I'm Irish and I plan on riding across USA next Summer. I was interested in the Trek 520 or a Cannondale T2000. However, I cant seem to find a T2000 in Dublin. I have only seen a Cannondale Touring Classic (link below)
Question is: whats the difference between the Touring Classic and T2000?
Is the touring classic up to doing 4300 miles?
Am I better off with a steel bike ie. Trek 520?
Are there other options I should be looking at
http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/ ... g-Classic/
Your advice would be appreciated. Many Thanks
Riderstothesea
advice-buying a touring bike- Cannondale 'Touring Classic'
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ridertothesea
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 6:53pm
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velomaniac
Cannondal Tourer
There is little difference of any importance between the classic and the T2000.
Cycling across the USA which is not the third world although at times it may seem so, would be fine on an alloy bike as repairs or replacements of the frame would be easier to source.
Have a good time !
Cycling across the USA which is not the third world although at times it may seem so, would be fine on an alloy bike as repairs or replacements of the frame would be easier to source.
Have a good time !
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jjshore
Consider a custom built steel frame. You should be able to get the complete
bike for about £1200. Maybe the gears will be of a slightly lower spec for
the same money but the comfort of a perfectly fitted frame makes it worthwhile.
(Woodrup, Mercian etc.) You could still take advantage of the
exchange rate if you set out with just the frame and bought the rest in the US.
I would try the Cannondale before buying. On a quick test run I found the
handling to be rather unusual for a tourer. Not sure exactly which model it
was.
bike for about £1200. Maybe the gears will be of a slightly lower spec for
the same money but the comfort of a perfectly fitted frame makes it worthwhile.
(Woodrup, Mercian etc.) You could still take advantage of the
exchange rate if you set out with just the frame and bought the rest in the US.
I would try the Cannondale before buying. On a quick test run I found the
handling to be rather unusual for a tourer. Not sure exactly which model it
was.
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
ridertothesea
I appreciate that this was not the Q but a regular topic on here concerns the difficulties people have shipping bikes when travelling. Have you considered waiting till you reach the US before taking delivery of your new bike? This is even more of an issue if you are going to have to get the bike shipped frm the UK to Ireland if you cannot source one there.
One point on steel -v- alloy which has been touched on above but not fully explained is that there is a school of thought that feels that, particularly in some of the more remote areas of the planet, a steel frame may be more easily repaired by an artisan than an alloy one. Not all agree. Anyway, you are going to the US not Ulan Bator.
I appreciate that this was not the Q but a regular topic on here concerns the difficulties people have shipping bikes when travelling. Have you considered waiting till you reach the US before taking delivery of your new bike? This is even more of an issue if you are going to have to get the bike shipped frm the UK to Ireland if you cannot source one there.
One point on steel -v- alloy which has been touched on above but not fully explained is that there is a school of thought that feels that, particularly in some of the more remote areas of the planet, a steel frame may be more easily repaired by an artisan than an alloy one. Not all agree. Anyway, you are going to the US not Ulan Bator.
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PhilC
Hi good luck with the ride across USA!
Can't agree that Alumium alloy is just as easy to fix as steel! Steel can be bent and traightened again a few times, (especialy with heat); the nature of al. will not permit this. In fact if you read tech. stuff about load reversals on al. you then realise why al. bike tubes are so fat. They are fat to minimise flexing which QUICKLY work hardens the material and it cracks. Of course that happens to steel but at a lot slower rate.
Anyway who is going to replace a tube on ANY welded frame? Tricky enough on a brazed one unless you know a good frame builder nearby.
On another note you also need to ask how come a steel frame is "more comfortable". Really? How come? How much can two straight seat stays absorb vibration? Because that's the path of the vibration, from the axle to the seat stem. Not a lot af "softness" there.
Buy the bike YOU prefer, a good bike shop will show you a good choice and will help you out.
Can't agree that Alumium alloy is just as easy to fix as steel! Steel can be bent and traightened again a few times, (especialy with heat); the nature of al. will not permit this. In fact if you read tech. stuff about load reversals on al. you then realise why al. bike tubes are so fat. They are fat to minimise flexing which QUICKLY work hardens the material and it cracks. Of course that happens to steel but at a lot slower rate.
Anyway who is going to replace a tube on ANY welded frame? Tricky enough on a brazed one unless you know a good frame builder nearby.
On another note you also need to ask how come a steel frame is "more comfortable". Really? How come? How much can two straight seat stays absorb vibration? Because that's the path of the vibration, from the axle to the seat stem. Not a lot af "softness" there.
Buy the bike YOU prefer, a good bike shop will show you a good choice and will help you out.
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
r2s
If you want to see a debate on the comparative merits of alloy/ steel search for the thread alu-vs-steel which is pretty comprehensive. The point that PhilC makes about steel and comfort is probably well illustrated by the fact that Cannondale, one of the pioneers of alloy frames, also pioneered various 'headshox' systems, and many, if not all of their tourers have sprung seatposts - not something that you would noramally contemplate on a steel frame.
If you want to see a debate on the comparative merits of alloy/ steel search for the thread alu-vs-steel which is pretty comprehensive. The point that PhilC makes about steel and comfort is probably well illustrated by the fact that Cannondale, one of the pioneers of alloy frames, also pioneered various 'headshox' systems, and many, if not all of their tourers have sprung seatposts - not something that you would noramally contemplate on a steel frame.