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Finding a touring bike in 2021

Old 06-03-21, 12:12 PM
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jdhutz
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Finding a touring bike in 2021

Hi everyone, new to the forum, excited to be here! Looking for some input on selecting a touring bike. I知 looking to do some smaller trips soon, hopefully leading up to riding the TransAmerica Trail in 2022 or 2023. I would hope that the next bike can be the only bike I値l need to buy leading up to the cross country trip.

I currently have access to 2 budget bikes: a Trek 7.1 FX and a Giant Escape 3. I知 planning on testing out the Escape 3 soon on a short trip, but I知 concerned that neither of these bikes will be up to snuff for what I値l be wanting to do in the future (fairly loaded, multi-day touring). With the absolute desert that is the bike market in 2021, what do you think the best option is? My budget for a new bike that will last is as high as $1300, but the options are scarce right now.

I can稚 post links yet, but there is an older Trek 520 for sale in my area for $650. The bike appears to be in good condition. Would something like this be a feasible bike for a few years of heavy touring?
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Old 06-03-21, 12:56 PM
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Fuji :I don't know where you live but we live in the US. My son bought a touring model from Chain Reaction cycles a few years ago.
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Old 06-03-21, 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by jdhutz
Hi everyone, new to the forum, excited to be here! Looking for some input on selecting a touring bike. I’m looking to do some smaller trips soon, hopefully leading up to riding the TransAmerica Trail in 2022 or 2023. I would hope that the next bike can be the only bike I’ll need to buy leading up to the cross country trip.

I currently have access to 2 budget bikes: a Trek 7.1 FX and a Giant Escape 3. I’m planning on testing out the Escape 3 soon on a short trip, but I’m concerned that neither of these bikes will be up to snuff for what I’ll be wanting to do in the future (fairly loaded, multi-day touring). With the absolute desert that is the bike market in 2021, what do you think the best option is? My budget for a new bike that will last is as high as $1300, but the options are scarce right now.

I can’t post links yet, but there is an older Trek 520 for sale in my area for $650. The bike appears to be in good condition. Would something like this be a feasible bike for a few years of heavy touring?
My buddy just gave me one of these. To big so it will go.

A Trek 520 is an excellent bike, and clean $650 isn't to bad as long as it fits. Price depends on model year.

I had one that again was to big that I flipped a decade ago with a tru temper frame.

I had a Multi Trak 750 that like an idiot I sold. That bike supposedly shares the same frame geometry as the 520. Both bikes were 1991 model years. The 750 was mint.......

Shame you weren't shopping early in the pandemic. REI had some bikes in your price range but that ship has sailed.

I would take a serious look at the 520 first.

Last edited by StarBiker; 06-03-21 at 01:03 PM.
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Old 06-03-21, 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by StarBiker;[url=tel:22086750
22086750[/url]]My buddy just gave me one of these. To big so it will go.

A Trek 520 is an excellent bike, and clean $650 isn't to bad as long as it fits. Price depends on model year.

I had one that again was to big that I flipped a decade ago with a tru temper frame.

I had a Multi Trak 750 that like an idiot I sold. That bike supposedly shares the same frame geometry as the 520. Both bikes were 1991 model years. The 750 was mint.......

Shame you weren't shopping early in the pandemic. REI had some bikes in your price range but that ship has sailed.

I would take a serious look at the 520 first.
Interesting! There happens to be a Multi-Trak 750 for sale in my area for $200, in my size range no less. That may be worth looking into.
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Old 06-03-21, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by jdhutz
Interesting! There happens to be a Multi-Trak 750 for sale in my area for $200, in my size range no less. That may be worth looking into.
Depends on the year. The 750 needs to be a Tru Temper Frame. Later 750's were different bikes.

I am still mad at myself for selling that bike. I paid $20 for it back in the good ole' days.

I paid $40 for the 520 I had.

Again, I would look at the 520. Those bikes were built for loaded touring with stronger rear hubs among the other prerequisites.
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Old 06-03-21, 04:20 PM
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If you're near an REI, you might see if they have a Coop 1.1 in your size. That's a re-brand of the old Novara Randonee. It's got disc brakes instead of rim brakes and wider tires than the one I rode across the country, and is roughly the equivalent of the Surly Long Haul Trucker (now sparsely available as the Disk Trucker, and a bit stouter (IMHO) than the Trek 520.

Unfortunately, you just missed REI's big sale.
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Old 06-03-21, 07:11 PM
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The 520.
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Old 06-03-21, 09:45 PM
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Suggest you look at the rei adv 1.1 as it seems to be mostly available. If not there in your size today, they seem to restock every few weeks. They have L, xl and xxl right now.

if its too much $$$, there always seems to be somthing interesting on craigslist. Rigjt now, there is a jamis aurora in my size for $400... 30 speed too. Two weeks ago there was a disc trucker with arkel bags and tubus rack w/no miles for $1200. Just have to keep looking.
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Old 06-03-21, 11:07 PM
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If you're just starting out, I would stick with a budget bike or convert an older bike. Investing in a full on touring bike might be a little early.The Trek and the Giant are capable bikes and fine for shorter trips. Comfort is your first priority.
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Old 06-04-21, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by timdow
Suggest you look at the rei adv 1.1 as it seems to be mostly available. If not there in your size today, they seem to restock every few weeks. They have L, xl and xxl right now.

if its too much $$$, there always seems to be somthing interesting on craigslist. Rigjt now, there is a jamis aurora in my size for $400... 30 speed too. Two weeks ago there was a disc trucker with arkel bags and tubus rack w/no miles for $1200. Just have to keep looking.
The bike wait is months for new stock at REI. As soon as a bike hits the floor somebody has their name on it. Unless you are buying the Topstone.
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Old 06-04-21, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by stevel610
The 520.

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Old 06-04-21, 09:49 AM
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I see the option to purchase online, then have it shipped for free to my local REI store. This is currently available for L, XL and XXL. A few weeks ago, they had all the sizes. Will this option not work?

Originally Posted by StarBiker
The bike wait is months for new stock at REI. As soon as a bike hits the floor somebody has their name on it. Unless you are buying the Topstone.
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Old 06-04-21, 09:52 AM
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This is not happening:

If not there in your size today, they seem to restock every few weeks.
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Old 06-04-21, 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by StarBiker
This is not happening:

If not there in your size today, they seem to restock every few weeks.
If you order one and they ship it to the store nearest you ... ?

If it doesn't fit or you don't like it, you can immediately return it for a refund.
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Old 06-04-21, 05:45 PM
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Hey, grab the life preserver.....you mean the boat.......no, grab the life preserver.......you mean the boat............no, grab the.......
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Old 06-04-21, 06:32 PM
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There are different styles/ types of bikes. You wrote about flat bar bikes. Do you know that, that is the type of bike you would like the most? A lot of bike tourists prefer (drop) road type handlebars. You will be the (long term ) happiest riding the right size bike. I think that you should focus on the sizing more than anything else. Beware of B.B.S. (Big Bike Syndrome) / The tendency to buy a big bike. As a bicycle store owner for over 12 years, I can't tell you how many times I helped cyclists from buying too big of a bike. Simple rule of thumb is to have more seat post showing than head tube size. A small bike is easier to mount than a monstrosity. (especially once it is loaded up.)
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Old 06-04-21, 08:31 PM
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I would avoid the lowest end bikes with a freewheel (Trek FX 1 and Giant Escape 3) for the loaded touring. Cassette hub will be stronger than a frewheel.

Here is a journal of a guy who rode across the US on a Trek FX: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/...id=573837&v=5Y
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Old 06-05-21, 07:07 AM
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Interesting/ Thanks!
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Old 06-05-21, 09:47 AM
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Tiny Chair.......
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