Which used Touring bike? Galaxy/Mercian/Dalesman etc...

[thistler]

 I am in the process of selling everything I can to raise money for a decent dedicated touring bike and equipment- I am thinking mid to late 90's or newer. I have seen nice looking Dawes Galaxys, Ridgeback Panoramas, Mercian King of Mercias and Claud Butler Dalesmans selling for £400-550 ish on ebay. I am hoping to raise enough to get something similar.

I know Galaxies are the touring standard and I would be very happy with one (the non-compact frame) but are the others as good or better? The King of Mercia bikes sure are nice looking.... 

 

[Gerry Attrick]

The selection of a touring bike is very subjective, but the one thing that stands head and shoulders above all criteria is that it must be comfortable. You may be riding the thing for eight or more hours a day for several days! Secondly, it must be capable of carrying whatever load you plan to carry, and if a substantial weight, then mountain bike gearing with a triple chainset is by far the most practical.

From the above, it must now be clear that to make any kind of informed decision, you must ride a selection of suitable candidates. Whilst all of the bikes you mention would make decent tourers, a ride may make one stand out. The frills and furbelows built into Mercian bikes do indeed look good, but if you don't like its ride characteristics, it will never be a satisfying mount for you. (There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mercian bikes, but ride one and compare it with others).

Hope the above helps.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Oh, another thing. I am assuming you are intending to tour on paved road surfaces in the UK and Europe. If you are planning treks across rough surfaces and or outside Europe, then you may wish to consider a bike with 26 inch wheels as they are a tad stronger and tyres and tubes are easier to obtain than 700c in those climes.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

The Claud Butler Regent here: http://www.bikesheduk.com/home/21

..takes some beating for £399 (if they have it in your size).

 

[Alembicbassman]

Seen some nice Raleigh Randonneurs on ebay recently, the mint ones go for £400 though. Reynolds 708 tubes are supposed to be better for carrying heavy loads.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I had a Dawes SuperGalaxy for ten years and it did everything asked of it, from commuting on London's potholed streets to touring holidays with four fully-loaded panniers.

 

[thistler]

Thanks - unfortunately the only one I'd be able to try in this area are new Galaxies....if they are comfortable then maybe I should stick with looking for one.....

 

[PpPete]

Not sure about the 90s ones, but in the 70s & 80s the Galaxy & Dalesman were very much alike IIRC.
The specs on the modern ones have diverged somewhat.

 

[Wobblers]

I have a early 90s vintage Super Galaxy. It is indeed comfortable, fast and stable when loaded. That's not to say that any of the others isn't as good or better - I've not tried any so I can't compare. Try each of them out, if you can. They've all got good reputations as tourers. One word of warning: the new Galaxies have a sloping top tube so what you experience in a test ride may not be comparable to earlier traditional geometry Galaxies such as mine.

 

[thistler]

I have a early 90s vintage Super Galaxy. It is indeed comfortable, fast and stable when loaded. That's not to say that any of the others isn't as good or better - I've not tried any so I can't compare. Try each of them out, if you can. They've all got good reputations as tourers. One word of warning: the new Galaxies have a sloping top tube so what you experience in a test ride may not be comparable to earlier traditional geometry Galaxies such as mine.

I definitely want the non-compact frame....do they all have the sloping tube?

 

[Wobblers]

I definitely want the non-compact frame....do they all have the sloping tube?

All new Galaxies with 631 or 853 frames made in the last 6-8 years or so have compact geometries. Older models with the 531st frame have the traditional geometry. I can't tell you exactly when they changed over to the compact geometry.

 

[thistler]

Thanks McWobble!

 

[HelenD123]

Oh, another thing. I am assuming you are intending to tour on paved road surfaces in the UK and Europe. If you are planning treks across rough surfaces and or outside Europe, then you may wish to consider a bike with 26 inch wheels as they are a tad stronger and tyres and tubes are easier to obtain than 700c in those climes.

Add North America to that list. 700C seems more widespread there. A friend went to nearly every bike shop in Toronto looking for the 26" tyres she wanted.

 

[rich p]

Have you considered the Edinburgh Coop bikes?

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...QRY=C440&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003155c018343



My wife had one and liked it very much.

 

[thistler]

thanks all. I have looked at the EBC bikes before - they don't have any in my size. I will look again once I actually have cash in my hand. But would one of these be better quality than a used Galaxy etc. selling around the 500 mark?