Review my tour/guiding/utility bike conversion
05-09-08, 05:59 AM
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Location: Friendsville, TN, USA
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Bikes: Wilier Thor, Fuji Professional, LeMond Wayzata
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Review my tour/guiding/utility bike conversion
I'm over it, not touring that is. Starting to send out guiding resumes. My carbon go-fast bike won't do. Think I have a solution. Weaknesses in this bike concept, building up from my LeMond Wayzata. Comments, etc.
Bike fit is good, although I haven't ridden it with the drop bars. Feels good sitting on it. I'll have to buy the mini-V, RL720 bar top levers, and bar ends. The rest of it is there already. Bike handled fine with front and rear bags with the straight bars, but I hated the bars with a passion. I kind of like the BioMax, although they're about 44 cm wide and I normally ride 40 cm on a go-fast bike. I wonder about getting a front rack with a platform; my current one only has the low-rider mounts. I'll also probably put on my handebar bag.
This would be used for general commuting, light mountain touring, might end up with fatter tires for gravel roads, and ideally would end up on some longer tours with light camping gear.
Any comments, suggestions, etc would be very welcome.
- 853 steel frame
- aluminum fork (worth replacing? probably OK for now.
- Bontrager "select" wheels I'm a little suspicious of.
- FSA 175 mm triple 30 - 42 - 52
- tiagra F&R derailleurs
- 12-28 9 speed cassette
- platform pedals w/grip loops - maybe spd better
- Ritchey BioMax short drop bars, pretty wide
- Shimano 105 road levers
- Tektro rl720 bar top brake levers w/adjusters
- Tektro mini-V brakes, replacing the long V brakes
- Low rider front bag mounts
- Rear tubular rack
- My old Brooks saddle from 1969, if I can find it
- Plastic fenders
- 25 mm tires for most uses (I normally ride 23 mm)
Bike fit is good, although I haven't ridden it with the drop bars. Feels good sitting on it. I'll have to buy the mini-V, RL720 bar top levers, and bar ends. The rest of it is there already. Bike handled fine with front and rear bags with the straight bars, but I hated the bars with a passion. I kind of like the BioMax, although they're about 44 cm wide and I normally ride 40 cm on a go-fast bike. I wonder about getting a front rack with a platform; my current one only has the low-rider mounts. I'll also probably put on my handebar bag.
This would be used for general commuting, light mountain touring, might end up with fatter tires for gravel roads, and ideally would end up on some longer tours with light camping gear.
Any comments, suggestions, etc would be very welcome.
05-09-08, 06:56 AM
#2
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Location: London but shortly Sydney
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Bikes: Bianchi Road Bike & Gary Fisher Mountain Bike
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Looks ok - but not an expert on all the components and their compatibility.
My mountain bike originally came with Bontrage Select wheels (in 2002). I used it for a tour and in not too long it starting breaking spokes all over the place. I replaced the wheels and have not had a problem since.
Aluminium forks should be fine. The advantage of steel is that it can be easily welded - is handy if you are doing super long tours that are off the beaten track.
My mountain bike originally came with Bontrage Select wheels (in 2002). I used it for a tour and in not too long it starting breaking spokes all over the place. I replaced the wheels and have not had a problem since.
Aluminium forks should be fine. The advantage of steel is that it can be easily welded - is handy if you are doing super long tours that are off the beaten track.
