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Hello, folks...
I just got the bug and started doing some distance, getting ready to venture from my home town (Sacramento) to the foothills, the delta, etc. Eventually I want to explore a lot of California, and eventually go interstate. I would really like to invest in a touring bike and grow used to it along with increasing my distance.
Do any of you have experiences or recommendations? I have read so many conflicting reports that I am not sure where to look anymore.
Thanks for your stories and advice, I am overjoyed to be part of this tribe!
I just got the bug and started doing some distance, getting ready to venture from my home town (Sacramento) to the foothills, the delta, etc. Eventually I want to explore a lot of California, and eventually go interstate. I would really like to invest in a touring bike and grow used to it along with increasing my distance.
Do any of you have experiences or recommendations? I have read so many conflicting reports that I am not sure where to look anymore.
Thanks for your stories and advice, I am overjoyed to be part of this tribe!
posted by:
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Sacramento
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Re: Touring bikes
Wed, October 19, 2005 - 10:14 PMHi Denizia,
Check out the posts:
Need a New Bike July 27, 2005
and
Touring Bike Recommendations March 27, 2004
I recently got some good recommendations because I also looking for a touring bike. I'll send them your way if I can pull them outof my yahoo.
~Eve -
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Re: Touring bikes
Thu, October 20, 2005 - 3:04 PMHey if you want to do some rides, I am looking for riding buddies, especially if you want to go out to Winters or Lake Barryessa. And I can tell you tales of biking from Davis to Jackson in July...and buying a bike on ebay... -
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Re: Touring bikes
Thu, October 20, 2005 - 3:15 PMThank you! I will check back on the posts mentioned, and Mistress Althea, I am really interested in riding beyond Davis! Winters sounds great, and Berryessa when I get into better shape and get a new bike. Feel free to message me with stories about
Puking
Sellers on eBay that make you go hmmm
Broken bikes
Friendly locals
eating and drinking well while on rides
clothing and gear
whatever the hell else you can think up.
KEEP it coming!
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Re: Touring bikes
Fri, October 21, 2005 - 7:23 AMI love love love love love my Trek 520. Since last November, I've put 8000 miles on it. Magnificent machine. I can't recommend it highly enough.
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Re: Touring bikes
Sat, October 22, 2005 - 9:30 PMTook my regular old road bike across British Columbia and Alberta, Canada with a trailer and loved it. Not even a flat tire in over a 1000 miles. Why buy a new bike if yours is comfy??
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Re: Touring bikes
Sat, October 22, 2005 - 9:35 PMI'm also interested in trying some tours out from Sacto.
Here's a question: could I get away with just using slicks on my old Hard Rock to tour? Or is that just too much extra work? -
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Re: Touring bikes
Sun, October 23, 2005 - 6:53 AMI've toured extensively on a mt. bike. I used slicks and knobbies. What I used was fold ups so you can switch out if you needed to, and sometimes you will. That's the beauty of touring on a mt. frame. You can be in the middle of nowhere and want to hit some dirt, and there ya go, tires for every road condition. A heavy duty rack on the rear and some panniers, and you are all set. -
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Re: Touring bikes
Sun, October 23, 2005 - 7:57 PMI don't have a comfy bike yet...that is why I am looking. I am building up an old Univega so I can start logging some road miles in the mornings before work. I have done most of my distance riding on my Specialized Rockhopper with Continental Town&Country tires. It would have been fine, except that the bike itself is too big for me, and it is not a comfortable ride upper back and arms-wise.
In fact, I have never owned a distance-worthy bike that fits me perfectly. It has always been about cruisers or beaters for me, until recently. There is still a lot to learn, and all of you are helping with your stories! -
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Re: Touring bikes
Sun, October 23, 2005 - 9:29 PMIf you really want a good fitting bike, go to a decent bike store and have them measure you for the proper sized frame.
As for bikes, Surly makes decent frames that are good for touring. Check out the Long Haul Trucker or the Crosscheck.
www.surlybikes.com/main.html -
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Re: Touring bikes
Thu, November 10, 2005 - 3:55 PMthere are very few real touring bikes made any more. the good news is that pretty much all of the ones that are made are good ones.
i suggest you try riding a few different brands. bikes are a lot like shoes and shirts-- they all do pretty much the same thing, but some just seem to fit you better than others. Trek, Surley, Cannondale, Novara (REI) and Bianchi all have a touring bike (or two) in their line. Rivendell is a local (NorCal) bike builder that specializes in making custom touring bikes. Lemond sometimes makes one (not sure if their 2006 line will have a touring bike or not).
A touring bike is longer and higher than a "road" bike (ie, a racing bike), and is designed to carry more weight (and consequently the bike is is heavier) and uses stronger wheels, etc. -
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Re: Touring bikes
Thu, November 10, 2005 - 6:40 PMI got a Bianchi San Remo from a friend of mine really cheap, and I have been enjoying riding that very much. I think that if I get more into touring and get the bug MORE, I will buy and build up a Surly Long Haul Trucker. I like their philosophy and their reputation. Thank you!! -
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Re: Touring bikes
Fri, November 11, 2005 - 9:07 PMI have a comfy old (really old) Azuki - bought out by Nishiki in the early 80's. It is a heavy old 10 speed but very stable and the gearing has a good spread. It climbs fine - what's a few more pounds when you've got 20 more in gear. And the weight keeps it stable for high speed descent. Ortleib panniers and fenders are a must for rainy NW but probably not a big need for CA. Invest in a good light. Eventually, you'll get caught out at night. -
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Re: Touring bikes
Sat, November 12, 2005 - 11:52 AMGood tips...I have heard MANY good things about Ortlieb panniers, even from people who don't tour. I agree with you on the weight issue. I ride heavy bikes always, and I LIKE it!!
My main issue is a bike that is comfortable for me, that I form a sort of bond with. -
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Re: Touring bikes
Wed, November 16, 2005 - 7:59 PMIt seems like everyone I saw touring in New Zealand used Ortliebs, because It rains alot there. The only thing I do not like about them is they are on big compartmen. They dont seem to have any pockets etc -
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Re: Touring bikes
Thu, November 17, 2005 - 9:34 AMcram, your surly is lovely. -
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Re: Touring bikes
Thu, November 17, 2005 - 1:58 PMit surly is! or was...
It got pretty trashed on a tour I did last summer.
It is sitting in a corner in many pieces, I need to get it working again soon.
As far as panniers go, some have pullout covers for rain and such.
These work fine in light rain, but in full on conditions they are for the most part worthless. Carry plastic garbage bags to line the insides. Double bag it!
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Re: Touring bikes
Wed, November 16, 2005 - 7:50 PMYes, I used a surly Crosscheck frame for a cross country last summer. It nice since it is a steel frame (easy to repair). It use 700 size tires and will fit almost any width of tire.
I got the frame used on ebay for around $200
you can see a picture of it at www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/ -
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Re: Touring bikes
Thu, November 17, 2005 - 5:37 PMthis one tickled me:
www.pennyfarthing.dabsol.co.uk/en...htm
i toured on a low-end trek roadbike for 1000's of miles (cycled across the states on it - put wider tires on it, and lightly loaded, it worked fine). -
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Re: Touring bikes
Tue, October 10, 2006 - 6:45 PM -
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Re: Touring bikes
Wed, October 11, 2006 - 9:09 AMI had a friend who went across the US on one of those 80's Specialized mountain bikes. They can certainly tour.
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Re: Touring bikes
Wed, October 11, 2006 - 3:18 PMI toured all over the world on a Bridgestone MB-3. I also used a Specialized Stumpjumper as well. My favorite was a Schwinn High Sierra. All these mountain bikes were fitted with front/rear eyelets for rack mounts. I would use fold up slicks and knobbies, so when conditions called for certain tires, I had them. Of course, a quick release seat post was neccessary to hide my unmentionables in the seat tube.
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Re: Touring bikes
Sat, March 21, 2009 - 8:59 AMIn 1962, I rode from upstate New York to Craters of The Moon National Park in Idaho on a three speed Raleigh Rudge Sport. Given my age and current lack of conditioning, I doubt I could make it a far as Ohio today, but my current ride is a Rixe ten speed that I bought used in 1970. It is moderately heavuy (thirty pounds, with fenders, rear luggage carrier, and generator) but is a pretty good all-around road riding bike. I have an off-road bike, but just prefer the road machine for all around comfort.
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Re: Touring bikes
Sat, March 21, 2009 - 3:45 PM
I had my road bike out there last September and rode from Winters to Silverado Trial both ways. Being a midwesterner and all, even though I have a triple, I really, really wished I had brought my mountain bike instead 'cuz I would have had the gears. There's some rightious climbing to be done getting around Lake Berryessa - you may have noticed that day one on the Tour of Cali this year went over that route.
There's nothing dishonorable about gearing way down and keeping your cadence way up.
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