Originally Posted by
cyccommute
The Synapse was an art project bike that I regret giving away. I really liked the ride.
I’ll agree that the Synapse isn’t a race bike but it is a sportier, shorter wheelbase bike than the touring bikes.
I’ve toured with a sport’s bike. My current “touring bike” is a standard “sport” bike. Frankly, the new “endurance” bikes are so much more relaxed than the earlier versions of “century/club ride bikes” of 10 years ago.
Yes, equipment is lighter than it used to be but how light depends on a bunch of factors.
Precisely! Lots of factors. One of which would be that I’m not touring in the middle of nowhere. So I don’t have to carry the kitchen sink!
I’ve also noticed a lot of people report loads without taking into account food and water. They still have to be carried.
Why? (Carry food and water for any substantial distance?)
We’re talking about ROAD touring. Not mountain bike touring of the Continental Divide trail!
There will be water and grocery stores near, if not at, the campground. Even if I have to carry 5 lbs of dinner and breakfast ingredient for 2 miles, I wouldn’t be going at mark 2 speed during that last part of the day.
My current “touring bike”:
"Unloaded"(empty rack): ~5% of riding
(“Loaded”): ~10% of riding (tent on handlebar, sleeping bag on 1 side of panier, no food yet, just got out from the airport)
Totally “naked” (no rack no nothing!): 80-90%
Truth be told, I don’t like how the old “touring bike” rides when not carrying loads. Long chain-stays and lax front center, they tend to ride about as fun as riding a couch. Given this will be a bike that only goes “touring” a couple weekends or at most 1 week, it’s overkill to spec for loaded touring. Much better to just fit the load for what the bike could handle instead.