Would the Devinci Silverstone Sl 3 be an okay touring bike (credit card touring)?

[bikecanada]

Okay. Thanks for the advice. I guess I could also upgrade the bike to a triple later on. However, the Silverstone is only $150 or so less than the Giant Defy 1 or WSD Avail 1, which has pretty similar components. So I'm not sure which bike to go with yet... but your info definitely helps!
I heard the alps are definitely harder than Tuscany to ride. It sounds like a lot of fun though! My husband and I want to do a tour of Tuscany, but I think it'll be a couple of years because of school right now.

[ginny]

I just toured in Austria with my road bike (that has a triple). I consider myself very fit, and I walked her a few times. Those panniers make a huge difference. I would tour again on my bike if I had to, but the first thing I did when I got home was buy a real touring bike (also used for commuting and as a general 'townie').

Grog: for your trip, be sure to look into Lufthansa. When I flew, I was able to take my bike for free if I only checked one other piece of luggage. I was able to pick up a bike case on craig's list for less than half of what it cost new. Too bad you don't live closer, I would lend you mine...

[bikecanada]

Ginny, did you credit card tour? How long were you there for?
I am considering the triple right now, just because I might need it if I do load it up with a couple of panniers. However, it's not too hilly where I live. Do people go with compact cranks just because it looks better?

By the way, I was looking at the Giant bikes and there's a difference between the xs and small women's frames in top tube. Would a jump to 51cm from 52.5cm make a big difference? The shop I went to only has a small and would have to special order a xsmall (but then I have to put a payment down). I was thinking of the men's xsmall (ttube=51.5) but then I like the women's short reach shifters on the Avail1.
I am going to test the bikes again tomorrow and I will let you know if I like the Devinci that much more than the triple crank Giants

[Grog]

I am considering the triple right now, just because I might need it if I do load it up with a couple of panniers. However, it's not too hilly where I live. Do people go with compact cranks just because it looks better?

The advantage of a compact is that it has only two chainrings, so there's less shifting involved to reach the higher and lower gears. People who have no experience riding a triple sometimes find them finicky. (I always had a triple so I never noticed.) Compared to the regular double, it also replaces ridiculously high gear options (52X11) that most people don't use all that much, unless they go very very fast down hills, ride in 40kph + pelotons, or time trial, with somewhat easier gearing options (like a 34X25) that will help going up hills.

By the way, I was looking at the Giant bikes and there's a difference between the xs and small women's frames in top tube. Would a jump to 51cm from 52.5cm make a big difference? The shop I went to only has a small and would have to special order a xsmall (but then I have to put a payment down). I was thinking of the men's xsmall (ttube=51.5) but then I like the women's short reach shifters on the Avail1.

1.5 cm int he top tube is a BIG DIFFERENCE. Even as little as 1 cm can make the difference between tendonitis and no tendonitis.

[Grog]

Grog: for your trip, be sure to look into Lufthansa. When I flew, I was able to take my bike for free if I only checked one other piece of luggage. I was able to pick up a bike case on craig's list for less than half of what it cost new. Too bad you don't live closer, I would lend you mine...

Thanks ginny, that's a kind would-have-been offer We're going to France from Canada with Air Canada, on points. (Actually I don't think Lufthansa flies to Canada because it's a member of the same alliance as Air Canada, and going to Frankfurt would be a significant detour!) We already have soft bike bags - for this trip hard cases are not an option because there would be nowhere to put them for us. We're going to roll them and try to convince a Paris friend to keep them at his place while we're out of town!

[bikecanada]

Thanks Grog! I will have to try out the Devinci (52 ttube) and maybe think about the Giant Xs Defy1, because that at least is a 51.5 top tube. The Avail 1 in a small (52.5) is slightly too long. The other bike that I tested and liked was the Cannondale 6-13 3...and it had a 51.5cm top tube. The Cannondale is just too expensive for me right now though. That's why I was thinking of the Devinci or Giant Defy 1. However, the Devinci has the compact... do you know anyone that has changed their compact to a triple? Would it cost a lot?

So how long are you going to Europe for? Are you putting on front and back racks on your road bike? I would love to see pictures later, and I can't wait until I can go tour Italy

[bikecanada]

And I would only change the compact if I needed to later (if I moved or needed it for Itally or something). I definitely think the compact would be fine where I live (AB, Canada) because it's not too hilly and I dont ride in the mountains.

[buddha_bellies]

I would think real hard before you invest money to a bike. Changing a compact to a triple can be costly. My DH has a reg. crank set and was thinking of switching it to a compact. At least $350 before taxes and maybe more for other related parts he might need to change. It's a quite a bit of money.

[Grog]

Buddha_Bellies is right. It can be costly and not all switches are straightforward. Going from a double to a triple especially. (Changing between doubles can be easier, but certainly not cheap.)

We're going with no racks (save for my 7-litre saddlebag and perhaps one on my sweet partner's bike as well) and... a car. (Although driving in the mountains should be fun.) Pictures to follow... in many months!

[Cataboo]

Switching to a double will require - new cranks, new rear derailleur, and a new left shifter. And probably a new front derailleur. New cranks might require a new bottom bracket if it's not compatible with what's already on the bike.

[ginny]

Sorry guys, I have been away for a while... I was moving... I HATE moving. Anyway, I did credit card tour in Austria, but I brought a very small one person tent (maybe would go with a small two person next time - one person is TOO small), blow up squshy pad and pillow and a sleeping bag. I'm glad I did too, because I didn't have reservations at all (you just kind of stop at whatever road house people recommend), and the first night I arrived around 9pm to find out that there was no room at the inn. Rather than sleeping in the barn... they let me camp (they didn't have a barn).

So, I have recently been experiencing the oddities associated with triple chain rings. I like having a triple, but due to the small size that most women ride and therefore the shorter wheel base, I guess the geometry is odd on the triples from time to time. What I mean is, in my middle chain ring (in front), I thought I could use all the cogs in the rear, but on my road bike, I cannot. When I get to the biggest cogs in the rear (i.e., the easiest gears), I start experiencing problems. Apparently with the geometry of the bike, this configuration acts sort of like being cross chained. Would I go with a double next time? good question... I like the various gearing ratios of the triple, but you have to be more careful. Having said that, my touring bike doesn't have the same problems, but the wheel base is significantly longer.

I also would love to see picts

[Grog]

I like having a triple, but due to the small size that most women ride and therefore the shorter wheel base, I guess the geometry is odd on the triples from time to time. What I mean is, in my middle chain ring (in front), I thought I could use all the cogs in the rear, but on my road bike, I cannot. When I get to the biggest cogs in the rear (i.e., the easiest gears), I start experiencing problems. Apparently with the geometry of the bike, this configuration acts sort of like being cross chained.

Being in the middle chainring + biggest or smallest cog in the back will definitely induce rubbing of the chain on the derailer cage, and should be avoided. I don't think that's especially specific to small bikes, but I can see how it could be made worse by a shorter chain.

[bikecanada]

Here is a picture of my new bike. I would like to change the bar tape sometime to make it 'unique' but not sure what colour yet. Maybe a light purple to make it girly, or maybe a celeste green?