recommended COMFORTABLE touring bike?

expatCanuck2

Greetings -

I'm looking for recommendations for a bike that'll be used for a (not particularly taxing) daily commute, jaunts around town, and touring. No MTB, no off-road trails.

I currently have a 15-year-old hybrid Aquila, a boutique brand from Racer Sportif in Toronto. It was (and is) a good bike (particularly in its day), but to make it comfortable for me, I had to replace the straight handlebars with drop-downs, and get a significantly longer stem.

Since suffering a ruptured disc (L5-S1) 1.5 years ago, and subsequent (successful) surgery, I can no longer cycle comfortably on the bike, and so am looking for a replacement.

The key factors are:
1) comfort (relaxed geometry, relatively upright ride)
2) weight (the sucker should be reasonably light)
3) rack/pannier friendly

Happily, I'm not unduly constrained by budget, but can't really justfy spending more than $2K US, and then only if I can really feel it in the ride (comfort, handling, shifting). If I can find something suitable for half that, so much the better.

I rode a 54cm Specialized Tricross Sport the other day ($1K), which I found to be rather comfortable -- not crazy about the shifters, tho. (I've got the old-fashioned end of handlbar kind.) The shop didn't have a Tricross Comp available in my size to try. I also rode a Specialized Roubaix, which I did *not* find particularly comfortable -- it required me to be pitched forward more than was comfortable.

There's a good Surly shop 6 miles from home which I plan to check out today (Harris Cyclery) -- perhaps they have a Long Haul Trucker I can check out.

Any and all recommendations / suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

- Richard
[richard AT oldWithoutMoney DOT c o m]

Ming65

I've been happy with my Trek 520 so far. I've been gearing up (and training) for an across australia loaded tour next year. I've read plenty of recomendations for the 520 and my LBS just hapenned to have one that they hadn't been able to sell for over 12 months (touring bikes just aren't sexy) - so I got a great deal.

I achieved a comfortable position after adding a 120 stem and a specialized BG saddle. I put 700*35 tyres on it and do most of my miles on the gravel roads around where I live. It's nice to own a bike that I know will last a few decades - not just a few years.

teigeman

The Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) is perhaps the finest touring/tinkering bike I have ever owned. It combines a fairly upright riding position (at least compared to road bikes) with a great spec.

I use it on tours, downtown rides, as a training bike, heck, it does everything - I've even taken it off road several times. It handles like a dream, even fully loaded down with front and rear panniers. The gearing is perfect, with a low 26 tooth front chainring that'll have you climbing the WALLS it's so easy, but high enough top-end gears to where you can really fly on the flat stuff, too. To be so comfortable, this bike is also very fast if you want it to be.

To build the bike up from a frame, even with a lesser spec, would cost around $1500, but you can buy a complete LHT bike for about a grand. Crazy! Madness! Lunacy, I say!

Check it out: http://www.surlybikes.com/lht_comp.html

peace,

tg

__________________
"...Wow! You won't see THAT sitting on the couch!..."

tg

daveornee

http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2007/touring/sherpa-30.aspx
Rocky Mountain is a Canadia company that also makes other lines.
If the touring versions called Sherpa aren't to your liking, take a look at thier Excursion line.
You can get some height and reach adjustment to the bars with a swap of the stem. If you go with Surly Long Haul Trucker, the factory length steerer is quite long and if not already cut down should allow you a wide choice in stem positions to get just the height and reach you want.
As an aside, I just bought a Surly LHT fork for my 26" custom touring bicycle to help me deal with my position (bar height and reach). The fork is great and the factory length steerer is perfect for my application (stiff back/neck).

__________________
David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

Barn

I own a Cannondale T 2000 and have no compaints abiut it,i think it is a bit more expensive then the ones mentioned.I just spent 4 weeks in France cycling and it worked a treat,not even 1 puncture.Just make sure you get kevler tyres and thorn proof tubes!!!!!

expatCanuck2

Bought the Trek 520 last night. [Yippee-ki-yay!!!]
(Got 20% off a 2006 model - and I rather preferred the green over 2007's black).

Many thanks to all for your input & suggestions.

Ideally, I'd like to find a stem that'll reduce the reach by an inch or so ... either (or both) raise the handlebar or bring it closer.

So ideally, something w/ a greater angle (closer to 180 degrees) and longer.

Any recommendations?

Also - I need to replace the pedals to something that'll take toe clips & straps. Recommendations welcome.

Cheers,

- Richard

daveornee

Yellow Jersey in Madison, WI
http://www.yellowjersey.org/21stcen.html
40 degree stem by MJ Stem.
When you raise the bar at a greater angle it will be closer.
Same place can also help you with pedals, toe clips & straps:
http://www.yellowjersey.org/toeclip.html
If your bicycle came with mountain bicycle style pedals you might want to give them a try with some walkable cleats.... and cycling shoes.
My wife was at first against the idea, but converted after only one ride.
There are also some MTB style pedals that are clipless on one side and open for regular shoes on the other. Shimano makes one and others I think called "Campus pedals".

__________________
David Ornee, Western Springs, IL USA

alfeng

If you want to SIT MORE UPRIGHT, then consider BMX handlebars if you want to elevate your bars and/or a "hi-rise" MTB stem (effective reach is about 90mm & raises the bars by more-than-an-inch over horizontal).

You can, of course, angle the BMX bars to-and-fro to adjust the effective reach to some extent.