Author Topic: Bike style  (Read 11293 times)

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Offline Awf Hand

Bike style
« on: March 12, 2010, 01:48:49 pm »
Hey all, first time reader, first time poster.

I'm curious as to what bike style most folks choose for road/RR trail touring?  My bike is a hybrid (700-40) currently setup for commuting with a rear rack, lights, fenders (fully nerdified) and I plan to use it for (my first time) touring.  Will I be at a huge disadvantage compared to those folks riding a drop-bar, roadie-style bike with 700-30's??
Or, is it just about what is comfortable and familiar..?

What do people who regularily tour use and why??

Lucky13

  • Guest
Re: Bike style
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2010, 04:59:34 pm »
Huge disadvantage? No, of course not. People have toured successfully, and happily, on all manner of bicycles.

A hybrid bike can make for a perfectly fine touring bike. If it meets the basic requirements, then you should be good to go:

It's comfortable
It has strong wheels
It has low gears

Many folks would be at a disadvantage on a thin-tire, drop-bar road bike. That would include me.

Offline johnsondasw

Re: Bike style
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2010, 11:48:42 pm »


What do people who regularily tour use and why??

They use whatever they like, can afford, and they find most comfortable.  I've always used a drop handlebar type, for 30 years now.  the past few years, I've used a carbon fiber racing type with a 2-wheeled Burley Nomad trailer.
May the wind be at your back!

Offline tonythomson

Re: Bike style
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2010, 05:20:28 am »
A H - you'll be fine, you can get too carried away sometimes in trying to find the "right bike" - went round Sumatra once on a local Indian built bike, all I did was buy a rear single speed cog off a rickshaw rider to give me a low gear and had a great time.

If you asked the question on this forum "which is the right bike and components?" the thread would never end LOL

The two previous posts are absolutely right.  My only advise would be to add a mirror.

Go for it & have fun
Tony
Just starting to record my trips  www.tonystravels.com

Offline bogiesan

Re: Bike style
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2010, 12:03:33 pm »
Will I be at a huge disadvantage compared to those folks riding a drop-bar, roadie-style bike with 700-30's??

The use of the word "disadvantage" suggests you are concerned with getting there rather than the traveling. You look at your mileage or speed goals and your economic and physical resources and then make intelligent compromises. For me, that's a long wheel base recumbent which is a style statement all on its own.

david boise ID
I play go. I use Macintosh. Of course I ride a recumbent

Offline John Driz

Re: Bike style
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2010, 12:40:00 am »
Hey Awf Hand, I just was checking out Nashbar's website and you could get a touring frame for $99.00  It would be worth it if you had the components to finish it off.  Just a thought though if you were looking for something more custom
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/TopCategory_10053_10052_200334_-1_200274_N

Offline rvklassen

Re: Bike style
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2010, 01:18:16 pm »
As you included rails-to-trails what you have seems ideally suited.  A road bike with narrow tires is severely limited if you take it off road.