No bike yet, looking at options for a 6 month trip in 2013

Fatamorgana

Here begins my toe-testing of what I require, I've read Mike Carter's "One man and his bike" and I'm ready for some riding!

A bike.
So, I am familiar with mtn and road bikes (L and 54 /56) but not touring bikes. I would like to buy an all in one outfit someone is selling as a job-lot, but pigs might fly eh?!
Ideally I should get some idea of what's a decent budget bike. I weigh 11:11, so not a heavyweight as such.

Kit: I have somet things already - including a Thermarest sleeping mat, Rab sleeping bag, tent (Voyager superlight) and Pocket Rocket with a basic cooking & eating kit from my multi-days in the hills walking / trekking kit.

Clipped in? Would need some shoe / boots as my Spec; race shoes might just fall apart, and what of bib-shorts - suitable with leggings packed as required.

Bike Specific w'proofs?

I have not the first idea about racks and panniers!

There, my toes are quite wet (as is behind my ears) and the journey has now begun to take shape.

Thanks

andymiller

Sorry I know you want someone to tell you what bike to buy, but it's an impossible question to ask without knowing what sort of touring you want to do and where - and what your budget is. The ideal bike for lightly-loaded road touring in Europe is going to be very different from a bike for long tours on dirt roads fully-loaded.

Here are the things you need to look for in a bike for touring:

- reasonably sturdy - depending on what sort of loads you plan to carry. A feather-light thoroughbred racing bike isn't going to be what you want - but equally don't go to the other extreme if you only plan to carry a change of clothes;

- fittings for panniers will make life easier;

- a decent amount of clearance to fit wider tyres (plus mudguards if you want them);

- reasonably long chainstays to avoid your heels hitting the panniers;

- good-quality wheels with a minimum of 32 spokes and wide enough to take wider tyres;

- probably triple chainring and MTB/hybrid gears - unless you are very fit/only plan to ride in flat places/prefer hub gears.

Everything else: eg flat or drop bars, rim or disc brakes, 26 inch or 700c wheels really comes down to personal preference.

BTW it's probably a good idea to ask one question at a time: I know you've got a load of questions going round in your head, but IME posts wit a gazillion questions deter people from replying.

MichaelW

Touring bikes come in light, medium and expedition grade.
A really good overview here

People tour on other kinds of bike and specialist touring bikes are pretty rare outside the UK. If you have a bike that can take racks and has low gears, you can tour on it
My first tour was on a Raleigh hybrid hire bike with a backpack bungied to the rear rack. It was a spur of the moment decision in Ireland and still one of my favourite tours.

Tubus racks, Ortleib Carradice panniers, you cant go wrong with these.
Some tourists use clipless pedals, others use toe clips. MTB leisure style shoes are better for touring than road versions.

cyclewhite

Genesis Croix de Fer(£1100) or Planet x Kaffenback(£1200). Both steel frames, easy to repair on the road and are forgiving rides.

Ortlieb Classic roller panniers and blackburn carriers. Nothing is totally wetproof, so don't waste money.

Wool base layers, they can be worn for days and won't smell. ? stove, I end up not using this much so now don't take one. You can always buy hot meals/drinks!

Tent? I now use a hooped bivi bag(Rab) as can camp any where without drawing any attention. weights about 700gms and packs to about the size of a small loaf of bread.

Botttom line is just go for it, you can always do with less than you think..... Just take a credit card!!!!!!!

Good luck and enjoy
Colin