Bicycle touring questions

[siafirede]

I think I have decided that self supported unicycling trips are not going to be as enjoyable as a self supported bicycle trip, so I am looking into getting a touring bicycle for this summer.

Does anyone have any knowledge to recommend a bike or a good set up?

I have been looking at the Cannondale T2 (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/09/cusa/model-8TR2.html) and it looks like a pretty sweet set up...but then again I am not that familiar with bicycles. It has an aluminum frame, which I have heard might not be good for touring, but I am sure more than just material matters for a frame.

Any thoughts on the T2, or any other recommendations? I want a comfortable ride without a harsh riding position so that I don't strain my back and neck.

[phlegm]

I assume you've seen this: http://www.bicycletouring101.com/BikeStuff.htm

If you're not sure what you want, the most economical solution is to buy a bike preconfigured for touring like the Cannondale T2. Then you can just change parts as you gain more experience and develop a taste for what you like.

Aluminum is generally considered more uncomfortable on the road because it doesn't soak up as much vibration as steel. On the other hand, if your bike is loaded up with a ton of gear, the stiffness of Aluminum might be considered a benefit.

The T2 setup looks like it would be pretty comfortable over the long haul. Just make sure you get it from a bike shop that will fit you with the right size and change out the stem to your liking if needed. If you tend to have back pain, you're going to want a more upright and less aero position. So depending on the bike fit, you might want a stem with more rise.

[ntappin]

A couple of the people I work with have the Fuji Touring bike and love it.

http://www.fujibikes.com/Specialty/Touring/Touring.aspx

It doesn't look like much but I have ridden it around the parking lot and checked it out, and its a nice bike. It is a bit heavy, but like Phlegm said, it can be nice to have a steel bike.

Both of the people I know that ride it also use it for some pretty serious touring, things like self supported rides for weeks at a time.

With whatever bike you get though, I would make sure to at least go to a few shops, see what they have and get a few bikes properly fitted for you, as comfort is going to be the most important thing.

[siafirede]

The T2 setup looks like it would be pretty comfortable over the long haul. Just make sure you get it from a bike shop that will fit you with the right size and change out the stem to your liking if needed. If you tend to have back pain, you're going to want a more upright and less aero position. So depending on the bike fit, you might want a stem with more rise.

Yeah, my bike shop only has a Large version of the Cannondale T2, and I would need a Medium. I tried it out briefly just to see how it handled and it seemed quite nice, of course it wasnt weighed down and wasn't the proper size, but I will have to see if I can have them order the Medium for me to fit properly to me so I can try it out before purchasing it. I need to make sure that I will have options to raise the handles higher for a more comfy position.

There don't seem to be a lot of reviews on the Cannondale T2 online though.

I should probably look around at a few other shops first and try out other touring bikes.

I should note also that I will hopefully be using this to tour Norway this summer. I need to start getting my plans together really soon.

[john_childs]

See if you can get a chance to try riding a fully loaded touring bike. They handle differently when loaded down.

That comfy steel framed bike might turn into a noodle when fully loaded. The front fork and stem is one area that a loaded bike can get a bit noodlely. Bikes with the old school quill style stems can be a problem, especially the longer stems. I'd rather have a bike with an A-head style stem, but that's not a good stem style if you need to raise the handlebars up high. Tradeoffs.

The fat touring tires will take away from the harshness of an aluminum frame.

[siafirede]

The fat touring tires will take away from the harshness of an aluminum frame.

The tires spec'd on the T2 are "fat touring tires" i gather?

[saskatchewanian]

I have done a bit of touring but it was more up north mostly on logging roads and quad trails etc. I have tried the bike loaded down with panniers, towing a Bob and using an Xtracycle extension on my bike.

The Xtra was by far the nicest setup I have used for loaded off-road (or crappy-road) touring.

I am not a big fan on aluminum framed hard-tails but have never used one for touring.

[john_childs]

The tires spec'd on the T2 are "fat touring tires" i gather?

700x32 qualifies as a fat touring tire.

[siafirede]

Anyone have any info on the Surly Long Haul Trucker (http://www.surlybikes.com/lht_comp.html)bike? I have heard this is a pretty decent touring bike as well and wondered how it would compare to the Cannondale T2. Unfortunately I don't think any stores nearby have either bike in my size right now so I can't just go try them out.

It looks like the Surly might have a longer top tube...I guess that makes for a more stretched position which might not be as good as the T2 for a relaxed ride?

[ntappin]

I know there are a couple shops in Ottawa that carry them, and I have seen quite a few people riding them around town, but I haven't tried one yet. They look pretty sweet though.

You could go even more hardcore and get the Big Dummy!

[wickedbob]

I'm planning on getting the long haul trucker this summer, though I'm not doing anything like going across Norway. I've just planned on a week long 500mile ride or so.

From the little I have read they seem to be like a good bike.

[siafirede]

I am going to try out the Long Haul Trucker today after work. I heard back from one of my friends and he said he would recommend the Long Haul Trucker since it is steel and has bar end shifters which are supposedly easy to repair.

[monocyclism]

Hey talking about alternatives to the mono-wheel, what about this? I'm not getting any younger and thought this would ultimately allow me to do just what you are talking about when I can't ride a uni anymore :(

http:www.aarthaus.co.uk/sunrider.html

Built on a recumbent tricycle and made in Europe where apparently most development is taking place. You can even get it with electric motor assist to get up hills. Keeps an old man dry and snug in wind and rain, and you can carry stuff in storage spaces. Flipside? they are relatively expensive. There are videos and stats if you Google: sunrider cycles.

[siafirede]

That looks like it would be painful to climb hills with.

I ended up going with the Surly Long Haul Trucker, the 56cm had a sweet fit on me. I took it for a short 30 mile ride on saturday and it felt great.

I will need to change the seat and pedals though, the seat doesn't seem ideal for touring. Anyone have a good recommendation on a good touring seat?

The pedals are also a bit too narrow for my trail running shoes that I want to ride with, I would like to get some kind of wider pedal with a clip that would fit my shoe.

[wickedbob]

I'm going with the selle anatomica saddle. Nothing but good reviews, I'm not and experienced biker though. If I don't like this I suppose a brooks saddle, have heard good reviews on them as well.
http://www.selleanatomica.com/images/P4030073.JPG (http://w)

[wickedbob]

http://www.mcmwin.com/Rainman%20mtbr.com%20Posts.pdf (http://www.mcmwin.com/Rainman%20mtbr.com%20Posts.pdf)


Made a believer out of me when I read it.

[saskatchewanian]

That looks like a real interesting saddle. Let us know how it works for you.

[wickedbob]

Will do, it might be a while though. I'm supposed to be picking up a bmx, though I have seen some good deals on a few trials bikes, so I might pic one of those up. This is with the money I had for my roadie.

If it works on the bike, I'll have to get one for the coker aswell. I did 20miles on my kh freeride, and I can't help but think about how much better even cheap bike seats are. A large amount of the discomfort is just from being off the saddle for long rides like that for too long, it will be a lot better as I work my way up, first ride of the season always hurts a little when you take a long winter break. I just don't like the unicycle seat, because well its a seat and not a saddle so much. They make me feel as if my legs are somewhat locked it, with a bike seat your legs are more free. I don't like the feeling of having a seat that big at all. I don't see the benefit when you have a handle like the T7 to steer, we don't really need out legs to turn anymore.

[siafirede]

So far my Long Haul Trucker has been doing fine. I have only done one 40 mile ride on it (longest on it so far), the rest has been 15.6mile round trips to work.

The only pain I get when riding is my upper back/neck, I had this with my last road bike too. I still need to play around with the stem/seat position, but I went ahead and ordered some Albatross handlebars after trying them on my friend's touring bike. They put you in an upright position and are quite versatile and comfy.

http://www.rivbike.com/images/products/full/0000/1062/16-127_site_Alba_al_topview.jpg

I would probably add bar ends for another hand position...similar to where brake hoods would be on drops...like this person did:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2592772703_77a1365892.jpg

I am still looking for a good touring seat as well. I am going to look into something like the Terry Liberator seats.

[kerosian]

stay away from leather seats if you want something to just mount and ride, they take a little while to break in. The feel of a new brooks saddle is... uncomfortable. But after a couple rides when the leather softens and conforms to you they're like heaven.

[john_childs]

The only pain I get when riding is my upper back/neck, I had this with my last road bike too.

You can get discomfort in the upper back and neck if the stem is too long for you. Try a shorter stem.

[jtrops]

I've done 1,200 mile self contained trips, and I can say that a good steel frame will be more comfortable for a touring bike. I wouldn't bother trying to test ride a bike fully loaded, as it takes a while to get comfortable on any bike fully loaded. In other words, they will all feel terrible if you aren't used to the load. Once you get used to your bike fully loaded you will understand that it is a completely different thing than a bike with only you on it. After being on a fully loaded bike long enough (more than a few days) to get comfortable on it you will find that an unloaded bike feels squirly, and unpredictable.


With that being said you will want a forgiving frame, and one that can take the load. The fork should have a good amount of rake to absorb road vibration, and you will want a 700x35c-45c tire.

My current "touring bike" is a modified high end mtb frame with a cyclocross fork and adapters for the cati bosses to bring them up about an inch for the 700c rim. I have a Salsa Cyclocross handlebar with SunTour BarCon shifters. I may upgrade to STI shifter/brake levers in the future, but for now this has a nice nostalgic feel. I have old Weinmann concave rims built on Shimano Deore XT hubs with 700x38c slck tires. This is a nice ride, and I really like it for hauling gear.

Anyway, bike touring is a blast and i have met some of the nicest people on the road. On one trip I challenged myself to get a free camp site every night and at the end of 25 days on the road I only had to pay for camping once. It is the best way to see the country by far.

Have fun.

[onewheelburnout]

I did a 1000 mile west coast ride last year on a giant road/cross bike. That bike did not do too well for touring, but it isnt meant for that. This year i am doing a 3000 mile xc ride and i bought a 2006 cannondale t2000. It has Sti shifters which i am familiar with, however it is true that Barcons are much sturdier, and cheaper to replace. I love this bike so far, but have also heard good things about the Surly long haul trucker. I have heard some not so good things about the trek 520 which i also looked at. The most importatnt thing about a touring bike is its geometry, which makes it comfortable for long days as well as being able to handle a load. Dont judge a touring bike by how it handles unloaded. Touring bikes are not meant to be racing bikes, they are meant to get you somewhere with all your stuff.