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08-24-2004, 06:30 PM

Yellowstone Yeti wrote:

> My question
> is: do I buy a touring bike, road bike, cross bike? I've done quite
> a bit of touring in the past on a mountain bike. In fact, that is my
> "road" bike right now-an early 90s steel Fisher mtn bike with slicks.
> It is heavy, slow, and the perfect bike for losing weight. Do I keep
> it as my touring bike and buy a faster, lighter road bike? Or do I
> buy a decent touring bike and use it for all of my road riding? Will
> I notice the difference between a road bike and a bare touring bike,
> especially at my size?

I don't think you stated your size, but: I think the differences you'll
notice in a road bike (vs. touring bike) are twitchier handling and lack
of low gears.

A touring bike will probably feel more stable and relaxed in its
handling, but you may prefer the "sporty" response to steering inputs.
OTOH, I've ridden with folks that were always dodging left and right 6"
at a time, unintentionally. I think their hair-trigger bike geometry
might have been part of the cause. And remember that even if you like
that twitchiness at mile #5, you may hate it at mile #95.

The road bike won't be "faster." The touring bike will have the same
aerodynamics, and with the proper tires it'll have the same rolling
resistance, practically speaking. That's what effects your speed.

> By
> the way, I'll be using the bike primarily for fitness rides of 20-60
> miles, but working up to a century ride. I'll also be doing 1 or 2
> two week fully loaded tours/year.

To me, that would settle it. A touring bike is essentially as good as a
road bike for unloaded riding. A touring bike is unbeatable for loaded
touring.

Incidentally, I don't understand the current fashion of choosing a
cyclocross bike for, say, touring. Seems to me like it's just a fashion
thing. "Hey, I'm too cool for a touring bike. I got a macho bike
that's designed to be carried through the mud! But, er, I'm going
touring on it."

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

08-24-2004, 06:30 PM	#23 (permalink)
Frank Krygowski Posts: n/a	Re: Road, touring or cross bike? Yellowstone Yeti wrote: > My question > is: do I buy a touring bike, road bike, cross bike? I've done quite > a bit of touring in the past on a mountain bike. In fact, that is my > "road" bike right now-an early 90s steel Fisher mtn bike with slicks. > It is heavy, slow, and the perfect bike for losing weight. Do I keep > it as my touring bike and buy a faster, lighter road bike? Or do I > buy a decent touring bike and use it for all of my road riding? Will > I notice the difference between a road bike and a bare touring bike, > especially at my size? I don't think you stated your size, but: I think the differences you'll notice in a road bike (vs. touring bike) are twitchier handling and lack of low gears. A touring bike will probably feel more stable and relaxed in its handling, but you may prefer the "sporty" response to steering inputs. OTOH, I've ridden with folks that were always dodging left and right 6" at a time, unintentionally. I think their hair-trigger bike geometry might have been part of the cause. And remember that even if you like that twitchiness at mile #5, you may hate it at mile #95. The road bike won't be "faster." The touring bike will have the same aerodynamics, and with the proper tires it'll have the same rolling resistance, practically speaking. That's what effects your speed. > By > the way, I'll be using the bike primarily for fitness rides of 20-60 > miles, but working up to a century ride. I'll also be doing 1 or 2 > two week fully loaded tours/year. To me, that would settle it. A touring bike is essentially as good as a road bike for unloaded riding. A touring bike is unbeatable for loaded touring. Incidentally, I don't understand the current fashion of choosing a cyclocross bike for, say, touring. Seems to me like it's just a fashion thing. "Hey, I'm too cool for a touring bike. I got a macho bike that's designed to be carried through the mud! But, er, I'm going touring on it." -- --------------------+ Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com, replace with cc.ysu dot edu]