The good news is that this time, the choice is varied. My ideal tourer is pricey enough not to fall apart but cheep enough to leave (locked) and un attended. Plus, the scheme has a £1000 limit.
Choices are:
Ridgeback Voyage
Dawes Galaxy or clubman
James Bosa Nova touring
Roux Etap 250
My feelings are: built to last, not sure about brakes (disk or not? Pro- efficient. Con - bugger to adjust when you're on the road and a crap mechanic) Good range of gears err...that's it. Most other things like geometry are a try and test kind of question I suppose.
I'll be adding a comfy saddle (cause let's face it what comes with it will be highly suitable for the slim hips of a bloke but, highly unlikely to fit my more ample pelvis) Front rack and a hub dynamo for my planned e-werk purchase.
So, how do I decide? What are the pros and cons? Are they all really - when it comes down to brass tacks - much of a muchness?
Comments below!
IMO Touring bikes do not need Disc Brakes! Cable disc brakes are a waste of time and a hydraulic system is plain overkill! Put the money towards better wheels, components, frame etc. or a bike mechanics course! lol! Be sure to try the bikes out - yes I,m sure you know this Sarah... Sizing these days is so arbitrary... Can't help you with model choice, ride and fit will be key! I had a similar problem when trying to choose a road bike, could not make a decision, too many options (story of my life) lol! and ended up not bothering... Anyways good luck with that and happy cycling.... Hope all is well with you! :) A
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ReplyDeleteYes, having no choice does make things easier. I got my current bike because that was really the only choice. I'll try what’s available and then make a decision based on some arbitrary basis.
ReplyDeleteThe idea behind disks is stopping power as the bike - fully loaded - is usually very heavy. But, I'm planning no alpine quality descents and fully subscribe to the 'simpler the better' school of thought. After experiencing problems with my current brakes - and the weeks long wait for replacements - one of my big worries has been that they will fail on tour. Then, I'll be stuck.
This has all got me thinking about my ideal tourer - wheels of steel and a comfy seat.