Touring/Adventure bike recommendations.
Discussion
Not something I know much about so looking for a few recommendations for a long distance touring bike.
Criteria would be something along the lines of £1500-2000, wouldn't mind buying used but nothing where I'd need to perform a major refurb.
I'd be 130ish kg with luggage so it would need to be strong, steel frame? Largely road baised with nothing more than a gravel or a muddy potholed lane.
It would be nice to buy British but if there's something better out there then that's ok too. Likely use would be long, self-sustained trips of a few weeks.
Fire away, TIA.
P.S. It's got to look good, obviously ;-)
Criteria would be something along the lines of £1500-2000, wouldn't mind buying used but nothing where I'd need to perform a major refurb.
I'd be 130ish kg with luggage so it would need to be strong, steel frame? Largely road baised with nothing more than a gravel or a muddy potholed lane.
It would be nice to buy British but if there's something better out there then that's ok too. Likely use would be long, self-sustained trips of a few weeks.
Fire away, TIA.
P.S. It's got to look good, obviously ;-)
Always liked the look of these: http://www.konaworld.com/sutra.cfm
Its probably more biased towards tougher terrain though
Its probably more biased towards tougher terrain though
I have a Kinesis Cross Light with custom wheels which I think would be perfect for your needs too. My prefered bike shop custom built it with the components I wanted. Mine cost a bit more than your max but I had an Ultegra group set, disk brakes and nice wheels attached.
So comfy to ride (especially with aero bars so the top is nicer to grip). It's aluminium but I think the weight would only be an issue for the wheels.
I did a 5 day - 1000Km - jaunt on mine with paniers and it was faultless. It even handled a duck flying in to the spokes at about 20mph.
So comfy to ride (especially with aero bars so the top is nicer to grip). It's aluminium but I think the weight would only be an issue for the wheels.
I did a 5 day - 1000Km - jaunt on mine with paniers and it was faultless. It even handled a duck flying in to the spokes at about 20mph.
Celtic Dragon said:
Judging by the number that appear on the Trans-Con race, I'd suggest a Kenesis Tripster, certainly ticks all the boxes apart from steel.
They even do a titanium version
My inner geek wants a titanium bike, whether a back street shop in a third world country could weld it is less likely. They even do a titanium version
Also anything race biased would be compromised in other more important areas, or so I'm telling myself.
Any steel frame with plenty of eyelets.
A decent range of gears with a triple up front - 44-30-22 with an 11/34 cassette should do it.
A really heavy-duty custom handbuilt wheelset, my preference would be for a dynamo hub with a 5V outlet socket for charging stuff en route.
A Brooks B-17 saddle.
That's my commuter, I found the frame abandoned in a hedge. It's subsequently been brush painted with Hammerite and I've put about 20k km on it. Pictured without its dynamo-hub front.
A decent range of gears with a triple up front - 44-30-22 with an 11/34 cassette should do it.
A really heavy-duty custom handbuilt wheelset, my preference would be for a dynamo hub with a 5V outlet socket for charging stuff en route.
A Brooks B-17 saddle.
That's my commuter, I found the frame abandoned in a hedge. It's subsequently been brush painted with Hammerite and I've put about 20k km on it. Pictured without its dynamo-hub front.
I've got a Croix de Fer which is great for long miles, comfortable and a decent set of wheels makes a big difference.
I'd be tempted by one of these though https://www.reillycycleworks.com/collections/titan...
Beautiful bike, frame can be custom fitted and for a Ti bike built in Britain, very affordable. I'm tempted with the frameset only and swap all the CdF parts over.
I'd be tempted by one of these though https://www.reillycycleworks.com/collections/titan...
Beautiful bike, frame can be custom fitted and for a Ti bike built in Britain, very affordable. I'm tempted with the frameset only and swap all the CdF parts over.
idiotgap said:
This is turning out to be a more varied thread than I though it might.
Bizarrely, I do more miles on the bloody hedge find bike than all the others put together. It's low-grade steel, the tubes are pretty thick gauge so it's unbelievably stiff even with a big load on board.It has a long wheelbase so is nice and stable. I bloody love the thing! It's on its third drivetrain now!
This place is about 5mins from me. Their touring bikes seem to be well received....
http://www.hewittcycles.co.uk/complete-bikes-83/93...
http://www.hewittcycles.co.uk/complete-bikes-83/93...
Proper (scroll down to the lite):
http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/expedition/
Also proper (Kibo)
https://www.stanforthbikes.co.uk/
Thorn also, but I think they are pricey these days.
ETA
Take a look at Spa, too - thought of as old school by some, they will spec your bike as you wish (as will OBW & Stanforth, too)
This is a bargain, if it fits: https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3108/SPA-CYCLE...
http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/expedition/
Also proper (Kibo)
https://www.stanforthbikes.co.uk/
Thorn also, but I think they are pricey these days.
ETA
Take a look at Spa, too - thought of as old school by some, they will spec your bike as you wish (as will OBW & Stanforth, too)
This is a bargain, if it fits: https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3108/SPA-CYCLE...
Edited by Bonefish Blues on Saturday 4th November 13:52
WindyCommon said:
smifffymoto said:
Thorn or Condor.The Thorn website has loads of very good info on it.
The Thorn bikes are ugly to the point of unrideability. Especially the spacers under the stem.
Horses, course, and all that.
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