If you were to be biking, maybe solo, maybe not, but certainly without the benefit of SAG wagons, up the Baja pennisula what would the ideal bike be? It would have to be a bike that could cary a small tent\sleeping bag plus a few small bags for lets say a weeks worth of supplies. I already suspect this bike will have Hed 3 wheels, but I’m not sure where to begin looking at different touring frames.
Any ideas? Thanks.
FWIW
I have a 1996 Trek 520 that’s toured just about everywhere in Canada/US and Eurpope. Still in great shape and still use it for touring. Great for extended touring. Put some STI shifters on it and some Conti Top Touring Tyres and you’re all set to go.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Specialty_Bikes/Touring/520/index.php
Last time I checked in with the adventure cycling world, spoked wheels were most popular. A few folks use Aerospoke (like Hed3, but five spokes and much more resiliant/compliant carbon formulation), but most seem to like the repairability of spoked wheels. If it takes a big hit, you can sort of true it and it may be lumpy but it’ll keep going. A Hed3 that takes a big hit is going to be roadside junk. The Trek 520 is a good touring bike, as is the original long wheelbase Cannondale. Consider a recumbent. Recumbent touring is becoming very popular, and the UCI and USAT can’t disallow you from being comfortable out on the baja. See www.recumbentcyclingnews.com for ideas, links, etc. Outfit whatever bike you select with front and rear racks, get a set or two of panniers, and see if your stuff will fit. Consider a trailer (BOB or equivalent) – many people prefer the feel of these to loading up weight on the bike. There are expedition-grade tires, but many folks do these types of rides on mountain bikes so that the tires and their flats become a non-issue. Otherwise, leave the CO2 cartridges home, and take a good pump. My favorite is the Topeak Morph, because it has a handle, hose, and pressure gauge. As in triathlon, the motor is the most important part. And the spirit: it’s not racing, so an adventurous, easy-going, bend-but-not-break spirit and an earnest attempt at Spanish will go a long way. Good luck!
Why would you use hed wheels? I would definitely go with touring wheels that could accept wider touring tires. 23-25mm tires are not built to carry a loaded touring bike on rough Mexican roads.
A mtn bike might work better if you want something cheap and durable. If you want more of a road tourer than I’d look into somethin like a Surly Long Haul Trucker, but any touring bike should do. Just make sure the frame can handle wide tires.
And go with bar ends instead of sti, much more reliable. Worst thing that can happen is a mechanical failure in the bush.
And go with bar ends instead of sti, much more reliable. Worst thing that can happen is a mechanical failure in the bush.
Go with comfort and accuracy. Get STI. Buy a good portable tool kit instead and learn how to use it ( or bring duct tape and pantyhose it was good enough to bring Appollo 13 back. 
). Fully loaded with front and rear panniers on rolling or mountainous roads doing 200kms per day. Leaving the brake hoods every couple of minutes to shift is a pain in the ass, or maybe I’m just lazy.
If you were to be biking, maybe solo, maybe not, but certainly without the benefit of SAG wagons, up the Baja pennisula what would the ideal bike be? It would have to be a bike that could cary a small tent\sleeping bag plus a few small bags for lets say a weeks worth of supplies. I already suspect this bike will have Hed 3 wheels, but I’m not sure where to begin looking at different touring frames.
Any ideas? Thanks.
Up Baja? A bike that wouldn’t hurt your heart or pocketbook when it got stolen.
Thanks for the sound advice. I was thinking Heds for being bombproof. But I still have lots of planning to do. I am in the very early stages of planning an extended trip kayaking down the Cortez coast of Baja to Cabo and then biking back up. Not sure if I would start all the way up at the Colorado river delta or pick more southernly spot to launch from.
I know its a long trip and to each their own, but why the hell did they have panty hose on Apollo 13?
Styrrell
I know its a long trip and to each their own, but why the hell did they have panty hose on Apollo 13?
Styrrell
LOL…I’m still trying to figure that one out.
There are a couple reason that bar ends are better for touring. Reliability of course, it’s almost impossible to destroy bar end shifters. You can use a variety of MTB derailleurs, especially since you’ll probably want to use a MTB triple in front and a larger cluster in the rear. And if you ever have to get a different wheel and it’s a different type of cassette, you can use friction mode.
There are a couple reason that bar ends are better for touring. Reliability of course, it’s almost impossible to destroy bar end shifters. You can use a variety of MTB derailleurs, especially since you’ll probably want to use a MTB triple in front and a larger cluster in the rear. And if you ever have to get a different wheel and it’s a different type of cassette, you can use friction mode.
Thanks. Now you’ve gone and jinxed me. I’m going to have to switchout my sti shifters.
FWIW, I still have the orginial RSX sti shifters that my 1996 520 came with. I put 6 months of touring in Europe, a tour of Nova Scotia, a tour of the Canadian Rockies and the Alaskian Highway on them plus countless weekend rides and tours. Just regular maintenance.
The touring bike that fits.
BMW makes a really good rally bike…I’d suggest riding something like that.
If you’re looking to carry a kayak at all, look no further than an xtracycle:
http://www.xtracycle.com/html/home.php
I’ve met Ed Lucero a couple of times, and he seemed to like his:
http://xtracycle.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=spice_ride
I’d call them re. the length of a sea kayak vs. a whitewater kayak, but the concept of an xtracycle makes hauling a trailer obsolete, in my opinion.
You definitely want a loaded touring rig. I’d consider 36 spokes over 32 depending on your loaded weight.
Money no object, I’d get a (custom) Litespeed Blue Ridge. For reasonable expense, I’d go steel and get a Bruce Gordon BLT or BLT-X:
http://www.bgcycles.com/blt.html
Tom
All great suggestions posted above…I would recommend you ask for a bike that can withstand an RPG round (rocket propelled grenade).
woof.
I would definetly go with a BoB trailer or similiar, way better than panniers in my opinion, and you can get away with a bit lighter bike not having to worry about loading gear on the frame.
One with a cage large enough to hold the tequila bottle
.
The touring bike that fits.
This is the touring bike that Spin Doctor rides:
Notice that it has a seatpost but no saddle. He likes that kind of “fit” .
Plenty of room for a tent, sleeping bags, clothes, cookware … guns.
HD Fat Boy and a glock
.