Is there a flat bar, bike ideal for touring?

dobo · Post by **dobo** » 2 Jul 2008, 7:35pm

can anybody recommend a flat bar bike, ideal for touring.not wanting to pay much more than 400 quid.

jonesec · Post by **jonesec** » 3 Jul 2008, 6:31pm

I have a trek flat bar road bike which I have used for lots of touring. Had to fit a rear rack and also have mud guards. It's quite old now but was about £500. I love it - it's been brilliant and is really comfy. Have put chunkier tyres on it but that was only because were doing some rough surfaces in Norway.

dobo · Post by **dobo** » 4 Jul 2008, 8:41am

thanks for replying.
regards alan

pjclinch · Post by **pjclinch** » 4 Jul 2008, 9:54am

Pretty much any hybrid at your budget that's got a rack (and mudguards too, if it'll be wet) and decent touring tyres should be fine. At that sort of price all the major manufacturers turn in similar good value and pretty competent bikes, you just can't go too far wrong.

Pete.

simonhill · Post by **simonhill** » 5 Jul 2008, 4:15pm

Can't remember the model name, but Marin do a city bike which has had good reports for touring. It has a Cro Mo frame, 26" wheels and with a few mods (mudguareds, h'bar stem, rack) will make and excellent all pourpose fairly rugged tourer.

Get their catalogue, or go online to find the model.

davidm · Post by **davidm** » 8 Jul 2008, 5:10pm

I was going through the same thought process a few years ago, i ended up buying a Dawes, previous years model at a good price.
I rode a few miles on it and really was not happy with the ride, or quality.

I decided to cut my loses, and looked around for a better quality secondhand bike. What a result bought a Campag equiped Roberts Roughstuff for the sort of money you are looking to spend.
The bike is fantastic, rides beutifully on the road, and equally as well off road.

I cannot see myself ever going for the factory off the peg stuff again, but would always look for the higher end bike secondhand, or spend the extra few quid.

SJS used to put a few good seconhand bikes (not necessarily their own make) on ebay, don't know if they still do.

Good luck

vernon · Post by **vernon** » 8 Jul 2008, 8:04pm

davidm wrote:I was going through the same thought process a few years ago, i ended up buying a Dawes, previous years model at a good price.
I rode a few miles on it and really was not happy with the ride, or quality.

I decided to cut my loses, and looked around for a better quality secondhand bike. What a result bought a Campag equiped Roberts Roughstuff for the sort of money you are looking to spend.
The bike is fantastic, rides beutifully on the road, and equally as well off road.

I cannot see myself ever going for the factory off the peg stuff again, but would always look for the higher end bike secondhand, or spend the extra few quid.

SJS used to put a few good seconhand bikes (not necessarily their own make) on ebay, don't know if they still do.

Good luck

I have a Ridgeback Horizon that's about 10 years old that makes for a reasonable tourer. I can not comment on the more recent models as I have not ridden one.

SJS do still place traded in bikes on Ebay but you have to check regularly as they aren't regular offerings.

Nerazzurri · Post by **Nerazzurri** » 8 Jul 2008, 10:47pm

I don't know if it's of any use to you, but I recently bought a GT bike and I'm impressed with the build quality - always one of the first things I note with any product.