Cycling UK Forum

Hi together,
We are thinking of starting a longer tour next year, roughly europe to asia, maybe also south america after that. We currently have 2 steel bikes, custom made by an italian frame builder for us, so they fit pretty well. We can fit tyres up to 42 mm with fenders.
Now I have read many articles the last days, and it looks like availability of 28 inches related parts ( tyres, tubes but also spokes and rims) is pretty bad outside of europe and north america.
So what is you experience about that? Is the situation so desperate? I am fine carrying some spare spokes, and maybe one tube and tyre, but definitely will not be able to carry many spokes or many tyres. And vor sure not a spare rim.
I am asking because in case we have to switch to 26 that would mean we would need to sell ours and get new bikes, even if we are pretty happy with our bikes.
Thanks to everyone!

If you start with good quality/condition parts (rims and tyres), you shouldn't have any major problems (ok, so the unexpected does occasionally happen but on a long tour you can't plan for everything). In that case, you should be ok with just taking a few spare spokes and say two spare inner tubes plus puncture repair kit and maybe a tyre boot (emergency tyre repair - although large puncture patches and duct tape also work) in case you do split a tyre and need to cycle a bit until you can get a replacement. (This is what I do - I've ridden over 40,000km on same set of ceramic rims and they're still ok, with no broken spokes, and I never carry a spare tyre now since my marathon xrs can do about 20000km).
Then just keep an eye on tyre wear and get new tyres sent out to a convenient place when you need them.
The advantages of this are reduced weight/less stuff to carry or lose. And it also makes your tyre size fairly irrelevant - so stick with what you've got I'd say.

You will have no real problem getting tyres..tubes and spokes in Thailand..and Malaysia..Singapore..and there is always St John Street Cycles to phone up..and post stuff to you..

Thanks a lot to both, so far I think we will keep our bikes and just invest some money on getting good custom built wheels.

In Thailand the availability of 700c wheels and touring bikes has increased greatly in the last couple of years...You can even buy some excellent quality steel road bikes new for £500 plus..and there are some excellent secondhand touring bikes around also..if you know where to look..and plus some excellent bike mechanics who charge a pittance compared to the UK..good quality stuff available also..Shimano XT or Deore...Good also in Taiwan..Malaysia..Phillipines..etc..

The bottom line is that you have good bikes that you are happy with, so I would stick with them. if you were buying again, then I would recommend 26".

You don't need to carry too many spares - and as there are 2 of you, you can share them around. One spare tyre and a few spokes is no more than many carry anyway. I'd carry a few spare tubes as these are the most likely to fail and could be hard to find locally.

While 700s may be available in most countries, they will only be in big towns, etc. This means that if you need spares you may have to be prepared to bus or train it a bit. Rims would be a challenge in many places as I don't suppose that good 36 hole touring rims are readily available. This is certainly the case with 26ers, because although it is the most common wheel size, good 36 hole rims are not widely available. The norm for 'good' 26" rims is 32 hole as used on the more upmarket MTBs, most 36 hole rims would be old style steel ones.

If getting new wheels before you go, make sure they are 'run-in' before you go. A friend damaged the rubber valve stem of a couple of tubes before she realised the hole drill out was rough. This nearly turned terminal to our trip as we couldn't find 700s anywhere at that time in India. Luckily the third tube lasted out.

Asia is a big place, but I often find the roads are better than in the UK. If you ride carefully and don't carry vast weight, there is every chance you won't have any problems. I ride for about 5 months a year in Asia and don' expect any of my gear to fail.

Go and enjoy.

simonhill wrote:One spare tyre and a few spokes is no more than many carry anyway. I'd carry a few spare tubes as these are the most likely to fail and could be hard to find locally.

Most people carry one spare tyre too many in my opinion

Let me say a big thank you all, these are really helpfull informations.
@simon: just curious do you have a 26 or 28?

I ride a 26" Surly LHT. I had it built 2 years ago and specified Deore for everything apart from the brakes which are XT v's (XTs are (meant to be) much better). This is a simple fairly tough build, matching my requirements of durability, replacability and survivability.

My last bike was an anno 2000 GT MTB convert.

My bike before that was a very early Reynolds 531 Saracen Kili Flyer circa 1986 (again 26").

I am probably a bit of a philistine on this site - my philosophy is "fit and forget". My LBS fits and I forget!