Touring - Light Touring Frame Recommendations

I have used my Jamis Nova for light touring but I would prefer a frame with a lower center of gravity and longer wheelbase. Ideally the frame should be light weight rather than something designed to haul the heaviest of loads.

Your recommendations are appreciated and I hope that I can locate the specific dimensions of the frame geometry for comparisons. Frame size would be around 56cm. Thanks!

What's your budget?

Price is not a significant obstacle. I don't seem to have an odd shaped body so I should be able to pick one right off the rack. I don't see a need to have a custom frame fabricated for me.

Sounds like the bike Chris Boedeker built for me.

http://i35.tinypic.com/29kxld4.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/98u2a9.jpg



http://i34.tinypic.com/6rj31f.jpg


Price on his website, see link in my signature.

Get a Topeak Super Tourist DX Tubular Rack. It'll drop your panniers by 1", which should have essentially the same effect as lowering the BB. Which, by the way, doesn't really make much of a difference.

The Jamis has a wheelbase of 40.43" and a full touring bike like a Trek 520 has a 41.3". One inch on the wheelbase also isn't going to make a whole lotta difference.

My guess is that if things feel weird, you're probably just putting too much weight exclusively on the back. I'd try moving some weight onto a handlebar bag or a small front platform bag before ditching a perfectly good bike / frame.

If you want to go cheap, grab the Nashbar touring frame with the touring fork. Right now, they're $135 together, plus another 25% off with the code NBARLUV. Then transfer your existing components onto the frame.

I just got one. I'm VERY impressed with the quality and attention to detail.

Consider a Soma Smoothie ES

OR- a Gunnar Sport

It's just weird how I have 2 road bikes that I ride comfortably but when I get on the Jamis I feel like I am much higher up in the air... sort of like getting on my full-suspension MTB. I thought a true touring frame would be more stable/less twitchy steering than the CX frame too. That might be due to differences in wheelbase, steering axis angle, and fork rake between a CX frame and a true touring frame.

Soma Smoothie ES. Stable. Run big tires for more pneumatic trail, stable like a rock. you can get fork to maximize stable handling, Merry Sales offers 2 or even 3 raked forks for the smoothie ES when i got mine. two rakes on the carbon fork the offer for the LR brakes, and three rakes from the IRD LR steel fork they offer.

Next to the Smoothie I've posted a picture of my latest build, a Surly TravelersCheck.

Despite this being a cross frame with a relatively high BB, riding on 35c tires makes this bike quite stable and a dream to ride and a most most versatile bike to own.

someone looking for a 'light' touring bike would be well advised to consider this frameset just for its versatility. Having brought mine on two trips now, feel it has been so worth it to own a coupled bicycle for travel when you are not riding door to door on vacation.

just food for thought.

Sounds like the bike Chris Boedeker built for me.

http://i35.tinypic.com/29kxld4.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/98u2a9.jpg



http://i34.tinypic.com/6rj31f.jpg


Price on his website, see link in my signature.
class looking bike what does the builder reckon woul;d be the max weight it can carry,does it have all the usual braze on's for loaded touring.
beautyful bike enjoy.

Sounds like the bike Chris Boedeker built for me.

Price on his website, see link in my signature.

A beauty. Love the color. Grats!

does it have all the usual braze on's for loaded touring.

Judging by the pictures that were posted, I believe it does...

class looking bike what does the builder reckon woul;d be the max weight it can carry,does it have all the usual braze on's for loaded touring.
beautyful bike enjoy.


I don't know the max weight it will carry; it's spec'd for commuting and light touring. I think we discussed making sure I could carry 40 pounds or so. As you can see it's got a very lightweight rear rack.

It does have all the usual braze-ons for touring (3 water bottle cages, pump peg, both fender and rack eyelets in back; fender and low-mount rack braze-ons in front.

It's a custom frame; Chris will build what you want. For a more rugged touring bike we would have used heavier tubing, perhaps stretch the wheelbase out a bit and gone w/lower gearing