Touring Bikes?? Can 2 people even own 7 bikes?

[KnottedYet]

Between the two of us, my sweetie and I harbor slightly more than 6 bicycles...

I vote for Surly Long Haul Trucker. Your favorite LBS can order a "complete" from QBP, at a cost to you of about $985. No non-competition contracts with the manufacturer, as Surly *IS* QBP.

BikerHen just bought one, and Trek420 wants one. I think SurlyGrrl has one.

www.surlybikes.com
http://www.surlybikes.com/lht_comp.html

I have a Surly Cross Check, which I use with rear panniers. I'm very happy with it. It's not as steady/stable as a LHT, but it suits me. I don't like WSD either. I really like the way Surly bikes fit me.

If not Surly, my next vote would be Kona Sutra. (disc brakes, which might come in handy for the person pulling the dog trailer) www.konaworld.com http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/SUTRA/index.html The 2007 Sutras are on sale at my LBS right now for $1,100. (2008's are just around the corner)

Most touring bikes (in fact, all the touring bikes I've found) are steel. For a good reason! Steel is a lovely material. Rides like butter, wears like... well, steel!

If you are aiming at a long self-supported tour, you might want to seriously consider bar-end shifters like on the Surlies. (unless you have the tools and know-how to fix indexed brifters) The indexed rear Shimano bar-con on the Surly can be switched to friction, so if anything goes out of adjustment with your rear der, you can go friction and it becomes a moot point. The front is friction, which makes trimming the front der a breeze.

[Trek420]

Between the two of us, my sweetie and I harbor slightly more than 6 bicycles...

Before she sold all but her 3 or 4 of her most loved bikes by my count Logdiva had 16 in her stable. Is this the TE record?

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ghlight=stable

I test rode the Surly, I ::heart icon:: Surly but need to wait till the house remodel is done.

[KnottedYet]

EastHill might be pretty close to Logdiva's record.

[VeloVT]

If you are aiming at a long self-supported tour, you might want to seriously consider bar-end shifters like on the Surlies. (unless you have the tools and know-how to fix indexed brifters) The indexed rear Shimano bar-con on the Surly can be switched to friction, so if anything goes out of adjustment with your rear der, you can go friction and it becomes a moot point. The front is friction, which makes trimming the front der a breeze.

The Trek touring bike has bar-end shifters that switch from index to friction, too. I thought that was pretty neat. I looked at this bike briefly (never tested it -- and I THINK it was the 520, but I'm not absolutely sure -- in any case they probably only make one touring bike, right?) while looking for a commute bike. It's pretty (that year's model was all black and very handsome), looks comfy and relaxed, and has touring stuff (eyelets, etc). It was heavier than I wanted, for my purposes, but that might not be such an issue if you're doing loaded touring anyway. I think it's around 25-27 lbs, not insanely heavy, but the bike I ended up with was around 20/21.

[Trek420]

....they probably only make one touring bike, right?) while looking for a commute bike. It's pretty (that year's model was all black and very handsome), looks comfy and relaxed, and has touring stuff (eyelets, etc). It was heavier than I wanted, for my purposes, but that might not be such an issue if you're doing loaded touring anyway. I think it's around 25-27 lbs, not insanely heavy, but the bike I ended up with was around 20/21.

Trek only makes one touring bike? They make one of everything, I'm shocked they don't make a unicycle (maybe they do?)

No problem, there are lots and lots (and lots) of other builders to choose from

Check out V's Riv, beautiful, comfortable and light enough to do doubles on.

www.tandemhearts.com/wordpress/legolas/

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Trek only makes one touring bike? They make one of everything, I'm shocked they don't make a unicycle (maybe they do?)
No problem, there are lots and lots (and lots) of other builders to choose from
Check out V's Riv, beautiful, comfortable and light enough to do doubles on.
www.tandemhearts.com/wordpress/legolas/

The Rivendell Legolas (their cyclocross bike, which is what V. has) would cost two to four thousand dollars for a complete, depending on components and add-ons, etc. If you could get one. They've stopped making them for now.
Any other Rivendell would do well for touring- but their Atlantis model is specifically designed for heavy loaded touring. Again, a whole bike would likely run over $2,500. Seems out of the price range described.

A touring bike should have all the braze-ons necessary to attach front and back racks, panniers, and additional water bottle cages. If you plan to ride under dim light conditions you will need both headlights lights and rear lights, not just blinkies.
Most touring bikes I see in use do not have disc brakes. (I thought disc brakes were a mountain bike thing?) They do have a wide range of gearing to handle steep ascents.
You will not want to carry loads in backpacks- you'll want to have everything loaded on the bikes.

Fully loaded self-supported touring means tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads if wanted, food, cooking gear if you want to do that, water, several tubes, clothes&toiletries, rain gear... The bike will need to be somewhat sturdy and will likely need to weigh about 25 lbs to handle medium heavy loads. Steel bikes are good for loaded touring.
Unless you are only touring in really flat areas, I myself can't see hauling 40 lbs worth of gear on a 25 lb bike and a dog/trailer combo of 70 lbs as well. This doesn't include your own weight. Well, I guess it could be done on flat routes. But then you wouldn't need disc brakes anyway.
Another consideration- will it be hot? If so, the dog would be pretty uncomfortable under the sun in a hot cramped trailer for hours at a time, bumping over the roads. Do think about whether the dog would actually enjoy the trip as much as you would enjoy having the dog along.

I humbly suggest you think of ways to make your first-time tour enjoyable and not an ordeal, so that your partner will want to do more! The second time around you will have a much better idea of what you'll want to bring and leave behind.
Why not try just an overnight lightly loaded tour with a tent etc on some bikes you already have to see how you like it before jumping in to buy new bikes? It's going to be fairly expensive for all the gear and bikes too.

Just some thoughts....

[SadieKate]

I believe Rivendell specifically stated that the Legolas was not intended for loading touring, but they make other frames that are.

[mimitabby]

I think an important thing to consider is after you use up the fingers on one hand it is polite to stop counting how many bikes you have.

[Pedal Wench]

I think an important thing to consider is after you use up the fingers on one hand it is polite to stop counting how many bikes you have.

I thought it was when I have to start using toes...

[Blueberry]

Take a look at crazyguyonabike.com - there are some journals from folks who have traveled with dogs (though I don't think any are quite that large). It's also a great place to get information about different touring bikes, and what works for different people.

I have 2 touring bikes - a Bike Friday Crusoe and a Trek 520. ISTR that my 520 was not much over $1000, and I bought it at the end of the year. I've not done loaded touring on either (though it is in the plan for the future). I love both bikes. What kind of bikes do you have now? Is there a possibility one would do for short tours to try it out? Since you're touring with your DH, one of you could be lightly loaded and pull the pup in a trailer, and the other could carry most of the load. There really isn't that much more gear for 2 people than 1. You could pull gear in a trailer or use panniers. It's a matter of preference.

Good luck, and let us know how your decision process goes - as you said, we're great enablers

ETA - Make sure you think about how to get you, your pup and your gear to AK - 50lbs would have to fly cargo, which would worry me...

[Torrilin]

My partner and I have been talking about doing some touring. Mostly "ride to local state park and camp" sorts of things. Crazyguyonabike is very helpful. Lots of equipment lists, reviews, "what would I do differently" articles. Tour diaries can also help. Most people there feel disc brakes on a tourer are a bad idea, for a laundry list of structural and engineering reasons. The short version is "they break. a lot."

We want to start small, because it will be easier on the budget *and* on us. Plus, then we can start doing lots of short trips on weekends and get out more. And short trips means we can combine biking and hiking. He likes bikes, but thinks camping and hiking are more fun. I like hiking and camping fine, but like bikes a bit more. Compromise! (well that and we both think more excuses for fire and peach cobbler are win/win propositions)

Since you already *have* lots of bikes, take a look and see if you've got one that will take a rack. Add a trailer for your dog, pick a date and go for a minivacation. A 20-50 mile jaunt with an overnight in a motel or at a local state park should help shake some of the kinks out of your gear. Next time, go a bit further, and fix anything that didn't go so well. If you discover you need a touring bike, the Trek one gets good reviews. But for testing the waters you probably don't need it . Trailer and panniers first.

[Pedal Wench]

Between the two of us, my sweetie and I harbor slightly more than 6 bicycles...

I think me and mine have 13 in our stable...

[Trek420]

I think me and mine have 13 in our stable...

But how many shoes?

[Pedal Wench]

But how many shoes?

Oh my god - I have almost as many shoes as I have bikes! 7 pairs!!! Two pairs of mtb, 3 Sidis (all different sizes for different sock layers), 1 Pearl Izumi what were on sale and haven't ever been worn and a pair of PINK Adidas road shoes.