Heron Todd

Bruce Gordon and Co-Motion both make top notch touring bikes. I'd also include the Waterford 1900 in that category. Can't go wrong with these at all. The Rivendell Atlantis is a good tourer, especially for off-road conditions. Of course, I'm a bit biased about my own Heron Wayfarer. It's set up for loaded touring but also rides nicely when unloaded. Made in the USA by Waterford. Lugged and all that.

A bit of advice: get a good frame but pay even more attention to the wheels. I've had lots of cross-country tourists stop by my shop. Wheels are the number one problem area. Find a good wheelbuilder and overbuild. Not many things can ruin a tour faster than bad wheels.

raybo

I'm another vote for the Waterford 1900 (Adventure cycle). I own one and love it. I have had S and S couplers added to mine and have taken it as luggage on several flights.

The only downside, besides price, is that it looks so good, you will get bummed when the inevitable nicks and scratches mar the finish while you are on tour.

Oh yeah, you will get people whistling and saying "nice bike" to you all the time.

Ray

Lolly Pop

Wow, Bruce, those are lovely bikes!

Rowan

I am with Roughstuff.

I also don't want to have to baby my bike on a tour because of its expense and appearance. It seems that if I am going to put myself in the situation of having to molly-coddle the "BMW" to keep it shiny new -- or perhaps even more importantly, fret about losing thousands of dollars worth of bike to a thief or airline damage -- I'll take the "Camry". The latter is likely to be just as comfortable with appropriate tweaking, cost a fraction of the price, and likely be as, if not more practical. Just like my Fuji Touring that has ticked over 52,000km in every single possible riding condition that anyone could experience on a transcontinental crossing.

If I were fortunate enough to have the readies to go the custom route, I would probaby look to Ti, and if not, then a Thorn from England where they really do know about touring bicycles. And I would seriously consider any bike that has the traditional French touring geometry.

It is worth pointing out that there are fans for every type and make of bike, but in each group, there are several who have had less than satisfactory experiences. Another problematic area is: What if the OP himself wimps out on the big continental ride and decides touring is not for him -- he has an expensive, custom bike that will be a bit difficult to sell.

I figure the only way to determine what is best is for the OP to get riding now on anything and to do some extended rides. This is so he can determine his personal needs for a bike and therefore knows what to order rather than relying on theory.

capsicum

Cannondale T800 or the Novara Randonee both awsome deals and will easily make it across N. America W-E or N-S.
And since REI sells both you have a lifetime satisfaction garuntee if your a member [$15 lifetime, and you get 10% back.]
Some dude just returned a mountain climbing snow suit from 1976 because he "just wasn't going to climb McKinley after all."(Kept the receipt.)

FROryder

After much thought I've decided to have a frame built by Curt Goodrich. To see examples of his work check out his website.
Cheers, and thanks for the opinions.

NoReg

"Thorn from England where they really do know about touring bicycles. And I would seriously consider any bike that has the traditional French touring geometry."

Good luck with that mariage. Just been stupid, a lot of good sense in your post. I really agree if a person is going serious custom and can half way fit a regular bike, they should do as you say and take one touring for a while. For the first few years, one's opinions can change a lot.

jcbryan

Not a bit ugly, especially when they see me ridin' it! Should you get one and feel it's too ugly, please drop me a note and I'll take it off your hands!!! (Prefering 56cm)

BG make great stuff, you'll forget the price in about 14 years (and counting)!

My blatant opinion...

Best regards, John

Bacciagalupe

Blatant opinion on an alternate bike, from left field no less:

Bike Friday New World Tourist
https://www.bikefriday.com/bikeMMI.cfm?bf=5&cat=1

Fully customizable, touring geometry, steel frame, rides like a road / touring bike. And when it's time to get on the plane and go home, you just put it in a suitcase and you're golden.

chipcom 

If you love your Fuji Touring, you'd die for my Fuji World. Too bad they discontinued it.

jimblairo

]Since you're in Montreal why not go for a Marinoni Turismo or Turismo Disc? As far as custom bikes, go it's a pretty affordable option. QUOTE]


I have a Marinoni Turismo that I built up with XT commponents and A-719 rims. Great bike for a big rider. Cost me around 2600$ cdn.

FROryder

Already have a Marinoni race bike, best deal in Canada and US for a semi-custom bike. I wanted a classic bike with lugs, flat fork crown, semi-wrap seatstays and the type of details you can only get from small builders such as Curt Goodrich, Dave Kirk and Sacha White of Vanilla bikes.

zoridog

Opinion from someone who has done only one multi-week tour:

Get a steel bike with touring geometry. High end bikes like Bruce Gordons are a true pleasure to ride. I would worry about theft on a really nice bike. Also, expect a pretty bike to look less pretty after a long tour. Unfamiliar roads, physical and mental fatique are all part of the touring equation. I crashed my bike twice on my tour.

Spend for a good set of wheels, good tires, new chain, new cables and new brake shoes.

treefire

I love my Atlantis. The most comfortable ridgid bike I have ever ridden. I can run 2.4 tires and fenders and ride in mud. I can run light weight road wheels if my tour is going to be mild. I have ridden it on a three week off road/road tour heavily loaded and been blissfully happy. I just made a full touring outfit for it out of Army Surplus stuff for about $150.00. I can look at it for hours, like watching TV. I love it like I used to love a woman....Well almost like that....

jimblairo

Already have a Marinoni race bike, best deal in Canada and US for a semi-custom bike.

Do you have fenders on your Blue Ridge. I've seen a rider going up through the Glen into Westmount. Why not swap out the fork and get a carbon touring fork?

ken cummings

As an engineer, a pretty bike is one that does what I want. Among other things I want it to hold together when I take it off-road. My BLT did. It was the Nittoo handlebars that bent. Bruce sold me a new set of bars at his cost. I live within riding distance of his shop which gives me a bias.

FROryder

Yup, that's most likely me with a yellow MEC rain jacket. I have fenders on the Blueridge and commute up the Glen almost every day. I had Marinoni build me a steel touring fork to replace the POS aluminum fork.