Lt Stonez

Hi BF friends!
Ive been thinking on starting with some bike touring trips. Some in the Norwegian mountains from Telemark to Bergen. And maybe a trip thru Denmark an down to the Amsterdam.
In norways CL there is one Awol delux https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec053999 sale now for around 800$ and it nearly used at all. And I wonder, is this a good bike to start with? Is the gearing good(grannygear)?
I have a great carbon sirrus hybrid bike that ive been thinking on putting some revelate bags on(saddle,frame,handelbar) but no am not sure what to do! I cant put more money in the Awol so i hope its good right out of the box?
95% of the road will be on tarmac when touring
Would be great to hear somebody els opinion!

Thanks

gandrimp

Your link tells me that bike is know longer available. Not geared low enough for my liking.

fietsbob

September is only the beginning of the summer in the Southern Hemisphere ,
inventories in the North are pretty well picked over , this late in the year (no surprise its Out of stock)

Buy one from your Specialized brand bike dealer, they can put a smaller granny gear on it .

Even If Not cheap Or Used off CL ..

Typically the cranks are fitted just as the manufacturer of that part ships It to the factory .

you are free to change things to suit your needs, at the retail end..

Lt Stonez

Dont think youl understand Norwegian so i took it from another site. And yes, the bike is not new, but very close, bought this spring. Can I just change the casset to 36 instead of the 32?

fietsbob

you can try, (permission granted) New chain.. And/or the crank if a 30t to a smaller one if a 74 mm bolt circle
that can be as small as 24t.

have to pull the crankarm off to change that. [bike shop or Buy the tools]

Used Bike.. before heading out into the wilds make sure its in top shape , so functions as New..

know how to do your own flat tires, and be ready to replace a boken spoke.

maybe a shift or brake cable (another reason to make things best , at Home)

gerryl

The only thing that I would change is the small chain ring. I would replace the 30 tooth with a 24 tooth, but that's me. You may be fine with the way it is.

timdow

As mentioned above it is geared a bit high, and they really should have done 36 spokes instead of 32, but these can be dealt with. Very good bike for the price.

bradtx

Lt Stonez, It is a good bike to start with. It isn't equipped for very heavy loads (18+ kg) in the wheel set and the gearing. It should be fine for less than 18 kg in a terrain that has gently rolling hills. Replacing the 30T chain ring for a 24T chain ring, and adding a chain catcher, will help with steeper ascents.

Brad

staehpj1

Probably true. On the other hand 18 kg isn't all that light, so it should be fine or even ideal for a lot of folks touring styles.

mstateglfr 

I don't follow where the 18kg limit came from.
The rack can handle up to 55pounds- 25kg.

Are you saying 32h rims shouldn't handle more than 18kg of packed weight?

or...

Jarrett2

It says it can hold up to 300 lbs.

timdow

If it is a Sora GS, which looking at the specs it probably is, it is advertised to shift up to 32T. What this means to me is that it will probably shift 34T but probably won't shift 36T. But good new is that since it is 9-speed you can change out the RD for a Deore for about $50 US.


With the weight distributed properly 32h should be able to handle more than 18kg/40 lbs. But... if an world-wide expedition is in the OP's future, a new set of wheels should be in the works. Also would be very wise for the OP (or anyone) who is carrying higher loads to also carry spare spokes and a cassette tool (which adds weight).

mstateglfr 

not disagreeing here, but wouldn't the rider's weight play a significant factor in how much a wheel can handle?
A rider weighing 240 with 25# of gear loaded on the rear is going to put significantly more stress on the wheel when compared to a 150# rider with the same weight or even 40# of gear on the rear, correct?


I follow what you are saying about wanting a higher spoke wheelset for rural touring and agree that spokes plus tools are a good idea too.

Lt Stonez

Thank a lot Timdow
do you have some link to the part I could use? Only If you have time.
I was looking at this https://www.evanscycles.com/products/...inset-ec027836 i was hopeing i just could switz them?
And maybe a new RD and a 11-36 casset if possible?

mstateglfr 

Shimano M590 Deore 2 Piece Design Chainset 9-speed | Evans Cycles this costs only a handful more, is good quality, and would give you some good gearing options as its still a 48t outer ring for flat and unloaded riding. A 44t outer ring(which is on your example crank) is not much, even when in the 11t cassette cog.

Shimano 9 Spd Deore HG50 Cassette, Cassettes, CASSETTES MTB A Shimano HG50 cassette with 11-34t is often under $20USD. This link has that size out of stock, but HG50 is the model cassette that is very popular- its well made and doesn't cost a lot.


a 26t-34t combo gives you 20.6 gear inches, which is low. You could go lower, yep, but that is pretty low.

Lt Stonez

That looks great Mstat. Is that all the parts I need? Plus a new chain? Hmmmm this could be a good deal for me to get an ok touring bike thats nearly new for less than 1000$
i think I also can press the price a bit since it have been for sale for at least 4-5weeks?! Offering 650$ an the rest for the new parts an panniers :-)

bikemig 

I'm thinking of going with a 44-32-22 on my touring bike. A 44 running on an 11 gives you a gear of 108.7. That's not bad. There was a time when a 52/13 was considered a good top gear for racing and that also gives you 108.7 inches.

At the other end a 22/32 gives you a low of 18.7; 26/32 gives you 22.1. That's a substantial difference.

If you're going to change out the crank, I'd get the 44/32/22.

Jarrett2

If you want stronger wheels, these work great on my AWOL:

Sun Rhyno Lite 40H 29er MTB Commuter Wheelset 6 BOLT DISC [740429] - $149.00 Velomine.com : Worldwide Bicycle Shop, fixed gear track bike wheelsets campagnolo super record vintage bike

I had no problem climbing in the Davis Mountains with my AWOL with the stock gearing. I guess it all depends on the rider at that point.

Lt Stonez

Agree. I was hopeing to get below 10kg.
Tent 2 kg
sleeping beg 750g
slepping math 750g
cooking system 1kg
total 4,5 kg for the 4 big importen things.
and then have around 5.5 kg for rest of the stuff needed!

bikemig 

A lot depends on your budget but I'd try to do better than 4.5 kg for the big four items.

timdow

Yes if the rider were heavy it would play a part also.

bikemig 

There is a good long thread on that here, https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/10...en-loaded.html

timdow

It would be fine to stick with 11-34, but if you decide to go 11-36:

Shimano Deore M591 SGS Rear Derailleur > Components > Drivetrain, Brakes and Pedals > Rear Derailleurs | Jenson USA

And SRAM cassette:
SRAM PG950 9-Speed Cassette

Or Shimano cassette:
Shimano HG61 9 Speed Cassette | Cassettes | Merlin Cycles

bradtx

32H wheels are on the borderline, IMHO, for this amount of weight. Gearing also if there is to be any serious climbs.

Brad

fietsbob

Bring Money .. when the wheel fails buy a replacement , then You can ask for the 36 spoke , rear at least.


Bergen is at sealevel so I expect its a Lot of Downhill