chapel

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ious-teal.html

I'm slowly turning my bike into a touring bike. I've got an Ibera RakPak rack and mini pannier bag on order. I've got fenders and 35c 700 wheels. I've got some touring-focused drop bars. I've got a touring focused shifters.
My big concern is brakes.
Most touring bikes seem to have canti brakes (or disc brakes if newer)
am I going to have a problem continuing on with this frame?

I would love to get a more touring based frame when money allows (I'm partial to lugged steel though)

Any concerns with the RD? I notice most of you guys seem to run MTB stuff like Deore.

At this point I don't expect to do much more than light touring... but that may change as we get better and go farther.

imi

If your rim brakes are set up right, and have good pads, they should be just fine.

robow

The problem which might occur is that your present brakes might not work with 35 size tires. You might need long reach brakes if you want to continue on with that style. Also, can you get your drive train to create a low enough low gear where you can climb with additional weight without breaking your budget (of course it can be done but often times with great expense). It's not uncommon when you start adding up costs, it's not a whole lot cheaper than buying an already set up used or inexpensive new touring bike.

Edit: now that I looked at your linked pictures, is your brother much shorter than you, the frame looks like it's going to be a little small for you?? How tall are you and what size is the frame as sometimes pics can be deceiving?

ThermionicScott 

No need to take off that beautiful Tricolor RD if you don't need more capacity, or cogs bigger than ~28T. BTW, your Sugino VP crank (which I also like) is 110 BCD, so you could switch to a 34T small ring if you want lower gears.

robow

the FD might not be able to handle that great a difference between chainrings?

ThermionicScott 

It's rated for 14T, but might still be able to do it, if not gracefully. A ramped-and-pinned 48T or 50T big ring would certainly help if needed.

fietsbob

Happy with friction Bar end shifters for 30 + years .. long gage RD will take up the chain difference between a big-big/small small combo

like a 13-34t freewheel* And a 24-40-50t triple that was my touring drivetrain ..



*reliable strong axle hub , Phil Wood I got at a bike Shop Yard sale back then, resolved the weakness of most freewheel Hubs ..


your bike can do as much as any of the Bikes which were Touring crossing the continent during the 'Bikecentenial" in 1976..


On the coast all Sorts of Bikes are Used to Tour and see the countryside .. in the Hundreds every Year ..

tarwheel 

You might want to upgrade your brakes to more modern dual-pivot mid-reach models such as the Shimano BR-R650s. Pads are very important and should even help your current brakes. Kool Stop salmons stop great in wet or dry conditions.

bradtx

chapel, For light to medium (20-30 lb.) touring I think you'll be fine. IME the wheels take the brunt of the abuse from carrying extra cargo and I suggest a full overhaul; hubs, retension the spokes and retrue the wheel.

Brad

StephenH

People have toured with pennyfarthings and cruiser bikes.

A while back, I had a chance to drive a few miles on the Pacific Coast Highway. Up, down, up down, steep hills one after another. Meanwhile, here in Texas, it's fairly flattish. Or if you go ride in Colorado, you may have 10 miles of 7% grade to test your brakes. The point is, that how well it all works, will partly depend on where you're going. You could tour around here on just about anything.

chapel

They are currently installed with the brakes and fenders for about a year now.

My brother is about 1-2" shorter than I am. I'm tall in the torso (36x32 pant).
It's a 58cm frame.
In my granniest of gears, I don't have any problems over spinning them. I haven't tried any major inclines yet or with any baggage.

I'll take a look into that.

They are dual pivot. The rims are ceramic coated. I'll look on getting better pads.

Luckily they've just been overhauled. Matrix Aurora Ceramic rims with DuraAce 7400 hubs