Hi, everyone.
My next long-term project is going to be a touring bike that I plan to use on camping trips in northern Oregon, as my weekend road bike (leisurely 30-40 miles) in the winter, and also haul some full grocery loads 3-4 miles. I imagine I might be using a trailer for at least some of that. I have months to plan this, so I'm in no rush, but as I've ridden a few different bikes over the past year, I've learned a few things about what i want:
Must haves:
- Steel frame
- Drops
- 26" wheels
- Racks! Racks! Racks!
Nice-to-haves:
- Lugs (I know I don't need them, but they're pretty, and my road bike has 'em!)
- Disc brakes (ugly, but really nice in wet grime)
Undecided:
- Shifters (I love my STIs, but I think bar-ends make more sense for a tourer if I can get used to them!)
- Saddle (I kind of love my C-17, and it's waterproof, but B-17s have the right look for touring, and I feel like they might last longer)
- Pedals (leaning toward platforms with a toe clip option, or maybe platforms with one-sided SPDs)
So with all of that said, the best off-the-shelf complete bike for the money seems to be a Surly Disc Trucker (minus the decals, which aren't my speed), particularly since I have stubbly little legs, and with a 52cm frame, 26" feels right and stable with loads. I can't seem to find anything else in the price range with 26s. If I start with a frame, there's Surly, some high-end stuff like Rivendell that's probably out of my price range, and ......anything else? I can't seem to find any vintage American frames with 26-inch wheels. Maybe Euro or Japanese?
Thanks!