View Single Post
Old 02-05-24 | 11:21 AM
  #18  
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
Andrew R Stewart
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,320
Likes: 5,428
From: Rochester, NY

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

The bike could make it fine if starting in good shape and maintained during the trip. This is far from the bike that many with experience would chose today if current bikes were available.

First thing I thought of is the gearing range being somewhat limited in the low/up hill choices. Campy parts are made for racing and to be ridden by athletic riders who don't carry any thing more than flat tire fixings and water bottles. A cross country tour, even if inn to inn with a support vehicle carrying your gear, will see a far different manor of riding than local training races.

Next up is the bike's wheels and tires. Besides the old spokes (and factory built wheels of that era were not known for their robust build quality even when new) and will they hold up to the added loads and cycles of stress that a tour brings, is the question of tire size. If the bike uses 27x11/4" tires (630 ISO diameter) I would strongly reconsider them. The 27" Tire size is slowly becoming obsolete and the selection offered is dwindling each year. The 700c size is only about 8mm smaller in rim brake track diameter and this tire size is far more available and in a number of widths (I suggest using the widest tire the rim, brakes and frame will allow for). New wheels would also get fresh spokes. But most all new wheels are made for frames with wider space between the two rear dropouts and would likely need some axle length and rim centering (dishing) reworking to fit this older bike.

The bike's fairly short wheelbase, race nimble geometry and fairly light tubing will mean the ride will be lively, more shock transmitting and less stable than a more modern bike intended for the touring use would be. How one loads up the bike with their gear, if any, will contribute to a more stable and easy to steer handling. For self supporting camping tours the classic way is to use pannier bags on both front and rear ends of the bike. I wonder if the bike even has rack mounts.

This topic might better be placed in the "Touring" group here. When I am asked this kind of question I see so many more aspects not yet even known of. The many tours I've done have had the bike be the least important aspect, partially because I know how I want a touring bike to be set up and partially because most of the day isn't on the bike. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Reply