New Touring Bike Suggestions

[robmay]

My wife and I will be doing more unsupported touring and need some bike suggestions. I ride 10,000mi/yr and have done so for 30+ years. She is moving away from "the dark side" (runner) and has joined me on many supported rides and tours of Europe etc. We love our lugged steel bikes, so we do not need frame material suggestions; however, a couple of questions remain.

1. she is recovering from a cervical fusion, a couple of falls and is a little tentative descending... should we be thinking about 26" wheels vs 700c?
2. she is 5'5', 110 lbs currently riding a 52cm frame... should we be thinking about a 48 or 50cm frame

We would like to achieve maximum stability for her bike and her confidence.... Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

[FredHiltz]

Are your respective fears of an upset great enough to consider a tricycle?

Fred

[paddleboy17]

I don't think I understand why or how wheel size would contribute to stability.  Generally you might choose 26" or 700C for other compelling reasons.  The frame size needs to be chosen based on fit.  Her leg length would determine frame size, but torso length would also be an important consideration.  I think you really need to work with a trusted bike shop.  Longer frames are more stable, and a stem shorter than 75mm is going to compromise stability.

Given the trauma that she has gone through, maybe a recumbent or even a recumbent trike would be worth looking at.  My wife also has stability issues, mostly because she has not ridden a bike in 20 years and lacks confidence.  I bought her a recumbent trike and it is a pretty fun bike.  I would have to think about how to mount bags on it but I am sure I could do something with a trailer. Unfortunately I think the only touring I could ever talk my wife into is going from one B&B to another B&B.

Good luck in your search.

[bogiesan]

Tandem trike. Visit hostelshoppe.com

http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Bike=1139351005

Then research touring on tandem trikes on crazyguy.

Mounting touring equipment on a trike is no different from mounting bags and stuff on a conventional bike, racks and braze-ons and eyelets. Most trike mfrs have proprietary bag systems and they can get expensive. But there's no reason to scrimp on touring equipment if you're buying new bikes.

[Miller]

If she is committed to an upright bike I would think that wider tires, a long wheelbase, and front panniers would all contribute to stability. It might also be important for her to have brakes with excellent stopping power so that she can easily control the speed of her descent. I have found the cantilever brakes on my LHT to be less than sufficient in this regard and I will be switching to v-brakes. Others can advise you on disc brakes or other options...

[DanE]

The touring bicycles my wife and I use to have had different size wheels, and it made things more difficult. We each had to have our own tubes and spare tires packed for the trip and could not rely on the others supply.

Tire selection in smaller size frames is usually a matter of fit. My suggestion is choose a bike that fits your wife whether it has 26" or 700C wheels, just make sure that it has the proper fit for her. Then you as the hubby should get a bike with the same size tires. Then when you tour you will only need one size of tube and one size of spare. It makes life easier.