is the t700 classified as a light or sport touring bike ? i dont see alot of pictures with them fully loaded down for a self contained tour... i just got one and want to tour with it. just wondering if anyone has some feedback about touring with a very respectable load on a old classic touring bike with 27 inch wheels (given everything in perfect working order and strong wheels)

thanks abunch

its the one brock and ben were talking about i just got it from ben

Go for it. I tour fully loaded, barely loaded, and everywhere in between on a Bridgestone T500, and haven't had a problem. Great, great bikes. Not a ton of them around, which may be a reason you haven't seen one fully loaded.

thanks for the reply guess this forum is quiet

threecarjam is right - they are relatively scarce and that is probably why you haven't see one loaded. I think BS only made them one or two years and they are a fine example of everything you'd ever want in a full touring bike frame. I worked in a LBS that sold Bridgestones the year before they came out with the T series and have always wished I would have been able to get one.

Before I got a dedicated touring bike I toured on my Bridgestone 400 fully loaded with no issues. I think you'll find the frame is stiffer and possibly more solid with a load than some highly acclaimed tourers like the Trek 720 or Specialized Expedition. At least I've found that to be the case with my Expedition.

I don't think you can go wrong with it if the size fits you. I went with a Schwinn Voyageur as a stiffer alternate to my Exp but would have snapped up a T700 in a flash if I could have found one. My Voyageur has 27" wheels and with 1 1/4" Continental Gatorskins it rides like a dream and I have no desire to switch to 700c.

Good luck with the T700!

wow badger thanks alot for the reply

I run the Conti Gatorskins in 27" as well, and my LBS is now building me a new rear wheel with a Phil Wood freewheel hub - I can certainly afford a new touring frame, but I like this bike so much that I'm paying more for a bombproof rear wheel than the rest of the bike cost me, after breaking my axle last week. That is one thing to watch out for with older touring bikes, especially if you're riding heavily loaded and/or are on the heavier side - freewheel axles can and do break, make sure you're regularly servicing your hubs. You can avoid that problem by switching from freewheel to a cassette hub rear wheel, though that will amost certainly require re-spacing the dropouts.