Advice Please

woodyonthebeach

He All,

Im looking to get either a touring frame or a complete bike. Anybody be able to point in the right direction.

It will be used to carry a fair amount of weight so presume it would have to strongish frame.

Cheers

takeonafrica

Suspect one reason you've not yet had a response is that the question is a bit vague.
However, here goes:
Thorn are a respected company (www.sjscycles.co.uk) who do top of the range touring bikes. Perhaps if you check out www.adventure-cycling-guide.co.uk - this gives a good guide to a range of bikes suitable for touring for all budgets. It's what I've used as a guide in trying to decide which bike to buy (still debating mind you!).
This might also be of interest - www.bikefix.co.uk - it's a London bike shop offering 20% discount on everything until xmas... I'll be making a trip there myself very shortly!

Anyway, hope that helps you make a start...

Helen

inaperfectworld

spa cycles in harrogate do maiil order and are touring specialists, but they are primarily dawes orientated. perhaps we need a bit more information,eg how much off tarmac you expect to do, price guide etc. you can tour perfectly well on a mountain bike with road tyres or pay £1000+ if you are really enthusiastic

woodyonthebeach

inaperfectworld wrote:

spa cycles in harrogate do maiil order and are touring specialists, but they are primarily dawes orientated. perhaps we need a bit more information,eg how much off tarmac you expect to do, price guide etc. you can tour perfectly well on a mountain bike with road tyres or pay £1000+ if you are really enthusiastic

Probably looking to do around 50-70 miles a day out in France for a week. We dont have a route planned we are going to book the ferries and see where the road takes us.

So more than likely a lot of tarmac me thinks.

takeonafrica

If you're just going for a week I'd just take whatever bike you already have. When I've been cycle touring for 3 weeks I just put a rack on my mountain bike and go.
Another option could be to hire one... which could be a good opportunity to try out a good quality touring bike and see if you like it and then you could consider buying later.