I've just started looking at bikes for a 3 week tour of the Pacific coast, Vancouver to San Fran, next year. Apart from hoping the touring bug bites, it will double as my regular Winter/bad weather road bike. Most probably OTP cos I CNBA building it, plus fit-for-purpose tourers seem to be well-specced from what I can see. Budget <1k.
Any views on (a) Genesis Tour de Fer vs (b) Planet X London Road? The TdF appeals, being ready to go with racks/guards (saves faffing), looks lovely, I'm old and like steel, and I can test ride it at the LBS. The PX on the other hand looks like excellent VFM, I'm used to SRAM gear, and it looks lighter and closer being a fast Winter road bike (not that speed is a priority).
Or any other obvious options?
Tour de Fer is the proper tourer, I'd go for the Croix de Fer with carbon fork that you can happily ride everyday in with the occasional loaded touring.
IMHO, the Equilibrium Disc 10 is a great winter bike with light touring on the side, you spend all your time riding winter bike either way.
I've just started looking at bikes for a 3 week tour of the Pacific coast, Vancouver to San Fran, next year. Apart from hoping the touring bug bites, it will double as my regular Winter/bad weather road bike. Most probably OTP cos I CNBA building it, plus fit-for-purpose tourers seem to be well-specced from what I can see. Budget <1k.
Any views on (a) Genesis Tour de Fer vs (b) Planet X London Road? The TdF appeals, being ready to go with racks/guards (saves faffing), looks lovely, I'm old and like steel, and I can test ride it at the LBS. The PX on the other hand looks like excellent VFM, I'm used to SRAM gear, and it looks lighter and closer being a fast Winter road bike (not that speed is a priority).
Or any other obvious options?