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Raleigh Route 2 for Bikepacking?

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Raleigh Route 2 for Bikepacking?

Old 06-06-20, 12:52 PM
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ricrod
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Raleigh Route 2 for Bikepacking?

Hello,

I own this bike (route-2-r141) and am considering prepping it for bikepacking / touring. I replaced the handlebars with a Jones H-bar and will be upgrading the saddle as soon as I decide which to get. Questions I have:

1. Is this bike even suitable for this purpose (with upgrades?)?

2. Should I convert it to 650b or just replace the 700x47c with something meatier?

3. Any other upgrades that I should consider before putting it through the abuse?

Thanks in advanced for the help! Love this site!

-ricrod
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Old 08-01-20, 11:52 AM
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Chinghis
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I'm gonna bump this, because I'm in the market for a bike and have similar questions about how much bikes like this can do on gravel and dirt.

Or are you out bikepacking right now?!
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Old 08-03-20, 08:22 PM
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dwmckee
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Isn't this a hybrid bike? If so your riding position will be very uprigt with most of your weight on the seat in a fairly inefficient riding position for touring... These bikes tend to get harder to ride after 15 miles or so due to the riding position that does not make best use of a lot of your leg muscles... No one is saying you cannot do it of course, but you sould ride a good touring bike for 10 miles to feel the differene...
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Old 08-03-20, 08:44 PM
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Yes, you probably can. It’s just backpacking with a bike. I think most people imagine more single track than would really suit this bike but you can plan to stay out of the steep and rough or just walk it if you need to at that point.

Is this a current model? My wife’s from about 5 years ago is much more upright than the current model. Here is very much a bike for riding to the store at the KOA.
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