Touring Bike Advice

[Dupont]

Hello everyone.

I have decided to get back into cycling after a ten year break. I used to be well into it, touring and all sorts then grandkids and life kind of got in the way.

I have plenty of gear like pannier bags, helmets, glasses, gloves, bottles, lights etc.

However, I don't have a touring bike as such. Well I do have a Dawes Kalahari in great condition, but I bought it off eBay and it is too small. Lesson learned!

Can anyone recommend a decent touring bike to load up and gently ride all day? I am 57 so won't be going round the world or breaking speed records.

Would like the option for front panniers and a few drinks holders.

My budget is £600 to £1000 at a stretch.

Any advice gratefully accepted.

[keyboardmonkey]

…

My budget is £600 to £1000 at a stretch.

Any advice gratefully accepted.

Have a read of this, admittedly flawed, summary of touring bikes linked to in another thread to give you an idea of what’s currently out there. Then, given your budget, look on this forum and elsewhere for second hand examples of bikes that more or less meet your criteria…

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/buying-guides ... uring-bike

[Dupont]

Thanks that was a great article. All bikes just a bit above my budget though.

[MrsHJ]

But you write as though you do have a bike even if not a tourer? I”d start by doing whatever you can on that bike and buying a tourer if you still enjoy it rather than making a major spending decision at the beginning.

[PT1029]

Starting with your Kalahari, it is not that bad a bike except: -
It is too small.
It will have a screw on free wheel rear hub - more prone to axle breakage

If you go for something similar to your Kalahari, except;
It is the correct size
Has a cassette type rear hub (far less prone to axle breakage), see https://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html for further info on this. If the bike you buy is 8 speed (at the back) or more, it will be a cassette hub.

... then you should have something reasonable. Flat/butterfly or dropped bars can be your choice (I'd say only go for drops if you are used to them already). Aim for similar width tyres as the Kalahari, and a similar (or better, lower) bottom gear for steep hills.
While I have not given you any specific models to look at, you have a few pointers in the right direction.
If the Kalahari can be made to reasonably fit you in the interim, you will gain a better insight into what you want/need.

Sometimes you get good used tourers for sale on here in the sales section you may well then get a bike well above your budget at a cost within your budget. THere are 1 or 2 for sale at the moment, but I don't know what size you need. Also plenty of light thin tyred fast bikes that are not what you are looking for.

[al_yrpal]

Put an ad in the 'Wanted' section here stating your size and needs. See what you get.

Al

[simonhill]

A lot of people tour on old style mountain bikes. Steel frame, no suspension.

Wheels are often robust, add decent tyres, fit rack and mudguards.

You can often find decent, but old examples for sale. Worth keeping you eyes open when looking around. Plenty are sitting unused in garages.

[pwa]

Hello everyone.

I have decided to get back into cycling after a ten year break. I used to be well into it, touring and all sorts then grandkids and life kind of got in the way.

I have plenty of gear like pannier bags, helmets, glasses, gloves, bottles, lights etc.

However, I don't have a touring bike as such. Well I do have a Dawes Kalahari in great condition, but I bought it off eBay and it is too small. Lesson learned!

Can anyone recommend a decent touring bike to load up and gently ride all day? I am 57 so won't be going round the world or breaking speed records.

Would like the option for front panniers and a few drinks holders.

My budget is £600 to £1000 at a stretch.

Any advice gratefully accepted.

You could keep looking at the ads on this forum. Just as an example,
viewtopic.php?t=157737
Obviously you will need to look closely at the sizing of any bike found this way.

[Bonefishblues]

OP, what size are you looking for?

[Dupont]

OP, what size are you looking for?

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The Dawes Kalahari that I have just doesn't work for me. If it did I would keep it, but it is just too small for me to be comfortable on. I am 5' 11" and the Dawes is an 18" frame. I need the next size up.

[Dupont]

OP, what size are you looking for?

The last drop bar bike I had was a 56cm Specialized Tricross. That was quite a while back though.

[PH]

My budget is £600 to £1000 at a stretch.

Any advice gratefully accepted.

Plenty of choice within that budget. You could look at Decathlons Riverside rage, I think the flat bar version is around £700 and gets good reviews, I know someone who's happy with theirs. For a more traditional steel bike with rim brakes, you could buy the Spa Tourer with flat bars, currently just within your budget. Or, if there's some decent components of your current bike, buy the frameset and swap them over.
There's are some real secondhand bargains about, particularly if you stick with rim brakes which have fallen out of fashion. I had trouble finding a buyer for my Hewitt tourer last year, ended up having to strip and sell as parts.

[Bonefishblues]

My budget is £600 to £1000 at a stretch.

Any advice gratefully accepted.

Plenty of choice within that budget. You could look at Decathlons Riverside rage, I think the flat bar version is around £700 and gets good reviews, I know someone who's happy with theirs. For a more traditional steel bike with rim brakes, you could buy the Spa Tourer with flat bars, currently just within your budget. Or, if there's some decent components of your current bike, buy the frameset and swap them over.
There's are some real secondhand bargains about, particularly if you stick with rim brakes which have fallen out of fashion. I had trouble finding a buyer for my Hewitt tourer last year, ended up having to strip and sell as parts.

Coincidentally I was having a wander. It's a good deal of cycle for the money

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/touring-b ... _turquoise

[Dupont]

My budget is £600 to £1000 at a stretch.

Any advice gratefully accepted.

Plenty of choice within that budget. You could look at Decathlons Riverside rage, I think the flat bar version is around £700 and gets good reviews, I know someone who's happy with theirs. For a more traditional steel bike with rim brakes, you could buy the Spa Tourer with flat bars, currently just within your budget. Or, if there's some decent components of your current bike, buy the frameset and swap them over.
There's are some real secondhand bargains about, particularly if you stick with rim brakes which have fallen out of fashion. I had trouble finding a buyer for my Hewitt tourer last year, ended up having to strip and sell as parts.

I have read very good reviews on the Decathlon Riverside 520. It is £699, but if I get it on the cycle to work scheme it is coming in at around £570 which is phenomenal value. I must have missed the Spa Tourer. I will go and have another look at their website. Thanks.

[Rob D]

My wife and I have Claude Butler Dalesmans, which we love. Tough and dependable. We got ours 5 years apart, heavily discounted as they were 'last year's colour'.
I don't know if they're still available new, but worth a look.
Good luck with your search.