For what it's worth, this is what I use. If this helps or inspires so be it.
this is my bob Jackson world tourist with a gossamer crank with 24-38-41 chain rings and a 12-36 9 speed cassette. It gives me half steps from 28.5 to 92+ inches. The granny goes as low as 18 inches. It works for me. Also the bar ends are old suntour friction so I can change the number of speeds in the cassette without much trouble. The rd is an old xtr, the front is a nr campy. The whole thing works great year round except with deep snow, which will freeze up the derailleurs. Deep snow also makes the brakes iffy. Rain is not an issue. My strategy is to avoid deep snow! Tires are conti ride tours. 700x32. 20 bucks a piece and super sturdy. Not the fastest tire but no flats for over a thousand miles this year. Also I have a b17 hidden under the seat cover.

Awesome. I need to build something with clearance for 35s. I appreciate your half-step gearing that I see on your bikes.

the bob might take 35s and fenders. 32s are a comfortable fit. Dying to take off on my fall trip.

Just a NB, I see a few tour bikes at the end of trips , to be shipped home.

often a headlight mounted out in that position will be broken off .

something to think about..

i never ship it anywhere but it has been " adjusted " a few times. Point taken.

Quit posting this. Seriously, its getting old, I don't know how much longer I can go without doing my own "classic" custom build if I keep seeing it

I really want to do a more road oriented upright road bike after seeing so many in France. The Scott I use as a tourer is upright, but it is so beefy that I can't get a good feel for it on the road. Gotta be something to it tho!

sorry man. Can't take off so I had to post something. By the way, I put a women's avocet touring saddle on a bike for a friend the other day and thought of you and the touring 2s you like. But seriously this bike is nice because it's sti
ff enough to take a load but yo u can feel it spring just a bit on a fast downhill into a sweeping corner. I love riding to work! Also someone at work called me mister clean for my bald head. When I replied i wished I was in that kind of shape they said, "anyone that rides as much as you is in good enough shape.". Awesome day at work!

Hey, lets not make my Avocet 1s jealous now! But yeah, still love them, they're on everything but my fatty! Figured the cold and wet that endurs wouldn't contribute to their longevity

touring1? If I see another it's yours.

Ha thanks, but I've already got more than I have bikes, and that's before I was considering getting rid of a bike or two I don't ride anymore!

I like the build It would really be to my liking with fatter tires




Has it been on tour yet? Plans?

a week long one last fall. Several 2-3 day trips, but mostly to work and back. Going to Wisconsin this fall. Should be at least a one week trip.

Cool! To be honest, by keeping it light, I've also run 32's on my more recent tours.


Just making sure your sweet-builds are enjoying the touring-life

they all get ridden. Some more than others. I just bought a new car, Honda fit, but I almost never drive it. My gf likes it a lot however.

I'm seeing you and I might be cut from a similar mold, bicycle cockpit style sensibility, and I almost bought a Honda Fit, but I opted for the Civic (gf liked it).

✨ ✨

my mold is marginally sensible old man. You're bikes look like you might be more athletic than me!

As long as we are all out there touring, things are good

BTW: I'm not sure about fix-gear touring again, up-hill was tough-but-tolerable, down-hill was an annoying waste of potential energy. I plan to do some coasting on my next tour