Road bikes that are light-touring-capable?
05-30-13 | 07:53 PM
#26
Have bike, will travel
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Lake Geneva, WI
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
05-31-13 | 03:26 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,670
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Bikes: Rivendell Quickbeam, Rivendell Rambouillet, Rivendell Atlantis, Circle A town bike, De Rosa Neo Primato, Cervelo RS, Specialized Diverge
I tried mounting a Carradice Nelson Longflap bag to my Cervelo RS, an endurance/plush/relaxed-geometry road bike. Absolutely hated the way the additional weight made the bike handle! I bought a $100 Nashbar aluminum touring frame, bolted on some parts-bin components, and built some wheels. The geometry of the Nashbar touring frame was phenomenally better than the Cervelo RS when I mounted the Carradice bag. Plus, the Nashbar was so cheap I didn't have to worry (much) if it got stolen...
If you do go the road bike route, you'll need a way to carry your gear. For "credit card" touring, you might be able to get away with one of the various Carradice saddlebags, possibly with a Bagman support (if your saddle doesn't have the loops for hanging a bag). If you want to carry more stuff, you'll need a trailer or racks plus panniers. Since a road bike won't have the braze-ons necessary to mount racks, your options there will be somewhat limited. Tubus and Old Man Mountain have both front and rear racks that can be mounted to bikes that don't have braze-ons. Wayne at The Touring Store carries Tubus and is supposed to be very helpful. Trailers are somewhat easier to attach that racks and affect the bike's handling less. The disadvantage of a trailer is that you have more tires to maintain, it's heavier than a set of racks, and it makes the bike much longer.
If you do go the road bike route, you'll need a way to carry your gear. For "credit card" touring, you might be able to get away with one of the various Carradice saddlebags, possibly with a Bagman support (if your saddle doesn't have the loops for hanging a bag). If you want to carry more stuff, you'll need a trailer or racks plus panniers. Since a road bike won't have the braze-ons necessary to mount racks, your options there will be somewhat limited. Tubus and Old Man Mountain have both front and rear racks that can be mounted to bikes that don't have braze-ons. Wayne at The Touring Store carries Tubus and is supposed to be very helpful. Trailers are somewhat easier to attach that racks and affect the bike's handling less. The disadvantage of a trailer is that you have more tires to maintain, it's heavier than a set of racks, and it makes the bike much longer.
https://wheelsofchance.org/2012/12/25/gear-list/
05-31-13 | 03:35 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 406
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From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
I have the MEC Cote as the only bike. (MEC is like a Canadian REI).
It's got braze-ons for racks front and back. Disc brakes with 700cx32 tires. Tiagra triple, so I've got a granny gear for huffing and puffing up climbs.
I'm quite happy using it as a commuter so far, and thinking of doing a light tour (60km, nothing super fancy for an untrained guy).
One minor thing was that the seat post, seat stays and chainstay triangle is still a bit small, so you foot might touch the panniers, specially if they have side pockets and stuffed with things. I suppose I could move the panniers around, but depend on the weight, shifting the weight can affect handling.
It's got braze-ons for racks front and back. Disc brakes with 700cx32 tires. Tiagra triple, so I've got a granny gear for huffing and puffing up climbs.
I'm quite happy using it as a commuter so far, and thinking of doing a light tour (60km, nothing super fancy for an untrained guy).
One minor thing was that the seat post, seat stays and chainstay triangle is still a bit small, so you foot might touch the panniers, specially if they have side pockets and stuffed with things. I suppose I could move the panniers around, but depend on the weight, shifting the weight can affect handling.
05-31-13 | 07:47 PM
#30
weirdo
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Reno, NV
But if the bike comes from the manufacturer with a double, which seems normal for all of the CX bikes I've seen, then you'll have to swap shifters, front derailleur, and cranks. Why bother with the added expense/hassle if you know you're going to need touring-capable gearing?
To much monkey bidness. I`m confining my shopping to old models.
05-31-13 | 08:20 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: NE Indiana
Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
Obviously this is just a personal opinion. First off you can credit card or ultra light tour on any bike, but not any bike can do medium touring. If you want to do medium touring look into Cross bikes, their built more stout then a road bike but not quite as much as a full fledged touring bike. Bikes Direct has a pretty good selection of Cross bikes at prices that will beat LBS's; otherwise LBS selections include Kona, KHS, Jamis, Raleigh, and Surly and a few others offer nice cross bikes.
Even a standard road bike can handle light touring, but wouldn't be idea of medium weight. Problem with using road bikes is the geometry is tighter and will be less comfortable on day in and day out riding but people have done it. You can buy special quick release skewers with attachments that a Tubus rear pannier rack can mount to; see item 2: https://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS...ONS%20PAGE.htm
As far as compromises with cross bikes...the gearing is not quite as low as a full fledge touring bike, true, but you won't be hauling 65 to 75 pounds either, or a trailer, you'll only be carrying a max of 35 pounds which is fine with cross gears, and if you need better gears you can swap the gears with little problem.
Even a standard road bike can handle light touring, but wouldn't be idea of medium weight. Problem with using road bikes is the geometry is tighter and will be less comfortable on day in and day out riding but people have done it. You can buy special quick release skewers with attachments that a Tubus rear pannier rack can mount to; see item 2: https://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS...ONS%20PAGE.htm
As far as compromises with cross bikes...the gearing is not quite as low as a full fledge touring bike, true, but you won't be hauling 65 to 75 pounds either, or a trailer, you'll only be carrying a max of 35 pounds which is fine with cross gears, and if you need better gears you can swap the gears with little problem.
05-31-13 | 09:02 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
06-01-13 | 04:41 AM
#33
Heretic
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,246
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From: Dublin, Ireland
Bikes: Specialized Sirrus, Giant OCR3, Giant CRS3
I've just done a ten day tour in Portugal on a Specialized Sirrus. Straight bars so it won't suit a lot of people. Fine for a lightweight tour using Classic Ortleib front panniers on a light rear rack. For airtravel one pannier fitted into the other and wearing the heavier clothes I only had hand baggage plus the un-bagged/boxed bike (€80 return Dublin-Faro).
Last edited by Caretaker; 06-01-13 at 04:57 AM.
