bradtx

With stiff frames all of the ride comfort is in the tires. When unloaded you can air down. Now's the time for changes to the cockpit to assure a good fit in time for the trip. Make note of how the current handle bars and stem is positioned in case you want to return to the drop bar.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Brad

BLYTZPK

spin spin spin over the barrel motion..esp when tired...cause you'll forget if SPIN is not hard wired. Too much pressure on the patella. How's the patellar tendon ? thick and long ? see EXRX !

Frame lost hard feel minus weight ? take your wheels to the nearest real deal wheelman for a long distance tune up. Clean then horizontally inside and out lube flange spoke holes with Finish Line Dry Lube (Teflon/wax)....before trip.
Fill holes.

The touring weight loaded the wheels possibly altering the before specs. Unloaded, tighter...loaded into bending spokes...spokes as springing mediums. Keep an eye on the flanges for wear to loosening spoke torques

A trekking bar with brake levers, covered with bar foam is top line with an adjustable stem.

Mobile Tablet GPS ? Touch One for 911 !

You do not want to know where you are ? from the nearest ER ?

Sharpshin

Just the opposite if I'm understanding your statement. Frame rides stiffer without weight, is luxuriantly softly sprung with weight. My understanding is that this is the norm with 80's era steel touring frames.

I'm pretty sure I had the wheels trued way back when after the new bike had been on a few rides. Since I started riding it again they are holding their "true". Can a wheel reach a stable state wherein further spoke adjustment seems not to be needed? Old style single-walled rims but 36 spokes up front, 40 spoke wheel in back.


Well, the couple of occasions I've called it over the years the 911 Operator knows where I am on my simple cell phone. I will allow that a gps navigation/ internet capability could save hours lost through getting lost. Gotta think on this one.

Merry Christmas,
Mike

Sharpshin

Measured it at the LBS yesterday. Horizontal top of current stem is 85mm long. The Mechanic recommended an adjustable 100mm stem to go with the butterfly bar. Either way its about a $35 piece so I can afford to try a different length stem if needed. I'm also interested in those newer sort of wider drop bars with longer sections to grab up top, even a flat bar may well serve as I have little use for the "drop" section of a bar at this point. I do plan to move the brake levers to a place where they come more immediately to hand.


I'm still debating on leaving the gear shift levers on the frame, I can reach down for them easily enough and indeed, the Schwinn Varsity I rode in my youth had the levels down there too IIRC.


Mike

bradtx

Mike, Search the forum for butterfly and trekking handle bars for ideas. You will likely have to use a set of mountain bike style brake levers (borrow from your other bike?) with the smaller diameter butterfly bar. The mechanic's recommendation for the 100 mm stem is good, in particular if you raise the handle bar height.

Shifters are a preference item and each have their minuses as well as pluses.

Brad