I'm planning a 3 day bike packing tour next year in Peru near Cusco. I was hoping you guys could make some recommendations based off the following information...

*2-3 Days of Riding AND Camping. I'll be passing through small towns/villages on each day to load up on water/food when needed.
*I don't think I want to do panniers and think I'll opt for Relevate Bike Bags
*The majority of the ride will be on asphalt but there will be a fair amount of gravel/dirt roads sprinkled throughout.
*I'm trying to keep the cost to under $1300

I swung through my local bike shop and the girl there was raving about the Specialized Diverge and also spoke highly of the Trek 520 as well as the Surly Long Haul Trucker.

What are your thoughts?

Need to know:

Riding experience
weight, age, height

Height: 6'
Age: 35
Weight: 175
Riding Experience: Not much with traditional touring. A lot on the road though with my Tarmac Sport. 2000 miles per year over the last 4 years. I've been doing RAGBRAI the last few years (and again in a few weeks) but we have a sag wagon that lugs around all of our shiite.

I should also mention that I'm planning to do this next May or June and plan to get in a lot of the proper practice and to learn as much as possible between now and then.

Long Haul Trucker

Can you explain why? Given the no panniers plan I thought the Diverge would be on the tops of most peoples list. And the Long Haul was a heavy beast too.

Best Bike.
Rode 4200 miles 5 riders that had them.

Both the 520 and the LHT are designed with full blown unsupported touring in mind, not that they can't handle smaller loads as well. If you ever see that in your future, both are excellent bikes but if lighter bike packing touring is more what you see now and in your near future then yes, they are likely overkill. I would then consider the Diverge and other similar bikes including cyclecross bikes that have brazeons for at least a rear rack (which comes in real handy even when going light)

DB1, The 520 and the LHT are both heavy expedition level touring bikes, but perhaps just because I already have a touring bike, I find it comforting to have a bit more than I really need since now I rarely load over ~20 lb.

A lighter duty, but quite capable of loaded touring, bike is the Bianchi Volpe.

Brad

I think a bike like the Volpe is an excellent suggestion. There are a bunch of good light touring bikes out there that are not built to take the heavy loads that the LHT or 520 are, but can still take larger tires and a less than expedition load.
And if you have a bike shop that has anyone who actually knows what a LHT or 520 is, you are lucky. Most shop employees get a blank look when you ask about touring.

Here is a neat bike that I am thinking about. Masi Bikes - Steel - Giramondo
Within budget for you. They may have them on Jenson for a good price.

And on your gear list on the other thread that most posters will avoid since everyone pretty much has the OPs number, the best way to wash something in a stream is to use the water, but take it farther from the stream to avoid contaminating the water. I have used a light nysil drybag. Fill with water and clothes, seal, shake the piss out of it, and let the water out far from the stream or lake. Make leave no trace and responsible camping part of your research for the trip. But three days is nothing, not to sound gross but I would probably not even bother washing my riding clothes.

if you expand your search to some of the current popular
bikepacking/adventure bikes, you may find the 1x11 or
2x10 gearing may not be suitable for you.

what bike(s) do you have now?


water filter
biodegradable camping soap=dishwashing, bathing, laundry
deodorant on a bike tour?

have you scanned the peru trip reports on crazyguy?

do you have any short tours planned locally before
heading off to peru?

Simple answer. Any bike that are you are comfortable riding day in and day out. Comfort above anything else and it varies as much as people vary. As far as a brand, there really isn't one that is better than another brand. I ride *mart bikes and they work for me, but most people prefer something more expensive.

Go to a bike shop and try them out.

I'd think about a used MTB & perhaps w/front shock. One could add dirt drop bars too. IMHO if there's going to be significant rougher surfaces than a comfy bike is best.

Jamis Renegade Expat

A good solid off road bike packing machine. This one has a Reynolds 520 steel frame and a Crabon fork, TRP Spyre disc brakes, triple bottle cage mounts and mounts for rack and fenders just in case. The Diverge wouldn't be so bad in Crabons but it wouldn't have the durability of steel. I wouldn't really want the aluminum version because I just am not a fan of the ride quality. The bike is cool though and I have sold both.

If you up your budget a bit you can get the Renegade Exploit which has a Reynolds 631 frame and 105 components plus Hy/Rd brakes (cable actuated hydro discs) I would much rather have that one for everything you are getting. Plus they go to "eleven" ; )

Is this bike just for 3 days or something you will use in the future?

Frame bags and such are great if there is no other way to mount cargo or if one plans to take on some technical trails. Otherwise a bike with provisions for racks is preferable, at least to my way of thinking. My younger daughter preferred a frame bag, but we also had to come up with an alternate water bottle mounting scheme (small frame).

Touring bikes are heavier than a race bred roadie, but when rider weight is included, the percentage isn't so dramatic. I've used mine for gravel grinding and unloaded distance rides, no problems. A CX bike, like the Volpe I mentioned earlier, will offer sharper handling and also weigh slightly less.

Brad

Thanks Ship, solid advice.

Also, I have another thread titled "Peru" in the touring page if you want to check it out.

Honestly I don't think it will get used very often. Strictly for touring. If I enjoy the Peru ride (and Im sure I will) I would like to do a ride like that every year or so.

A. I have a road bike that I use for my "exercise" throughout the year
B. We have a bike share program in NYC that I use to run errands and to get from A to B.
C. I have a 400 sf apt that can barely fit my road bike so I think the touring bike will likely sit in storage for most of the year or I'll keep it at my parents house back in Des Moines.

I've been doing RAGBRAI the last few years but we have a sag wagon to carry all of our stuff so there's really no need for a touring bike on that one IMO.

I currently have a 2015 Tarmac Sport and a 2012 Allez.

Do you think a water filter will be necessary when I will be rolling through small towns and villages on each of the riding days? I'm thinking I can reload on clean water there. (note that I have a thread titled "Peru" in the touring page)

Yeah, deodorant probably is not necessary.

yeah I've checked out crazy guy. I find that site to be a little messy/complicated when trying to find a specific topic though...maybe that's just me.

Regarding planned tours, I'm doing RAGBRAI again in a few weeks but we have a sag wagon. I plan to start load training later this summer though and live relatively close to some good riding/camping up in Palisades Park.

If not going with a full blown touring, then get a cross and/or gravel bike. That way you'll have clearance for fatter tires so you can ride the rough stuff. Personally I'd get a triple up front but that's becoming rare these days.

Check out the REI novara mazama https://www.rei.com/product/875003/n...zama-bike-2016

You give your location as NYC and you say you're going to Peru and bringing a bike to do a 3 day tour. I know if it were me I'd rent locally in Peru for such a short ride time.

Best people to ask for advice on bike purchase are those who you know and do the type of cycling you intend the bike for, after that try your local bike shop and try a couple of bikes on trial spins.

Ditch the road bike, buy an aluminum Diverge and a second set of lightweight roadie wheels. One bike with two wheelsets is the way to go when space is limited.

I'd buy an AWOL and a second wheelset, I like riding 40mm tyres.

Very sound logic, but I LOVE my Tarmac Sport. I'm not confident logic will prevail here.

The trick to doing a topic search is to not bother with the search function on any site. Google Crazy Guy on a Bike Peru. Or various key words that pertain to your trip.
the same goes for bike forums. The search function is a joke, so use a separate search engine using Bike Forums-topic word.

Even what's right for Me has Changed over the Years .

combining your 'what do I do with my Box'? question ,
I'd say a Bike Friday Pocket Llama and the trailer suitcase Kit.

the Suitcase is what the bike goes In,
and Your gear goes in the empty suitcase from a duffle Bag you Fly with.

There is some Foldability, for taking The Bus occasionally ,
when you get really knackered from the High Altitude.

Once you ride a relaxed head angle bike you will never ride the Tarmac again. Sell the Tarmac before it's completely devalued.