[Closed] Touring bike recommendations

Always feel a bit worried loading up a Ti bike, too many mentions of cracks on here. Steel is best bet but would question the cost of a custom build unless you are a funny shape.

Saw some nice looking Condor bikes yesterday.

https://www.cycle-heaven.co.uk/products/bikes/by-brand/condor/condor-fratello

The new Ribble range looks good too. Wonder whether bolt through is available and useful on a tourer.

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-725/

Van Nicholas Amazon

If I were ever to be given the go-ahead by an understanding wife, I would be getting a 'King of Mercia'. Classic, proper bike.

Look at the Lugs on that! fnarr, fnarr. Etc

Condor heritage here, must be 20 years old now its lovely. Spread the weight evenly around the panniers its so smooth. I touched 55mph on it in the Rockies and it still didn't wobble, unlike the rider.

Sometimes appear in their sale.

My take for a bike for touring on is that it's something you wouldn't mind getting scratched on trains or leaning against walls. It's not something I'd tend to put 'best' on.

What i would be seriously considering (i say would, i am wondering how I'd do it with my roadrat) is something along the lines of the rinko approach to breaking down a bike for taking on trains. How does the luggage work, do mudguards split etc. If you can take a bike on trains as 'normal' luggage it's one less bit of faff for popping halfway across the country for a long weekend.

(Edit- sorry, appreciate that's vague, but it's what I've been thinking I'd change about my current setup. Specific bikes? I don't think you can generally go wrong with big fast tyres touring, so any of the new breed of road plus things would be where I'd start)

Spa Cycles Elan Ti
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Sonder santiago looks good. 631, so nice but not too nice, lots of bosses, room for 650b.

That Spa Cycles does look great, but I’d not have those £150 wheels on it for touring!

Define "touring". 100 miles a day of tarmac between hotels? 40 miles of green lanes between bars and campsites? Taking four months off work and riding from London to Vietnam?

And why bespoke? Because you struggle to find a good fit? Because you want specific braze-ons etc? Because you just fancy something trick?

Agree with you @sockpuppet. I had custom hand built wheels done for mine. The Hydra rims, 32spoke, mid range shimano hubs (I forget which). Sill wasn't particularly £spendy.

surly disc trucker. with a change of wheels/tyres for different types of tour.

a perfect tool for the job.

This is a good website

https://www.cyclingabout.com/

If you buy a frame and want sti then you'll need to think long and hard about gearing. Sora 9 speed is probably the easiest.

If you buy off the peg then make sure it comes with the gearing you want. Genesis and Ridgeback are notorious for selling tourer with hi bottom gears. 2 friends bought bikes from Hewitt. Loads of personalisation. But one friend thought he ended up with a bike that was a bit too heavy and slow handling and then built up s Croix De Fer. So is all very personal

http://www.hewittcycles.co.uk/hewitt-cheviot-se-touring-bike

I don't think ti makes sense. You want some stiffnes in a loaded bike. That rules thin wall fancy steel as well

Any more info ie what kind of touring you want to do?

Otherwise it's like trying to answer a question such as 'what mountain bike do you recommend for mtbing?'

Have look through this guide to types of touring bikes? (not exhaustive)

https://www.cyclingabout.com/understanding-the-types-of-touring-bikes-available/

If you want/need to go full custom then steel makes sense.

I'd really consider going alu though. A bit of extra stiffness helps keep racks from wobbling all over the place, and less frame weight = more booze allowance. Plus you'll probably save a fair bit of cash.

Oh and gearing wise, up front a 2x with 44/28 makes a lot of sense. I fail to see how you could need higher gearing on a tourer, particularly if you go down to 11 at the back.

Dawes 3ima Ti

Spa Cycles are selling off Titanium tourers for just over a grand. Ex demo, but they'll have been well looked after. Unless you're wanting to head off fully loaded for long periods (in which case steel might be a better option) I can't see that you could go far wrong with one of these. In fact if I had a grand lying about I'd snap one up..

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s221p0/Bikes/CLEARANCE-Bikes

Thorn bikes? Specialists in building touring bikes for all types of long distance riding.

Philjunior my only drop bar bike is 40 28 at the front. I haven't spun out. I'm fairy high cadence in still outgoing past 50km/h. If I was going it again I might have gone 40 26. I have a 36 11 at the back