After a road bike that will be suitable touring

nutman
nutman Posts: 2
edited September 2013 in Road buying advice
I'm looking to buy a road bike that for the majority of the time will be used for long rides at the weekend. However, I plan to go on tour next summer and do not wish to buy another bike just for touring. Therefore I'm after something that I can also use as a touring bike. I should mention that this is my first road bike. I'm usually an avid mountain biker but I want to start taking on long rides, hence the road bike. After a bit of research I think I have found a suitable bike. I'm just posting on here to get some reassurance / advice before I buy.

http://www.myjamis.com/SSP%20Applications/JamisBikes/MyJamis/consumer/bike.html?year=2013&model=Ventura%20Comp&cat_grp=road_6

It has rack and mudguard mounts which is what I would need. For a rack / panniers / mudguards I'm looking at the following items that total approx 2kg:
Deuter Rack Pack Uni Panniers
TorTec Ultralite Rear Rack
Crud RoadRacer Mk2 Mudguard

And as for packing I'd keep things as light as possible.

I'm not too sure on the crankset though. Would it be suitable for big climbs? I can't say for sure right now how much climbing I'd be doing, but I'd like to be set up for anything if possible. I would probably change the tyres to 28c (it can take them), but would the wheels be strong enough for the additional load?

Any advice would be very much appreciated! Thanks.

Comments

  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    Ignoring the fact that the Tortec can't be called ultralight (look at the Tubus Airy)

    Maybe you should just get a saddlebag
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • jumbosausage
    jumbosausage Posts: 77
    Be mindful that you could easily have problems with heel clearance using panniers on a 'road bike'. It depends on frame geometry/dimensions, rack, panniers, shoes etc and you wont know 'til you try it out......unless you source everything from the same shop
  • starside
    starside Posts: 20
    edited September 2013
    This is my first post after lurking for 6 years!!

    Anyway I am after a similar bike - my first road bike after 6 years on a hybrid.

    I have the following shortlist of bikes that can accept rear racks and mudguards:

    Moda Bolero
    Specialised Secteur Disc sport
    Whyte Dorset RD-7
    Cboardman CX team
    Any of the B'twin models
    Giant defy 2 2013
    Planet X Kaffenback
    Dolan Preffisio
    Norco Valence A2
    Tifosi CK7

    Something to think about
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    Look for mudguard eyelets front and rear.
    The longest chainstay you can find in this style of bike (see geometry chart).
    Beware of interference between the horizontal rack stays and the rear brake. Many of the more compact style frames put the eyelets too low down.
    Winter training and Audax style bikes also work in this role.
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    The Ribble 365 takes mudguards and a rack.

    IMG_0215.JPG
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    nutman wrote:

    It has rack and mudguard mounts which is what I would need. For a rack / panniers / mudguards I'm looking at the following items that total approx 2kg:
    Deuter Rack Pack Uni Panniers
    TorTec Ultralite Rear Rack
    Crud RoadRacer Mk2 Mudguard


    From the spec details and the pic of the Jamis, I can't see any eyelets on the front forks for mudguard mounting - unless they have some proprietary screw -in thingy like the new Trek Domane.

    Anyway, my advice would be to steer clear of the Cruds if you plan to do any serious touring. They are really only a stopgap sticking plaster type mudguard for fitting to full road bikes that do not have mudguard eyelets fitted as standard. Take it from me - they are fiddly to fit and often require constant adjustment to stop them rubbing. They are also quite flimsy and might night survive the rigours of long distance touring.

    I would advise you to look out for a bike that has mudguard eyelets front and rear as well as the rack mount bosses you will need. Something like the Ribble Audax

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sed/road- ... =conf_SERW

    Or if you want to push the boat out, why not consider a Condor Fratello:-

    http://www.condorcycles.com/Condor-Bike ... e.tpl.html
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    Just as a follow up FYI - there is a 2nd hand Condor Fratello frameset (58cm) on offer in the classifieds at the moment.

    viewtopic.php?f=40091&t=12942531

    He's asking £470 but you might be able to negotiate from that point if you're interested and the size is right.

    The pic shows it as a complete build - might be worth asking if it's still in that form or has it been stripped down.

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