jimmuter

I've been commuting on a hybrid for years and plan to continue to do so once I get the parts in that it needs to be fixed. I am using its temporary loss of availability to justify buying a new bike as well. Over the past year I've gotten into longer rides and I've been interested in getting something closer to a road bike. I did a metric century on my hybrid last year and discovered it wasn't the best bike for doing that. I want this new bike to be somewhat more comfortable than average so I can do all day rides, and I'd like it to have some eyelets or other provisions for putting on a rear rack without using special clips or a clamp to the seat post. I would also like drop bars.

I seriously considered a cyclocross, but the one I really wanted will not be available until after a one-week ride I'm planning this fall. It got me thinking that in addition to not wanting to wait that long, I think I want more of a road setup anyway (thinner tires, a little sporty). I then saw Cannondale's Road Sport 800 online. This looks like it would work well for me and my LBS carries Cannondales. Does anyone think this bike would not suit my purposes? I'm 6'3" and a shade under 200 lbs if that matters. If you have something else to recommend, make sure it can handle a rear rack. I like to carry stuff with me on these long rides and trips (i.e. - pick up a 6 pack and bring it back to camp in a pannier), and I may use it to commute occassionally.

alanbikehouston

The "Touring" section of the Forms might be the best place to ask your question. If you plan to use a racks and bags, the longer the chainstays, the better. Over the decades, the trend has been toward shorter chainstays, even on bikes that are sold for touring. The result is that when you use full size saddlebags, your heels will be rapping against the bags.

You can often find touring bikes from the 1980 to 1985 "touring boom" on E-Bay at reasonable prices. Some of them look like new. Steel frames. Steel forks. Classic touring geometry.

Look through the threads in "Touring" for the best month or two and you will see a variety of posts about what people like (or don't like) about various touring bikes.

dekalbSTEEL

something like this?

MWW

Considered the Cannondale Cyclocross? Could go from road racing tires to big touring tires no problem on the Cyclocross, and it has the eyelets for mounting racks and fenders. I have one and use it for cross, badweather training, and winter riding. I haven't toured with it, but the geometry is more "relaxed" similar to a touring bike.

staple

I have a Specialized Sequoia. It's a nice, fast road bike, very comfortable, and it will take a rack. It may not be "sporty" enough for you, but take a look anyway.

I haven't had mine long, but I'm very happy with it so far.

bccycleguy

I have an 06 Lemond Sarthe with a steel classic frame. I'm using it for longer road rides and have a small rack, the Tubus Fly which fits on the rear to carry basics, rain gear, etc. This is NOT for loaded touring, but for day touring out of a base. Works very well.

big john

I have an older Cannondale touring bike and I am about your size and I have used this bike for all types of riding including loaded touring, centuries, and shorter, fun rides. It's comfortable and can carry anything and I can switch to a lighter set of wheels for sport type riding because it's not that heavy. I don't use it much these days because I have a newer sport bike, but it's nice to know it's there.

the beef

Steel is the way to go for touring frames, in my opinion.
Give the Bianchi Brava a try (I've got one). You're looking at about 23-24 pounds, making for a decently light bike; it's as strong as hell, though. Throw in fender/rack eyelets and you've got yourself an awesome touring bike.

bmike

If you are going to use it fully loaded, look into a touring frame.

I'm in the process of building a light tourer, probably going IF Steel Club Racer (just can't decide if I want to go Ti, as they will make it in Ti as well).

I have a Trek 520 (could be for sale very soon) that I don't like as a light / fast tourer / brevet bike. It works great loaded with grear or groceries, but it doesn't match my riding style.

You might find a cyclocross bike will work for what you want - I commuted on one for better part of a year. Wouldn't tour on it though - the Al frame would have beat me to death. Loved it for commuting and shortish road rides (~50 miles)

MichaelW

Light-touring style bikes are excellent general purpose road bikes for fitness, commuting and hostel style touring; like Mummy Bear's porridge, not too hot, not too cold.. They are a bit too lightweight for expedition touring but an exp bike is a bit heavy for everyday use.
The Al-framed 'dales work best as big-guy's bikes. In larger sizes you need extra stiffness.
Check on the brake caliper style. A racing style std caliper has very restricted tyre clearance. A long drop (57mm) can give adaquate room for 32mm tyre + fender (if the frame is correctly dimentioned).
If you use smaller panniers with a heel cutout shape, the issue of chainstay length is less critical but keep an eye on it.
Also, make sure the fork has adaquate length of steerer for a comfortable bar position. You may not want it cut down for racing style position.

If you want some alt brands, check out Soma, Surly and Gunnar for nice steel frames.

bbattle

Google up some "Randonneur" "Audax" "Commuter" and what will you get:

chipcom 

They discontinued my Fuji World, but I've seen last year's model in some LBS at a fair discount. It's not geared like a road bike, front chainrings are 48/36/26, but I have no problem hanging with club riders when it's not loaded up for commuting/touring.

bbattle

KevinF

Does the C-dale Cyclocross frame have rear-rack eyelets? I was considering one for general-purpose use, etc., but the picture at https://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/CUSA/model-6XR8.html doesn't make it look like it has rear rack eyelets. Am I blind, or has C-dale taken the eyelets off on recent models?

jimmuter

That's why I was specifically interested in the Sport Road 800. Cannondale's site says: "Light touring with a Cannondale Sport Road bike is a snap! Seat stays and rear dropouts are rack-ready, while both frame and fork can take fenders when the weather turns foul."

I'm really not worried about heel clearance because I have a rack that sets back far enough to compensate for the few cm's lost on the chainstay and the panniers I use have heel cutouts. The Tricross I originally wanted comes stock with 700x32 tires, the Sport comes with 700x25. There is a wider range of gearing on the Sport too. It really looks like it will work for me, so I'm going to the LBS tonight to ask their opinions.

markwebb

My LBS had a NOS 2003 or 2004 never ridden Trek 520 classic tourer for $700. They might still have it. Maybe they can ship it to you - they are a very large store.

big john

I can't tell from the picture, but my C-dale touring frame doesn't use eyelets because the dropouts are so big, the threaded holes for rack and fenders are drilled into the dropouts. The upper holes for the rack are drilled into a bridge across the stays.

ruppster

My 2005 Trek 1000 is a very basic (& inexpensive) bike with rack mounts. I have a set of Nashbar DayTrekker panniers on it. It gets used for some commuting and other trips exactly like you descibe. It also has eyelets for fenders.