Originally Posted by
yangmusa
Actually, I'm considering making it my touring bike too. So I'd need to get the rear rack, and increase the gearing range. I have the 9-speed capreo, and am considering getting a 53/39 double crank. Has anyone done this conversion? I seem to remember reading that putting a double crank on may mean that the chain falls off more often when folding?
My Birdy is my touring bike too. We travel rather light, so I get away with 2 small panniers at the back. When camping gear is included, I put the bedrolls and tent at the front on the lowrider rack. I still find the 300% gear range of 30-90" adequate. I hardly ever use the low gear and even when riding loaded, the load is not that heavy to require extra gearing. On very steep slopes I might think an extra gear would be handy, but even these usually do not last that long and I'm able to handle them. On monster slopes SWMBO & I usually separate and I wait for her at the top or at rest stops.