toolguy

My wife & I are planning a cross country tour next summer. We are hoping we can semi retire next summer. We currently ride a Merlin solis and a Trek 2200. We would like to buy top quality bikes to make the touring as enjoyable as possible. I've done some week long tours in the past. Multi-day touring will new to my wife. We live in southern Illinois. We are considering custom Merlins or Seven Vacanzas. How do I find out what brakes, wheels, shifters, tires etc. to put on the frames? Every bike shop recomends different parts. I am 58 and she's 56. Were in good condition. If we go top of the line, these could be the last bikes we will need.

Toolguy

rodar y rodar

Hi, Toolguy. Try the "Touring" forum- you`ll probably get more responses there.

BengeBoy 

A couple of other thoughts...you might look at the recommended stock configurations of a number of custom builders to get an idea of what they recommend. You can start to see a consensus around some parts; a fair amount of differences on others.

Some websites of custom builders who have some recommended configurations:

- Bruce Gordon
- Co-Motion
- Rodriguez (www.rodcycle.com).
- Bilkenky

You'll never get a unanimous opinions though -- just compare the stock configurations of Rodriguez vs. Co-Motion. Co-Motion configures the Americano around a Shimano drivetrain...Rodriguez accomplishes the same thing around a Campagnolo drivetrain.

One more thing -- the Rodriguez website is particularly interesting to me because they show a number of configurations, ranging from "really good" to "excellent" to "cost is no object." Gives you a good idea of how you'd upgrade each part if you wanted to pick a Campy-based drivetrain.

East Hill

Hello toolguy, I see everyone has got you pointed in the right direction. So, which direction are you going to take for your ride?


Welcome to BF, and feel free to PM me with any questions !

East Hill

late

Is this going to be loaded touring (tents, sleeping bags, stoves) or a supported tour
where a van carries your luggage?

Assuming it's loaded touring, you have a lot of options. Waterford makes a superb touring bike called the Adventure Cycle.

As far as parts go, you have some choices. Bar end shifters, just as an example,
are the standard choice for touring bikes because of their reliability. But there are a few guys that like brifters.

There is some very lite camping gear these days. Spend some time investigating
the bits you need to get; the rewards are considerable.

Break this down into a series of questions that cover each part and post those questions in the touring forum.

https://www.bakepacker.com/

https://mattscoffee.com/product_info....2d9f0e2f749caf

toolguy

Thanks

I'm just learnig how to use the forum.

Toolguy

toolguy

Thanks

toolguy

We're planning to ride from southern Illinois to seattle next summer.

toolguy

Thanks