I'm going to do the lands end to John O Groats next year so I want to build myself up a touring bike but can't decide which frame to go for.
I normally ride a 54cm been 5ft 10. The Surly Long Haul Trucker only comes with 26 inch wheels in 54cm or its 56cm with 700c wheels. Will the wheel size make that much of a difference when touring?
Any one got any recommendations or points on any of the above frames? I've chosen the other ones as I would like to commute to work as well to build up my strength and the other frames seem to be a bit of an all rounder steel frames.
(These are the frames as the title got cut short On-One Pompetamine, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Surly Cross Check, Planet X Kaffenback)
Salsa Vaya may be worth a look too (sorry!) but cost may be outwith budget. Or Singular Peregrine..
mate her bought a CC at start of summer, didn't get on with it for a long time but now I think it may be his favourite bike. Might not be up to all-up laden touring though, and no disc mounts.
I built up a Cross Check because I had a set of nice non-disc wheels, but if I was starting from scratch I'd probably go for a frame with disc mounts, the difference is like night and day.
I still really like it as a cross and commuter bike, and the ability to single speed or fix it is good (although the slidey dropouts can be an arse when getting the back wheel out). It's stiff, not springy like a lighter steel road frame, but it eats up the bumpy stuff. The big tyre clearance is great and the short head tube means you can set it up with a nice low cockpit, or go a bit more relaxed.
The complete build is also well worth a look, it's all decent unflashy kit that won't let you down.
the Salsa Vaya is out of my budget I think I did look at those briefly.
I'm airing towards the cross check at mo, just a shame no local biek shops tend to stock surly for me to go have a nose.
Might not be up to all-up laden touring though
It depends on your definition of touring, but the Crosscheck is built like a tank and they now also come with front pannier bosses on the forks. I think the LHT has a lower BB and is a bit more relaxed but they're both extremely strong frames.
As far as the 26/700c thing goes, mine has typical "touring" wheels (700c A719 rims on Hope and dynamo hubs) and they are bombproof but far from nippy.
I built up a kona jake in the summer as a touring bike and rode from Holyhead to Cardiff, the bike did well but I suffered from numb hands as i think the position was too harsh and when coming down the mountains I could feel the aluminum frame turing into noodles which is why I now want a steel frame.
I going to do the LETJOG to raise money for Pancreatic cancer as my uncle recently passed away due to it. Looking to do it in 10 days or so. So a comfy bike averaging 100 mile a day is what I'm aiming for.
I'm use to riding long distance on my road bike (Giant TCR) more than my mtb which is why I'm pondering over wheel size.
I find almost everyone goes for 26" on a touring bike nowadays - you can get the same tyres, but wheels are stronger and it's easier to find spares if you need to.
i'm also 5-10 and run a 52cm crosscheck ( IIRC - surly quote seat tube, and this gave a ~ 54.5ish effective top tube ). nice frame, nicely finished. i do a mixed commute through parks and whatnot and have to lift it over styles and that ( about 7 of them! ), but i don't really notice the weight. it's built with fairly cheap stuff, ss. old wheels off my old pompino, sram v-brakes, nothing fancy.
if you're in the southwest and want to try it you're welcome.
i quite fancy going disc so if you're interested i could do a deal on my frame and fork - it's all in good nick and is latest spec. think it's 18months old?
Unfortunately I'm bag smack in the middle of the country so it's a bit of trek down to the south west, but a massive thank you for the offer.
bencooper, who's "almost everyone"? Not being snidy, just curious if that's almost everyone:
"... who comes into my bike shop looking for a touring bike"
"... according to latest industry stats"
"... of the people I know from the club/forums I go on/mates down the pub"
gaz, I bought a peregrine, because I wanted a bike I could tour on, but would be good at a bunch of other stuff with a few component changes.
rack and mudguard mounts, stable when loaded up
singlespeedable with EBB
discs mean 26" or 700c
clearance for 2.0" 29er tyres or a bit bigger in 26.
nedrapier was that a don't listen to the 26 inch argument? :-p
I find almost everyone goes for 26" on a touring bike nowadays - you can get the same tyres, but wheels are stronger and it's easier to find spares if you need to.
How strong do you need? I'm 16 stone and have had no wheel problems on my 700c Long Haul Trucker over 10'000 miles with a full 4 pannier touring load. Well after 10K miles I'd to tighten 4 or 5 spokes a turn or two for a 2mm wobble.
Unless going to the 3rd world I don't think availability of parts is a problem. I'd say the numbers of 26" v 700c bikes is 50:50 as far as I've seen.
For the OP. I've also got a Kaffenback. Much nippier than the LHT unloaded. For a LEJOG? I'd use my LHT. But a lighter rider who wasn't camping might be better on the Kaffenback.
I've not heard of Singular Peregrine before. Is it a comfy old beast? Where did you buy it from?
I'm only just over 9 stone, I'm one of those annoying people who doesn't seem to get bigger no matter now much they eat.
Mrs Agreeable has a Peregrine. I think they're only available direct from Singular at the moment, although Sam is insanely helpful and can be found at many UK races. The EBB and the disc mounts edge the weight up slightly compared to the 'Check, but it's lovely to look at, rides well and fits proper 2-inch tyres for a bit of monstercross action (The Surly will only take 45mm Landcruisers or similar). It's another price bracket up from the Surly though. I don't know what the effect of putting 26-inch wheels in it would be, but I suspect it'd muck the handling and ground clearance up a treat.
Coincidentally I had a Jake before the Surly, and the geometry is almost identical, so you might need to do something thinking about your position. Maybe check out a shorter stem and some flared bars like Salsa Bell Laps. The stock Kona P2 forks are also way harsh, although the Surly's forks don't have a lot of cush in them either. Contrary to the "steel is real" dogma, the placcy forks on my other bike are much nicer, but clearly a bit impractical for touring.
I've got a cross check and the only thing i don't like is not having disc tabs - however thinking of putting a planet x kaffenback fork on it with a new front wheel. its only used for commuting but i like how versatile it is, rack, guards the works. intend to do some road tours on it in the future (like LEJOG), we use our mtbs for actual touring as do more off road routes. much more comfier to ride than my jake the snake set up in CX/road mode
gaz, not trying to say don't listen to the 26" argument, just surprised to hear that "almost everyone" buying a touring bike is going 26", and wanted to hear a bit more. Certainly appreciate the arguments for 26" if you're going to developing countries.
I've had one of [url= http://road.cc/content/review/66658-surly-disc-trucker ]these[/url] since the spring and I love it. I use it for commuting as well as touring. Did a lovely 5 day tour of Belgium this summer. The 26" wheels don't make a difference when riding*, I think tyre choice is more important to that- the ones they come with are pretty good.
*EDIT: although they do mean your bike is lower-geared than a 700c bike with the same cassette, etc, which for me is a bonus!
Mrs Agreeable has a Peregrine. I think they're only available direct from Singular at the moment, although Sam is insanely helpful and can be found at many UK races.
I *think* Singular have dealers - not many, but in the middle of the country? Sideways Cycles in Alsager - and Tim's a great chap, into the bargain.
http://www.singularcycles.com/dealers/
Gazerath -
i have a Surly Cross-Check for sale at the moment. Not bothered to put it up on the forum yet.
I'm 5'11 and the 56cm is spot on.
Frame and fork are less than a year old. Currently bulit as ss/fixed but you could 'gear it up' easily...
was going to advertise it for around £400....
floyd3216@gmail.com
There is a Peregrine in a large outdoor shop in Keswick
Had a cross check for a couple of years until it got nicked. Great bike, rode beautifully and felt like a much lighter machine. Bombproof as well. Highly recommended.
Here's a brand new 57cm Salsa Vaya frame on eBay currently for £99.
Depending where you are, I'm sure Charlie (the Bikemonger) has demo Surly's, he's worth having a chat too, if that's to far to go play, I mean evaluate............
My pre disc Kaff works fine loaded and unloaded.