Author Topic: what to chose - steel touring bike (Read 21377 times)

border-rider · « **Reply #50 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:17:27 pm »

There's some nice 2nd hand bikes on their site - if you are tall or short

There's a lovely trike too - if I were an inch shorter in the leg. And a tandem trike in need of TLC

MSeries · « **Reply #51 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:23:33 pm »

One of my clubmates has to send his Longstaff back after the chainstay came detached from the BB shell. Not happy.

Frenchie · « **Reply #52 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:26:31 pm »

Paul had lots of issues with them as well when he got his. I believe the bike is fine and that he likes it, but the process of getting it was not pleasurable. As for style it is a personal matter of course.

border-rider · « **Reply #53 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:44:43 pm »

Quote from: Sophie Days. on 02 May, 2008, 07:39:29 pm

I would get a Cheviot from Hewitt and spend the rest of the money going off and using it.

Custom building regular sized frames seems a little excessive.

We've done this before, but if you compare the

Cheviot with the Mercian...

clarion · « **Reply #54 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:46:55 pm »

Did you forget the Bob Jackson?

MSeries · « **Reply #55 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:49:19 pm »

Chiltern might be a better comparison. Parallel top tube, lugged, calipre brakes. Much more classic look. The Mercian looks better for a quill stem though.

MSeries · « **Reply #56 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:53:08 pm »

I take that back, the 2008 Chiltern is slopy, oh no, what have they done.

Frenchie · « **Reply #57 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:56:56 pm »

Mercians do touring bike packages. Last time I was in the shop, prices were about £1,400. Not much info online though, but they will email or mail you up to date flyers with price if you ask.

clarion · « **Reply #58 on:** 02 May, 2008, 10:59:17 pm »

*ahem*

Bob Jackson!

Ivo · « **Reply #59 on:** 02 May, 2008, 11:06:47 pm »

Bob Jackson - Campagnolo in Croatia:

clarion · « **Reply #60 on:** 02 May, 2008, 11:07:32 pm »

Ooh!

mike · « **Reply #61 on:** 03 May, 2008, 08:23:28 am »

is it worth getting one that can be separated? Does the faff of storing / shipping a hard suitcase outweigh the confidence that the bike will arrive in one piece?

bikenerd · « **Reply #62 on:** 03 May, 2008, 10:47:53 am »

Quote from: mike on 03 May, 2008, 08:23:28 am

is it worth getting one that can be separated? Does the faff of storing / shipping a hard suitcase outweigh the confidence that the bike will arrive in one piece?

With the TSR Moulton, the separability costs only £100 extra and adds a very slight weight penalty. If you compare that to the Surly Cross Check and, its separable version, the Travellers Check, the price differential is £500!

(£300 for Cross Check, £800 for travellers check, just for the frame).

Having a separable frame is good though. Last weekend we put the Moulton in the car when visiting my girlfriend's parents, on the off chance that her Dad would like to go for a ride. He did and we didn't have to faff about with a bike rack.

Ivo · « **Reply #63 on:** 03 May, 2008, 03:16:13 pm »

Quote from: mike on 03 May, 2008, 08:23:28 am

is it worth getting one that can be separated? Does the faff of storing / shipping a hard suitcase outweigh the confidence that the bike will arrive in one piece?

I never missed it. using hard suitcases limits you to out-and-back rides from the same airport. For international train transport I often used a french style of soft bag. After some practicing I could disassamble/reassamble my bike in about 15 minutes.

donpedro · « **Reply #64 on:** 05 May, 2008, 08:49:43 am »

Quote from: mike on 02 May, 2008, 08:05:54 am

thanks all! (apart from Frenchie )
The richey cross looks great, but doesnt have any mudguard / rack eyes (that I can see).

[img height=80 width=100]http://www.bennettpage.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/getwellsoon.gif[/img]

Edit!

mike · « **Reply #65 on:** 05 May, 2008, 01:58:39 pm »

Quote from: Peter on 05 May, 2008, 08:49:43 am

Quote from: mike on 02 May, 2008, 08:05:54 am
thanks all! (apart from Frenchie )
The richey cross looks great, but doesnt have any mudguard / rack eyes (that I can see).

<blush>

thanks Peter, it looks even better now!!

donpedro · « **Reply #66 on:** 05 May, 2008, 03:36:27 pm »

Sorry Mike, that pics came across a bit harsh.

Just want you to have all the options clear. How much is the Dahon btw?

handcyclist · « **Reply #67 on:** 05 May, 2008, 08:50:28 pm »

I am contemplating selling my Claude Butler Super Dalesman.

It's really too big for me and I don't ride it enough.

It is one of the pre-Condor, hand built in England bikes.

It's a 58 cm c-c.

The paint work is sound in most places but has a few scrapes, mechanically it's very sweet.

It has had over £250 spent on it in new bearings and chainset maybe a 150 miles ago.

Set up for touring with rear rack and handlebar bag, full mudguards etc.

PM me if interested.

Charlotte · « **Reply #68 on:** 06 May, 2008, 10:40:05 am »

Quote from: Mal Volio on 02 May, 2008, 05:41:55 pm

Quote from: Charlotte on 02 May, 2008, 08:42:06 am
Unless you're going for serious, bonkers, out-of-the-way in the back of beyond touring, in which case I'd get a very vanilla steel tourer with 26" wheels and friction shifters.

Like this ?

Members' bikes

Yup. Juslikethat

mike · « **Reply #69 on:** 06 May, 2008, 11:11:56 am »

Quote from: Peter on 05 May, 2008, 03:36:27 pm

Sorry Mike, that pics came across a bit harsh.
Just want you to have all the options clear. How much is the Dahon btw?

no worries

approx costs so far:
A custom steel frame & forks, from 500ish up to 1500 for frame & forks +

for the kit to go on it
The Dahon steel separable, supplied with 9-speed shumano is about 1,200
I cant find a price for the steel richey cross, but the steel road bike is about 700 for frame, forks and hard case. The Ti version of the cross is about 1,900 for frame & forks + case which seems a little pricey.
The moulton will be about 1,500 if I dont go mad on the finishing kit..

If I can find a ritchey cross steel in the UK for about 600 - 650, it'll be a tough one to call between that and a mercian tourer..

Glosbiker · « **Reply #70 on:** 06 May, 2008, 11:14:28 am »

In the absence of any sensible pricing guidance on their website, what's a ball-park figure for a King of Mercia or Mercian audax?

mike · « **Reply #71 on:** 06 May, 2008, 01:13:11 pm »

Quote from: Glosbiker on 06 May, 2008, 11:14:28 am

In the absence of any sensible pricing guidance on their website, what's a ball-park figure for a King of Mercia or Mercian audax?

from the 'frames' page, the numbers for frame & forks:
KING OF MERCIA TOUR 631......£430.00 + VAT
KING OF MERCIA RACE 631......£430.00 + VAT
KING OF MERCIA 725......£545.00 + VAT
KING OF MERCIA 853......£625.00 + VAT
KING OF MERCIA 853 PRO TEAM......£660.00 + VAT

Glosbiker · « **Reply #72 on:** 06 May, 2008, 01:39:36 pm »

Many thanks.

For techy computer shaped reasons that I can't be arsed to get to the bottom of, when I click on anything on the frames page it just comes up with the "Computer says no" page.

So I'm most grateful to you, mike

Author Topic: what to chose - steel touring bike (Read 21377 times)

border-rider

border-rider

bikenerd