Boudicca

I did a month long fully supported trip in the Pacific Northwest last year, and had the same internal debate -- Bike Friday with really baby gears for hills, or titanium road bike with fewer gears, but less effort to ride.

I ended up taking the Merlin, and never regretted it. Yes, it was probably tougher on the hills, but I just enjoyed riding it. This wasn't a race-pace ride either, but I found a nice sub-group who rode at my relatively slow pace and was blissfully happy. If you've got a triple, or a compact double on the road bike, I vote for that.

imi

Tires on a touring bike make a lot of difference. Consider 28mm Gatorskins pumped hard (7-8 bar) for speed

Tourist in MSN

If I was 95 pounds heavier than I am, I would weigh what you weigh. Yet, even at my lighter weight I would lean towards the steel bike because it is only an additional 8 pounds, but offers better gearing.

Being a touring bike I assume it has a rack offering the ability to carry more clothing (including rain gear) and water, and food, and spare tubes, etc.

And at that total weight of bike and rider I would not dream of tires that are only 25mm, at your weight if you can fit some supple 32mm tires you might consider that too. Or, put a 32mm folding tire in your luggage in case you decided after a few days you have too many pinch flats on the rear and want a wider tire. Quite frankly, you will have more weight on the tires than I have on my touring bike tires when I have a full load of camping gear and several days of food.

I have 37mm tires on one wheel set and 28mm (rated 28mm, but they caliper at 25mm) tires on another wheelset for my 700c touring bike. The 28mm tires are slightly faster (maybe 3 percent) but on a rough road, I really prefer the softer ride of a wider lower pressure tire. And you are looking at a week of roads, some of which will likely be rough, do you want a harsh ride for a week?

I was on a fully supported trip a couple years ago, the bike that was provided to me had no rack. In the early morning when it warmed up and was sunny, I put my rain gear in the van. An hour later it started raining again. About 4 hours after that I finally saw the van again after I had been cold and soaked for most of the day. My point is you might want the bike that has a rack.

But, make it clear at the start that you are not carrying the gear for others on your bike.

If you take the carbon bike, if it has a metal seatpost you might consider getting a rack that clamps onto the seatpost so you can carry a rack top bag for more food, water and clothing. I often use a clampon type rack on my foldup bike, very convenient to carry stuff.

valygrl

Tell us about the tires and handlbars on the touring bike. I would choose the light bike, 100%, but if you need the low gears, as long as the touring bike is a road style bike, i guess i would give you a hesitant OK to use that one. If the tour bike is flat bar or big tires/big tread, no way.

Also - on the flatter days, are you planning to ride with others in a pack? (road bike) or by yourself (touring bike).

Jarrett2

Thanks.

So on day 1, the right starts at 4,840 elevation. Less than 15 miles later, we will be at 6,260. So climbing around 1500 feet in the first 10-15 miles. On day 5, we do 5,000 feet of climbing that day. Starting at 2,500 and ending at 5,700+. The highest elevation I've been in before is 2,200 feet and 2,700 feet climbing.

I've seen some 8-12% on the profiles.

That's a great idea, totally using that

They both have the same strength.

I weighed them last night after pulling the rack off the touring bike and they are 7 lbs apart. That doesn't seem like that much.

I've done several thousand miles on 25's at this weight and substantially heavier.

Agreed. That's why I think I'm going to go with the 28's over the 25's. They are more comfortable.

Good point. My rain coat fits into my jersey pocket. I'll keep it with me on days that have rain chances.

Thanks for all of the good input so far. The more I think about it, I'm taking the steel bike for the climbing gears with 28's on it and no racks. It will basically look like this with 28's on it:

Tony Marley

Go with the triple crank steel bike. Your legs will thank you for it....

bikemig 

This is one of the few times I've seen this level of consensus on the touring forum.

10 Wheels

Take the rear rack. Good to have should you want extra clothes. Snacks or liquids, tools, tubes.

bikemig 

Great pic. For a fully supported trip, a largish saddle bag can take your rain coat and extra food pretty comfortably. The Jandd mountain wedge III is reasonably priced, works very well, and holds a large volume of stuff.

Mountain Wedge III

Plus it's easy to move from bike to bike as needed.

valygrl

I'm dissenting....

bikemig 

I know, I read your initial post. But the consensus is to the contrary and the OP can take that for what it's worth, . It's unusual to see this much consensus.

Tourist in MSN

I commented above that if you did not have a rack, you could get one that clamps onto your seatpost as be a good way to haul some stuff for your ride. But, you apparently chose to not go that route when you took your existing rack off. Since you pulled your rack off, have you considered a handlebar bag? It is a place to put a map on top, store some food, clothes, camera, tubes, tools, etc.

If you decide against the handlebar bag, look for the biggest wedge pack you can find. It can come in really handy to have a place for clothing, food, etc.

How many bottle cages are on the bike?

Jarrett2

This is a fully supported deal. Like seven consecutive T-shirt rides they say.

We meet up with SAG trucks every 15 miles or so that have water, food, our luggage, spare bike parts, etc.

Due to this, on the bike I'm planning on having two tubes, tire tool, two CO2 cartridges and valve, multi tool, spoke wrench, band aids, two Clif bars and 60 ounces of water. The bike has a third braze on set on the bottom. I've kicked around the idea of putting another bottle cage and bottle down there, but if I'm getting refills every 15 miles or so, its hard to even think I need more than one bottle.

imi

80 oz? Is that like 2,3 litres? If so I'd say probably that's well more than enough.. We don't even have PET bottles bigger than 2L over here

Edit : sorry I read it wrong... 60oz you said

Jarrett2

60 oz = 1.77441 liters says the Google.

imi

I take it at the SAG stops you can have a big swig, so that makes sense

Jarrett2

At the rest stop, I can refill both bottles, eat some snacks, etc.

Jarrett2

Thanks again for all of the good input on this.

djb

Want to add another "take the triple, 11-32 and 28mm" option, with my personal experience to back it up.
I ride a light tourer very similar to your steel bike, same gearing, same tires, but a bit heavier. I've been on supported rides like this in hilly areas and really appreciated the lower gearing. From lots of years riding, it always comes back to me that being able to spin easily up steep or long climbs takes so much much less out of your knees and legs (the burning the matches comment astutely makes the point)

The kicker for me is that you weigh twice as much as me, and I would absolutely take the triple and 11-32 bike, and to top it off, you haven't trained much.

A no brainer to me.

*I would also add that your comment about "guys hammering along" makes me think of times that I have been in rides like this (with other days of riding following ) and the importance of going at the pace and cadence that will be the most efficient for you, for both the specific days ride and for the days that follow.
Again, this is me, and I weigh half of you.

I also agree that 28s will beat you up a bit less every day.
All the best on your ride.

10 Wheels

You cannot count on the 15 mile refills....one extra bottle would be Insurance. On my Cross country ride the two bottle riders often ran out of water.

Tourist in MSN

Ok, you were not clear in you original post. You really do not have to carry much at all. I assumed you were pretty much on your own all day when I suggested rack, etc. This is not even a tour, this is like a whole bunch of one hour rides strung together.

For around home riding, I have a spare tube, tools, a few other items in a plastic bottle or cylindrical bag in my lowermost water bottle cage under the down tube. That is a convenient way to carry the stuff you hope you never need. It is down low where weight distribution is not a hassle, etc. If you are using 28mm tubes, you could probably fit a couple in a bottle for that spot. Besides the commercial containers you can buy for that purpose, Skippy Peanut Butter a few years ago made a bottle that fit perfectly, but they have downsized their bottles now, no longer a good fit. I have also seen some Parmesan cheese bottles that fit a bottle cage well and had a lot of volume.

Pick up some disposable gloves at a drug store, they come in handy to keep your hands cleaner if you have to change a tire in dirty conditions. I asked the dental assistant last time I was there if I could get some spares, she gave me a bunch of them that were much nicer than the latex ones that I had previously gotten from Walgreens.

Jarrett2

I'm sorry I confused you. I thought these excerpts from the OP and thread title would make it clear that it was not a self-supported tour, but a fully-supported tour:

That's a good idea for the bottom cage. Thanks.

Tourist in MSN

I have been on three fully supported tours, sometimes a van would pass us early in the morning soon after the start, then we usually did not see it again until end of day. So, that is what I assume a fully supported tour is. Exception, one of those tours had a lunch stop midway so we always saw it one additional time each day. You are getting exceptional service with 15 mile stops.

Jarrett2

If that happens, you'll read about us in the news in a couple of weeks

djb

You were perfectly clear in your opening statement.
On the supported trips like this that my wife and I have done, there is a specific lunch break, mind it's a large scale trip with upwards of 2000 people so they have a huge infrastructure and are very good at it (including numerous roving vans with water+first aid) but I have always carried two full water bottles and a small pannier usually for snacks, but you have the snacks and jacket side covered.
From my touring days I always prefer to have extra water even if I don't use it, the old "been there, done that and have no urge to repeat" aspect of having run out of water or snacks.....
As an side, my bike is a tricross, similar to your bike, and I have been faster and easier going up long hills than folks riding bikes a lot lighter than mine numerous times. Probably a combo of me being light, a reasonable climber and often just cuz my lower gearing allowed me to spin easier and manage my very average output easier over a long day.