Cycling UK Forum

Hello, I've been riding my old mountain bike around for far too long, As i am now starting to trek further into the penines i need something thats a bit faster and easier to ride. i was looking into the possibility of getting a touring bike? Does anyone have any advice ? How much is it likely to cost? what particular makes would you recommend? And would i be best off buying a second hand one?

Minimum requirement for a touring bike is probably a Dawes galaxy/thorn club tour or brevet type effort at around £700 including at least a rear rack and mudgaurds. It may seem a lot but the quality is likely to be worth it (bikes don't break at convenient times.) You can obviously do a lot better by spending more money.

Sounds pretty expensive to me, Do you think it would be worth while looking for a second hand bike?

Why not build your own? Thats what i did. That way you save a bit, It's going to have better specifications than it would if you bought a whole one and it'll be completely to your taste!

Adam

Very possibly worth getting a second hand one iff you can find the right thing. I've found I go through wheels, chains and cassettes, tyres and brake pads on my galaxy. If they're all in good condition you may be getting a real bargain. If not you may have to spend more on it, but you would be getting your first choice components.

I was looking on the Ridgeback website and i saw the Genesis day 1 and day 2 which both looked pretty good, does anyone know weither one of these would be a good choice?

I think they both have falt handlebars, which some people like but I find are harder to use (less comfy riding position over any real distance and tough on the wrists.) I didn't mention a couple of budget touring bikes do exist (dawes horizon etc) at around £400. They aren't as high quality as the ones I mentioned before but may be a good compromise.

adam, I am looking at getting a tourer in the near future too but am still make up my mind what to get. However, I think the ctc magazine earlier this year gave a pretty good review of the Edinburgh Cycles Country which costs about £400. I don't know if anybody out there has any experience of this bike, but that might one to look at. Regards.

Thanks guys, Ill check out both of them, but i think ill end up getting a second hand bike to be honest.

I cant recommend sitting on ebay and watching the bids enough. Do a search for touring bikes. I bought a mercian king of mercia earlier this year for £170 with rack and panniers. Very much a touring bike, but what a find, rides like a good road bike without the extras when I can. Hand built in mid seventies, classic english touring frame in Reynolds 531. I have successfully completed a Pyrenees and Scottish tour with regular day rides out in the lakes. Beats spending £1500 any day!

Yeh, i've had a look on ebay and some of the bikes seem pretty good value . As soon as i get the money together i'll get bidding

Avoid the Raleigh Aveo like the plague, it's not a touring bike, it's a cheap and nasty sports bike with gearing way too high for touring, and, after a mountain bike,it will seem a very harsh ride.
A second hand tourer is by far your best option.

Hello, like you I am just starting out and managed to get a touring bike 2nd hand to start-peugeot 21 gears complete with rack and bags off car boot for 50 quid also basic racer for 10 quid-would recommend car boots/ ebay and the loot newspaper to start you off!

There is a lot of rubbish about modern bikes. You can spend over £3,000 on a bike (if you are daft enough) but remember this advice "It isn't the bike that climbs the hills - it's the guy riding it" The main thing is to buy a bike which is strong and reliable. You wont need more than 12 gears as you will get so confused trying to sort them out. I have climbed in the Alps with 12 gears the lowest was about 45 inches but it is easier - and slower - to use even lower gears. Don't bother about fancy Italian equipment that will cost the earth, Mr. Campag gets all him money from people who know no better.
Enjoy your cycling.

You could potentially transform your older mountain bike by putting some slick tyres, mudguards and bar ends on it.

The trouble with buying secondhand is that you will be tempted to go for a "bargain" that is the wrong size or spec. Also if parts are worn out, you could wind up spending a lot of money sorting things out. You may also find some parts on old bikes are pretty much obsolete and therefore hard to replace.