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Vintage or modern for serious touring?

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Old 10-11-20, 10:07 PM
  #26  
bwilli88 
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I am working on rebuilding my 81 Centurion Pro-Tour. Making it a flat bar tourer from randonneur drop bars. Keeping the 10 speed rear with Ultegra hubs laced to Velocity Dyads. Moving from brifters to SL-R770 flat bar shifters and BL-R780 flat bar brake levers. Keeping the Dia-Comp stud mounted center-pull brakes that came on it and might need to change the pads. Vintage frame with modern parts.
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Old 10-11-20, 10:39 PM
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I’d go modern not only for cost but disc brakes
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Old 10-12-20, 08:30 AM
  #28  
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The more I think about it I’d have a hard time selling the Surly. I searched a long time for a nice used one and spent a lot of time and money making it exactly what I wanted. I’d never recoup my money to pay for another build. I get dangerous when I’m bored and no projects.
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Old 10-12-20, 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by sloar
I know this is a c&v forum, but if you had to pick which would it be for serious long tours? I have a very nice Disc Trucker, I love it but it’s not the greatest for non loaded rides. I’m kicking around the idea of selling it and building up a serious vintage touring bike. Thanks
You are talking like someone who wants to own only one bike.
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Old 10-12-20, 01:27 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by noglider
You are talking like someone who wants to own only one bike.
I really don't think there is a problem with that my touring bike takes 44's with fenders probably 48 without so obviously 25/28 aren't an issue. If I were to pull everything that makes it practical I could ride most trails, switch wheels and ride across America or Europe, with another wheel switch keep up with any slow fat guy ride.
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Old 10-12-20, 02:32 PM
  #31  
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It would help to know what the OP means by a "serious" tour. Multiple days or weeks completely self-supported? Camping along the way or staying in motels and the like? Climbing mountains or keeping on flat ground? Mainly on roads or mainly off road? Answers to all of those questions would factor significantly into what I'd choose to ride.
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Old 10-12-20, 02:48 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by nlerner
It would help to know what the OP means by a "serious" tour. Multiple days or weeks completely self-supported? Camping along the way or staying in motels and the like? Climbing mountains or keeping on flat ground? Mainly on roads or mainly off road? Answers to all of those questions would factor significantly into what I'd choose to ride.
My goal is across the country self supported. Mostly camping but a hotel every now and then is nice. I’d like to stick with roads. In 1998 I bought a new Trek 520 and rode from Indiana to Florida, horrible planning made it very unpleasant. This time around I’m taking my time and make sure I’m 100% squared away.
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Old 10-12-20, 03:00 PM
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There’s still not much better than a 520 whether it’s disc or not. If money is no object then buy custom that way you have everything you want



Here’s mine but I’ve spent more than a 520/LHT/VSF on it and have “less” bike than any of the others
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Old 10-12-20, 03:16 PM
  #34  
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I toured 1100km from Calgary to Vancouver via the Rocky Mountains over 11 days with my 1991 Miyata 1000. I had no issues whatsoever. The bike performed really well and it was fully loaded from and back. I took it through some gravel trails and highways.
The only thing I upgraded was the Deore DX rear derailleur to a early 2000s XT RD, the stem to a more upright one, and 32mm Panaracer Pasela PT tires. Everything else was stock.

Whether you use a modern touring bike like the LHT or a C&V is totally up to you. In regard to gearing, 3 x 7 was plenty enough for me! I had no issues on the trip- none. I'd do the trip again if I could. The only different this time would be to use my new Tubus Tara front rack vs the Blackburn front rack the bike came with.

Touring setup

Upgraded Miyata after the tour.

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Old 10-12-20, 03:37 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by sloar
My goal is across the country self supported. Mostly camping but a hotel every now and then is nice. I’d like to stick with roads. In 1998 I bought a new Trek 520 and rode from Indiana to Florida, horrible planning made it very unpleasant. This time around I’m taking my time and make sure I’m 100% squared away.
I'm signaling @northbend here as he did that ride east to west last year with a combo of camping out and motels. I have a plan to ride from Portland, OR, to Portland, ME, starting spring 2024. It'll be the start of a year-long leave, so I figure I'll spend a good chunk of it on a bike (which one TBD).
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Old 10-12-20, 05:14 PM
  #36  
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If money is no object:

:https://www.ebay.com/itm/touring-bic...0AAOSwSyJfgePd

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Old 10-12-20, 05:29 PM
  #37  
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I’ve got close to that in mine.




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Old 10-12-20, 07:12 PM
  #38  
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I wouldn't buy a different bike.

You have what you need for a bike atm, but just add a decent front rack and good panniers.

Do you have all the necessary accessories?

A decent tent, sleeping bag, rain gear and a Jetboil for example.

I would just start taking weekend trips to local state or regional parks.

Times a wastin".
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Old 10-12-20, 07:21 PM
  #39  
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Yeah, if that Surly fits well, you're all set.
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Old 10-12-20, 07:23 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by gomango
I wouldn't buy a different bike.

You have what you need for a bike atm, but just add a decent front rack and good panniers.

Do you have all the necessary accessories?

A decent tent, sleeping bag, rain gear and a Jetboil for example.

I would just start taking weekend trips to local state or regional parks.

Times a wastin".


I still need a front rack, but I have everything else. I did several weekend trips and one week long trip this summer.
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Old 10-12-20, 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by sloar
I’ve got close to that in mine.




Yep, indeed you do!
I can't imagine you'd want anything else for serious loaded touring.
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Old 10-13-20, 05:54 AM
  #42  
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Do I sell or part out a vintage French tourer/rando?

Recently I got a 1983 Peugeot tourer that isn't in any of the brochures (at least any of the ones on the net - been looking for days).

It's in fabulous shape; bearing races immaculate, some very small rust nicks (frame is in an oxalic acid bath right now), but has some wierdness - Vitus frame, cantis, Stronglight 99 with a 28-40-52, Helicomatic 14-30, Rigida 700c eyeletted clinchers.

I don't live in the US (where I think likely buyers - you? - are) so shipping the whole thing is a big cost. More than likely I will part it out, but before I do I though I'd post in this thread in case anyone is mad on French tourers and would cry if they miss this. Dry your eyes and pm me.
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Old 10-13-20, 07:05 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by Duo
barcons and DT shifters are stupid reliable and simple. my brifters are slick but would hate to deal with repair issues; been using DT this summer...sometimes they feel like an upgrade over brifters.
My 650b with 2 x 10 gearing uses downtube friction levers. Works great!
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Old 10-13-20, 07:06 AM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by bargo68
Yep, indeed you do!
I can't imagine you'd want anything else for serious loaded touring.
Looks like a REALLY high BB!
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Old 10-13-20, 07:21 AM
  #45  
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It shouldn't be a big decision. I don't think vintage or modern would make or break your enjoyment of a tour. The new stuff has a few advantages which you wouldn't want to give up, and you now have them in the Surly. I just fixed up my Super Course, and it feels so solid that I realized it would be good for a tour. But it's what I have. If I had a LHT, I would take that.
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Old 10-13-20, 07:29 AM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by noglider
It shouldn't be a big decision. I don't think vintage or modern would make or break your enjoyment of a tour. The new stuff has a few advantages which you wouldn't want to give up, and you now have them in the Surly. I just fixed up my Super Course, and it feels so solid that I realized it would be good for a tour. But it's what I have. If I had a LHT, I would take that.
agree noglider. in the end it is mostly the condition of your equipment and how it is treated. i use old and new, but knowing the complexity of brifters internally doesn't give overwhelming confidence. in the end, it is to go in with the 'army you have'. when i buy a used bike, generally it stays with whatever the manufacturer happened to throw on the bike. currently my preference is for DT over brifters for reliability, but i doubt any newer used bikes or riders would have them or know what they were.

my wish for bike manufacturers would be to get away from electronics and complexity and back to simple bicycles for Every Man. bicycling for me is not about mechanics even though i can overhaul most of my bikes...it really is about bicycling. LOL.
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Old 10-13-20, 07:33 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
My 650b with 2 x 10 gearing uses downtube friction levers. Works great!
wow, didn't know you can get 10 speed to work with DT shifting...next trick is to get the thing to do Index Shifting, but probably not?

eventually my brifters are gonna head south on my more 'modern bikes', so am interested either in bar ends or DT. perhaps some light at the end of this mechanical tunnel. hmmm.
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Old 10-13-20, 08:07 AM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by sloar
I’ve got close to that in mine.




That looks pretty sweet to me. 90's tourers like others have said are pretty nice as well and have close to the same level of utility and features minus disc brakes, but if this fits and is "done" I'd take it. I have tried and owned several LHT and Cross Check's and they just have awkward geometry for me, so I ended up with a Jamis Aurora and a Trek 750 lugged that I play around with. I'm planning on buying a Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross next to sort of be a replacement for the Jamis.

Do you like the Paul's clampers? Are the wheels 26"?
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Old 10-13-20, 08:08 AM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by Duo
wow, didn't know you can get 10 speed to work with DT shifting...next trick is to get the thing to do Index Shifting, but probably not?

eventually my brifters are gonna head south on my more 'modern bikes', so am interested either in bar ends or DT. perhaps some light at the end of this mechanical tunnel. hmmm.
For Microshift/Shimano:Microshift/SRAM:And as you know virtually all of these are pretty much interchangeable between thumb-shifters, down-tube or bar-ends.

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Old 10-13-20, 08:20 AM
  #50  
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My vote is for modern - except some of the niche choices such as boost and what have you. But, yeah, lots of mounts, (mineral oil) disc brakes and so on.
I'd also choose a Rohloff (or pinion) and a belt, so the frame (stay) would have to split.
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