Building first tourer - need experienced advice!
03-19-05 | 10:13 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 827
From: Fife Scotland
Bikes: Airnimal Chameleon; Ellis Briggs; Moulton TSR27 Moulton Esprit
Originally Posted by Gtscottie
I would stay away from the Continental Top Touring. I had 2 sidewall blow outs. First was at 800kms and the next was at about 400 kms. The Gator skin seems better but the Specilized Armadillo is a good call
My opinion only!
My opinion only!
03-23-05 | 10:05 PM
#28
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,209
Likes: 6,285
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Originally Posted by tumba
just a question. Where a person can learn how to build his own tourer? I see no book regarding it, and I'm just wondering how you guys learn it. Is there any good website for it?
Or you can look at Ken Kifer's pages. I don't agree with everything he has to say but there is some good information in there.
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Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-24-05 | 04:55 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,952
Likes: 1,513
From: Southern Maine
Hi,
the basic idea is simple. Get a frame. Throw some parts on it.
There are several companies that will sell you a complete tourer.
The tricky points... fit is crucial. and it can be hard to find one to test ride. There are actually different types of touring. I do lite touring, and any bike that can fit a rack has the potential to do that. A comfy seating position helps. Then there is loaded touring,
and expedition touring. The Surly LHT and Trek 520 are very popular. There is a bike made in Toronto called the Urbanite that really ought to get more attention. I just got a Gunnar Sport, I'm going to pick it up manana. I'm a huge fan of Waterford (Gunnar is a subsidiary). Waterford makes a great expedition tourer, and of course the Sport which makes a great lite tourer. Cannondale makes a tourer, but I've never tried one. If I was rich, I'd have a custom tourer made from titanium. That sounds cool. Other than that, you mostly need to pick some low gearing, a comfy seat, and some good tires. WHile the Schwalbe Marathon and Conti Top Touring get all the buzz,almost any tire around 500 +/- grams is going to be very durable. Just remember, ruggedness adds weight, and the more rugged the bike gets, the slower it feels.
the basic idea is simple. Get a frame. Throw some parts on it.
There are several companies that will sell you a complete tourer.
The tricky points... fit is crucial. and it can be hard to find one to test ride. There are actually different types of touring. I do lite touring, and any bike that can fit a rack has the potential to do that. A comfy seating position helps. Then there is loaded touring,
and expedition touring. The Surly LHT and Trek 520 are very popular. There is a bike made in Toronto called the Urbanite that really ought to get more attention. I just got a Gunnar Sport, I'm going to pick it up manana. I'm a huge fan of Waterford (Gunnar is a subsidiary). Waterford makes a great expedition tourer, and of course the Sport which makes a great lite tourer. Cannondale makes a tourer, but I've never tried one. If I was rich, I'd have a custom tourer made from titanium. That sounds cool. Other than that, you mostly need to pick some low gearing, a comfy seat, and some good tires. WHile the Schwalbe Marathon and Conti Top Touring get all the buzz,almost any tire around 500 +/- grams is going to be very durable. Just remember, ruggedness adds weight, and the more rugged the bike gets, the slower it feels.
