Big guy thinking about touring

Bo Duke

I've thought about it for a few years, cycling through Central Asia as I used to live in Uzbekistan.

Touring bike choices appear limited and many resemble commuters that I'd be reluctant to take out of sight of a bike shop. The selection is further complicated by being a big chap. 6'7", 37" inside leg and 105kgs.

So predominantly on-road but not going to fall apart at the sight of dirt tracks, able to take my weight plus a reasonable amount of luggage, I wouldn't be flying like Beaumont. Comfort and strength I guess would be the key criteria.

What do you suggest? Thanks.

mercia_man

Have a look at website of touring specialists Spa Cycles. You need a strong bike with strong handbuilt wheels in a large size. The Spa steel tourer might fit the bill. They also sell Surly and other makes of tourer.

heatonrider

Paul Hewitts for top bikes and fantasic wheels

Bo Duke

I worry that a standard road bike won't be strong enough over time. The Surly Long Haul Trucker has a great reputation but fully agree it's the some of the parts that decides whether a bike works or not.

mercia_man

You're a big chap, you need a big strong bike and wheels, particularly as you will be riding on rough roads and tracks in far flung places. Not everyone does bikes as big as you would want. I would recommend going to one of the touring bike specialists in person. You've got Spa Cycles, in Harrogate, Paul Hewitt in Lancs, Thorn/SJS in Somerset, all of which I've used and are really good. They also all do good handbuilt wheels which I would consider essential.

If you are in London or south east, bikefix do Tout Terrain bikes which have a good reputation but are expensive while Pearson's touring bikes use what looks like an identical or similar frame to Hewitts.

You could also consider getting a bike with a Rohloff 14-speed hub gear. These are strong and maintenance-free apart from the occasional oil change. Thorn and Tout Terrain are among those who offer Rohloff tourers. I have a Rohloff hub on my Thorn tandem. It's a bit less efficient than derailleurs in the lower gears but lovely to use and hassle-free. Could be a good option for riding in tough conditions. Rohloffs work on a twistgrip changer which is best with flat bars although you can adapt them to drops.

culverwood

Given your size if you are not in a hurry you could get a frame made for you by someone like Dave Yates for touring. Custom frames are particularly suitable at the very large and very small ends of the size spectrum where off the rack models are always a compromise.

andymiller

The Surly Long Haul Trucker is built like the brick proverbial.

Alternatively you could look at a mountain bike frame like the One-One 456 - these are built to take a lot of abuse (and mountain bike frames are subject to some fairly rigorous testing standards).

Mercian Man is right about the wheels - they are far more likely to give you problems than the frame.

I'd get out on the road on something cheaper before thinking about custom-built frames and Rohloff hubs.

Your luggage will only add 15kgs or so - which isn't really a huge extra amount on top of your own weight.

mercia_man

I think your height will be a issue. Just had a look at frame sizes. The biggest Surly Long Haul Trucker and Thorn touring frames have a 620mm virtual top tube which is recommended by Thorn up to a height of 6ft 3in to 6ft 4in. Spa don't seem to do a frame this big in their own range. So I reckon a visit to one of the touring specialist shops is best to size yourself up on what is available. It may be a custom frame is your best option.

Thorn have a very informative website with lots of pdfs to read. Interrestingly, their bigger frames use oversize tubing, which is a definite bonus.

JayKosta

I'd choose a wheel and tire size that is likely to have replacements available for where you'll be riding. And plan to carry spare spokes, and inner tubes, brake blocks, cables, etc. Make certain a replacement chain can be bought (or carried?).

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

Bo Duke

Hello all, many thanks the interesting comments. I've been looking at Thorn's for some time, they seem to be an excellent bike but agree the frames look small, however a long stem would help create some extra length. Another option is the Koja world traveller bikes and I agree the Rohloff is an excellent option, expensive but suitably tested by now to warrant the cost.

I need to look into the custom frame options, sadly cost will dictate the final decision...
Jay, that the advice, spares are vital, especially spokes. Broke 2 in one week once! Not the bikes fault though.

Thanks again guys.

vernonlevy

Bo Duke wrote:

Hello all, many thanks the interesting comments. I've been looking at Thorn's for some time, they seem to be an excellent bike but agree the frames look small, however a long stem would help create some extra length. Another option is the Koja world traveller bikes and I agree the Rohloff is an excellent option, expensive but suitably tested by now to warrant the cost.

I need to look into the custom frame options, sadly cost will dictate the final decision...
Jay, that the advice, spares are vital, especially spokes. Broke 2 in one week once! Not the bikes fault though.

Thanks again guys.

Have a look at Woodrup Cycle's Chimera. I am heavier than you but shorter at 5' 11". It's a bespoke Rohloff hubbed belt drive tourer. I've had mine for three years and apart from replacing worn out brake pads and tyres and having to adjust the belt tension for the first time six months ago, it's been maintenance free. Oh, I forgot the changing of the oil in the hub on an annual basis - a five minute job.

It's not a cheap option but it's bullet proof. I've toured through Scotland, France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia and Croatia with it - sometimes on unmetalled roads and cycle paths and it has been great at providing a comfortable ride.

mercia_man

Nice bike, Vernon. Just the sort of thing that I believe would suit Bo. It's similar to a Thorn Raven, apart from the belt drive. Thorn do an even stronger (and heavier) expedition tourer called the Nomad for people who want to go in really wild places with a lot of luggage. It's a big initial outlay to buy a bike of this sort, although on a par with many mass- produced carbon road bikes, but it would last for many years.

vernonlevy

Mercia Man wrote:

Nice bike, Vernon. Just the sort of thing that I believe would suit Bo. It's similar to a Thorn Raven, apart from the belt drive. Thorn do an even stronger (and heavier) expedition tourer called the Nomad for people who want to go in really wild places with a lot of luggage. It's a big initial outlay to buy a bike of this sort, although on a par with many mass- produced carbon road bikes, but it would last for many years.

It shares some DNA with the Thorn. Woodrup's frame builder is Kevin Sayles who used to do the bespoke frames for Thorn. He's gone full circle - Woodrup Cycles to Thorn and back to Woodrup's. The Chimera can be built in a lot of styles including Alfine hubbed, derailleur gears, a choice of frame tubing and wheel size - basically anything you want within reason.

Maintenance costs over the past three years excluding tyres and brake blocks comes to £30.

andymiller

Before you reach for the credit card (or worse rule out touring altogether), you might want to look at this page:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/help/what-size-bike

scroll down to the bottom and you'll see several profiles of taller riders (in the 6' 3" and above bracket). The On-One 456 is quite a long frame - but you can make the reach longer, if need be, with a longer stem and setback seat post. (It also has all of the necessary fittings for a pannier rack).

If at some point you decide you want to go for a custom frame then go for it - but I wouldn't assume that that's the only option. Ditto a Rohloff hub.