Cycling UK Forum

Well, the experiment has begun and I have bought an all original 1990's Trek 830 for the grand sum of £16.50.

Amazingly I think there is a fair amount of it that will remain as it is mostly equipped with Shimano Alivio running gear and is, typical for an mtb of its age, very slightly overbuilt.

I am currently researching racks and panniers, all of which can be reused on a 700c bike if the 26" experiment does not work.

I suggest you only get rear panniers and a rear rack (Tubus is the top brand, and worth the money). If you keep your sleeping gear compact (and there is very nice modern stuff), you can save yourself the weight and expense of front panniers and a front rack. Invest the money saved in a nice down bag and an ultralight matrass from Exped or Thermarest Neoair.

The weakest part on that bike is likely to be the rear wheel. If you want to play safe, get a handbuilt wheel from a reputable builder. And of course, replace all cables, and get new brake pads (Koolstop Salmon are much better than older stuff).

Thanks for the advice on racks, that make life an awful lot easier.

The rear wheel needs replacing anyway as I want to run a 9 speed cassette, so I will build up something nice and robust.

Ryde/Alesa Sputnik/Exal SP 19 (all the same) are probably the stongest touring rim, and not expensive. Get a Shimano LX hub and 36 spokes. But why 9 speed? What do you have now? If it is 8 speed, you can use a cheaper and more robust 8 speed cassette on any modern hub. Or is the rear hub still a freewheel hub rather than a cassette hub?

I haven't pulled the bike to bits yet, but at present it has a seven speed cassette. The reason for going to nine speed is because I have hubs, cassette's, shifter and mechs all in my hoard of parts, so it is an easy / free conversion.

The rims fitted are Weinmann, and seem pretty tough, but I'll look at all the options / alternatives as I start to build it back up again.

First job is to strip it down to component parts, just to check that everything is in good condition inside as well as out.

That sounds like a good plan, even if new rims may possibly be smart. Rims wear, and have also improved quite a bit.

NeilM wrote:I haven't pulled the bike to bits yet, but at present it has a seven speed cassette. The reason for going to nine speed is because I have hubs, cassette's, shifter and mechs all in my hoard of parts, so it is an easy / free conversion.

The rims fitted are Weinmann, and seem pretty tough, but I'll look at all the options / alternatives as I start to build it back up again.

First job is to strip it down to component parts, just to check that everything is in good condition inside as well as out.

If you're worried about the strength of the rear wheel you're better sticking with 7 speed. The extra width of a 9 speed cassette weakens the wheel.

I'm not worried about the strength of anything, the bike is build like a lightweight battle tank.

I prefer smaller wheels, finding the handling more responsive and luggage mounting options more flexible.

I tour on a recumbent with 20" front and 26" rear, my wife's is a 20/20. The wheel size has never been a problem.

My hack bike is a Moulton TSR, also with 20" wheels. I'd have no issues touring on it if the options were other upwrongs. Moulton's AM GT tourer has 17" wheels: add suitable suspension and high pressure tyres and small wheels have a lot going for them. Main thing against is the mistaken assumption that Proper Bikes require Big (ish) Wheels.

Pete.

transmitted from my personal telephony apparatus

NeilM wrote:I'm not worried about the strength of anything, the bike is build like a lightweight battle tank.

Likewise...

Enjoy your tanking....As for panniers, go for 4. Ive got all the lightweight kit but a couple of extra panniers and the freedom it gives far outweighs the limitation of 2 on an extended tour...

Depends on the length of the tour. I am fine for a couple of weeks in Europe with just rear panniers. A few months on a trip away from civilization would be a different thing, of course. I like to travel light. It gets me up the hills a lot easier (I am getting older), and the going is easier on rough tracks. Also, there is less to pack in the morning. It really is a cumulative thing. With compact sleeping kit like a light down bag and a modern ul mattress you usually also save weight, both directly (my bag and mat together are no more than 1 kg), and indirectly because you save an additional 2-2.5 kg on front panniers and a rack. That in turn saves space in the tent.

I find one of the best things about having four panniers (and a saddlebag) is that packing is so easy.
I have plenty of space, panniers can often be allocated one role, so you only go to one pannier for any one activity. I am pretty minimalist with my kit so having four panniers doesnt make me carry more basic kit but I do tend to buy food, drink etc in larger better value quantities.

I shall try both options.

I like the idea of travelling light, old legs see, not so much 'GO' in them as they used to have.

NeilM wrote:I shall try both options.

I like the idea of travelling light, old legs see, not so much 'GO' in them as they used to have.

A saddlebag with do for travelling light. No point in having 5 bags with the contents rattling around.