Following the discussion in this thread a new thread has been created to catalog the contestants of the 2017 Inexpensive Tour Bike (and tour)!

This is the "official" thread to post your bike build and tour information. Since I have arbitrarily decided to end the contest at the end of October 2017, contestants are urged to create a post and edit/update the post so readers can follow (make sure to date your updates!) instead of possibly scrolling through multiple pages for each individual update.

So here are the rules!

• New builds only - this must be a bike that you find or buy off craigslist, ebay, local classifieds etc. This cannot be an existing bike that you have and "sold" it to yourself for $5.
• Total cost limit: $350 (approx half the cost of a new Fuji Touring)
  • Includes:
• Must go on at least a weekend tour
  • Must post photos from beginning, middle and end of tour

That it!

Here's my entry bike:

1990 Trek Antelope 830 - $20 from craigslist


Click here to go to Update (1) 12-11-16

Click here to go to Update (2) 12-11-16

moved by op to the other thread

This is the bicycle that was given to me (cost = free), and which I used on my first tour. It had gears, a rack and a saddle then.






And mid-tour ... in 1995. It was a supported tour.

I agree. Put a price limit, put what it needs to be able to do, and let people go. Make it a challenge, not a competition, most of the fun is just seeing what others do, not "winning".

Putting in stipulations like it being 3x10 and 25# simply turns it into "who found the best CL deal". I've got a $300 filter set on my local CL, and the times I can recall seeing anything with a 3x10 (or a 10 spd rear cassette at all) are almost nil. If you want points on style, simply put up a poll and let the entire forum vote.

This is a great example: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...challenge.html

1992 Trek 700, but with Shimano 200GS components. Will convert to drop bar.

Dude, I'm entering my Trek 700 multitrack dropbar conversion too as a second build. Looks exactly like yours only a step thru. What are the odds.

What the?..!..? We could start a trek mutitrack contest.

I'm in.
As we only have to take the finished bike on a week-end tour. I work out of town. Just before I left for this stint I bought a used Norco 26" Mountain bike. I was thinking for a winter beater, but from what I seen, it has good potential for this "event".
I will be home before the week-end. Take a photo, and get working on a plan/build.



-Snuts-

Here's one of my entries: an early 90's 700 Trek Multitrack given to my wife for free by a friend.




The friend wasn't riding it much and wanted to downsize. My wife also did not ride it much and I began secretly coveting it for an Audax build. Luck smiled my way when I spotted an almost identical bike in a thrift shop for $40 and I rebuilt that one for my wife about a month or two ago. Here are the two side by side then:



One of the first things I did was add a longer Al seat post I had purchased earlier for $20 and have since tried a couple of seats, finally settling for now on a Serfas Rx that retailed new for $60.

I added some fenders I had purchased for $3 from a thrift store. The rear one had been bent and had a kink in it along with a broken fender stay rivet. I cut back the fender to remove the kink and drilled out and remounted the stay:



I also tried using trekking bars instead of the flats and basically just remounted the existing shifters/brakes on them. At one point I even had the aeros on there:



That worked out well and would have been fine enough for touring but I decided to scrap all that and do a drop bar conversion instead. Probably the most expensive part of the rebuild and totally unnecessary, it cost about $148:

MEC Al drop bars: $25
Tektro Brake levers: $40
Tektro interupter brakes: $20
Shimano index/friction stem shifters: $17
Two sets of bar tape: $36
Brake cables: $10



And along the way I also added some spd platform/clipless pedals for a further $40.

So far, without racks or panniers, it has cost me $271 and I am currently riding it as my commuter and winter trainer. Next step is the cargo system which will be for Audax/light weight touring:



And out on an 86 km training ride on the Sumas Prairie:

Since it seems like quite a few people don't like the whole competition thing, and I admit it would hard to regulate it anyways, I revised the rules.

LET'S DO THIS!

So what are the Prizes?

2 good bike frames

Here is the road frame I will be building for this. Took the stickers off last night and it looks to be decent. Wont post on it much till after the christmas season is over. Its a busy time for me.
Going to go uber thrifty on this.

I think this is going to be a fun thread!

Damn straight!

I just walked in the door (tired to!).
Been dreaming about this all day. Even came up with a destination to research. Dug in the parts room, as I though about a front rack. Yup had one, but better yet. There was one I picked up on the side of the bike path this past summer. I'm thinking someone had a wreck, and tore the wrack off in disgust. All bent to beans, it's funny. But I need to use it for this build.

Photo's tomorrow evening.



-Snuts-

before: abandoned mtb, no seat/post, frozen bb, damaged hubs.

after: 1*7 (32:12-28) light tourer/commuter/daytripper for small people.

Tandem- Motobecane late 60-early 70 came as stock with steel everything. simplex derailers mafac brakes. $120
French pedals
weight--- don't ask!

volunteers from basement ---
Alum wheels
would try to switch to 14-34 7 speed freewheel,
solid rear axle $5-10 tires are mostly okay.
downtube shifters
better fr derailer. than simplex, Campy Record actually
rear rack -- volunteer
volunteer saddles ??
DIY panniers I mistakenly washed the coating out of. Something for stiffiners try for 1/8 ply or plastic
trash compactor bags $8
put on new brake pads, 3 pr. $20 ??
chainrings 40/52 I believe?
new cotterpins $10


Would look for stuff from local Co-op Nashbar, or Amazon
14-34 freewheel Amazon $20
bar tape -$15
Front rack - $25
Wider range rear deraileur. shimano tourney TX $20 7 speed 14-34
toe clips and straps 2 pr $20
cheap fenders $20-30

lights volunteered from other bicycle

About $250 $300 tops
Very whippy frame, low on dependability and durability.
Probably okay for Katy Trail supported, maybe unsupported.
Probably the same for RAGBRI.
Could be fun, Certainly an adventure of risk and doubt.

Cool find, Squeeze! Will be great to see that back on the road.

When I looked at the tire wear, or rather lack of. I wonder if this bicycle has ever been on the road.

I like that tandem but from the remarks am wondering if this is a bike that you intend to actually rebuild and tour on for the contest or just a bike tou saw and think would be suitable?

I agree. The best thing for that tandem would be to keep the cottered cranks, just giving it a rebuild with parts as they exist, with limited modern additions. I would be hard pressed to modernize that bike myself, and I have experience with french threading and a more positive attitude about the outcome.

It sounds like sour grapes, but after a years experience with this poster, I do not need to participate in any thread that includes him. I come here for pleasure, and find that lacking when he is involved.

Good luck with the projects everyone.

The parts collection is growing so will post the obligatory pics soon!

Also, I had a great idea for a "prize" although it won't be complete until after summer and yes, it will be inexpensive.

Cold, rain, a cold and no balls; not much activity this week on the build.

er... last night I spilled the cup holding all the bearings from BB and HS for the pre bike contest bike build so it's off to the store for some more today.Then I can clear that off the bench and start stripping the Woodwards frame.

Well, I found a better suited subject for this challenge.
At our local bike co-op (I often volunteer at). There came up a Trek 850 for sale, $90. In the purchase, I was granted the ability of swapping out a set of bars from a salvage bike.
Can't find the photo's of the original Norco project bike in my computer. And, that bike is out in the dark and snow as my winter beater. It will be included in the full cost. As I intend on switching some of those parts onto this alternate ride. Then selling it after the winter, injecting that money back into the total cost of my build.

-Snuts-

Last picture is, todays stage. Bars changed.

I know this is not in the spirit of this thread, but it was a nice find. I picked up this brand new, still in the original box 1993 Trek 820 on ebay a few years ago for $250. I modified an old Blackburn rack that I had, and it was ready to go.
I know someone said this thread might turn into "look what I found on CL", but sometimes that is what happens.