Touring - Touring bike build.....

I posted the other day and ended up not likeing the frame I was looking at. I've been looking again and ran across thos one. A bit newer and wanted to get some opinions on whether it would make a good touring/commuter project.

Its a Giant Cypress SX 2004 frame.................

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd88/visaliaipa/giant.jpg

I also found this one. A vintage Raleigh Grand Prix.......I kn ow its older but might be better for what I need it for....opinions..?
203281

get the Giant. It won't let you down and will accept all new parts.
My touring bike started as a Giant FCR Flatbar Hybrid. It is now a Dropbar, Barcon Shifting, Front and rear rack, cruising machine.
I used this bike before the conversion for a Cross Country Tour.

http://liveoncenjoy.com/SMF/MGalleryItem.php?id=199

If that Giant fits you and is a good price it seems ideal... tires any width and lots of room for fenders too, it has all the eyelets and a rack... mountain cranks are well suited to touring as well and have the widest range of rings available so it does make sense from that perspective as well. Stems come in all sorts of lengths and rise so you could likely get the bars higher if you liked. It doesn't stand out too much either so that is good for a commuter if you leave it outside anywhere. I would also buy the raleigh, I can't seem to pass up a bike that fits me :twitchy:

they both are a rather short chainstay .. though I don't see a set of wheels on the Raleigh GP..
measure..

an 18" chain stay, 45 cm or so , is going to make it less likely you will kick your panniers with your heel.

That looks like a late 1970's GP frame. Hi-ten? Doesn't take cantilever brakes. No bosses to mount anything. Good for a single speed project. Giant is a better bet if it is your size.

they both are a rather short chainstay .. though I don't see a set of wheels on the Raleigh GP..
measure..

an 18" chain stay, 45 cm or so , is going to make it less likely you will kick your panniers with your heel.

+1
These don't look like touring frames and, assuming that you would be using rear panniers you would be fouling your heels. It would be helpful to have more rake on the forks also as this would give you the steering more suitable for loaded touring.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_511239_-1_202311_10000_202337

I also found this one. A vintage Raleigh Grand Prix.......I kn ow its older but might be better for what I need it for....opinions..?
203281

It was built as a touring model back in it's day,and will be comfortable and durable, but will lack all the bosses modern frames have for accessories. That's the only disadvantage which can be overcome with a few p-clamps. I built up the mixte version as a city bike a couple years ago and it is a great ride.
If it's ther right size,I doubt you'd regret the choice.

Marc

Based on the picture it looks fine. With a non-touring-specific bike - without elongated chainstays - you may have an issue with your heels hitting your rear panniers, but this can be overcome with the right rack, the right panniers mounted as far back as possible, or if you have small feet (I've used the first two strategies with my size 14's!) Lack of eyelets is easy to overcome. I know Tubus sells adapters and Old Man Mountain has racks intended for bikes without eyelets.

I say go for it. You'll likely end up with a fine tourer.

give me the Raleigh any day lugged steel frame super comfy ride .the giant is aluminum is it not.much harsher ride , but a nice bike ,nah go for the Raleigh.

It was built as a touring model back in it's day,and will be comfortable and durable, but will lack all the bosses modern frames have for accessories. That's the only disadvantage which can be overcome with a few p-clamps. I built up the mixte version as a city bike a couple years ago and it is a great ride.
If it's ther right size,I doubt you'd regret the choice.

Marc
Great Blog .

Great Blog .

I'm flattered, thanks for reading!

Marc

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_511239_-1_202311_10000_202337

Wow..seems like such a good price. Why the heck do i keep looking at ebay and craigslist. Might as well get this one......

Wow..seems like such a good price. Why the heck do i keep looking at ebay and craigslist. Might as well get this one......

Might be a bit late with this, but a small correction to some observations above: the Cypress frame you are looking at would, IMHO, be an excellent basis for a touring/commuting bike. The fork is chromo (though I can't remember if it had low-rider mounts or not), and ... the chainstays are not short. IIRC, they are at least 44.5 cms, and possibly 45.5. I was looking seriously at this bike when it was current; can't be bothered to check Giant's website archives, but I know I'm right (more or less) about the c/s length.