End-to-End Touring Bike

rockers100

Hi,

I'm doing Land's End to John O'Groats later this year for charity, and I've come to a decision point with regards my steed for the ride...

Option 1 is to revamp my ageing Trek 4500 with new drivetrain, brake pads, wheels, tyres, saddle and panniers. All in, I estimate this would cost me somewhere approaching £300....

Option 2, which follows on from the £300 point, is to buy a new touring bike. This would offer the advantage of having more suitable geometry for long days in the saddle, and improved reliability over an 11 year old converted MTB, even with its refresh.

My problem is that I know next to nothing about the touring/hybrid section of the biking world, and I don't whether I can get anything reasonable for about £300 which doesn't weigh a tonne/fall apart. I'd greatly appreciate any input/ideas people may have please!

Thanks,

Chris

maddog 2

Personally, I don't think £300 buys a very good bike, tourer or otherwise.

I'd be tempted to revamp the Trek myself. Pick up bargains/deals on the transmission stuff. Tweak the bars/bar ends/seating etc. with cheap ebay/forum deals. Dig out some decent wheels from somewhere. Fit some decent tyres/saddle and go from there.

It depends on how shot the Trek is but I reckon I could build a better tourer out of s/hand gear than you could buy for £300 new. Some creativity and web diggery is needed but it's doable I think.

rockers100

Thanks for that.

The only way I'd go for a replacement bike is if it was discounted (I'd found a 2009 Giant CRS 2.0 City down from £450 to £300). That's still about £100 more than it's going to cost me to repair/kit out the Trek, however, so I think I'm going head in that direction.

Thanks for your help!

alfablue

Probably the cheapest okay tourer would be something like the Endinburgh Cycle Co-op Revolution Country Traveller currently £399.