Cycling UK Forum

I would really do a small tour first to test out the gear...evn just a long weekend or a week locally.

If I were looking for a bike for you, I'd eschew a new bike in favour of something a bit older.
Late 80s/early 90s mountain bike frames like Dean's new bike (see here - the eighties child) took a lot of design cues from touring bikes, but were a bit beefier, with provision for wider tyres and luggage racks. If you could pick up a frame like this, you could build a superb touring bike and spend far less money.
Dean, I hope you don't mind my showing off your new ride, or indeed my smug, proprietorial feelings.

How about a Thorn Sherpa? I would avoid a hybrid for a long tour like this, and definitely get something with 26" wheels, stronger and tyres will be easier to find, and when loaded up with camping gear you will not notice the difference.
Suspension forks are unnecessary and will only add to the weight of your bike and make panniers harder to fit.
Maybe you could think about just buying a Sherpa Frame & Forks and transferring the rest over from your existing mountain bike, that way you could save about £300 to use for other things or more time on the road?
I toured in Patagonia for a couple of months ten years ago, watch out for those winds!

chris667 wrote:If I were looking for a bike for you, I'd eschew a new bike in favour of something a bit older.
Late 80s/early 90s mountain bike frames like Dean's new bike (see here - the eighties child) took a lot of design cues from touring bikes, but were a bit beefier, with provision for wider tyres and luggage racks. If you could pick up a frame like this, you could build a superb touring bike and spend far less money.
Dean, I hope you don't mind my showing off your new ride, or indeed my smug, proprietorial feelings.

I'm going to attempt to do this too, I think. Is there a good place to look bike specs up when buying 2nd hand? There are so many used bikes for sale and it's hard to tell what you're buying, especially if it's an online auction where you can't see the bike before bidding. Researching long lists of 2nd hand bikes it very time-consuming. Is there any sort of handy resource? Are there good brands to look out for when buying old steel-frame MTBs? Did anyone make Steel-frame MTBs with braze ons for racks?

It's a bit of a minefield, really.
Look for an old, alloy steel frame in a material like Tange Prestige, or Reynolds 531. It should have nice, relaxed angles - look at the photo of the eighties child, do you see how much more sloped back the seat tube and fork are than on a fast road bike? That's good for a tourer.
It shouldn't be heavy, but it shouldn't be rediculously light either. And obviously, it should have braze ons for a rack.
Have a look for an old Orange Clockwork, or a Marin, or perhaps an old Puegeot.
Feel free to PM me if there's something you like, and want a second opinion. And good luck!

Thanks for all your help guys, but I have to say I'm still just as confused if not more. Not just as a result of this forum, but of all my research in general - there is SO much contradicting information out there it's not a surprise touring is not as popular as it could be, it makes it all the more daunting and terrifying.

There is an old Galician saying that roughly translates as "You learn to castrate by cutting off testicles" which I think is quite apt in this situation. I get the impression touring is quite a personal thing and chances are I will learn more about it in my first day on the road than with years of reading fora.

That being said, I would appreciate suggestions for good touring saddles as I'm not leaving scrotal comfort to chance.

Thanks again

Ah, Roddy-
This is another minefield.
The problem is that while we know very little about you, we know even less about your scrotum.
I was going to put a Rolls saddle up on the for sale board. £15 + p&p, which is half what they cost new, if you'd like to try. Lots of people think they're the ultimate in comfort, but I can't get on with it. I have my Brooks B17, which I think is lovely, but then YMMV, lots of people hate them. You really need to own a few bikes and see what works for you.