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I have a friend of the family who wants to reride a tour he made as a school boy down through France, mostly following major rivers.
He has recovered from a knee operation and has suffered with carpal tunnel issues that have required surgery. He is 75, but pretty capable. Five years ago he rode a motorbike through India to the Himalayas.
I said I'd help him find / build a bike bike for the trip.
There was an 18 inch Fargo in the classifieds which would have been ideal, but it had already sold.
So what is out there that we should consider. Probably something with a highish fron end to fit flat, Jones or Butterfly bars to.
It should ideally be around a £1000.
[quote=mcmoonter ]
So what is out there that we should consider. Probably something with a highish fron end to fit flat, Jones or Butterfly bars to.
It should ideally be around a £1000.
Touring - or trekking? It seems to me that most Europeans do their touring on bikes that have, like you say, a more upright position and with flat or butterfly bars. That being the case, you could have a look at the vast range of bikes from the likes of Cube ( http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/) where many come pre-loaded with mudguards, racks etc. Many also have front suspension - something that my be appreciated from a comfort point of view.
Liking the look of this for £700
http://www.cube.eu/en/tour/urban-life/hyde-pro-fe/
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Nice. Personally, I'd still go for disks, but I can accept it's not essential.
I do think we (in the UK) are a bit hung up on drop-bars for touring 🙂
Thorn?
I do think we (in the UK) are a bit hung up on drop-bars for touring
Agreed.
Rather out of budget, but have some touring pron - http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/silkroad/
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moonter, what about a ebike? ideal for touring as you get older.
Nice. Personally, I'd still go for disks, but I can accept it's not essential.I do think we (in the UK) are a bit hung up on drop-bars for touring
I'd be happier with discs too. Alfine hub and dynamo hub is a plus though.
I rode in the States with a German and a Danish guy. Both had flat bars and 26inch wheeled Rolhoff hubbed bikes. they carried a ton of stuff. I think without exception every mainland European I met rode something similar. I'm sure the Swiss guys rode Tout Terrains, I remember their custom racks integrated with the frame.
Discs not always so good when touring - too hard to fix 'in the field' as it were.
I'd recommend any old bike really - just a good, sturdy but basic Hybrid bike.
The best touring is done on a bike that's comfortable to ride, cheap to fix, and not bling enough to worry about if damaged or stolen.
Kudos to a 75 year old doing that kind of adventure - you gotta post up some pics/story when he does it.
[quote=Digger90 ]Discs not always so good when touring - too hard to fix 'in the field' as it were.
BB7s?
[quote=Digger90 ]
Kudos to a 75 year old doing that kind of adventure - you gotta post up some pics/story when he does it.
Yep - I hope I'm doing that in, err, 21 years time!
Dawes Karakum? Well under budget (on offer) and then add a dynamo front wheel if you wish.
Dames Nomad if you must go the Alfine route but the gearing isn't low enough and you're stuffed if it breaks on tour.
The 1st time I toured I used a flat barred steel mtb, the flat bars got very uncomfortable. For the 2nd time I used a Dawes Ultra Galaxy with drop bars, very comfortable, wouldn't change a thing about it.
It's not flat barred but the 2013 salsa veya 3? Around 1200 quid.
I wanna high five em, for doing it. No bike suggestions apart from pics
pls.
If it's flats and he has carpal history, ergo grips with integral bar ends can help
How about a s/h super galaxy frame built up as he'd like it.
Sounds great fun. Am half his age and have only done one short tour - envious!
I did some touring on flats and the ergon/barend was fantastic. Try ctc classifieds that's where the touring posse hang out. Plenty of experience to be found on their forums!
How is he at getting his leg over as it were?
Especially with panniers on it can be a heck of a leg swing, so I'd consider a dropped tube frame.
Thorn did/do an ace dropped version of the Raven frame.
This any good? Not mine but looks like it might suit.
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=70542
A bit none-niche but look at the Claude Butler site, steer clear of the low-end stuff as there's a lot of Hi-Ten in them. If you see anything you like make contact. (Also possible last season stock kicking about too).
given their home market and their reputation for value Id have a good look at the Rose bikes range of trekking bikes.
Cheers for the tips guys, I'll forward the CTC link Iain, thanks.
We went for the Dawes bike on the CTC link. Should be perfect fr his needs, he can always upgrade if he enjoys it enough to do it again.
Ah well, I'm too late to this party.....
Just in case anyone else has a grand to spend:
Salsa Casseroll £985
http://tritoncycles.co.uk/m14b104s21p8311/SALSA_Casseroll_Complete