Random Bike Parts has some really good deals from time to time. This is one of them.

https://www.randombikeparts.com/coll...a-10s-700c-new

With code Blue20 you can save an additional 20% and I think you get free shipping as well. $500 for a good touring bike delivered to your door strikes me as being a great deal.

I dont know, Paul. I don't want to deflate your balloon, but there's a lot about that bike that would need to be changed in order to make it a real tourer. For instance, the gearing is way too high. The 36T chain ring x the 28T low on the cassette leaves us with a 34.1 gear inch low. Not a hill climber for sure... well not a loaded hill climber. Might work if you were carrying 15lbs. In the end, you'd probably wind up spending about $800 to make things "right".

That's not a touring bike in the usual sense. It would make a good commuter or gravel bike, however.

The gearing is far from ideal for loaded climbing to be sure. A subcompact crank and an 11-34 cassette would make a huge difference. IIRC, someone here was looking at that very bike a while back. It's a heck of a deal if the gearing is right for where you may want to tour. If nothing else, Random Bike Parts is not a bad vendor to have on your radar. They get some good stuff sometimes. I have dealt with them and they are very good vendor.

fify

ad sez "Includes two sided pannier bag for a bag on each side of the rear rack (see last image)."


see it with pannier bags here:
https://www.merlincycles.com/blue-pr...ke-112895.html

Yeah. But look at the chainstay length. Pretty short, hence the no big feet comment.

yep, saw the 425 chainstays. not too bad compared to the 450's on mine. could compensate if needed with a setback thangamaboob.


overall not a great deal. he can pick up a windsor or rei or fuji touring rig on sale for around the same price.....and get better wheels and 3x crank included.

Given its a Disc CX frame ... It's a good commuter , you could tour on ... won't have much time off until you retire.. so It will be OK for a fortnight away..

change a couple components .. , no big deal ...

I looked at this bike closely and even talk to random bike parts about it. The one thing that put me off at is at the fork is aluminium. I'm not sure how it's going to ride fully loaded with an aluminium Fork

why not buy it for the parts and if it rides well keep the frame

I wouldn't consider it touring. Poor gearing set-up for loaded climbs up mountains, poor rear rack and that alu front fork? No. Obviously all issues thought by others, hence the big price cut to try to get rid of stock.

Sadly that looks like a commuter style cross bike they fitted a rack with. Sure a cheap deal on a lower-middle end aluminum drop bar bike but nothing I would really want to tour on. Sure touring is really the activity and yes you can tour on anything but it ticks very few boxes for me but wouldn't be bad as a beater bike I could use for multiple purposes that doesn't totally suck.

For me I want 3 sets of bottle cage bosses, proper rack and fender mounts front and rear and gearing that is designed for loaded touring not racing. Ideally also steel and in British Racing Green but I will make exceptions for other cool colors that work.