Touring Equipment

So, I hit the dreaded three-oh this August, and have made a silly decision to ride to Spain as some kind of a send off to my youth.

Normally, I would just build something up from a nice 531(st?) frame and bits from this here forum, but my decision happened to coincide with my work deciding to run cyclescheme for the first time, so I figure I might as well spunk a grand (it's free money if you don't have to pay it back in one go, obviously...)

I don't really want to get a full-on tourer with discs etc, as we are planning on travelling extremely light and passing out under a bivvy every night after several bottles of Bordeaux. It would probably also get used for my daily 14 mile flat commute, so I don't want a total tank. I would also like something at least a little bit cool if that is at all possible, most of the new bikes I have looked at make me want to do a sick.

Alternative is to just spend my voucher on a Dolan track and build up a tourer from bits...

tl;dr: cyclescheme voucher burning a hole, tell me what to buy

This looks like a possible solution, the flat bar version is even cheaper

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFF2TIA/planet-x-kaffenback-2-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

http://www.planetx.co.uk/readers-rides/q/model-KAF
http://www.planetx.co.uk/readers-rides/your-ride/q/2008131219_darius_small-kaffenback

…..It would probably also get used for my daily 14 mile flat commute, so I don't want a total tank. ….

This is quite an important point. Do you want to spend £1000 on bike that will be used for commuting (even if its free money ;-))?

All those nice new components getting dust, dirt and rainwater/puddle water in and leaving it locked up outside!

Maybe you get your get 531 frame set and build that up for commuting and then use the ride-2-work voucher for a fair-weather bike which you can use on summer tours and sunny weekends.

Carbonz & Ultegra

Alu & Disks

Cinelli

cheers, I did actually look at the Kaffenback.

I've never had disks before though, they scare me a little. Thoughts on this?

http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m89b0s799p12664/2014_GENESIS_Equilibrium_10_Ex-Display_Road_Bike_58cm

This is quite an important point. Do you want to spend £1000 on bike that will be used for commuting (even if its free money ;-))?

All those nice new components getting dust, dirt and rainwater/puddle water in and leaving it locked up outside!

Maybe you get your get 531 frame set and build that up for commuting and then use the ride-2-work voucher for a fair-weather bike which you can use on summer tours and sunny weekends. Will live inside also.

Carbonz & Ultegra

Alu & Disks

Cinelli

Very good point, but I already have an Colnago which is my ultimate fair weather bike : ) She will not see rain!

I don't think I will be commuting in all weathers (it is a commute for pleasure and fitness through countryside as opposed to necessity/parking etc), so whilst I don't want something AMAZING, it is not a problem having something half decent.

I have seen that Planet X Ultegra deal before, unbelievable bargain, and have actually recommended it to somebody.

^^ I've had it glowingly recommended to me by the owner of a bike shop and that shop didn't actually sell Genesis.

yep, I've read lots of good reports, same with this http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/24251/products/tifosi-ck7-audax-grey-veloce-audax-sportive-bike.aspx

I guess it is Tiagra + Steel vs Alu + Veloce

Any bike will be fine, even the cheap road bike with Claris is more than enough (as long it doesn't have a alu fork and tight clearance that you can only run up to 25mm tyres on).

Good example is the Btwin Triban 3.

So, I hit the dreaded three-oh this August, and have made a silly decision to ride to Spain as some kind of a send off to my youth.

Normally, I would just build something up from a nice 531(st?) frame and bits from this here forum, but my decision happened to coincide with my work deciding to run cyclescheme for the first time, so I figure I might as well spunk a grand (it's free money if you don't have to pay it back in one go, obviously...)

I don't really want to get a full-on tourer with discs etc, as we are planning on travelling extremely light and passing out under a bivvy every night after several bottles of Bordeaux. It would probably also get used for my daily 14 mile flat commute, so I don't want a total tank. I would also like something at least a little bit cool if that is at all possible, most of the new bikes I have looked at make me want to do a sick.

Alternative is to just spend my voucher on a Dolan track and build up a tourer from bits...

tl;dr: cyclescheme voucher burning a hole, tell me what to buy

My Boardman CX team. Will do everything you want from a bike and more. It really is excellent. After some tweaking of brakes and finishing kit, it's really the perfect all rounder. It's not flashy, but it rides great. Tow paths, loaded on the back, road rides, commuting... Laps it all up.

I'm planning my first bike tour for this summer. Thinking about travelling along the northern coast of France through Belgium and into Holland.

I'm after a bike but I have no idea what I am looking for. I have been looking at the AWOL which looks like it could fit the bill or alternatively would I be better with something like the Secteur sports disc? which comes with both fender and rack mounts. Would the awol be a bit overkill for this type of trip?

Any advice anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated as I have no idea what I should be looking for.

Got a bike already? why don't you use that?

Nobody need a touring bike, unless they're planned to spend a very long time on the road.

I have a road bike but i wouldnt want to tour on it and no rack mounts means moving stuff might be an issue.

Not really, there are other way, such as bikepacking.

If you're very comfortable with your road bike, you can look for a similar version (like the Roubaix to from Tarmac) that likely to have mount for rack.

Secteur Sports Disc will be more than apt, just replace the cable housing with compressionless, tougher rear tyres, rack and bob your uncle.

If you enjoy your road bike, then bikepack...

If this had been a road bike with gears and brakes I would have added a bar bag, maybe a top of top tube pack... And with more planning a bigger top tube bag (Ed posted me that one a couple of days before I set off)

Not a bad way to tour really, if you pack light. That was me for over 2 weeks from Northern France to Spain.

My Boardman CX team. Will do everything you want from a bike and more. It really is excellent. After some tweaking of brakes and finishing kit, it's really the perfect all rounder. It's not flashy, but it rides great. Tow paths, loaded on the back, road rides, commuting... Laps it all up.[/QUOTE]

What tyres have you got on there? Silly question, but what's the deal with the disc brakes, is it just for extra stopping power when fully loaded? Always assumed they weigh a tonne? Guess I am wrong.

I'm not too fussed about a 'specific' tourer, but most I get attracted to at the moment have no eyes...

Edit: above seems like a good option....I initially suggested riding there fixed, but was told to GTFO. Probably for the best! Were you B&B-ing/hosteling?

Disc brakes mean you no longer have to worry about the brake limitation, only the tyres.

When I went on a wet club ride in Surreys, I was always the last one to brakes on a descent, not because of my awesome descending skill (it wasn't, it was more of a wet trout escaping the grasp of a Welshman), but because I can come to a full emergency stop without having to wait a few moment before the brake pads removed the moisture from the rims.

Tyres are 32c paselas, good allround tyres, roll nicely on the road and enough grip to getaway with a bit of light, dry off road.

Disc brakes don't weigh a great deal really, and give good reliable all weather performance, and no worn rims to worry about... think the bike comes in about 12kg with rack, guards and those tyres. No featherweight but really not bad for such a tough and versatile bike. Don't really notice the weight...

Hostels and BBs... Ha! No, we camped, pretty rough, if going again I'd take a thicker sleeping bag (took a super lightweight junglebag) and an inflatable matt for sure. The nights were cold and uncomfortable.

Ha! ^^^ That is exactly what I have pictured for sleeping arrangements. The fear is we will stay somewhere with no suitable trees...

Thanks for the advice, the road bike i currently ride is a specialized allez and was my first road bike, so it is as it came from the shop not exactly set up properly for me which means any more than 40 miles and my back starts to ache.. hence the reason for a suitable bike for touring.. i will have a look into the secteur..

Sound like the Allez was ill fitted, and likely to be the wrong size for you.

Best to pop into a reputable LBS and ask their advice, test ride two different sizes bicycle and see which felt the most comfortable in term of reach (i.e. doesn't feel like you have to hold your head up in order to look ahead, less pressure on hand, etc.).

When riding on the hoods, i would definately be more comfortable if the bars were a few cm's closer.. would that be just the stem length or a combination of the stem and frame size?

You can amend that by buying a slightly shorter stem, the staff should have fitted you correctly without resorting to buying more component to make it fit you better.

Shorter stem will make the bike feel twitchier, but won't make it so, it's something you can get used to in no time.

It sound like you'll benefit from the Secteur one size smaller than your Allez, the other advantage of the Secteur is that the handlebar is higher than the Allez, meaning the position will feel similar, just shorter with more seatpost showing (more comfortable).

Could try something like this, never done it myself, but it's a good ideal.
What time of the year did you go at TM? were mosquitoes and issue?

All right, now that we're all set up, let's go into town.
oh, wait...

Not dissing the idea, just saying that it takes a bit more planning and possibly sacrificing some convenience.

^^ Takes about the same time to build up as a bike. Is not cheap at all. Neglects the beauty and advantages of being with your bike. It's a lose-lose tent if you ask me.

@Agatee: I recommend you go to a proper LBS and get a professional bike fit, then check out the Bikepacking Thread. Gonna save you a lot of money in the long run and will give you more pleasure as well on your regular rides on that bike. Assuming with northern coast of France you mean to go from Bretagne to Holland, which isn't all too far and no rough terrain at all, so your road bike should do just fine. However, if you feel you're gonna need shitloads of stuff on the road (which you don't) you might want to look for something with racks and panniers.