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Until last week, I was still using a lovely old mid 80's 531c steel 700c tourer for, errrrm, touring duties. It has/had everything I needed for on road touring carrying reasonably light camping kit and has served me well.
After an unfortunate Volvo/bike interface and 5 days in hospital (me) and now being 2" shorter than before (boik), I'm in the market for either a new frame or complete bike.
I like steel, it's served me well and am happy to go for either bespoke or off the peg in 631 (modern 531c?) or betterer. 725 seems to be the sweet spot now though. I'm running 9 speed still and would happily transfer what's left undamaged accross to a new frame. I'm also using 700c and caliper brakes which I'd be happy to continue with, (albeit with clearance for 32c and guards) if that's a necessary requirement. Not against other materials, I use aloominam (gah!), carbon and Ti on other bikes and they're all fine.
I've been looking at custom stuff from Mercian and other builders of classic tourers and stuff from Shand, Salsa and Genesis for a more modern take on what a tourer should/could be. I'll go for updates as needed but these aren't primary in my mind.
Happy to research as I've lots of time on my hands just now so please recommend away.
TIA
Look at genesis tour de fer
Mrs t-r has one. It's one of only a few mainstream bikes that come with a triple and all the right bosses and don't cost billions.
We rode ours north from Vancouver to the top of Vancouver Island then taking the highway of tears to Jasper and down to Canada. It was well mannered and comfy With 4 paniers on
Doesn't have bar end shifters if that bothers you but could be converted easy. It's 27speed Sora.
I'd seriously consider moving to (mechanical)disks.....they are just absolutely trouble free , consistant and don't wear out mid tour 🙂
how tall are you Bob?
I have a couple that may be suitable
how tall are you Bob?
I have a couple that may be suitable
Ta. The Tour de Fer was the Genesis I was looking at coincidentally. I use bar ends now more as a hangover than specific decision and both cable and hydro discs on other road oriented bikes. Happy to go STI and Spryres not just because I have both in spares.
Less giant than you Ton, 6' in my stilettos... 😁
one may be suitable. a xl cube, that is small in design
has rack and guard mounts, tales a 48c tyre.
email if interested. thoss20@hotmail.co.uk
oh and it is cheap
Worth having a look on the Spa website if you haven't already.
Surly Long Haul Trucker, or Disc Trucker if you're that way inclined......
The Truckers always seem really heavy, like gas pipe. Are they?
They are very heavy like gas pipe heavy.
Heavier than the genisis frame sure thing.
But the volvo would have been written off
Surly Trucker Frame weighs much the same as the Croix De Fer, so the Tour De Fer might be a bit heavier?
The Spa Tourer rides very light, very much like an old school tourer but with really nice geometry. Given the tyre sizes you plan to use I'd definitely have a go on one of those.
That Spa Wayfarer looks pretty flexible and great value. Anybody got one/ridden one please?
Tour de Fer is good, not light but you want solid for touring, as t_r says has a triple and slightly tapered forks as well. Can be got relatively cheaply if you'll look at last years models.
Friend just got one and put in 1100 miles across France last month, pretty comfy if heavy to lift and get going.
i had a tour de fer for a year. it was ok to be honest, but i like the solid feel of my disc trucker better, which is obviously suited to a big lump like me.
the tour de fer suffered terrible toe overlap, but the disc trucker also does, i just seem to have got used to it.
The sizing of the Spa bikes seems a bit wierd; 54 or 57 nothing in between? I'm 6' and ride modern 56cm or old school 22.5" so 54 seems small and 57 big...?
I'm 6' and ride a 57cm Dawes Sportif Elite 853 for Audaxes and light touring. Fits well, comfy ride and isn't too upset by luggage. Pretty heavy though and will be my last rim brake bike!
In a shocker claimed weights of tour de fer frame and long haul trucker say the long haul trucker weighs a kilo less.....
The basic surly spec just seems to weigh a metric ton.
In the lift test it definantly feels. Heavier.
The lht definantly as ton says feels much more solid.
But then knowing what an aluminium road frame weighs I believe that the surly reported weight of its frame is somewhat optimistic.
The Surly LHT seems to be typical American 'engineering'. Heavy and basic. I want something like my old 531c frame; svelte and sprightly. I've a Genesis Day One that's gas pipe. It weighs more than Pluto and rides like a very dead thing. I'm not keen to add more dead weight to the stable...
also the gearing on the tour de fer is too big. more like a bike geared for audax/sportiv stuff.
what about a Spa titanium tourer. very nice.
Aye. Gearing I've been running 22/32/44 front and 11-34 rear for years. Old adage for touring, can't have low enough gears or too much braking...
If I had the money, I would have the Shand from that list.
I have a 2016 Soma Saga I could part with.. various options from frameset to full build.
Its a 56.. rim brake only.
See here for geometry and info:
https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/saga
New TDF 30 looks rather spiffing.
They certainly do.
But as Ton has mentioned, the geo is a bit odd.
I'm a dwaff, the toe overlap on the small was bad. I'm surprised that they still managed to get it wrong on larger sizes too.
The Trucker, Spa and the now discontinued Specialised AWOL all managed to avoid this on their small sizes whilst still maintaining excellent handling.
The Pinnacle Dacite looks to be the current touring bargain if super wide tyres aren't a priority. James has assured me on here that he's managed to avoid overlap on all sizes and the spec list, including gearing is spot on.
Crazy value for money for a quality tourer.
Just had a peek.
The Dacite is now £680!
That's a frankly ridiculous price for a brilliantly specced off the peg tourer, not much more than a Trucker frame on it's own.
Crazy. If I had the cash I'd buy one on principle.
The tubing is heat treated, the gearing is sensible. Even the wheels look fine.
Don't think I've ever seen such a bargain.
You could add a pair of hand built wheels with a dynamo hub and lights to suit and still come in under a grand.
What about the new sonder, I think it's the Santiago
Shudders; Alpkit?
Just bought a Trek 520, not very fashionable but functional. Steel frame, alloy forks. Have swapped out the chainset for a mtb set, 22/36 should hopefully see me up most things.
First trip on Scotland’s west coast, it seems stable ( much more so than my old converted MTB) and comfy. It can also take up to a 2” maybe even a 2.1 tyre if you want.
Also looked at Kona Sutra but couldn’t find one to test. Shand would have been nice, but at least twice the price.
What does boik mean?
It's what Pam Ayres rides to the shops on.
That Dacite does look good for the money!
I don't really need a touring bike, but that pinnacle looks amazing for the money. Must resist!
Ooo I'm still torn. The King of Mercia looks lovely and as a custom 725 build, a bit of a treat. It looks a bit 80's though. The other off the peg stuff; Spa/Genesis/Salsa etc are all nice enough, just a bit utilitarian/lacking in class. The Shand/Fairlight/etc stuff are lovely, right up to date but have ferkin great lead times. <sigh>
I've just put my insurance claim in so probly best to wait for that to pay out before jumping as that may be the final arbiter...
It might be possible to repair the frame on your old one...
Yeah I looked at that. It'll be about £600 which I'm happy to do but it probably dunt make sense though to stick that into a 35 year old frame. A new King of Mercia will be about double that. It's Al so had a helluva knock and I'm just a bit wary about what else might be found...