Tourer or hybrid?

"Daniel Auger" wrote in message
...
If all goes well, this is my last year in the fens and my last without a
"proper" salary. Everywhere in the world has more hills than
Cambridgeshire, so the Dutch roadster I presently use for everything from
five-minute shopping trips to fifty-mile day-outings is probably going to
prove too heavy. I am thus thinking about getting a second bike.

Left to my own devices, I would probably go for a touring bicycle - a
Dawes Galaxy or similar. I'm never likely to go off-road, and the idea of
having a robust road-bike that could carry a set of panniers seems quite
appealing for commuting, day trips, and maybe even cycling holidays.

Is this sensible, or should I be considering a good-quality well-equipped
hybrid instead?

IMHO there is only one important difference between a Galaxy and a "good
quality hybrid", which is the shape of the handlebars. There might be minor
differences such as wheel diameter (MTB vs 700c), but when it comes to ride
comfort they are secondary to saddle and handlebars. A Galaxy, or "good
quality hybrid" is more than capable of handling hard-packed bridleways and
other reasonbly firm off-road tracks in all but the worst of weather.

That then comes down to personal preference; do you like drops, or do you
prefer upright bars ? Only you can answer that.


FWIW, I suggest keeping the Dutch roadster unless you find it intollerable.
Having a robust low maintenance short-trip cycle is a good idea.

- NC

"NC" wrote in message
...


FWIW, I suggest keeping the Dutch roadster unless you find it
intollerable.
Having a robust low maintenance short-trip cycle is a good idea.

I'd heartily recommend that. A big solid German or Dutch bike with 28 wheels
and (ideally) a Rohloff is the biz if you use a bike for day to day
transport. I have a road-bike, and offroad bike, and a Brompton but the bike
I ride the most is my monster.

On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 16:32:45 +0000, Daniel Auger
wrote:

If all goes well, this is my last year in the fens and my last without a
"proper" salary. Everywhere in the world has more hills than
Cambridgeshire, so the Dutch roadster I presently use for everything from
five-minute shopping trips to fifty-mile day-outings is probably going to
prove too heavy. I am thus thinking about getting a second bike.

Left to my own devices, I would probably go for a touring bicycle - a
Dawes Galaxy or similar. I'm never likely to go off-road, and the idea of
having a robust road-bike that could carry a set of panniers seems quite
appealing for commuting, day trips, and maybe even cycling holidays.

Is this sensible, or should I be considering a good-quality well-equipped
hybrid instead?

Thanks for any advice! :-)

The flat barred 700c wheeled 'Rapide' range by Ridgeback have been my
all purpose bikes of choice for a few years (I've had two)[1]. They
are not as 'performance' as the Day range but have a bit more go than
hybrids and a lot more than mtbs. They'll take all the panniers (fore
& aft), racks & mudguards you can through at them. Ridgeback also have
a new 'World' range of tourers.

SJS cycles seem to do a big range and would appear to have something
to meet most needs but they are rather pricey. Also, some people in
this group (or it may have been elsewhere) have 'issues' with SJS.
Have been OK for all my dealings, though.

If your first pay checks are up to it then Cannondale have just
brought out a Rohloff fitted 'street' bike which I cannot wait to get
a closer look at. To date most Rohloff hubs have been retrofitted to
mtbs but the Cannondale benefits from an eccentric bb so looks really
special without the usual Rohloff chain tensioner.

[1] The headsets have failed early on both bikes and I can only assume
they use some cheap grease. However, they are still, ime, excellent
bikes.

Daniel Auger wrote:

Thanks for the advice. That's something I haven't investigated. I'm
guessing that most people find drops more useful once they've got used to
them? Are there differences in the frame geometry that would prevent me
switching to another type of handlebar if I didn't like drops?

Shouldn't be that much problem changing either. Drops make a difference
for longer term comfort including tiredness: the better aero position
being more crouched means less effort over a long day, but the cost of
that is more weight on your hands and arms and more of a crick to the
neck. The drops give you lots of positions to relieve these issues to
some extent.
They do need getting used to though. Or if you want better aero without
any of the comfort disadvantages, get a recumbent. Mine is
*outrageously* comfortable and also carries luggage better than a
"normal" upright tourer (the lowriders go between the wheels, under the
rider, rather than weighing directly on the front fork, so you can put
in big weights and hardly affect the handling at all). They don't come
cheap, but nor do high quality uprights like you're looking at so if
you're spending money, might as well get comfy!

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/