touring bike advice sought - The Chainlink2024-03-29T06:48:28Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/touring-bike-advice-sought?feed=yes&xn_auth=noIf you are new to this sort o…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-24:2211490:Comment:10289522016-11-24T22:34:25.785ZMarc A. Irwinhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MarcAIrwin
<p>If you are new to this sort of thing (touring that is) I would accessorize the Aurora and maybe buy another set of wheels. You can still swap out the wheels and remove the accessories to use the Aurora locally. That would be the path of least resistance and expense to give touring a whirl. Later, if you see yourself traveling by bike more often, you will have a better idea what you want to buy and may end up upgrading to a new roadie and use the Aurora as a dedicated touring bike. The…</p>
<p>If you are new to this sort of thing (touring that is) I would accessorize the Aurora and maybe buy another set of wheels. You can still swap out the wheels and remove the accessories to use the Aurora locally. That would be the path of least resistance and expense to give touring a whirl. Later, if you see yourself traveling by bike more often, you will have a better idea what you want to buy and may end up upgrading to a new roadie and use the Aurora as a dedicated touring bike. The Aurora will probably be just fine. Just my 2 cents after 44 years of touring, there's no reason to jump in with both feet and buy a dedicated touring bike until you know you will utilize it.</p>
<p>Marc</p> 650B is very nice but a repla…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-24:2211490:Comment:10287672016-11-24T06:26:39.173Zdjmhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/djm
<p>650B is very nice but a replacement tire or wheel may be difficult to find if you have a failure on tour.</p>
<p>650B is very nice but a replacement tire or wheel may be difficult to find if you have a failure on tour.</p> Follow this link for an excel…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-24:2211490:Comment:10288782016-11-24T04:22:52.786ZMatt M. 18.5KMhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MattM
<p>Follow this link for an <a href="http://www.bikeman.com/bikeman-blogs/650blog/1771-650b-conversion-guidlines" target="_blank">excellent discussion on Bikeman.com from 2007 about 650B conversions</a>, and my, do they look pretty! </p>
<p>Follow this link for an <a href="http://www.bikeman.com/bikeman-blogs/650blog/1771-650b-conversion-guidlines" target="_blank">excellent discussion on Bikeman.com from 2007 about 650B conversions</a>, and my, do they look pretty! </p> Last year I did my first majo…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-22:2211490:Comment:10282912016-11-22T23:19:06.215ZYanivhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Yaniv
<p>Last year I did my first major bike tour (chicago to NoLA) and bought myself a dedicated touring bike. I long debated between the LHT and Kona Sutra. I decided on the Sutra for several reasons:</p>
<p></p>
<p>1. Fit better</p>
<p>2. Came with great accessories including rear rack and brooks saddle</p>
<p>3. Disc brakes and high quality components included.</p>
<p>4. Costs dramatically less than the LHT once you factor in the saddle and racks.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I would highly recommend looking…</p>
<p>Last year I did my first major bike tour (chicago to NoLA) and bought myself a dedicated touring bike. I long debated between the LHT and Kona Sutra. I decided on the Sutra for several reasons:</p>
<p></p>
<p>1. Fit better</p>
<p>2. Came with great accessories including rear rack and brooks saddle</p>
<p>3. Disc brakes and high quality components included.</p>
<p>4. Costs dramatically less than the LHT once you factor in the saddle and racks.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I would highly recommend looking at the Sutra, but ultimately it comes down to fit. You're gonna be sitting in the saddle for 5+ hours a day, it's gotta be comfortable.</p>
<p>I outfitted my Sutra with a front rack and clipless pedals and love it. I now ride it as my every day commuting bike in the city.</p> Like I said in my earlier pos…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-22:2211490:Comment:10280642016-11-22T02:26:08.091ZMatt M. 18.5KMhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MattM
<p>Like I said in my earlier post, you could switch to 650B wheels and have all the clearance you need for larger tires. You would need to also have cantilever studs put on, however, or switch to center pull brakes (which might or might not work). Plus you would be Mr. Popular with your fancy trendy 650B tire size.....</p>
<p></p>
<p>Like I said in my earlier post, you could switch to 650B wheels and have all the clearance you need for larger tires. You would need to also have cantilever studs put on, however, or switch to center pull brakes (which might or might not work). Plus you would be Mr. Popular with your fancy trendy 650B tire size.....</p>
<p></p> Still undecided but really en…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-21:2211490:Comment:10278672016-11-21T20:03:18.819ZDavid Barishhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/DavidBarish
<p>Still undecided but really enjoying the wide range of advice from fellow riders. The Aurora has been different things over the years- low end road bike, hybrid, touring bike. The 1997 model was really a low end touring bike but does have decent geometry for touring and necessary braze ons. One issue is I am told the bike would barely accommodate a 32c tire and that it has caliper brakes. it is not set up for other brakes and I would be asking it to stop my wide load plus another 50 or so…</p>
<p>Still undecided but really enjoying the wide range of advice from fellow riders. The Aurora has been different things over the years- low end road bike, hybrid, touring bike. The 1997 model was really a low end touring bike but does have decent geometry for touring and necessary braze ons. One issue is I am told the bike would barely accommodate a 32c tire and that it has caliper brakes. it is not set up for other brakes and I would be asking it to stop my wide load plus another 50 or so plus pounds of gear with calipers. Also, there is a small amount of rust on my Aurora. I would have to get a powder coat paint job. I am leaning towards keeping the Aurora as my road bike and buying a touring bike but am keeping an open mind. I may not pull the trigger on anything for a few months so I still have time.</p> I see that the bike has calip…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-20:2211490:Comment:10279392016-11-20T20:01:50.429ZMatt M. 18.5KMhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MattM
<p>I see that the bike has caliper brakes. You should look into getting fatter tires for the bike (for rough unpaved trails) and that would probably require either a center pull brake conversion or putting on cantilever studs for 700C or 650B wheels. There are frame repair and builders in the Chicago area who could put cantilever studs on for you for less than the price of a new frame and fork (provided you stripped the parts off before you bring it to the shop and provided you do not fully…</p>
<p>I see that the bike has caliper brakes. You should look into getting fatter tires for the bike (for rough unpaved trails) and that would probably require either a center pull brake conversion or putting on cantilever studs for 700C or 650B wheels. There are frame repair and builders in the Chicago area who could put cantilever studs on for you for less than the price of a new frame and fork (provided you stripped the parts off before you bring it to the shop and provided you do not fully repaint the frame). If you go with center pull brakes you'll likely need to <a href="http://store.rivercitybicycles.com/product/river-city-bicycles-reacharound-fender-brackets-4486.htm" target="_blank">split your fenders in half to accommodate larger tires.</a> With larger tires you'll also have to watch the space between your chain stays and make sure the tire walls have enough clearance for when the wheel gets a little out of true.</p> Best advice i can give you is…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-20:2211490:Comment:10278452016-11-20T16:19:58.132Zmike w.https://thechainlink.org/profile/mikew
<p>Best advice i can give you is -no matter what your choice of frameset- to keep things as mechanically simple as you can, keeping in mind that you may find yourself many miles from a bikeshop and may have to do some emergency roadside repair. Pack a multi tool with a chainbreaker and something better than a dollar bill to make a tyre boot.</p>
<p>Best advice i can give you is -no matter what your choice of frameset- to keep things as mechanically simple as you can, keeping in mind that you may find yourself many miles from a bikeshop and may have to do some emergency roadside repair. Pack a multi tool with a chainbreaker and something better than a dollar bill to make a tyre boot.</p> I'm with Tricolor on this one…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-20:2211490:Comment:10280362016-11-20T04:56:43.075ZMatt M. 18.5KMhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MattM
<p>I'm with Tricolor on this one. While your components may need an upgrade your frame is most likely in excellent shape. With that said, have it inspected and then <a href="http://www.jensonusa.com/JP-Weigle-Frame-Saver-Aerosol-Can" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">frame saved</a> before building it back up. It's best to do any repairs, cleaning, or paint retouching while you've got it stripped down to the frame. When you've got it all back together it will be just as nice as any new touring…</p>
<p>I'm with Tricolor on this one. While your components may need an upgrade your frame is most likely in excellent shape. With that said, have it inspected and then <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.jensonusa.com/JP-Weigle-Frame-Saver-Aerosol-Can" target="_blank">frame saved</a> before building it back up. It's best to do any repairs, cleaning, or paint retouching while you've got it stripped down to the frame. When you've got it all back together it will be just as nice as any new touring bike. Consider that <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?year=1997&brand=Jamis&model=Aurora" target="_blank">the Jamis Aurora was $670 in 1997</a>, so that's really not a cheap bike. By the way, I've heard from bike mechanics that upgrading to <a href="http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/shimano-deore-m590-9-speed-triple-chainset/rp-prod40496?gs=1&gclid=CNe57sjHttACFYEVgQodQa4K9g&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">Hollowtech cranks</a> and <a href="https://www.rei.com/product/830198/shimano-xt-sm-bb70-bottom-bracket?CAWELAID=120217890000796249&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15877513960&CATCI=aud-54816614184:pla-132752081800&cm_mmc=PLA_Google|404_10453|8301980001|none|49c9804c-9a8f-4f48-5aaa-000018c069c5|aud-54816614184:pla-132752081800&lsft=cm_mmc:PLA_Google_LIA|404_10453|8301980001|none|49c9804c-9a8f-4f48-5aaa-000018c069c5|aud-54816614184:pla-132752081800&gclid=CJCSpebGttACFdcegQodh0cEtQ" target="_blank">external bottom bracket</a> bearings will increase your power transfer and make pedaling much easier.</p> My own bike is a 2009 Jamis A…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-17:2211490:Comment:10278192016-11-17T21:56:52.418ZBarry Niel Stuarthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/BarryNielStuart
<p>My own bike is a 2009 Jamis Aurora which I bought because it is a very competent touring bike at a price I could afford. I've taken it camping with my fellow Chainlinkers before at Illinois Beach, Bong, and Kettle moraine Southern Unit. It's shown itself to carry its loads without difficulty. Gearing on this bike, (50-39-30 crankset with 11-32 9-speed cassette) is quite adequate for riding in Wisconsin and Illinois. If I wanted to try riding through the Appalachians, I might want to…</p>
<p>My own bike is a 2009 Jamis Aurora which I bought because it is a very competent touring bike at a price I could afford. I've taken it camping with my fellow Chainlinkers before at Illinois Beach, Bong, and Kettle moraine Southern Unit. It's shown itself to carry its loads without difficulty. Gearing on this bike, (50-39-30 crankset with 11-32 9-speed cassette) is quite adequate for riding in Wisconsin and Illinois. If I wanted to try riding through the Appalachians, I might want to change the crankset to a 48-38-26 in order to handle the gnarlier grades. If you have triple cranks on your bike and they're pretty much what mine has, you might want to widen your cassette to 11-32. With the Reynolds 520 frame tubes, you have a very good touring bike that needs little modification. Mine has Blackburn Low Riders in front and a Topeak Explorer XL rack in the rear and does a great job of handling a camping load.</p>