Next bike- tourer

[Heltor Chasca]

Is that the 26" wheeled version? I quite fancy one when finances allow.

edit: never mind. It is. I zoomed in on the back tyre

Sure is. I'm saving up for some knobblies so I can use it off road on the Ridgeway.

 

[JCroxton1]

Worth a look here if not already decided: http://www.bikesheduk.com/Dawes-Touring-Bike-Sale

 

[suzeworld]

Is anyone able to update this advice?
My mate is (begrudgingly!) ready to part with his ancient Dawes Super Galaxy tourer. He’s had this for 18 years.
He loves the idea of a steel frame but now fancies disc brakes so maybe won’t stick with his old marque.
His bike has to do a bit of everything e.g he has not got a car so it’s his primary transport plus he sometimes tours up in the West of Scotland and North of Wales so getting up steep hills is an issue.

Comments?

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Is anyone able to update this advice?
My mate is (begrudgingly!) ready to part with his ancient Dawes Super Galaxy tourer. He’s had this for 18 years.
He loves the idea of a steel frame but now fancies disc brakes so maybe won’t stick with his old marque.
His bike has to do a bit of everything e.g he has not got a car so it’s his primary transport plus he sometimes tours up in the West of Scotland and North of Wales so getting up steep hills is an issue.

Comments?

What do you mean update? I’m lost. Not difficult Sorry.

If I went completely car free and could only keep one bike, it would be my Surly Disc Trucker. Steel, comfortable, discs, low gearing for the lumpy stuff. I can put any tyre on it from 1.5” road tyres to 2.1” knobbly MTB tyres and still have the mudguards fixed. It really is a great bike. There are some similar Genesis and Salsa bikes which are equally as droolable. Others on here like some of the offerings from Dawes, Ridgeback and Raleigh.

 

[suzeworld]

What I meant by up-date is it’s rather an old thread .. Some new experiences/ bikes might be around.
Neither me or my mate take any interest at all in bike-news so asking ppl (who DO noticed the market) for some comments is what I meant.

He’s pretty keen on disc brakes cos he hires MTB bikes on holiday and enjoys the superior stopping power.

I don’t think money is an issue - he doesn’t run a car and has not bought a new steed for 18 years. Guessing he wants another bike to last as long.

 

[vickster]

Condor offer a disc version of the fratello (may not be hefty enough for full on touring)

Spa would be a good place to start initially though.
Eg https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3033/SURLY-Disc-Trucker-2017

I assume they can spec up the frameset however is required

Or any other

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s143p0/Parts-and-Accessories/Frames

 

[suzeworld]

Thanks - I have sent him these links so he can browse around.

 

[suzeworld]

Depending on budget, the vsf Farrhadmanufaktur range are worth a look. I have a Rohloff TX-400 - a cracking piece of kit.

Do you live near the dealer? When I tried to zoom in on the map it kept jumping back to the whole world, so I could only see "roughly in London". We are northerners, but there are trains ... if you can persuad Virgin to let you take a bike back on one , of course, but that's another story!

 

[vickster]

Thanks - I have sent him these links so he can browse around.

Spa can't be too far away if you are Northerners

 

[vickster]

Do you live near the dealer? When I tried to zoom in on the map it kept jumping back to the whole world, so I could only see "roughly in London". We are northerners, but there are trains ... if you can persuad Virgin to let you take a bike back on one , of course, but that's another story!

Bikefix
48 Lambs Conduit Street
GB London WC1N 3LJ
Tel.: 004420-74051218
http://www.bikefix.co.uk

https://www.bikefix.co.uk/bikes
https://www.bikefix.co.uk/fahrradmanufaktur

 

[John_S]

Hi Suzeworld,

Following the above I'd definitely take a look at the offerings that Spa have if you talk to them about their requirements and also the VSF bikes mentioned above have a good and pretty bombproof reputation and so are well worth considering. In addition following the above take a look at Surly bikes.

In terms of some other options there are some to take a look at below.

If you want a really solid traditional tourer at a a reasonable price you could take a look at the bikes from Oxford Bike Works:-

http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/

There are the Fairlight Faran drop bar touring bikes:-

https://fairlightcycles.com/faran/?v=7516fd43adaa

http://fairlightcycles.com/faran-concept-design-notes/?v=7516fd43adaa

Also Fairlight have a principle called Fit Form Function but basically what the Fit part of it means is that they offer both a regular and tall version of each of their frames meaning that their bikes will provide a good fit to a greater number of people. The following video does a far better explanation of the idea than I ever could:-

View: https://vimeo.com/180866780


http://fairlightcycles.com/why-fairlight/fit-function-form/?v=7516fd43adaa

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/2117/fairlight-faran-review

http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/fairlight-cycles-faran/


In terms of capabilities I'd not seen this before but recently saw a video of people doing a bike tour of the Western Isles in Scotland whilst towing surf boards on trailers using their Fairlight Faran bikes. The short film can be seen here and if it can cope with this then it must be a fairly capable bike:-

https://www.pannier.cc/journal/beyond-the-north-wind-tour-headwindhaters-film-bikesurfing

https://www.swiftcycles.co.uk/

Other options:-

Kona Sutra or Sutra Ltd
http://www.konaworld.com/sutra_ltd.cfm
http://www.konaworld.com/sutra_ltd.cfm
One of the Surly bikes:-
https://surlybikes.com/bikes

One of the Bombtrack bikes:-
http://bombtrack.com/touring/

Maybe a Jamis bike:-
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/auroraseries.html


Or if you want something from a British company some options below:-

Temple Cycles:-
https://www.templecycles.co.uk/

Stanforth Bikes:-
https://www.stanforthbikes.co.uk/


Hope that this helps and you might find something that appeals to you.

John

 

[cisamcgu]

and Chris' Bikes, here in Cambridge.

Chris of Chris' Bikes is a bit of an odd ball but people travel from all over the country to deal with him.

He REALLY needs a better web designer

 

[suzeworld]

Awesome, If this info isnt enough to help him I dont know what is.