Originally Posted by mark48310
i mean OLD old...say 70s to early 80s...that is, if they made good touring bikes back then??? the kinds of bikes that people throw out or sell for $40...
i read something somewhere about a particular 1970s schwinn that's supposed to be good...can't remember where, can't remember which, though...
i'm assuming these older frames can be outfitted with modern components, right? can't imagine why not, but figured i'd ask...
Lots of great touring & sport touring frames made from about '75-'85. Not sure what your budget is, but look for a quality frame with Reynolds 531 tubes (or Columbus SL, Vitus,...) & forged drop-outs like Campagnolo. You can usually find something you like from that period on eBay if you look for a few weeks. Decent frames go as cheaply as $50, but expect to go $150-$250 for a nice frame. As far as brands, it's a tough one to call... Nearly everyone offered a touring frame at that time. Some Motobécane frames go for low $$... The Moto Grand Record makes a nice sport tourer, and it's a pretty frame. If you want something with braze-ons for racks & several water bottles, Woodrup comes to mind. They made a "Giro Sport" model ideal for lightly loaded touring. You might want to study some vintage catalogs from the late '70s -mid '80s here:
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/
Good luck with your search! That period of late '70s to early '80s was rich with beautifully made frames that should suit your purpose well.