rBoTM RBotM June 2024 - Theme Month - Retro Tourers! Enter Now!

[bikeworkshop]

A tourer needs luggage capacity.

Surely beyond that it depends on terrain and the size and demands of the rider?

As a rule you'd expect:
700/27s
With tyres for grip and comfort
Drop bars, accessible controls
Wide range of gears
Powerful brakes
Stable geometry.
Comfort in riding position

But the only necessities are:
that it's used to go from a to b, and then on to c,
for pleasure
- over a period of time
and not trying to set a record.

So you could have:
26"wheels,
Knobbly tyres,
upright bars,
DT shifters
OneBy,
U-brakes,
a suspension fork,
a sporty saddle...

... but maybe not all at once

 

[Spankyfart]

A tourer needs luggage capacity.

Surely beyond that it depends on terrain and the size and demands of the rider?

As a rule you'd expect:
700/27s
With tyres for grip and comfort
Drop bars, accessible controls
Wide range of gears
Powerful brakes
Stable geometry.
Comfort in riding position

You tell me.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

You tell me.

View attachment 858102

Gorgeous is that a Rolloff? Surly racks? I'm biased as I love Kogas.

 

[Spankyfart]

Gorgeous is that a Rolloff? Surly racks? I'm biased as I love Kogas.

Rohloff, drop bars, rear U-Brake mount and front canti but all around Magura brakes. (wait whut?)
Gilles Berthoud fenders double strutted, and some more savory bits.

 

[grantoury]

Rohloff, drop bars, rear U-Brakes and Magura brakes. (wait whut?)
Gilles Berthoud fenders double strutted, and some more savory bits.

A Koga with Maguras, Rohloff, 26" wheels, serious racks and a Brooks? If that isn't a touring bicycle I don't know what is.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Racks, racks rackschecks all the boxes

It's almost easier to say what you can't have on a tourer:

Oval chainrings
(excluding biopace)
Tribars (excluding germans)
Shaved legs (men only)
23mm tyres
Fixed gear
Look pedals
Campag Shamal wheels...
Further options invited!

But ultimately its not "Can't",
its "Shouldn't"

We are free to tour on whatever we want - i did a tour of Essex on a beautiful 60s Patrick Skeates track bike, (although it did have a brake and 531 frame)

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Racks, racks rackschecks all the boxes

It's almost easier to say what you can't have on a tourer:

Oval chainrings
(excluding biopace)
Tribars (excluding germans)
Shaved legs (men only)
23mm tyres
Fixed gear
Look pedals
Campag Shamal wheels...
Further options invited!

But ultimately its not "Can't",
its "Shouldn't"

We are free to tour on whatever we want - i did a tour of Essex on a beautiful 60s Patrick Skeates track bike, (although it did have a brake and 531 frame)

Any pics? I have a thing for fixed wheel.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Any pics? I have a thing for fixed wheel.

Very sorry to say i sold it about 10 years ago to a vcc collector - I'll try to look him up and see if he'll sell it back though. Twas a beauty in glossy midnight blue and chrome.

Where i live is super hilly so fixed is really out of the question and bikes at the shop are basically sellable
Here's me on a big fixie... but doesn't really qualify as a tourer.
No racks

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Very sorry to say i sold it about 10 years ago to a vcc collector - I'll try to look him up and see if he'll sell it back though. Twas a beauty in glossy midnight blue and chrome.

Where i live is super hilly so fixed is really out of the question and bikes at the shop are basically sellable
Here's me on a big fixie... but doesn't really qualify as a tourer.
No racks
View attachment 858221

Terrifying Bristol is hilly AF, south downs are a bit kinder. Would I do fixed wheel?

 

[BOBU]

Love the Koga Miyata, looks an upmarket equivalent of ......
https://www.stanforthbikes.co.uk/pamiraBut, probably much better as handcrafted by YOU. Should I enter the Corsair.... ?