bluebird79

Hi Folks.

I have never gone on a bike trip longer than 2 hours in my life but something just tells me that touring is right for me. So, I would like to get myself a decent bike for testing out my itch. I visited Bicycles Etc in Naperville, IL and the salesman tried to sell me a hybrid instead. Then I went to Spokes and spoke with the owner who was seemed very knowledgable and recommended a Specialized Sequoia. I'm wondering if any of you have thoughts on this? And also, can anyone actually recommend a bikeshop to me either in the suburban area or in the city proper?

Thanks very much!

Guest

Do NOT get a hybrid. They are nice, but a touring bike would be better.

Also, it would be nice if you considered customer service also. Some shops may have a large variety of bikes, but if their customer service is substandard, it's not worth it.

I would recommend going to Rapid Transit Cycles, with is on North Avenue (about a block east of the Damen/North/Milwaukee intersection). They deal with folks who tour, and they don't have a huge variety in the shop, but they can get you what you need and make sure the bike fits you, and they have a great, knowledgeable staff that can make recommendations on an appropriate bike.

Koffee

acantor

I visited a nice bike store in Evanston a few years ago called the Pony Shop (on Chicago Avenue?), and checked out two or three different touring bikes. I don't remember whether they had others. The salesperson was knowledgeable enough.

MichaelW

The Sequioa is a light-touring bike, ideal for extended day rides, supported tours and independant hostel touring and well as commuting and general riding around town. It is not really suitable for expedition touring.
If you want to carry camping gear you need something more robust.

khuon

What MichaelW said. A Sequoia is fine for supported and credit-card touring but it has no provisions for mounting racks and such. BTW, I grew up in Naperville and the guys at Spokes are good guys. I bought my first real MTB (a Specialized HardRock Sport) from the Naperville store back in 1988 and when they opened up their Wheaton store, I used to go there often since it was closer to my house. If you're willing to trek out to the far western suburbs, you might want to check out Mill Race Cyclery in Geneva. It's just off the Fox River Trail.

jz19

I live in Naperville and have not seen many touring bikes in the LBS around here. You might want to do some research online and decide on a couple of bikes and then call local shops that carry those brands and ask if they have them in stock. I am not a tourer but heard good things about the Trek 520, Jamis Aurora, and Jamis Nova. I would probably go with the Jamis bikes as they come with Reynolds tubing. I think that the Performance shop in Naperville is a Jamis dealer so they could probably order you one. I know that Bike Line sells Jamis but I find them a bit too expensive so would not really recommend them. I also see the Specialized Sequoia more as an hybrid than a tourer. It is true that you can tour on anything (you probably have more people touring wordwide on mountainbikes than touring bikes) but if you want a real touring bike the Sequoia doesn't cut it.

barbados

I would recommend Boulevard Bikes in the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago. They carry mostly Bianchi touring bikes, but they can get you what you need and build you what you want. They are currently building me a touring setup out of a late '70s Raleigh frame. Good folks, small shop, no hassles.

2535 North Kedzie Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60647. Telephone: (773)235-9109