pete75 wrote:The easiest way to get the touring bike you want is buy the frame you like, buy the components you want on it and build it. That way you get exactly what you require. There's no earthly reason why, for example, all the drive train components should be from the same manufacturer.
syklist wrote:
IMO yes - assuming they are done up properly. You know you can dump the bags on the ground in a hurry and not worry about making them stand up the right way. If they roll into a puddle or other small body of water then the stuff inside and, just as important the inside of the panniers themselves will not get wet.
The other advantage of the roll top closure is that, if at the end of a dry day you do some shopping you can undo the tops of the panniers and put stuff in them and close them with the top cross strap. The bags are no longer watertight but give you a good few litres of extra carrying space.
Gearoidmuar wrote:Apparently, it's recommended nowadays to get Shimano shoes half a size too big. My last several pairs of shoes have been of different makes.
andrew_s wrote:The other one was the Cares gorge (Picos de Europa), which is an unsurfaced track about 2 m wide, with an even higher unprotected drop (though less vertical, mostly). I mostly pushed the bike, as you couldn't both ride and look at the scenery.