Touring Bike build & Gen. advices
 

Beginner here. Thinking about building a budget touring bike that is capable for a trip from Seattle to Anchorage. Things I think I will need:

-Wide tire clearance
-Mount for rack and fender
-Gear range
-cantilever brakes mount? Do tourer need this?

Any suggestion for a steel/TI frame and or componentry is appreciated. I would like to stay under 1k. I have looked at LHT, BD windsor and TREK 520, didn't really like any of them.

Would my '84 miyata 710 suffice as a good base to work off? It has 5-speed/downtube shifting, 27 inch wheels. I put 1'1/8 inch tire on it (original was 1'), As it is however, there is barely any clearance for fenders by my reckoning. There are braze mount for the rack and fenders though.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...6&d=1364095444

Also I have a pair of DT axis 1.0 wheels with modern spacing and some 2013 Sora parts laying around, So I could use them for my build. Sora should be good enough for a tour bike, right?

Your 710 is a nice bike, but I don't think it would be a good base for what you want to do. Sell it on Craigslist (there's a pretty good market for those bikes) and put the money toward a platform that will work better for you. You'll be hard pressed to fit wide enough tires on that frame for loaded touring along the Alcan (or Cassiar, depending which way you are going), the 27" wheels are outdated (and your frame may not even accept 700c), the 5-speed rear spacing is probably 126mm and you'll need to go to at least 130mm (possibly doable) or 135mm (too much), etc.

Sora isn't bad stuff for a touring bike, IMO. I wouldn't use the DT Axis wheels for touring.

You may want to ask this question in the C&V forum.

Your bike may not be ideal, mostly in being designed to handle racks; however, the tire situation is not one I would worry about. It should handle a 1 1/4" tire alright (32mm) which is doable on most non-paved roads (no personal experience with the Alcan)

The 5 speed can be made to work, so it isn't absolutely necessary to 'upgrade'

You can have a successful trip with this bike, including fenders, racks or higher speed drive trains (130mm spacing) without any real trouble. Since the frame (not the vintage) wasn't designed for loaded touring there will need to be some compromises; however, it is doable.

Similar vintage Fuji 27" wheel frame with 700cx32mm tires, 8 speed drivetrain, and enough luggage capacity for short credit card tours. More capacity could be added with p-clips (or similar tech) and a rear rack.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=334256

CenturianIM, If dead set on the Miyata I suggest a trailer. 20-100 GIs is generally the range wanted in a tourer (14-34 freewheel + triple crankset). DP caliper brakes and perhaps a 700C conversion.

Brad

Trailer is definitely an option. Gearing can be adjusted fairly easily. A 46/30 crank with an old 7 speed K type freewheel (13-34) results in 24-96 gear inches. Old vintage cranks are available with the 46/30 or the ones I am using on the bike I mentioned above came from VO.

The saddle tilt?do you ride it like that ? something tells me this is not a Perfect fit for you in the 1st place..


I surmise: A) It's just a bike you got for cheap. B) and you want to do some bike tours ..

step 1, the bike has to be comfortable to Ride all day, get up the next morning, ride further,

and keep that up for a Fortnight. B does not, necessarily, follow A.

so your touring plans may have to be transferred to a bike that you can ride all day Upon.

Thinking outside the box of course..


How big is the Whole convert this Bike for touring Budget,
,you would anticipate shedding, quite a few C notes , out of the wallet ..

1 if the wheels are tight , clearance with a 27-1.125" perhaps build up a set of 650B wheels ..

Rear Frame spacing 120? An Intewrnal gear hub is quite wide range, such as an SA 5 speed

a chain tensioner Using the old RD would be fine, and a Triple crank

or just a Double with a big Jump so the difference is decent. 24~ 42 perhaps?

Explain Why, SVP?

It looks like this bike fulfill the top three criteria on your list. I wouldn't choose to put a lot of weight from a touring load on 1-1/8" tires (maybe if the roads were likely to be really smooth). Going wider on the tires may make it impossible to have fenders.

Canti brakes are not absolutely necessary in a touring bike, but they are are good way to provide plenty of clearance for wide tires and fenders and they are compatible with most road brake levers. That's why you see them on touring bikes a lot.

What was it about the Windsor Tourist that you didn't like? There's also the Gran Tourismo: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...an_turismo.htm
Looks like they dropped the price, but they have limited stock right now.

I think you all are right. I am probably better served going to a dedicated touring platform. It will take a lot of money to convert this guy and still have to deal with the limitations. Sigh, really like the look of this bike. thePic was taken at time of purchase, saddle tilt has since been corrected. Regrettably I did not get it for cheap. I was really into C&V then and paid 275$.....

What is the bad thing about using the DT axis wheel? what are some popular touring wheel build?

As to the bikes I mentioned, it is for rather whimsical reasons:
Windsor tourist and Gran Turismo: my Miyata looks soo much better.
LHT: Same. and somehow I just cannot bring myself to like surly bikes.
Trek 520: fine bike, but I do not really want a trek. My miyata still looks better.

Soma Saga seems like a nice frame.

While not as readily available there are vintage touring bikes that come up. Also, though it may be a little beyond your desired price point, the velo orange campeur may be more in line with your desired style.

CenturianIM, There are also a couple of Raleighs worth looking at, the Sojourn and the Gran Tour. REI also has the Randonee.

Brad

How much do you weigh and how much weight will you carry? Your Miyata isn't the bike.

It'll be hard to stay under $1,000 if you're building up a frame. How about a nice C&V mountain bike to tour on? Look around, find a good example, make sure anything gets fixed as needed. I'm thinking this would be a third of your budget, or less.

By the way, the Miyata is a nice bike, and everyone needs more than one bike, so I think everything is good here.... :thumb:

My experience with the Sojourn- have a lot of miles on it now (33,000), but the original rear wheel fell apart after about 4,000 miles- all in all, I'd say it's a bike made to have cool touring style, but not necessarily made for touring, if that makes sense. Anyway, whatever you get, put several thousand miles on it before you start out on the road and get all the kinks worked out first.

I second this, if you're looking for a cheap way to tour.
Use an old mountain bike frame.

The mid-late 90s mountain bikes have touring geometry and all the eyelets and braze-ons you could want.

Man, I just love that miyata bike.

Okay, I actually won this Saga frame last night: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190881433744. bad bad itchy trigger finger. Hopefully I can remain under the budget with the sora group I have got.

I have
- Sora shifters, cassette, chain, FD, RD, ultegra BB.
- Walmart 27.2 seatpost + random saddle.
- bar tape

I think I need
- Crankset, canti brake. Does any caliper work with big wheels?
- nice set of 26" wheels. Any source of good, fair priced, 105 hub + Mavic A719?
- Tube and tires (suggestions?)
- handlebar, stem

That's all I can think of...

Nice frame. Considering the parts you already have, you should be able to stay under budget.

Any canti brakes should work, but I would recommend the Tektro CR720 with Kool Stop pads. I also really recommend fork-mounted brake hangers for front canti brakes.

CenturianIM, Measure the rear drop outs when you can, you may need a 135 mm OLD hub. If they're 132.5 mm either 130 mm or 135 mm hubs will work.

Brad