Which Bike? Salsa or Surly or other?
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Which Bike? Salsa or Surly or other?
Hi There,
I am wanting to buy a bicycle! I live in Manhattan and mainly want to go for long rides out and about the city and nearby- mainly road and cycle tracks, although the roads are far from pristine. I guess I'd like to do some off-road stuff on occasion also. And heres the clincher... I may have signed myself up to do a 3200KM tour across Australia early next year... yoikes! I am 34, 5'11'' with 32.6" (82.87cm) inseam.
I'd like to spend $1-2K max. I'm confident that I want a steel frame.....Given these specs, what are the thoughts out there?
1. I seem to have boiled things down to a Surly Cross-check or Salsa La Cruce. Any other suggestions?
2. Disk or cantilever brakes?
3. I was told there may be an issue with stability with the higher BB on cyclo bikes....
4. Sizes I should be looking at in the above bikes (1.)?
5. Best store to go shopping?
6. Any other suggestions?
Thanks, in advance, for yr sage advice.
I am wanting to buy a bicycle! I live in Manhattan and mainly want to go for long rides out and about the city and nearby- mainly road and cycle tracks, although the roads are far from pristine. I guess I'd like to do some off-road stuff on occasion also. And heres the clincher... I may have signed myself up to do a 3200KM tour across Australia early next year... yoikes! I am 34, 5'11'' with 32.6" (82.87cm) inseam.
I'd like to spend $1-2K max. I'm confident that I want a steel frame.....Given these specs, what are the thoughts out there?
1. I seem to have boiled things down to a Surly Cross-check or Salsa La Cruce. Any other suggestions?
2. Disk or cantilever brakes?
3. I was told there may be an issue with stability with the higher BB on cyclo bikes....
4. Sizes I should be looking at in the above bikes (1.)?
5. Best store to go shopping?
6. Any other suggestions?
Thanks, in advance, for yr sage advice.
Last edited by Cloverick; 05-23-08 at 01:09 PM.
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For your tour, you'll be a lot happier with the geometry of a touring bike like the Surly LHT or similar. Cross bikes are nice for short tours or longer credit card tours, but for a long, unsupported tour, you need a mule, not a quarter horse.
Canti brakes are also a better choice for unsupported tours...better chance of finding replacements/repairs on the road.
Test ride as many bikes as you can, from as many LBS as you can to determine which fits best. Sizes can be deceiving...one mfgr's 58 is another's 56, depending on whether they are measuring the top tube or seat tube and whether they are measuring T-C or C-C. At your side, I would expect you to fit a 56-58cm bike.
Canti brakes are also a better choice for unsupported tours...better chance of finding replacements/repairs on the road.
Test ride as many bikes as you can, from as many LBS as you can to determine which fits best. Sizes can be deceiving...one mfgr's 58 is another's 56, depending on whether they are measuring the top tube or seat tube and whether they are measuring T-C or C-C. At your side, I would expect you to fit a 56-58cm bike.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
#5
Lanky Lass
Hi Cloverick, I don't think I can top the advice you got from chipcom, so I'll leave it at--
Welcome to BF, and feel free to PM me with any questions !
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Welcome to BF, and feel free to PM me with any questions !
East Hill
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TRY EMPATHY & HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PERHAPS I'LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD...
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If you do the Aussie trip take some really good tires.
https://www.schwalbetires.com/marathon_supreme
If you can up the budget, things can get... interesting. Like the Waterford Adventure Cycle. But the frame by itself would eat 3/4 of your current budget.