Advice on a touring bike?

[Triskeliongirl]

Enjoy! I think its a great choice!! Its a very versatile bike which it sounds like is what you are looking for. Tell us more about her when she comes.

[OakLeaf]

No one seems excited about Seven bikes... interesting...

not going to find too many people who want/are able to invest that much money, I think is the main issue!

Hope your new bike comes sooner than you expected and it's everything you wish for!

[Eden]

Just be aware (as far as I can tell) that the Terry Sport is not a touring bike.... I don't see any braze on's on the the rear triangle so, you won't be able to put racks or packs on it (even if you are credit card touring you need to carry clothes and sundries!) without a lot of customizing and fudging if at all. I think when the web site refers to "light touring" they may be speaking of tours where your stuff is carried by a tour company.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just be aware (as far as I can tell) that the Terry Sport is not a touring bike.... I don't see any braze on's on the the rear triangle so, you won't be able to put racks or packs on it (even if you are credit card touring you need to carry clothes and sundries!) without a lot of customizing and fudging if at all. I think when the web site refers to "light touring" they may be speaking of tours where your stuff is carried by a tour company.

If that's true it will definitely cramp touring plans.
However, you could get a Carradice BagMan rear bag support (hangs off the saddle rails) and put a Carradice Nelson bag on there and it could hold enough clothes and stuff for a weekend getaway without camping equipment. Mine is pretty sturdy and can carry a lot. Plus a medium sized front bar bag for additional stuff. Then you could always wear a light backpack too in a pinch.

[OakLeaf]

Just be aware (as far as I can tell) that the Terry Sport is not a touring bike.... I don't see any braze on's on the the rear triangle so, you won't be able to put racks or packs on it (even if you are credit card touring you need to carry clothes and sundries!) without a lot of customizing and fudging if at all. I think when the web site refers to "light touring" they may be speaking of tours where your stuff is carried by a tour company.

Many racks (Old Man Mountain and probably Blackburn) will mount via band clamps. We had a discussion last week about putting those on carbon stays (I wouldn't, personally), but any metal should be no problem.

[Eden]

Many racks (Old Man Mountain and probably Blackburn) will mount via band clamps. We had a discussion last week about putting those on carbon stays (I wouldn't, personally), but any metal should be no problem.

You certainly can fudge it (as you can fudge fenders), though it won't be without its drawbacks. You have to well protect the frame and paint job from rubbing (lots of electrical tape works well for this) and the attachments will be less stable and more prone to breakage than true braze ons. It's kind of a shame. It used to be that most "sport" model bicycles just came with eyelets for racks, but now you almost have to buy a touring bike to get them.

[Triskeliongirl]

All terry isis bikes have braze ons on the back for a rear rack. I have no problem touring on either of my terry isis bikes, granted I am not trying to cary a tent and sleeping bag, but they are fine with two normal pannier bags.

I even had my steel isis modified to accept a front rack and wider tires when I had it cut for S/S/ couplers. It feels no different from my classic. The geometries are nearly identical, the major diff. is that the seat stays are wider. I prefer this approach to have a more versatile travel bike that will also work for go fast rides.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's kind of a shame. It used to be that most "sport" model bicycles just came with eyelets for racks, but now you almost have to buy a touring bike to get them.

I think that will be rapidly changing as more and more people turn to bikes for transportation as opposed to just for recreational weekend club rides.
"City bikes" are becoming the new rage, and that means people want to use them for practical things and be able to buy stuff on their way home, ride to work, etc. As gas becomes more and more expensive, we will be seeing a slow steady shift in the kind of bikes people are buying. It's great to think about.
Just this month we've had 3 different friends who haven't ridden bikes in many years come to us asking bike shopping advice. Aside from the fun factor of riding, which they are excited about, one of the things they are all wanting is racks so they can buy stuff on errands instead of using their cars. None of these people are interested in going on fast road rides in groups- they expressly make that point to us even though we didn't even ask. They want to ride the lovely countryside for exercise at an easy pace and also use their bikes for errands.
Braze-ons and racks are making a big comeback!
(as are wider tires, fenders, more upright posture, and lights.)

[Triskeliongirl]

FYI, many tubus racks will fit on a bike without rack eyelets, by attaching to a brake mount and the rear wheel skewers, but you need to buy a modified skewer.

BUT, I am very sure that all the terry isis bikes come with rear rack bosses, at least my two did. They also all have clearance for tires at least 28mm wide (or again my 2003 steel and 2005 titanium isis do), and I can fit 32mm wide tires with the canti bosses I had installed.

But obviously before anyone buys a bike, they need to ask these questions of the manufacturer of the current models.

[clarson1178]

welcome to the touring world. i have to tell you i believe RECUMBENTS are amazing way to tour. my friend i have done some good long tours and she rides a upright while im on my recombent. the advantages are first, no sore butt, no sore neck or back. you get to see everything except for the painted white line (a huge bonus) the down side to them is the HILLS are a big pain, very hard, but i believe worth it. i have ridden mine fully loaded up a 14 % hill for 4 miles only to find out i had only a few miles before the mountain pass 12 miles at 8-12% grades. i loved it all.

some advice about packing. DON'T TAKE EVERYTHING, you really don't need a lot of stuff. i was out for one month and had about 25 pounds. that included tent, i sleep under the stars for a month who could ask for more. i wouldn't take anything more for a year trip.

well enjoy your tour

[ilima]

Let us know how you like it. I just bought a LeMond Poprad frameset and am in the process of building it pretty much how the Isis Sport is, road triple plus mountain cassette and rear derailleur. I didn't know the Isis came with rack/fender mounts.

Hope it works out!

I don't know how to move a thread - I'm a newcomer here... if anyone knows how to do it, I'd be happy to move this to the new Touring category.

I might be crazy, but I put in an order for the Terry Isis Sport tonight. The bike's backordered til May 28, and I intend to have it assembled, fitted and then ride it to see if it's what I want. Terry sez they'll accept a return if I'm not happy (I pay shipping, I think) - which seems like a fair offer.

One of the hardest parts of life these days (for me) is sorting through the overwhelming choices when it comes to major purchases. As much as I appreciate all the info available to us via the internet, etc., I sometimes miss the days when buying something was a simpler process, just by virtue of fewer choices and info... *sigh* Showing my age, I guess.

[Zen]

my rack attachment- works for me