Randallstek

I am finally getting around to posting one of my favorite bikes (they are all my favorite bikes), my 1985 Nishiki Cresta GT. It is all original and I got it in great shape from a forum member from Arizona. All of the scratches and injustices that have been done to it have all been done by me using it for a while as my commuter in NYC. I have since toured on it (green mountain loop) in VT and it is now my cyclocross/fireroad and waiting-for-the-next-tour bike and lives in New Hampshire. I recently removed the old Bluemels that are on in the pictures.

thenomad

I would think the lack of greater rotating mass that makes it fun to accelerate would also keep it from holding onto momentum. Therefore needing just that little more input from the pedals all the time. Sort of like riding on the trainer, no coasting. More pedal per mile?

thenomad

Here's my Univega Gran Turismo as I picked it up. (actually the seatpost was originally backwards).

Not sure if I'm going to like it, but am giving it a shot since I so rarely find touring bikes in my size.

Sixty Fiver

I have a fairly stock R20 and it is great for short to medium range trips and it carries loads extremely well but the very upright position and 3 speeds does not lend itself to long distance riding (for me).

My P20 has 21 speeds, very comfortable ergonomics for long distance riding, and those smaller wheels are extremely strong which is a plus for carrying loads. It spins up very quickly, and has a great ride loaded or unloaded. A lot of things have been changed on the P20... the fork and rear triangle have been replaced to alter the steering geometry, extend the wheelbase a little, and raise the bottom bracket so that running 175 cranks does not cause clearance issues.

Sixty Fiver

I make pretty good time on my P20 and Moulton that have lighter wheelsets and relatively fast rolling tyres.

This is from a century ride I took on my P20 (I was carrying a lighter load) and this was before I did the custom frame work... the bike has gotten a little faster because of that and some gearing changes. It was a leisurely 7 hour century over rolling countryside where I felt I was just pootling along and enjoying the views



I commute over the same route with the 20 and am usually rolling out in the low 30 kmh / 18-19 mph range which is pretty much the same as my other touring bikes and on group rides have pursued and pulled people along in excess of 25mph for good distances which stunned them as they thought that small wheels = slow.

Smaller wheels suffer a little more loss of momentum on bad roads but on smooth roads with good tyres their lower weight and reduced aero profile is advantageous and getting them back up to speed is not that much work so performance between these and standard sized wheels and tyres is very close.

noglider 

Well, I replaced the rear rim with one much lighter, so we'll see if it's a big change. I replaced the front one months ago.

Standalone 

those 630s' + long wheelbase = bliss on long loaded distance. 20" rims just telegraph the bump and twitch a bit too much. I like the smaller wheels for 'round town, but not over great distances.

Standalone 

Mine has been a seasonal tourer, legitimately averaging 90+ miles/ day on weekend tours. I'm not babying it at all. It puts its pants on one leg at a time just like any other bicycle.... I fully intend to allow it to earn the honor of wear and tear.

Problem is, at 35+, I'm starting to feel the wear and tear of the road myself!!

fixed1313

Well I'll through this one up, not really a touring bike but it is an '83. I have not toured on it yet but I think it may lend nicely to that sort of thing. I picked it up for $30 at a pawn shop locally for the bars and other parts that where on it (I needed the stock MTB bars for another bike I am building that did not have the original bars). As I mulled things over in the shop I figured I would build it up as a winter commuter to see how some different setups worked out before I stripped it the rest of the way for the parts. After trying a few different setups and putting about 100 miles on this setup I think I may need to try this one out on some longer tours. I have not measured any angles but it sure feels nice with the heavy commuter loads I have subjected it to (I carry a lot of crap at times).

The Golden Boy 

Didn't you just get it earlier this year?

geoluv

I'm gunna bend the rules a little to try to win this epic message board bike-off. This isn't my bike but I'm the one who did the refurb. 1980 Schwinn Voyageur 11.8. And for the youngin's taking notes, yes, this is a touring bike. That's what Schwinn sold as a touring bike prior to 1982 when they started putting triples on them then 1983 when they switched to cantis.


And as a bonus...



These are clearly in their "barn fresh" states but I can assure you that they are ridden by their owners now, but when I threw down the gauntlet I didn't mean to limit the challenge to only bikes with appropriate touring mileage. Just stock paint and period parts.

Also the Taiwanese Raleigh USA is very tight, but I prefer black, being a new yawka and all... Also I have an anatomic touring I saddle on my voyager now so...

RubberLegs

Have NOT done any long range rides (35 is not long) on this beast yet...still dialing her in...I think I may have to change out the old Avocet Touring Saddle, just cannot make it comfy. mid 70ish Torpado, lower end, but rides pretty well, but have not loaded it down yet...no bags to fit the rack. Also looking for a front rack to play nice with the Mafac Racers. Somewhat relaxed frame geometry, 27x1 1/4 give a pretty cushy ride compared to my "Racing" bikes!

The Golden Boy 

That's a kind of goofy looking Avocet Touring.

I'm used to the saddles that have the bumps on them, but not what look like separate pads on them.

I'd like to get a Brooks to compare to the Avocet Touring II and San Marcos Touring saddles I have. I really like both of those and can't make up my mind as to which one I like better.

thenomad

A KHS touring bike built up from a "wreck" to a fine machine. Still not sure what the model designation was as all I could see was ghosted images of the decals left over. If it were my size I'd still have it.

thenomad

The ever popular Trek 620 - handmade goodness

thenomad

Gotta love the 80s for great paint

thenomad

Schwinn Voyageur, spotted it in sad condition with flat bars that hid its true identity.

thenomad

Some rough shape bikes I've stripped and painted. The Bridgestone T500 is now a friend's favorite commuter and he also has the Trek tx700? in raw steel with clearcoat as his faster bike. I need to get final pics of both.

thenomad

Older version of a nice touring bike: Schwinn Le Tour II - I love the orange color and while heavier than modern offerings, the chrome sure looks good! (sorry about the seatpost and saddle)

Rocket-Sauce 

1991 Tour from L.A. to Boston. We first headed due south into Baja Mexico for several days before heading back into the USA and towards Boston. This picture is of me crossing the Missouri river on a ferry.

The bikes are a 1991 Bridgestone RB-T (black -mine) and 1990 Bridgestone RB-2 (red -then girlfriend). We had Nashbar-branded Cannondale paniers and blackburn racks.

5400miles. 75 days.

Great trip.



Years later, I sold the bike to a buddy who still has it and rides it every day. He rode STP on it this year.

The Golden Boy 

I'm jealous. I don't see ever having that kind of time available.

Rocket-Sauce 

Summer between teaching job and starting grad school....

Monty10521

80's Raleigh Olympian, fits me like no other bike... can ride it for days.

jr59

There seems to be some misunderstanding on this thread.

If you ride around your area and see the sights. It's a tour.

If you ride somewhere and stay over night it's a tour.

You don't need a bike with this or that. How many times has a bagman and Caradice bag been recommended on this very forum? People have toured all over Great Britain with just that set up. Is/was this not touring?

At times, people need to read the Surly blog;
https://surlybikes.com/blog/post/some...ive_ever_read/

thenomad

Yes, I agree, ride what you have and enjoy it...

However, certain bikes fall into the "touring" category while others dont. Longer chainstays, wider clearance for tires and fenders (with or without cantilevers)and a more relaxed trail and geometry for stability while loaded are the traits we associate with "touring" frames.
Just because you can "tour" on a bmx bike with a backpack or ride 100 mile days on a Specialized Venge race bike doesn't make them actual touring bikes. I'm sure you know this and are just trying to make a secondary point.