HI
Im planning a 2 month tour through Vietnam, and have a specialised stumpjumper comp mountain bike, any comments as to whether this will be a suitable bike to tour?
Touring on a mountain bike?
-
Nurgles
Re:Touring on a mountain bike?
Spent some time in Cambodia earlier this year on my Cannodale F600.I like this bike which I use everyday to commute to work but much prefer a more standard touring bike for doing exactly that.I did use 1.95 Maxxis Worm Drive but much prefer the Panaracer Pasela Tour Guard with Kevlar which I now use and which would have been better for touring.
My opinion is dont use a MTB(unless you havnt got another bike) ,dont use full suspension or disc brakes and dont go to Vietnam.Go to Laos.You will enjoy it much more
Phil
My opinion is dont use a MTB(unless you havnt got another bike) ,dont use full suspension or disc brakes and dont go to Vietnam.Go to Laos.You will enjoy it much more
Phil
-
Stuart
Re:Touring on a mountain bike?
lf you're carrying a lot of gear you may wish to pull a trailer.
The edinburgh bike co-op sell a bob-yak copy for £125.
The edinburgh bike co-op sell a bob-yak copy for £125.
-
tomjw
Re:Touring on a mountain bike?
Just put some dual purpose tyres on (Continental Travel Contact are fine) get some reasonable panniers (Altura are good and not too dear) & maybe a handlebar bag. A pump like Topeak Mountain Morph (light but you can inflate tyres to high pressure wih no sweat). You can have an enjoyable tour on an MTB - plus rough tracks, bad roads are no problem.
-
biking-geordie
Re:Touring on a mountain bike?
Go for it on a mountain bike. Avoid the seatpost racks - anything over a few pounds in weight and they'll struggle over long days on poor roads.
I first toured on a Specialized Rockhopper in 1985 in India. No problems and have used MTB's for touring (and everything else) ever since.
Fitting racks? Check out www.oldmanmountain.com. They make excellent racks which attach to the Q/R skewer - bomb-proof. I have front and rear racks on my current bike - a 2004 Stumpjumper Comp Disc. If your front hub is a Specialized Stout Hub, you'll need to get a normal sized axle in there first to replace the Specilized Q/R skewer and then insert the elongated Q/R skewer (it comes with the rack) through that to hold the rack in place. (This only applies to the front however - rear rack goes on without problem.)
Old Man Mountain Racks can be bought from Carradice in the UK.
Want proof? Check out www.roundtheworldbybike.com. 45,000 miles in 4 years literally around the world - on a Specialized Rockhopper.
Have fun in Vietnam.
I first toured on a Specialized Rockhopper in 1985 in India. No problems and have used MTB's for touring (and everything else) ever since.
Fitting racks? Check out www.oldmanmountain.com. They make excellent racks which attach to the Q/R skewer - bomb-proof. I have front and rear racks on my current bike - a 2004 Stumpjumper Comp Disc. If your front hub is a Specialized Stout Hub, you'll need to get a normal sized axle in there first to replace the Specilized Q/R skewer and then insert the elongated Q/R skewer (it comes with the rack) through that to hold the rack in place. (This only applies to the front however - rear rack goes on without problem.)
Old Man Mountain Racks can be bought from Carradice in the UK.
Want proof? Check out www.roundtheworldbybike.com. 45,000 miles in 4 years literally around the world - on a Specialized Rockhopper.
Have fun in Vietnam.