Any recommendations for a tourer?

tomasrojo

My hybrid is on its way out. There's a horizontal crack snaking around the seat tube, just above the bottom bracket. It's fifty thousand km old now, so I guess I got some value out of it. I just replaced the forks, also because of a crack, so I guess everything is going.

Anyone know a good shop to get a tourer? Drops, space to fit fenders, that kind of thing. I'd prefer a steel frame, if those can still be got. I carry a lot of stuff a lot of the time, so I really want something sturdy. Lightness and speed not very important to me, though it would be good if I could lift it unladen without groaning.

blorg

How much do you want to spend? You can certainly still get steel, it is probably the most common material still with tourers. Something like a Dawes Galaxy tends to be the entry level. Not light at all but you could lift it OK. I have a Van Nicholas Amazon myself (titanium) which is lovely and light for a tourer but more expensive (not too much beyond a higher end steel tourer though at all.) I was considering steel but then was swayed by the reported similar ride quality but with lighter weight.

tomasrojo

I was thinking of up to about a grand. I've always bought pretty cheap bikes because I've always been broke at exactly the moment I needed a new bike, so I don't have a good feel for even mid-range bikes. However, I'm not broke right now.

I'll google Dawes Galaxy and see what I find. Thanks!

DualFrontDiscs

+1 for the Galaxy series. I have a much loved, much abused Super Galaxy in the shed.

I've read positive reviews of the Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) too.

DFD.

blorg

Something like a Bob Jackson World Tour would be very nice (I would go for a colour other than yellow myself.)

keenan110

I bought a touring bike about 4 months ago, its a Claude Butler Regent. Really good bike, very sturdy back carriers and mud guards on it. its aluminium frame. would definitely recommend it. I bought mine from Hollingsworth cycles.

I know that Penny Farthing cycles on Camden street stock about 3 different tourers although they are very overpriced there though.

tomasrojo

Thanks for all the replies. A lot of food for thought here!

penexpers

The Surly LHT would be a popular choice for a tourer, but they are nigh-on impossible to get in Ireland. The only shop that imports them is Cycleways and even then they don't keep a stock. You would probably need to commit to buy before they order one in for you.

Colmhayden76

One of our club members has a Ridgeback somthing or other. It's really nice and well speced. He got it on line from the Edenbourgh bike co op on line (now I know I have miss-spelled that). We have an audax rider as well in the club who has a Bob Jackson that cost a hell of a lot of money. His other bike is a Tricross single speed so that could be an option either.

Morgan

If I was buying a touring bike right now I'd probably go for the Surly Long Haul Trucker, either as a frame or a complete bike. Nice solid traditional steel frame. The price is ideal for the bike-to-work scheme if you can get it.

Also check out the Kona Sutra.

(both available from Wiggle)

TinyExplosions

The Mercian King of Mercia is also a fantastic touring frame, but expensive...

blorg

Ediburgh Bicycle Coop do a number of well received and good value tourers all right, mostly in aluminium and using more modern componentry (STI shifters, disc brakes, etc.) Nothing wrong with a tourer in aluminium BTW, especially if you are going to have big tyres on it anyway. Tricross with gears could also be a good option. None of this is steel of course.

tomasrojo

Thanks very much for all the suggestions. I do appreciate you all taking time out.

I'd probably go for 700x28 tyres. I used them on the hybrid and I found them a nice size. Or maybe I just got used to them.

I probably won't go too far past a grand, because it's going to be my everyday workhorse bike and I don't want to be worrying about it day and night.

Everything mentioned so far looks nice and all would be a step up from the standard of bikes I've been using for the last twenty years. Time for me to cogitate.

DualFrontDiscs

tomasrojo wrote: »

Time for me to cogitate.

Whilst you're cogitating, have a look at http://www.pbase.com/canyonlands/fullyloaded
for some inspiration. Not that you'll necessarily be doing anything similar (yet), but you might get some idea of what bikes others are using.
Lots of LHTs and Koga Miyatas (sp?)
DFD

rflynnr

tomasrojo wrote: »

My hybrid is on its way out. There's a horizontal crack snaking around the seat tube, just above the bottom bracket. It's fifty thousand km old now, so I guess I got some value out of it. I just replaced the forks, also because of a crack, so I guess everything is going.

Just a thought but what brand is your current hybrid? I was surprised to learn recently that Specialised offer a lifetime warranty on their frames which seems to apply to bikes made before the warranty offer was operationalised. (Leastways, it applied to my 2003 Sirrus and if the warranty existed back then it was never brought to my attention at the time of purchase.)

Raleigh used to offer a similar warranty and other brands may do too. Not that I'm trying to dissuade you getting a tourer or anything...

tomasrojo

rflynnr wrote: »

Just a thought but what brand is your current hybrid? I was surprised to learn recently that Specialised offer a lifetime warranty on their frames which seems to apply to bikes made before the warranty offer was operationalised. (Leastways, it applied to my 2003 Sirrus and if the warranty existed back then it was never brought to my attention at the time of purchase.)

Raleigh used to offer a similar warranty and other brands may do too. Not that I'm trying to dissuade you getting a tourer or anything...

Very good question actually. It's a Raleigh Sport 50, seven years old. I actually got it at a very substantial discount in Wolfe's on Sundrive Road, because a chainstay on the Raleigh Pioneer I'd bought there cracked after a year. The option of a new frame free of charge was also offered. I'm not sure what the warranty is on the Sport 50; I just assumed that after seven years any consumer good would be out of warranty.

Anyone know what Raleigh's policy is?

Trojan

penexpers wrote: »

The Surly LHT would be a popular choice for a tourer, but they are nigh-on impossible to get in Ireland. The only shop that imports them is Cycleways and even then they don't keep a stock.

Cyclelogical will get order in Surly frames and build to spec. Here's my CrossCheck which they built up for around 1400 (could do for a good bit less if you went cheaper componentry):



I recommend the LHT over the CC if you're going full touring, if it's a commuter hybrid and you're happy with not having fork mounts for panniers then the CC will do the job and be a bit nippier when unloaded.

Also +1 on the Dawes Galaxy, heard great things, also look at the Cannondale Touring 1 (used to be T1000) if your budget stretches.

But on a tight budget? My recommendation is price up a LHT with Cliff at Cyclelogical, see what you can get.

penexpers

Trojan wrote: »

Cyclelogical will get order in Surly frames and build to spec. Here's my CrossCheck which they built up for around 1400 (could do for a good bit less if you went cheaper componentry):



I recommend the LHT over the CC if you're going full touring, if it's a commuter hybrid and you're happy with not having fork mounts for panniers then the CC will do the job and be a bit nippier when unloaded.

Also +1 on the Dawes Galaxy, heard great things, also look at the Cannondale Touring 1 (used to be T1000) if your budget stretches.

But on a tight budget? My recommendation is price up a LHT with Cliff at Cyclelogical, see what you can get.

hey that was me talking to you today in Cyclelogical!

Trojan

penexpers wrote: »

hey that was me talking to you today in Cyclelogical!

lol, that's mad! You should have said, didn't you recognise my baby?

penexpers

Trojan wrote: »

lol, that's mad! You should have said, didn't you recognise my baby?

No I didn't. For some reason I had it in my head that yours was the black model.

rflynnr

tomasrojo wrote: »

Very good question actually. It's a Raleigh Sport 50, seven years old. I actually got it at a very substantial discount in Wolfe's on Sundrive Road, because a chainstay on the Raleigh Pioneer I'd bought there cracked after a year. The option of a new frame free of charge was also offered. I'm not sure what the warranty is on the Sport 50; I just assumed that after seven years any consumer good would be out of warranty.

Anyone know what Raleigh's policy is?

Raleigh's policy used to be lifetime frame guarantee. As result I'm still riding a racer I originally got when I was 16. When I say "still", it is in fact a newish frame as one of the braze-ons fell off when then original bike was 12 years old and Raleigh replaced it without quibble.

HOWEVER

Raleigh in 2009 is a brand owned by a Chinese (?) company and they may not a) run the same warranty or b) honour the warranty on bikes manufactured by what was de facto a different company.

The only way to be sure would be to contact Wolfe Cycles (who, if memory serves, used to be THE main Raleigh dealer in Dublin) and ask what their understanding of the warranty is.

Best of luck with it.

(Oh and @ Trojan and penexpers: get a room.;))

petethedrummer

DualFrontDiscs wrote: »

Whilst you're cogitating, have a look at http://www.pbase.com/canyonlands/fullyloaded

Thanks for this. I'm contemplating an epic cycle next February and this will give me food for thought.

tomasrojo

rflynnr wrote: »

Raleigh's policy used to be lifetime frame guarantee. As result I'm still riding a racer I originally got when I was 16. When I say "still", it is in fact a newish frame as one of the braze-ons fell off when then original bike was 12 years old and Raleigh replaced it without quibble.

HOWEVER

Raleigh in 2009 is a brand owned by a Chinese (?) company and they may not a) run the same warranty or b) honour the warranty on bikes manufactured by what was de facto a different company.

The only way to be sure would be to contact Wolfe Cycles (who, if memory serves, used to be THE main Raleigh dealer in Dublin) and ask what their understanding of the warranty is.

Best of luck with it.

(Oh and @ Trojan and penexpers: get a room.;))

Good advice, I'll do that.

Thanks to everyone for all their help. Very nice community you have here!

DualFrontDiscs

petethedrummer wrote: »

Thanks for this. I'm contemplating an epic cycle next February and this will give me food for thought.

You're very welcome. Some great bikes and some great locations. Not necessarily in the same picture. Great to see that you can do big tours on regular(ish) bikes.

DFD

ridertothesea

Have a look at the Trek 520 - I rode mine across the States - but I also commute on it around town every day since and have completed a triathlon on it. Fast when unloaded and very smooth. Excellent bike. Most retailers can oder it in for you. www.cyclingusa.blogspot.com (scroll down first page to see)


Alternatively Thorn have an excellent reputation. http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/models.html
They do a 'plat du jour' for about 1000.

ridertothesea

tomasrojo

I was initially thinking of a Trek 520, as I saw a lot of good press about it. But all these bikes mentioned here look great.

On the other hand, I rang Wolfe Cycles and it turns out that Raleigh still do the life-time warranty on frames. I have to return the bike which will be inspected by Raleigh and if they judge that I didn't do anything out of the ordinary to cause the crack, I'll either get a new frame or a very substantial discount on another Raleigh (up to 70%, I think he said; I certainly got a huge discount on the Sport 50).

So maybe I'll look into a Raleigh tourer, if they do anything decent and if they offer me the huge discount. I think Raleigh are ok. Then again, most of my bikes have been Raleigh and quite cheap ones at that, so I really don't have many points of comparison.

keenan110

When i was looking about buying a tourer i was considering the Raleigh Royal(link below), I know Hollingsworth have one in stock and i think its around the €600 mark!

http://www.holcroscycles.com/productdetail//2111/Raleigh-Royal-Touring-Bike-(2009).html

tomasrojo

keenan110 wrote: »

When i was looking about buying a tourer i was considering the Raleigh Royal(link below), I know Hollingsworth have one in stock and i think its around the €600 mark!

http://www.holcroscycles.com/productdetail//2111/Raleigh-Royal-Touring-Bike-(2009).html

Looks ok actually! I'll talk to Wolfe Cycles about it. Given what I want it for, it might be just right.

BostonB

Wolfe Cycles worth a visit? What do they stock?

tomasrojo

BostonB wrote: »

Wolfe Cycles worth a visit? What do they stock?

I found them very decent, but I haven't been there all that often. I bought the Raleigh Pioneer off them in 1999 because I was living in Terenure, but because I do my own repairs, I didn't call in there again after purchase. I had to return there eventually because of the cracked chain stay on the Pioneer and they were very helpful with sorting out the warranty, but I haven't been back since then (2002).

keenan110

tomasrojo wrote: »

Looks ok actually!

Yeah i thought it looked decent!

Tawfee

BostonB wrote: »

Wolfe Cycles worth a visit? What do they stock?

If you're looking for service, they're one of the friendliest bike shops in dublin I reckon, always very helpful. not sure about the stock, think it's Giant, maybe some Trek.

tomasrojo

Finally got the old Raleigh hybrid into Wolfe's. Doesn't look as if I can exercise the warranty because I "changed the spec.": the forks on it aren't the original forks. I had to change them just seven weeks ago because they had developed a crack. It's a pity that the cracks appeared in that order, as I could have got the warranty if the seat tube had cracked first and the forks hadn't had the few extra weeks to manifest the crack there.

So, with the original forks gone, it will appear to Raleigh that I've been in a warranty-voiding crash of some kind, though I actually haven't.

I'll be going through this thread again looking at all the advice in it to decide what to get now I have no cost-saving warranties tying me to a particular manufacturer.

Thanks again, everyone.

tomasrojo

No complaints about Wolfe's in this, by the way. Very nice about the whole thing.

BellaP

I know that City Cycles in Fairview has a gents tourer. Its a claud butler and it has a steel frame. I though most cyclists were moving away from steel - is this not the case?

Morgan

Steel is favoured by many - especially for touring bikes (and singlespeeds...). Skinny steel tubes can give a more comfortable ride than oversized aluminium. Also, steel can be easily welded if something brakes in the back of beyond (good idea to get steel racks for the same reason). There might be a slight weight penalty with a steel frame but if you're loaded down with panniers it won't make much difference.

blorg

Steel is still popular with touring bikes as Morgan says. To be honest though I don't think there is a strong argument for "can be welded in the back of beyond", it is commonly touted as an advantage but I don't think I have ever actually heard a story from someone who needed to get their frame re-welded while on tour (if you would even be comfortable continuing on such a frame.)

DualFrontDiscs

blorg wrote: »

Steel is still popular with touring bikes as Morgan says. To be honest though I don't think there is a strong argument for "can be welded in the back of beyond", it is commonly touted as an advantage but I don't think I have ever actually heard a story from someone who needed to get their frame re-welded while on tour (if you would even be comfortable continuing on such a frame.)

I agree with blorg.

'Can be welded in the back of beyond' is useful if you're doing an extended tour of Cambodia et al. Same way that having carbon fibre brake levers may be useful if you're a professional cyclist.

For most people it's all marketing spin regarding potential.

DFD

tomasrojo

BellaP wrote: »

I know that City Cycles in Fairview has a gents tourer. Its a claud butler and it has a steel frame.

Went in to have a look, but they're out of stock at the moment. Bicycle drought at the moment apparently. The man behind the counter showed me two Claud Butler models in a catalogue. One was just under E700, and it looked very good, I thought. The other looked nicer, but was about E1200, I think.

Thanks, BellaP.

tomasrojo

Just to complete this thread:

I finally did get a touring bike, but it was very frustrating. The pool of decent bikes is being drained by the cycle-to-work scheme, and the stocks of tourers were very low to begin with.

Anyhow, I seem to have got the last tourer in the country in my size. Dawes Horizon 58cm, sourced by Little Sport in Fairview, who rang around straight away when I approached them until they found me a tourer. Very happy with it and Little Sport. It cost E999, so that just fitted my criterion of costing under a grand.

dayshah

I thought I'd resurrect this rather than start a new thread.

Does anyone have any experience of the Kona Sutra? I'm getting some tax back soon so want to splash up to €1,200 on a tourer.

Cyclelogical seem to stock the Kona brand. I'm living in Waterford so its a bit of a toss up between going all the way to Dublin (and then have the hassle of going up again after they do the modifications/order the frame I want, and then cycling all the way back to Waterford or taking the train with the bike), or just getting it with wiggle, and add on some pieces I want myself.

BellaP

I have a claude butler tourer and I love it. I cant think of the model (the bike is in my shed and its too cold to go out there in the snow!). But they only do two - one is called the Dalesman (costs approx €1,6000). Mine is not the dalesman its the other one. I will check it tomorrow and come back to you. It cost €800.

when I bought it last year, there were very few tourers on the market - lots of hybrids and road bikes, but not many actually called a tourer.

what did you choose?
Imelda

Vélo

dayshah wrote: »

I thought I'd resurrect this rather than start a new thread.

Does anyone have any experience of the Kona Sutra? I'm getting some tax back soon so want to splash up to €1,200 on a tourer.

Cyclelogical seem to stock the Kona brand. I'm living in Waterford so its a bit of a toss up between going all the way to Dublin (and then have the hassle of going up again after they do the modifications/order the frame I want, and then cycling all the way back to Waterford or taking the train with the bike), or just getting it with wiggle, and add on some pieces I want myself.

Cyclelogical aren't dealing with Kona for 2011.

Civilian_Target

Dunno - I have a Honky Tonk set up as a tourer and I must say, I'm happy with it now, although there were quire a few things wrong with it out of the box. But it's comfy for all day cycling, and even handles alright on gravel.

When I was trying other tourers as I was looking last year, I found many of them to have tank-like handling and all the mobility of a couch - I certainly wouldn't buy one without trying it out first!

alcyst

The website isn't much, but the book is great for information on all things adventure-touring. Crazy-guy-on-a-bike is good also to see what other people jumped for.

The big single answer; people have toured successfully on all sorts of machines, and for more money you can get more bike. I had read some thing about Dawes letting their bike get away from a pure touring bike. For non-heavy touring a cyclo cross bike can work out well.