tara

Hi sorry for what is no doubt a massively repeated question but cant seem to find an answer relevant for me
So I am a thin, not very muscular (although getting stronger ) 5.8 women looking for touring bike. Will be doing mostly Europe around 4 weeks a time approx 50- 60miles a day not having to carry camping gear at the moment but possibly in future so don’t want to rule it out completely. Basically will be carrying absolute minimum in the way of touring stuff. Water , couple changes of clothes map etc.
So looking for bike suggestions- read loads about this and everyone seems to suggest buying this bike or that one and changing components .. However without wanting to be too crap this is totally outside of my range of experience ! I just want to get on a bike and ride it with out stressing too much about cranks derailleur’s chains etc hopefully one day I will be able to understand how to change all this stuff but at moment just want bike with wide range gears to get me up hills ( super fit / strong cycling partner to keep up with) light as possible , trouble free so nothing breaking snapping etc in middle of country. Under a £1000. Saw a trek 520 and cannondale T800 but cant find them on sale anymore so thinking they are not produced anymore but that’s the kind of thing I like the look of
Any help really really appreciated !

LeeG

it doesn't sound like the bike really matters that much as much as you don't want to worry about it. If you don't have a preference for riding position(handlebars) or pedals(clipless, shoes) just go into the local shop and tell them exactly what you've said here. Nearly all bikes within a particular price range are similar in quality, it matters more that you go back to the shop in the first few months of riding to make sure it's in adjustment and you're getting educated on it.

Speedo

+1

There are some of us who read this forum who will obsess over the tiniest bike detail. There are some of us who get something that works and don't care a bit about the details. If you are in the second category rejoice. It's one less thing to worry about.

You seem to have a clear idea of your requirements, there are lots of bikes that will satisfy them. Follow LeeG's advice and you are on your way.

Speedo

LeeG

Speedo, One of the things I liked about having my shop were the folks who drifted through on trips. For the one gear head there were ten folks who were just doing it. The gear head dialogs weren't anywhere as enjoyable as hearing their impression of a particular descent or seeing what they did to make things work. I can still remember the German fellow on a three speed folder with a full frame back pack attached to the front steerer/handlebars. "how are you doing in the mountains?".."oh,,slow uphill, fast down" with a knowing smile.

Speedo

The funny thing is, I'm definitely a gearhead, but I've come to admire and appreciate the attitude of people who can pick up something that works without fretting endlessly over it.

Speedo

Cyclesafe

+1 to Speedo's point. When it comes down to it 90% of what we obsess about makes no difference. You need fit, proper gearing, and enough quality to keep you from being stranded.

paxtonm

Just ride the bike long enough to be sure you're comfortable, and try a few before deciding. A local bike shop clerk shouldn't blink if you ask to disappear for an hour and 15 miles or so. Understand, that lots of shop bikes will have balky shifters if they've been tried by others or on the floor long enough for cables to stretch. Concentrate on the fit. Do you feel too stretched out? Lots of women have shorter torsos than men of the same height, and most bikes are built with men in mind. Things can be adjusted: seatpost height, saddle for and aft, handlebar height and reach, and none of those should require YOU buying more parts. It should be part of the shop's basic service.

BigBlueToe

There are plenty of suitable bikes. Which one to choose would be predicated mostly on how much you have to spend, although there are myriad details to consider if you want to get into it - frame material, components, etc. The Trek 520 is still very much available. Cannondale has two touring models, I believe, but they've changed the names from the old T800 and the other name (?) There's the Surly LHT, Thorn, Fuji, Miyata, etc.

If you're not going to load your bike up, any of the major touring models would be fine, along with hundreds of other, less touring-dedicated bike. If you're not going to carry a load, most of the tourers will probably be heavier than what you need, because they're built to carry weight. But if you plan on carrying all your gear someday, you'll want a "real" tourer.

I concur with your desire to get a wide gear range, including something really low. Tours often include long climbs up mountain passes with a big load. Pushing too-high gears is no fun and can cause knee damage (pain at the very least.) Having really low gears means you can pedal slowly up, taking your time but not suffering. Touring, to me anyway, means not being in a hurry, so I'm fine with riding really slowly if it means no suffering. The only hard part becomes maintaining your balance and a keeping straight line up the road (not wandering out of the bike lane.)

If you don't weigh much and aren't someone who carries a ton of weight, any tourer should work, just as it comes from the dealer. If you're heavy (liike me) and carry a lot of weight (like me) you'll want to pay special attention to the rear wheel. It's no fun breaking spokes on tour. I think that no matter how much you weigh and how much you're planning on carrying, if you ever do go on a self-supported tour I'd recommend having a good mechanic check your rear wheel before you leave for truing and tensioning. Having it right at the start can prevent a lot of hassle with broken spokes.

Oh, one last thing: most salespeople in local bike shops I've frequented have never toured. They may have read about it and talked to people who have done it, but have never actually done it themselves. I know that's a big generalization, but that has been my experience. So I would take any advice they give with a grain of salt. This forum, however, is frequented by many people with vast touring experience. They often have widely varying opinions, but if their opinions are based on experience, I take them into account.