lightningmiked

Hey Guys,

I am new to this forum so I hope this type of thing is ok.

I am looking to do some touring, so I am looking on craigslist boston for a decent touring bike. I have been watching it for a couple weeks now. There are a few that I have found and googled and forums have talked about them for touring, but I am still unsure if the CL posts are good choices are not. Here are a few that I have found and I was wondering if you could give me your thoughts. One thing to note is I am 6'2, which narrows down the selection on CL.

Bianchi Volpe
Miyata TripleCross
Miyata 610
Shogun 1500


Thanks Guys!

Randolfo

Lightningmiked, I looked on CL for over a year. I guess some areas have more tourers than mine. I rarely saw anything that would fit, and when I did, it was not what I wanted. I am 6'1" and some change, and I just did not see anything. I saved up, and my family pulled the trigger. They got tired of me cursing my Walmart mountain bike. I got new. Good Luck on the search. I know how frustrating it can be when you look for that used bike that fits the bill.

octico

Dont waste your money on those old bikes. Just buy a generic frame one from Nashbar. I have one and love it! I ride about 200 miles a week and I have never had issues with it.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_522412_-1___202339

Randolfo

The Nashbar was on my short list too.

lightningmiked

That does look like a decent price. I am hesitant about buying online without being able to try one out?

fietsbob

Craig's list says , do the transaction in person.. so if its in Boston CL you need to be able to go see it.

LBS has a classic lugged steel, Japan Made Specialized Expedition , a large frame , 59 [ BB ctr to top of top tube.]

but on the opposite coast.

likebike23

The Nashbar touring frame/fork is nice, I built one up a few years ago. It handles nice, has clearance for fat tires, and has all of the mounting points you would want. Building it yourself can get expensive really fast though. I pieced mine together for around $400 from parts I had accumulated over the years at super low closeout deals, supplemented by some new stuff, and finished off with some parts from my bins. To get it to that price, it took a lot of effort on my part and the parts were accumulated over time, not at once. Bikesdirect.com has the Motobecane Gran Turismo on sale right now for pretty cheap and it looks like it's available in 58cm. https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...an_turismo.htm. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Spld cyclist

Buying old bikes is ok, but it takes some experience to evaluate what you're looking at and what it will need to become a reliable touring bike. Anything that old should have some service before you ride it very far, even if it's really a low-mileage bike. For example, when was the last time the hubs, bottom bracket, and headset were rebuilt with new grease and bearings? Things can be left to chance if you're biking to the store, but you need to have a lot of confidence in what you're going to tour on.

That said, there are good deals out there on nice old bikes. You might find a diamond in the rough. It might even be worth spending $300 on an older touring bike if you're convinced it doesn't need anything in terms of service. However, all of those bikes are going for more than I would be willing to pay for them, although there is usually room for negotiation.

If low price is really important to you, I would look at the Windsor Tourist from BikesDirect: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm That's about the cheapest option in a new touring bike. Of course, then you need to assemble it or get someone else (like a bike shop) to do it for you. Call around to ask what they will charge if you don't want to take it on yourself. I think any reasonable handy person can assemble a bike with fairly minimal tools, although properly tensioning, stress-relieving, and truing wheels can be tricky if you haven't done it before.

Cyclebum

Fit is First. After that's settled, move onto the components, especially gearing ratios. You really don't want to push too many hills on a loaded bike.

A bike is just a frame with components stuck here and there, all replaceable. Leave youself wiggle room to do just that. As needed or desired. Over the years, I've changed everything but the frame on my DF tourer, mostly just 'cause I didn't like the stock version. That's probably unusual. And expensive. Two years on the LWB bent, nothing replaced.

For reference, I also have an USS Linear and a SWB bent, both bought used for $300 each, and both received in good condition. Not test ridden before purchase due to distance.

ak08820

The BikeDirect Windsor Tourist has good reviews an is similarly equipped to the Nashbar bike for $100 less and free shipping, too. https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm
For $100 more, you get bar end shifters and a name - https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...an_turismo.htm

likebike23

I think at $100 more for the Motobecane, you get more than bar ends and a name. The components are better than the $100 difference would suggest. The wheels, rear derailleur, crankset, and rack are nicer, plus it has lower gearing on both the chainrings and cassette. The only "advantage" to the Windsor is that it has brifters which is big if that's what you want. Either way, both bikes are a good deal.

ksisler

likebike23; +5 on recommendation for the Gran Turismo. Everything looks good on it...save maybe upping the rear tire a size or two depending on the touring load. Looks like most of a LHT for less than half the price which is what a lot of folks are looking for in a tourer. I note sizes up to 64cm also for the tall crowd..

/K

Randolfo

This was the decision I made. So far, it has been pretty decent.

lightningmiked

I like this idea of finding a cheaper new bike. I have always been hesitant about these craigslist sales since I don't know enough to decide whether or not it's the bike is actually a good one or not.

I'm still hesitant about buying a new bike online without fitting it or trying it out? I understand that I should get a LBS to build the bike if I get it from bikesdirect, should I just get fitted for one when I go ask them if they will build it for me?

A side note, I haven't owned a bike that fit me for a long time. The bike I have previously had fit me long ago before I became 6'2. Basically, besides the online guidelines and a rough measurement of my own, I don't really know what an appropriate sized bike feels like.

So should I go into the LBS and ask them "Hey I'm thinking of buying from bikesdirect, I was wondering if you guys could help me figure out a size and then build it for me when I receive it?"

fietsbob

Why * but at least you are willing to pay the shop setup labor .

on top of the purchase price of the bike..

* nothing in the shops brands that are adequate, touring bikes?

sort of like going on a bike tour, and shipping a bike you own ahead to a bike shop,
asking for it to be ready to ride, when you fly into town to start your trip

LBS here sells Trek , Their 520 is a fine machine, re-boxed a couple of then and sent them back to the rider's home town.

after riding them across the country.





also able to get Surly/Salsa bikes ,but don't stock them mostly due to business reasons ,
Trek Corp has a rotating Credit Account ..

for those who want a QBP item or bike,orders are placed, as requested,
they come COD/30 day net.


looking : they say [ ..excerpt.. ]

sizes (seat tube length)
58cm (32.5" Standover/TT=565),

64cm (34" Standover/TT=585)

you can measure standover minimum on yourself .. 'taint' to the ground.. flat footed.

add a few inches

Altbark

I bought a Nashbar intergrated frame and built a road bike from parts last year. Great bike. Sizing can be an issue when buying online but is easy to resolve. Measure one of your existing bikes that fits you well and compare to the specs of the online frame that you are considering. Measure your frame the same way that the retailer does and you are good to go. I usually ride a 52cm frame and the perfect size from Nashbar was a 48 so it pays to do your due diligence. Al

Spld cyclist

Your idea about asking a LBS to fit you *and* assemble the bike may be a good one. Some shops may not be willing to assemble something they didn't sell, so ask around and be diplomatic. If where you live is anything like where I live, it may be very hard to find an actual touring bike in stock in any LBS. If they don't have anything on hand to sell you, they may be more willing to help you out with fitting and assembly. (Although many shops may suggest ordering something from a line they sell, like a Trek 520 if they sell Treks normally).

If you don't have a bike that currently fits you (or is close) your goal should be to find and test ride bikes that do fit, so you can figure out what you want. Then you can download the geometry tables for the bikes and compare.

Randolfo

My LBS was certainly placated by the tune up, helmet, padded shorts, stand, multitool, tires for my wife's bike, and future purchases I will make there. In fact, they said that the components to the Gran Turismo were impressive for the price.

Phil_gretz

Down in Washington, DC, there have been some VERY NICE touring bikes in larger sizes recently. Currently, there's a Fuji Touring Series V in 25"...

3speed

If I were you, I'd keep looking rather than buy any of those bikes. Look for something more modern with 8/9sp gearing and solid wheels. Otherwise if you don't mind the gearing of older bikes(many don't) I would say buy the one with the best wheels that is in good condition, and plan on doing a few upgrades as needed. If there's any way you could look outside of Boston, that would probably be best since cities tend to demand a premium on bike prices.

As for bikesdirect - So you want the LBS to help you out and fit you(for free?) and assemble that other bike, so that you can order Chinese crap online to save yourself giving some cash/support to the LBS for the in-person service and help they give you? Disregarding the moral issues involved with supporting Chinese crap and just looking at it on a person level... You're probably looking at a couple hundred+ for them to assemble it for you. By that time you're looking at $900, plus the fact that you don't get to try the bike before you buy, the hassle of making the online purchase/shipping, getting the bike to the LBS to be assembled, absolutely zero support after the purchase(you're gonna get nothing from bikesdirect), etc. Go to the LBS and ask what they can get you for $1000. They'll probably be happy to help you, you get in-person bike fit on the bike you're planning to buy from a real person who knows what they're doing, generally a free tune-up with purchase at most shops(some also come with a free flat change or other handy things like that), and friendly general support from the shop if you want to change/adjust anything after you put a few miles on the bike. Just sayin'...

Spld cyclist

Whatever you find in the LBS is likely to have been made in the same country as what they sell on BD. Maybe even in the same factory. More likely Taiwan than China, by the way....