Recommend a tourer/hybrid round £500

[greenwoodbodger]

Things seem to have got a bit more complicated since I last bought a bike in the 90s...

I'm after a reliable bike for touring that can also handle the odd dirt track, with a budget of around £500. I'm 6'1" and aboud 15st. So far i've considered the Dawes Advantage, Raleigh Royal and the Giant tourer. I've been to the local bike shop, who were great, but any further thoughts and advice would be very useful.

 

[Hydra]

Check out EBC's tourers - the Country Traveller or the Country Explorer. I gave the Traveller a test ride and it was pretty nice. And they both come at quite a decent price

 

[GrumpyGregry]

+1 the EBC, hydra knows of what s/he speaks

I've got the old alloy framed Explorer. A lovely do everything bike. (am six two and a bit heavier than you)

 

[greenwoodbodger]

Many thanks!

 

[mcshroom]

I have a Dawes Vantage and I'm really happy with it. I'm 5'11" and about 18st and my normal riding involves bouncing it round on farm tracks and rural back-roads, which it copes with admirably. I'm very happy with the comfort (I've not ridden a steel bike but the 6061 Alu seems comfortable enough) and very little has gone wrong with the bike since I got it (even though I crashed it in December

)

The only thing I've changed on the bike was I swapped the stock saddle for a Charge Spoon, but that was only because I found the original saddle was starting to feel a little uncomfortable on rides over 80 miles. Until then I found it very comfortable. In 2000 miles I have broken one spoke in the rear wheel (my fault for hitting a small rock at speed in the fog) and it did highlight that the spoke length is a little unusual for a 700c wheel, with the semi-aero profile on the rims. These rims also mean you need to buy inner tubes with slightly longer stems. I haven't knocked the wheels out of true though and I put them through some abuse. Also I managed to get 700x40 ssnow stud tyres on it over the winter under the guards.

The Edinburgh Bicycle Coop Tourers get a good writeup from those who have them, and I think they look very good for the price as well. Unfortunately although the Royal looks like a good bike, I thik Raleigh have stopped making it. Another option for a tourer in your range is the Claud Butler Regent, but I don't know much about that one.

 

[Staffordshire Mamil]

Hi,
I bought one of these last November. Very rigid, very quick, very comfortable & the price is right !! I have previously owned Dawes and Specialized bikes & this is by far & away superior.
Oh & it looks a million dollars too................
http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/products.php?plid=m18b0s163p2328

 

[Supersonicscientist]

+2 for the E B C tourer i run a County 2002 model and in all these years i've only had to replace a front wheel once and the rear cassette twice in 9 years can't recommend these bikes highly enough, good to ride can carry a good weight without affecting the handling .
Having had to use it as the main commute bike for a week or so there are a few wee things that have cropped up but nothing that can't be fixed and it's due a complete strip down /overhaul shortly ..

 

[Danny]

You might also want to consider looking on eBay. I was able to pick up a good second hand tourer for about £350.

 

[greenwoodbodger]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to the Manchester EBC shop this week to try the Explorer. I'm a bit concerned about the lenght of seat stem and the placing of the rack. Will see how I get on with it.