Touring on a road bike?

runner_guy2381

I'm a 19 and planning my first tour. I've been a runner and swimmer forever and have recently gotten into biking. I bought a cannondale road bike with a CAAD8 frame last spring. I'm looking to start big by riding across the country.
I'm wondering if anyone has experience touring on a road bike. I'm sure I can switch out the tires, but i'm mainly concerned about whether the bike will be able to handle a loaded rear wheel and whether or not the handling will be greatly affected?
I'm hoping to not have to buy a special bike for this tour since most of my riding will be with racing in mind, and i'm trying to save up for a higher end race or tri bike.

daveornee

It is hard to safelyconveniently mount much to the frame of a racing bicycle.
However, a trailer such as a BOB will work. I suggest getting as big a size tires as you can fit. The other issue will be gearing low enough to pull the extra weight/wind load. I suggest looking into a mountain bicycle rear derailer along with a "new" cassette with 32 or 34 largest cog and a longer chain to go along with it. I suggest trying it out with full load and into a 20 MPH wind and a 8% grade to make sure.... before taking off. You might also look into what the smallest front chain ring you can mount/shift with your FD.

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David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

drfish

I have been amazed at what I see on the trans am. I have seen lots of guys riding road bikes with really narrow tires pulling bobs, they seem to do just fine. The keep your legs, knees and other body parts in good shape for when your old you could look into a big rear block, you may need a new rear changer but it might be worth it. In the early days of touring we or at least I toured with a short WB big geared bike and had a great trip.

I am sure that it will handle like a loaded bike but by the time your a week into the trip you will wonder why you even worried.

I would look at putting the biggest rubber you can on the wheels within reason, it will help smooth out the road. 700-28or32 might be a good choice.

runner_guy2381

Thanks for the reply's. So you don't think I should even try to load stuff on the bike, but just pull it with some kind of trailer?

drfish

Not knowing what the actual model of cannondale you have its a little hard.

If it is a short wheel based, tight road frame, without braze ons buy a trailer of some sort. There is a large wheeled, trailer where the gear is hung in bag off an intergrated rack, might be worth looking at. Do a google for extrawheel.

If its a long wheel based bike with ample rack mounts, the worlds you pineapple!

richy

I'm assuming by 'road bike' you mean racing bike? Touring bikes are also road bikes, and they (rather obviously) are perfect for touring.

But first, I'm wondering why you want to ride across the country after just getting into cycling. The transam is long and arduous, and quite a time commitment as well. Short tours are a great introduction, and can be a lot more fun as well, since you can skip the boring parts (such as the plains).

That said, there are many reasons not to tour on a racing bike. They aren't built to hold racks. While you can mount racks with clamps, carbon tubes don't like being squeezed. The wheelbase is too short, the BB too high, the gears aren't low enough, the wheels aren't strong enough, and with most modern racers, there isn't enough tire clearance for anything wider than a 25. You want to minimize the chance of breakdowns, and this implies a strong, reliable bike, as conventional as possible.

THAT said, many do tour on racing bikes, particularly with trailers, as others have pointed out. But I wouldn't do it.

Rich Haubert

Nature Geek

Hey,

I'm in the same predicament. I have a R500 cannondale racing bike. I am planning on going form Vancouver to San Diego this summer. I actually just bought the bike yesterday. I decided agaisnt a touring bike for your same reason, because I want to do triathalons when I get back, and so thought it would be wiser to spend the money on a bike I will get more use of in the future. I'm thionking of taking a bob trailer because thinking the panniers maybe too heavy for the road bike.
But, I am now second guessing my purchase....

So, let me know what you end up doing. Take care and happy adventure planning!

mikesbytes

The #1 tip is to take aboslutley as little as possible. Every item adds up to more weight.

Let me repeat that;

Take the bare minimum

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Training Log

Fango

I am in a similar position - I have a Specialized Allez Double, which has mounting points for rear panniers.

Just wondering how much weight you'd recommend putting in panniers? I have contacted the manufacturers, but they haven't replied.

I am in the UK, thinking about doing London-Edinburgh (about 510 miles) and staying in youth-hostels along the way. I'd go as light as possible - waterproofs, a spare set of bib shorts & jersey and a towel.

Any advice?

daveornee

Cardice saddle bag with your gear stowed in it. Lighter than rack + panniers and you don't need to be concerned about your heels hitting the panniers.
I have seen many "tourers" who do camp/cook with this arrangement. Since you won't ever be far from "civilization" you can get by with very little. I suggest a all-in-one bicycle tool set from a company like Park + spare tube + patch kit + pump (Road Morph is my favorite). If your tires can't make the round trip it may be a good time to swap them out before leaving or have a bicycle freindly shop picked out where you can do it on route.

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David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

Fango

Thanks for the advice. Something like the Carradice SQR Tour looks ideal.

daveornee

Looks good, but I would consider a quality aluminum seat post.

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David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

daveornee

Another thought, if you want to "spread the load" and you want to have easy/quick access to your map:
http://www.topeak.com/2007/products...ourguidehbb.php
Having a small and light handlebar bag with a clear map pocket on top is very nice.
Topeak has a nice selection of bags, racks, tools, and pumps. I am spoiled with the Road Morph pump and Alien tool. I also like their OS/Tubular rack W/ULock and MTX Rack-Top Bag for commuting. Maybe a cruize through Topeak's website would enlighten you on their items.
I tried their super lightweight tents and think they are very interesting. I got stuck in a rain/sleet/snow storm once far enough from any civilization to pull off the road and setup my "instant cowboy camp" until the storm was past. topeaks tent allowed me to stay warm/safe/dry. I am not selling Topeak products, but they are very well designed and unique. (Don't know if Space Blankets are still avialable but I don't hike/boat/bicycle very far into the "unknown" without one).

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David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

richy

Sounds like you have the right idea with carrying a minimum amount. An Allez is a nice bike, and as you mentioned has rear rack mounts. I would use a standard Blackburn style rack (plenty of cheap used ones) and almost any set of rear panniers. You should be able to get everything in smallish panniers, with nothing on top of the rack. With food the panniers really shouldn't weigh more than about 8kg. Use a 23 in front and 25 in back for smooth roads - 25 and 28 if you expect rough or dirt, assuming you have the tire clearance with your frame. Make sure your spokes are tight enough, and carry spare spokes and either tools to remove the cassette or one of the those fiber-fix emergency spokes.