Help me buy a touring bike? Do a tour

I wanna do a honest to goodness bike tour someday soon.... next year or so.

Ive always ridden bikes.... for fun and back forth to work..... but have dreamed of doing a bike
tour someday.

Im not sure I do a fully loaded tour just yet. Id probably start out with just doing a credit card
tour for a day or two in my local area.

And just for the record..... Im 45.... abt 200lbs.... and out of shape.

Having said al the above.... what is a good bike to be buying to get ready for this touring?

My thoughts are either a Bike Friday model.... or a Bruce Gordon BLT. Or maybe even a recumbent?

More questions later but I will stop and wait for responses.

Thanks in advance!!

My riding buddies and I ride just this assortment of bikes. In March we did 1200 miles from
Charleston, SC to New Smyrna Beach and back.

The Bike Friday towed its hard-case in the trailer configuration. I rode my Longbikes' Vanguard
(Ryan design, LWB USS) and towed a BOB. The BG BLT used traditional panniers.

We tented every night save one in a motel.

We were a female and two males ranging in age from 64 to 54 and, in stature, from 5'2"/110# to
6'2"/220#.

We'll soon begin serious planning for our coast to coast next year. I expect that we'll ride with an
informal group or with an ACA tour.

<john63401@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:vpf8gvk26r9g1et9pf3afjnv52dn2jj7ka@4ax.com...
> I wanna do a honest to goodness bike tour someday soon.... next year or so.
>
> Ive always ridden bikes.... for fun and back forth to work..... but have dreamed of doing a bike
> tour someday.
>
> Im not sure I do a fully loaded tour just yet. Id probably start out with just doing a credit card
> tour for a day or two in my local area.
>
> And just for the record..... Im 45.... abt 200lbs.... and out of shape.
>
> Having said al the above.... what is a good bike to be buying to get ready for this touring?
>
> My thoughts are either a Bike Friday model.... or a Bruce Gordon BLT. Or maybe even a recumbent?
>
> More questions later but I will stop and wait for responses.
>
> Thanks in advance!!

>My riding buddies and I ride just this assortment of bikes. In March we did 1200 miles from
>Charleston, SC to New Smyrna Beach and back.

Who rode the Bike Friday?

I wouldn't mind a recumbent.... but I also want to commute back forth to work on the same
bike....and think I need the ability to hop a curb in an emer situation...

I suggest Effective Cycling by John Forester that sets out vehicular cycling's orthodoxy. No where
does vehicular cycling advocate curb hopping. In many/most jurisdictions bicycling on the sidewalk
is as illegal as is motoring on the sidewalk. With 'rights and privileges' (of a motor vehicle) come
similar restrictions/responsibilities. I have ridden my Vanguard more than 25K miles without
significant incident.

We have a local rider that is as large as am I and that rides a BF. He recently toured in Europe.
That is to ask, what is the premise of the question "Who rode the Bike Friday?"

The BF cost in excess of $3K and my Vanguard's MSRP was $6K. I believe that the BG was about $1200.
Perhaps that'll clarify preferences.

<john63401@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:rgh8gvccjr2ea1j2vi9mj3dllepjmcl7gs@4ax.com...
> >My riding buddies and I ride just this assortment of bikes. In March we
did
> >1200 miles from Charleston, SC to New Smyrna Beach and back.
>
> Who rode the Bike Friday?
>
> I wouldn't mind a recumbent.... but I also want to commute back forth to work on the same
> bike....and think I need the ability to hop a curb in an emer situation...

In article <vpf8gvk26r9g1et9pf3afjnv52dn2jj7ka@4ax.com>, john63401 @yahoo.com says...
> I wanna do a honest to goodness bike tour someday soon.... next year or so.

First I am going to suggest that you search for answers on the touring mailing list.

Touring@phred.org Browse and search the archives: http://search.bikelist.org Unsubscribe or list
settings: http://phred.org/mailman/listinfo/touring

There are those of us that ride recumbents and tour, but most of the experience on this NG is in
Recumbents. So, you will get your most unbiased touring information on the touring mailing list.
Well maybe not unbiased but at least the biases extend beyond that of recumbents here.
>
> Ive always ridden bikes.... for fun and back forth to work..... but have dreamed of doing a bike
> tour someday.
>
> Im not sure I do a fully loaded tour just yet. Id probably start out with just doing a credit card
> tour for a day or two in my local area.

A sound plan. I'd start out with a weekend trip from home.

> And just for the record..... Im 45.... abt 200lbs.... and out of shape.
>
> Having said al the above.... what is a good bike to be buying to get ready for this touring?

Depends on the tour and the tourist. A bike Friday/Saturday is fine for travling trips but probably
not well suited for long haul self- contained touring. If you opt for a pure DF bike then a touring
model is essential. A BLT, Trek 520 or Cannondale T series pretty much runs through most of your
choices there.

Some of the Euro bents are made for the long haul. (HP Velotechnic for example) I tour with a
Lightning P-38 Voyager that fits in a standard suitcase and is fine for two weeks in Europe. I also
have a Bacchetta Giro that is ready for tour and is my daily commute bike. It will go on my next
local tour.
>
> My thoughts are either a Bike Friday model.... or a Bruce Gordon BLT. Or maybe even a recumbent?
>
> More questions later but I will stop and wait for responses.

BTW Doug's advice on commuting is sound. Curb hopping is for show-off juveniles. At 45 you no
longer qualify.

Also At 200 lbs. you will need to look into beefy touring wheels and a frame that can
support 300 lbs
--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org
- Bellaire, TX USA -

You might also look at "Bent Rider on Line" (BROL). They have a several message boards, including
one devoted to touring.

http://www.bentrideronline.com/

BROL has had at least one thread devoted to riders' favorite touring recumbents. They have had
several threads devoted to specific touring issues on recumbents.

Gary McCarty, Greenspeed GTO, Salt Lake City

Cletus D. Lee <clee01l@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:<MPG.196e35d3bb8da293989a25@News.CIS.DFN.DE>...

> First I am going to suggest that you search for answers on the touring mailing list.
>
> Touring@phred.org Browse and search the archives: http://search.bikelist.org Unsubscribe or list
> settings: http://phred.org/mailman/listinfo/touring
>
> There are those of us that ride recumbents and tour, but most of the experience on this NG is in
> Recumbents. So, you will get your most unbiased touring information on the touring mailing list.
> Well maybe not unbiased but at least the biases extend beyond that of recumbents here.

Until this year I'v always ridden DF bikes. In early spring (or late winter here in Chicagoland), I bought a Burley Canto to serve as my commuter bike. I'm a BIG guy.....6 ft and 250 lbs...and the Canto handles it very well.

In early May I did a 200 mile weekend credit card tour from the north suburbs of Chicago to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The first day took me along side Lake Michigan through Kenosha and Racine, Wisconsin to just south of Milwaukee. The next morning I had breakfast at a Starbucks in downtown Milwaukee and afterward rode 20 more miles to Mequon before getting rained out. I spent the day at a lovely mom and pop motel near a bookstore, bagelry, and starbucks. If one had to stop, it was ideal.

The next day I rode north along Lake Michigan. From Port Washington to Sheboygan Falls (about 30 miles) they have paved the old electric train line. What a treat to ride through the Wisconsin country side without having to worry about cars and trucks (and tractors). From the falls I rode to Manitowoc where my wife met me. I should add that there is a measure of joy realizing that some of the people and most of the animals you pass along the way have never seen a recumbent. Everyone, without exception, was helfpul with directions, interested in the bike, and genuinely friendly.

In Manitowoc we caught the SS Badger, the four hour car ferry across Lake Michigan. The ferry includes two cafes, a wet bar, a movie room, and various forms of entertainment. I highly recommend it.

All of that is to say that I did just the kind of credit car tour you're talking about on a bent. And I commute 22 miles a day on my LWB configured Canto. And I'm a beefy fellow.

I recommend bent touring for some of the same reasons I recommnend bents in general--comfort, speed, and the ability to see the countryside more easily because of head position.

And, as heavy as I am, I wouldn't want to load my Burley with all the stuff for a self-supported tour. But for a credit card tour, I can carry more than I need in a set of panniers mounted on my standard bike rack (note: the Burley requires an adapter to mount a bike rack).

So, buy a bent . . . get in riding shape . . . learn to eat appropriately so you don't bonk (this is very important) . . . and take that tour. You'll be addicted like I am and others here are.

Cheers,
Ben
>>>>Burley Canto>>>>

I've done some touring with standard upright touring bikes, an upright Bike Friday, and LWB
recumbents. I also have a trailer for the Bike Friday that fits my other bikes too. One of my
touring friends has a Bruce Gordon with the complete racking - it's the real upright tourning deal.

I rarely use my standard touring bikes (Schwinn Voyageur and Bridgestone RB-T) for touring now. They
are both sweet riding bikes for recreational rides.

Most often I use a LWB recumbent as my touring bike of choice. I have a Ryan and a Easy Racer. Both
are bullet proof and get you there and back with confidence. RANS Stratus is another good one. They
will take you as far as your legs will carry you with no other aches and pains at the end of the
day. Both can be easily transported by car or truck. You should try some SWB recumbents too. Most
people have a definite preference for one or the other. If you want to take your bike with you when
you travel by air these bikes would be my first choice.

For travel there is nothing like a Bike Friday upright or recumbent. I have a Bike Friday New World
Tourist with drop bars and consider it my best all around bike. I have toured on it (although I
prefer a recumbent), I have used it off road (although I prefer a MTB), and I have used it as an in
town run around/shopping bike at which it excels. If I travel I almost always have it with me. At
your destination transport by bus, cab, boat, or train is made easy. The travel trailer is a good
choice for shopping and touring.

These are my preferences. There are many other choices and many other opinions. Try as many of them
as you can. Regardless of any thing else my advice would be keep it simple and strong because when
you are touring Murphy always rides with you.

skip

A quick correction. If you want to travel by air lwb recumbents would NOT be my first choice.

My Vanguard has BTCs

"skip" <skip@comcast.net> wrote in message news:ZJycnVeTlee9ZJuiXTWJkw@comcast.com...
> A quick correction. If you want to travel by air lwb recumbents would NOT be my first choice.

I don't know what BTCs are, but I'm guessing they're some kind of take apart joints that allow the
bike to break in half. If so, what kind of case do you use for air transport and how do you deal
with the seat?

Having the Bike Friday fit in a regular size suitcase for air travel and using the quick fold
feature for bus, cab, and train is so easy that I am a bit spoiled by the simplicity of it. When I
fly somewhere my plans at the destination usually include additional travel by cab, bus, or train -
and are not exclusively bike only. Often these are business trips and the bike is for whatever
riding I can get in while I'm there. Taking a lwb recumbent through a hotel lobby and up an elevator
would be an attention getter. Some hoity-toity hotels have rules against having bicycles on the
property. I've found that a folder in a bag is perfect for those places.

skip

"Doug Huffman" <2huffman@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:PhDNa.9049$z34.1572@fe04.atl2.webusenet.com...
> My Vanguard has BTCs
>
>
> "skip" <skip@comcast.net> wrote in message news:ZJycnVeTlee9ZJuiXTWJkw@comcast.com...
> > A quick correction. If you want to travel by air lwb recumbents would
NOT
> > be my first choice.
> >
> >

>I rarely use my standard touring bikes (Schwinn Voyageur and Bridgestone RB-T) for touring now.
>They are both sweet riding bikes for recreational rides.
>
>Most often I use a LWB recumbent as my touring bike of choice.

OK guys.... thanks!

I guess Im just chicken to get a bent. <sheepish grin> Actually Ive never even ridden a bent.

I did own a Bike Friday NWT at one time .... years ago. And did like it very well as a bike.....
forget abt the folding aspect for a moment.

Hence I was thinking abt getting the latest NWT that has the internal hub gearing.

However... I guess I should at least go to a bike store and RIDE some bents just to see what they
are all abt.

>For travel there is nothing like a Bike Friday upright or recumbent. I have a Bike Friday New World
>Tourist with drop bars and consider it my best all around bike.

Wow Skip....

Im curious.... just how MANY bikes do you have/own? Hahaha

Serious question tho...

>A quick correction. If you want to travel by air lwb recumbents would NOT be my first choice.

Yeah... there is a chance that if I wanted to do some touring outside my own local area that I might
wanna travel by air.

That was why I was looking at the Bike Friday NWT again as well.

<john63401@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:0jpigv8p9k6imbbib2g5hldka1ojf4qraa@4ax.com... <snip>

> Wow Skip....
>
> Im curious.... just how MANY bikes do you have/own? Hahaha
>
> Serious question tho...

I'm so glad you asked. Let me tell you about my bikes...............

You already know about five of them - the two recumbents, the two upright touring bikes, and the New
World Tourist - these are the ones previously mentioned in this thread.

My problem is one of attachment. I have hard time letting go once they come into my life. Some
folks buy and sell bikes about as often as I get a haircut, always looking for the latest and
greatest, seeking Bike Nirvana, which, in more than a few cases means any bike that's faster than
the one they have now. Not me. My newest bike is a '96 model and most of my other bikes have been
around a few years longer than that, such as a 70s Raleigh Twenty folder (modified) found in a
barn, a '72 chrome plated Paramount touring bike from a yard sale, and a 80s Albert Eisetraut (the
godfather of American frame builders) super sweet riding road bike from a shotgun/bicycle trade.
Also there is a 90s Marin Indian Fire Trail mountain bike. Almost all of them were purchased used
at bargain prices, but they are all great bikes, they all have different qualities, and none of
them, except the Paramount, would be worth much in today's bike market. Some of them don't have
indexed shifting which stops about 98% of the bike riding population from even thinking about a
trial ride on one of them.

I've got a thing about good quality old bikes plus I've got storage space. You know the result. A
while back I was on a out of state ride and there was a ragged out old Bottecchia road bike - sew up
tires and all - with a $50.00 for sale sign on it . So I'm thinking to myself - didn't Bottecchia
win the Tour a bunch of times? I had to make myself avoid looking at that bike for the rest of the
ride. What can I say.

Enough about my bikes.

If you are looking for a good touring bike you really owe it to yourself to give a recumbent a fair
trial. Keep in mind it does take a while to develop your recumbent legs and things will only get
better after your first ride.

skip