View Full Version : <~~~~new Toutrist In The Making


MunkeBiker
11-05-2007, 01:04 PM
Hello all,

Great resource we have here so i just wanna say thanks to the web developers and moderators and everyone else that helps run/maintain this site, it is a great tool for cyclists in any direction. So I am really enthralled of the prospect of touring, I want to go long and strong on a great bike. fitness is a large goal for me and the adventure is my main. So what i ask of ye fine Tourist's cyclists is a bit of advice for the beginner tourist. I have currently been to 3 different bike shops in my area most of who i have talked to kinda looked at my funny when i mentioned touring and what type of bikes they offered for it. Most of them just went straight to the road/sport bikes with steel frames and were like yep this is what you need, partly because I am sure they didn't carry touring bikes and ordering out of catalog doesn't move stock out of the store. The one place I went that i was impressed and satisfied with was a store that recommended the Giant: OCZ1 as a very basic bike that i would be able to heavy load and go places with. the reason why he mentioned it was many of the tourist that have come threw our area have been using different bikes for touring and using a pull cart. No the one he showed me was this "BOB Yak bicycle cargo trailer" I hopefully won't be getting this right away just cause i am not ready to do longer then 100 miles yet so can't really justify the expense right off the bat. A lot of what I will be doing is riding my bike to work and doing weekend distance rides until I can work up to my fitness goal which is will be to cycle the entire length of Japan. That goal will need to be put off for a bit till I finish school. Anyways I guess what i am looking for is a recommendation for a good beginner bike and some comments on the OCR1 or 2 "same frame just different components". I looked at possibly changing the wheels on the OCR1 just cause i want a little heavier duty wheel. I don't really care to much for speed I want a good solid climber, decent ride, and alright loading. The guy i spoke with at the shop was an old tourer from back in the day early 70s and late 80s so he had a lot of elated joy recalling stories. Back on track again any help would be greatly appreciated as to a good bike choice or touring set-up.

buck-50
11-05-2007, 01:24 PM
You probably can't beat the Surly LHT for an inexpensive, rock-solid touring bike.

You could quite easily build up a long-haul trucker for under 1500, and then spend the next couple years upgrading it and getting it ready for your tour- phil wood BB & hubs, brooks saddle, etc.

Good luck!

greggJ
11-05-2007, 02:05 PM
Go to http://www.adventurecycling.org/

This is a group of cyclists totally devoted to touring and have all kinds of information you can download.

Gregg

MunkeBiker
11-05-2007, 04:23 PM
oh oke thanks not sure where i could find a surly around rockford,il and i dont wanna buy online i'd rather support the local chaps but i'll research what information you did give me so thanks a bunch oh and if someone could just make a quick comment on that Giant OCR1 model as far as a light tourer.

later

Chris H
11-05-2007, 06:24 PM
No matter where you are, most shops can order out of the QBP catalog. If they can, then they can get you a Long Haul Trucker.

I can't comment on the Giant OCR1, however I did test ride a Giant OCR Touring bike a while bike. It was a pretty nice ride. Fairly lightweight, comfortable, and it had disc brakes (a bit of novelty in my opinion).

buck-50
11-05-2007, 07:46 PM
If yer in rockford, just drive up to madison. You'll find plenty of places to talk surly... Revolution won't have any in stock, but they'll order anything you want and build it up nice, Yellow Jersey might actually have something in stock, and if they don't, the owner will have something else that's more what you're looking for... And Budget's road shop has got some touring oriented folks that might be able to help you out...