looking for a touring bike
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:50 pm
looking for a touring bike
Postby John R » Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:17 am
- silentbutdeadly
- Posts: 2294
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:52 am
- Location: Somewhere flat...
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby silentbutdeadly » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:53 am
- WestcoastPete
- Posts: 911
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:59 pm
- Location: Peoples Republic of Coburg, Victoria
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby WestcoastPete » Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:10 am
They're probably the best value off-the-peg tourer. The Fuji touring bike might be another option of similar price, but with less features.
Building up a mountain bike is certainly an option, but it'll take time and you'll need to look into each component that you change out. The VWR is ready to go as it is...
- rifraf
- Posts: 3851
- Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:55 pm
- Location: Two Rocks, WA
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby rifraf » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:53 pm
welcome to the forum.
I just noticed this bike on gumtree and thought of you:
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/port-ken ... 1016644620" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I think its a bargain for the bucks if its a size that would suit you (5' 2" to 5'7") Have a look online to see what those tubus racks are woth.
I dont know anything about the bike brand but thats work for you to have a squiz at.
Either way gumtree is as good a place as any to start looking.
Good luck
- il padrone
- Posts: 22931
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
- Location: Heading for home.
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby il padrone » Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:01 pm
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby John R » Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:48 pm
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby John R » Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:42 pm
- rifraf
- Posts: 3851
- Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:55 pm
- Location: Two Rocks, WA
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby rifraf » Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:48 pm
Hi John,John R wrote:I think I will need to convert a (used) mountain bike for the time being as I don't have a spare $2000 to splash. Could someone suggest a make and model that would work for this so that I can make a start. I would then do some touring and learn as I do. I am keen to start riding Thanks
you havnt told us what your budget is.
Recently on gumtree there was a couple of Surly Long Haul Truckers for $1100 each although I think they were in Victoria.
I believe gumtree is your best avenue for a second hand bike.
Bit hard to advise someone when we dont know your budget, type of touring (short duration/long duration - on road/off road or mixture)
Your size of frame etc, whether you want 26" or 29" wheels. What equipment you already have.
Be aware things like racks, panniers, tent, cooker etc can end up hitting the bank balance hard but trying to go cheap can do the same thing when you find its not up to the job.
The sleeping bag thats fine when visiting your mates house is likely not going to be suitable except in the height
of summer.
You can read the threads to get an idea of what type of gear most of us have found works and what doesnt.
We'd need a hell of a lot more info to recommend anything to you really.
There are many and varied opinions on what bike etc but many of them will only be valid with the knowledge of what you want to do with it and where you want to go.
Also it could work out lots cheaper buying a bike already kitted out like the original one I suggested
rather than buying a bike and then buying all the gear your likely to want to customise it with later.
Bottom line (for me) = more info
There is probably few bikes that you could not tour on having accepted the various compromises necessary.
Even a bike that wont accept racks may accept a trailer.
Some bikes have more bolt on options than others but few if in good condition will be unable to tour to some degree.
- il padrone
- Posts: 22931
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
- Location: Heading for home.
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby il padrone » Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:27 pm
Buying an old MTB and converting it......John R wrote:I think I will need to convert a (used) mountain bike for the time being as I don't have a spare $2000 to splash. Could someone suggest a make and model that would work for this so that I can make a start. I would then do some touring and learn as I do. I am keen to start riding Thanks
The MTB will be OK if an old rigid one from the mid-90s, but still not as comfortable as a dedicated tourer.
Add to that the up-speccing you'd need to do to make it useable/similar to a Vivente World Randonneur:
Pannier racks - front & rear - $200/$500
Lights - $80/$300
Mudguards - $50/$150
Road tyres - $40/$100
Handlebar set-up - $0/$120
Saddle???
This is ignoring other camping gear requirements. You can see just to make the old MTB serviceable for touring it will cost ~$370; but to make it somewhat comparable to the VWR it will ad up to more like an extra $1,170. This is why many people would suggest that the VWR is a great buy, if you want a terrific touring bike "out of the box".
-
- Posts: 800
- Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:54 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby Uncle Just » Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:49 pm
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1 ... =8116&v=1C" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Look for a rust free 80s or 90s steel frame with brazeons for racks/guards. A mate found an early 90s Giant MTB in hard rubbish some years ago and he has done many tours on it. He just added good, reliable, cheapish parts as needed. Many successfully tour on a wide variety of bikes because they either have limited funds or don't really care what they ride. Good luck.
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby John R » Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:44 pm
I will work on what you suggested.
- rifraf
- Posts: 3851
- Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:55 pm
- Location: Two Rocks, WA
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby rifraf » Mon Apr 08, 2013 12:36 am
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby John R » Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:36 pm
John
- rifraf
- Posts: 3851
- Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:55 pm
- Location: Two Rocks, WA
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby rifraf » Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:43 pm
No worriesJohn R wrote:Thanks for your note Rifraf I tried what you suggested - hope it worked
John
Hope its worth pursuing - the frame appears to be quality being Tange Prestige.
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby John R » Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:28 pm
John
- RonK
- Posts: 11508
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:08 pm
- Location: If you need to know, ask me
- Contact:
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby RonK » Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:58 pm
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:50 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby John R » Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:42 pm
John
-
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:55 pm
Re: looking for a touring bike
Postby alexf » Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:34 pm
Return to “Touring Bikes and Equipment”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.