment, anyway. With good solid blackburn-type racks and proper distribution front and rear, I'll bet ya will do fine. Enjoy your tour(s)!

roughstuff



Ugh! How much do normal cyclists weigh?! I'm going on my first tour and doing my best to lose weight for it (the idea of cycling all of the CURRENT me up big hills is more of a reason than anything). I guess the fact that it will cause less wear and tear on my bike frame is yet another reason.

I spent far more on my race bike than my Fuji touring bike..I get the sense many feel Fuji's are cheap. Because my emphasis is touring/commuting- I sometimes wonder should I have put more financial resources into the touring bike? I so far, very much like my Fuji. My LBS said it had decent componentry when I bought it, plus the frame is solid.
My point about getting a more expensive touring bike, will it last over the thousands of touring miles, compared to a Trek or Bruce Gordon..I think the Fuji a solid bike..I load 50 lbs and more on it.
I like to think I could loose weight by riding, more fun than dieting.. Weight loss, as long as you get your essential carbs, protein for riding-can't hurt exercise by dieting.
I wish someone had a fat farm for non-pro cyclists - like a camp- where we ride and they feed us what it takes to loose weight.
What a awful bike camp/vacation- enforced riding and a cook that is a real weight nazi.
Sort of a bike boot camp for lazy cycling addicted beings..Anyone heard of such a thing. Probably need be two weeks at least.
Of course the person should be able to sign up for various levels of bike torture. A bike boot camp for various levels of weight loss.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I went ahead and bought a Fuji Touring, have not tried it out loaded with more than just my school backpack yet, but so far it rides like a dream, at least compared to the crappy Huffys I've been riding to school in the past.

Maybe what the guy meant was that the bike's stock rack was only designed to handle up to 25 pounds. That may be valid (assuming the bike comes with a rack). However, I'm sure the bike's frame can handle far more than that with a suitable rack.

To answer your other question-- it's probably not worth it to try to modify your father's old bike for touring. Lots of reasons, really, if it's the bike I'm thinking of. The frame may be able to handle the load, but the geometry really isn't suited for touring and you may not be able to fit a wider tire between the stays. Also, the dropout spacing for the rear wheel was designed to accept a much narrower hub. Fitting a modern hub may cause problems.

Enjoy your new bike and have fun on your trip. You made the right decision. Your new bike will perform fine.