What is your ideal adventure bicycle? [Archive]

Flounder

07-01-2008, 08:32 PM

I'm curious what everyone sees as their ideal image of a bicycle fit for adventuring. Keep in mind, that might mean crossing a hemisphere or just taking in a long weekend. What is YOUR ideal bicycle for YOUR adventures? I'm not talking regular riding, I'm talking back to back days of riding, self supported.

For me, I'm not averse to loaded touring, but having done it for several thousands of miles, I tend to lean towards something more snappy and fun. My ideal adventure bicycle is a single speed 29er mountain bike or something equally simple mounted with ultra-ultra light gear. Total bike package with gear under 40 pounds. Max duration in the field? Maybe 5 days of ripping singletrack.

So what is your ideal rig? Fully loaded touring beast? Folding bike with a credit card, plane ticket and courier bag? The bike in your garage?

DaveInDenver

07-01-2008, 08:44 PM

Hmmm, Kokopelli (with SAG) on my Blur. Kenosha to Breck and back overnight on my Blur. Hoping to get in Nederland to Fraser and back on my Blur. Not long before leaving St. Louis, did St. Charles to Rocheport and back on the Katy Trail on my Zaskar. I suppose my ideal bike is the one I have right now, but then again my touring has been very limited.

SOAZ

07-01-2008, 09:16 PM

My ideal adventure bike would be a 29er full suspension. geared.
I look at it as the bike that could cover the most miles for my body! :wings:

I'm used to wearing weight so I would take my 3-day blackhawk pack on my back with some saddle bags.

Travel as light as possible.
a sleeping bag, no tent, just a tarp for rain, spares and tools, some clothes than can keep me warm if needed, a pair of keens and thats it besides food and a flashlight.

RHINO

07-01-2008, 09:57 PM

loaded Q based on what your ultimate adventure is,,, i'm kinda with you flounder. i dont have a yearning to pedal accross the globe on unimproved roads or endless miles of pavement, about the longest i'm interested in is a few days and nights out on bike. so out of all 7 bikes in the garage my san andreas is still the favorite. over the years i have finally got it to a point where its a pretty much do anything bike sans miles of pavement.

SOAZ

07-01-2008, 10:31 PM

I'd take this sucker for an adventure. I'm going to ride it in the morning. I can't wait.

Flounder

07-01-2008, 10:32 PM

loaded Q based on what your ultimate adventure is,,, i'm kinda with you flounder. i dont have a yearning to pedal accross the globe on unimproved roads or endless miles of pavement,.I hear you. If I were into ultra long distance touring, I'd get a Koga Miyata since they're kind of the touring bike of touring bikes. If not by design, by resume.

Personally, I'm into light weight escapes. Two to 5 days away on mostly singletrack. I'm in the process of building my version of the ultimate day to day rider that doubles as the best ultra light touring rig. Fun stuff.

DaveInDenver

07-01-2008, 11:01 PM

So Flounder, when you're thinking about a Miyata, you're thinking Randonneur, right? Pretty cool that we're starting to get Koga-Miyata bikes, really a classic brand when you think about tourers.

RHINO

07-02-2008, 12:16 AM

talkin about classics, i almost bought an old 80's all original mint condition made in japan fuji road bike last week. while i was standing there i asked the guy if he took it off any sweet jumps.

Flounder

07-02-2008, 12:19 AM

If I bought a Koga-Miyata today, I'd feel compelled to order a set of Old Man Mountain racks, and full Ortlieb or Vaude pannier set. Then I'd have to quit my job, because a Koga was born to cover some huge miles....like crossing a continent or two. That said, it sounds like Jonathan's Thorne is certainly up to the task.

I dig the idea of fully loaded touring and would do it if I had time to ride the Silk Road or something. However, I'm a regular working stiff with a multitude of 3 day weekends. I plan to use my ultra light ambitions to carve out some high thrill miles with a few long naps in between.

Flounder

07-02-2008, 12:24 AM

I'd take this sucker for an adventure. I'm going to ride it in the morning. I can't wait.Wowie wow wow. That looks sweet.

I'm going to continue to tease you with Prescott riding, Tim. It rained a plenty today. Tomorrow at 630am there will be 7 of us on the same moist hard pack singletrack. Tomorrow is going to be silly fast!!!

adrenaline503

07-02-2008, 02:57 AM

My Surly Long Haul Trucker. K.I.S.S.

SOAZ

07-02-2008, 04:02 AM

Wowie wow wow. That looks sweet.

I'm going to continue to tease you with Prescott riding, Tim. It rained a plenty today. Tomorrow at 630am there will be 7 of us on the same moist hard pack singletrack. Tomorrow is going to be silly fast!!!

Thats just cruel! I blew out a tire riding yesterday in the 105 degree heat and had to rig it to get home... and the worst part, IT FELT COOL!!!! Its all relative I guess. :oops:

Its amazing what I've gotten used to in this town. I sure would like to ride some DIRT though!! All of these sharp rocks and sand don't have much grip!!

I'm looking to head up for at least the day on one of the upcoming weekends. You gotta show me some trails! :)

efuentes

07-02-2008, 04:06 AM

My Surly Long Haul Trucker. K.I.S.S.

X2 on the Surly LHT, or if money is no object a custom made Surly LTH like geometry by somebody like Mr. Nicol of Ibis fame or better yet by Mr. Gilmour in Tucson.

Steel is real...

jatibb

07-02-2008, 01:10 PM

my 29r, and my s-works stumpy on the back of the unimog listed in the "rigs for sale" section

Flounder

07-02-2008, 04:24 PM

X2 on the Surly LHT, or if money is no object a custom made Surly LTH like geometry by somebody like Mr. Nicol of Ibis fame or better yet by Mr. Gilmour in Tucson.

Steel is real...
efuentes - do your bicycle adventures primarily include pavement and some gravel? Bang for the buck it really is tough to beat a Surly, huh?

efuentes

07-02-2008, 07:56 PM

After riding for years on a dual suspension Hammerhead (There was a time when I could afford such a thing) . I tried the same trails on a rigid with 700cX38 just like most of the crazyguyonabike.com guys do, and now I am hooked, Less is more for sure.

Kind of remember the long afternoons of my BMX days.

Saludos

Joaquin Suave

07-03-2008, 05:36 PM

http://www.overlandhardware.com/images/xplor_bike.jpg

dieselcruiserhead

07-03-2008, 06:28 PM

Amazing how the 29ers are popular with this group. (very cool). I would have said rigid or hardtail and by far have the most time on them... But I think a full suspension similar to some of the links I've posted, Mike Curiak in Colorado and that Alaska trip, especially for comfort and lack of back pain. I rode I think 6 or 7 days straight for the RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) and remember feeling sore, so I could only imagine the same on a MTB. I rode about 30% of an epic Solstice ride on the 21st, some guys who were riding from before dawn to dusk. They were on hardtails (one was on a single speed) and they did fine and made it, but collapsed for about two days afterwards. So my orientation is towards comfort and probably a nice reasonably light bike. The Lenz Leviathan 29er I have coming would be a perfect example...

Flounder

07-03-2008, 08:36 PM

Amazing how the 29ers are popular with this group. So my orientation is towards comfort and probably a nice reasonably light bike. The Lenz Leviathan 29er I have coming would be a perfect example...
I think it's cool how everyone has their own interpretation of what an "adventure bicycle" would look like. A Leviathan would be pretty sweet. I agree with the notion that these bikes should be reasonably light. It's definately not much fun to slog along day after day riding a bike that has all the handling and performance qualities of a bloated water buffalo.

So how would everyone rig their gear to these beasts? Racks? Trailer?

ini88

07-03-2008, 09:14 PM

My Brooklyn Machine Works TMX. Just drop me off at the top of the mountain and i'll see you at the lodge for a drink 20 minutes later :)

dieselcruiserhead

07-03-2008, 09:46 PM

This occured to me on the ride home from lunch on this bike after I posted up...

I also have this old Trek probably early 90's steel "Multi Track" bike that is sort of like an old cyclocross. Curved granny bars, these big fat grips similar to Ergons, cantilever brakes, through the stem up front. Super comfy, big fat seat. Been to Burning Man twice, electrical taped seat... The thing is a tank, probably 35 lbs. I use it as a cruiser around town with its big 700c wheels.. It hauls ***, great all around bike. And its a "steal me not" I hardly have to worry about locking it up.. Nice and fugly.. LOL, it is a "29er" too, even from 1992 or whenever.. I bought it for $15 a few years ago at a thrift shop as a beater. Little did I know it was and would always be in perfect mechanical shape no matter what I threw at it. Anyway, fully geared, I have literally done *ABSOLUTELY NOTHING* to it other than preventatively changed the chain maybe 3 years ago, and that is literally it. Shifts absolutely perfectly, everything works 100%... I still have two schrader tubes for it waiting for a flat someday. It was my first MTB again a few years ago. So it has seen some decent trail time, I have done some amazingly technical stuff... Toe clips and everything :) It is so damn comfortable, extremely upright. Anyway after I typed up the Leviathan (which I still agree with) it occured to me that this would be an awesome bike too. Other than the weight, literally the only complaint I have about it. And even 45 cyclocross tires that would sink in the sand, could probably fit a narrow 29er tire in there... I'll post up a pic when I get home. It would never occur to me to post up. If it weren't a nasty climb or ride, this would be a sick bike... It never occured to me but other than the single speed (and it would be a close top up), I would say it is hands down the most reliable bike I own, period... :)

PS Christophe I think your PM's are full.. A

Flounder

07-03-2008, 10:25 PM

PS Christophe I think your PM's are full.. AGood to know. I thought I was just really unpopular all of the sudden.:(

The Trek Multi Track series of bikes were pretty standard "Hybrids" for their time. This is prior to the geriatric-ification of today's hybrids. Back then, even as geeky as hybrids were, they had cajones and could handle the occasional throw down. Today's hybrids are intended to decorate your garage and would crumble popping a curb.

I'm not a huge Surly fan, but a Cross Check is more or less a Trek Multi Track.

So, you bring up a great point. If you need to knock down big miles with a teeny bit of technical riding tossed in the mix, a Surly Cross Check with 45c tires and mustache bars would be pretty awesome. That set up would accommodate 20-40lbs of camping gear no problem.

dieselcruiserhead

07-05-2008, 06:12 AM

In all her glory.. :)

I got a great comment today about her, someone said "if they want that bike bad enough to steal it, they have got to be in pretty bad shape and probably deserve it" :)

riverfever

07-05-2008, 07:22 PM

Well I built this one to be as comfy as possible but still be able to handle the rigors of 530 miles of mostly singletrack that I'll be attempting on the 28th. If this goes well then next year I may have a go at the Tour Divide. For that I'd still run this bike but I'd probably flip the stem and then add aero bars due to the amount of fire roads and pavement. I have toyed with the idea of adding a drop bar to the Alma for a Tour Divide ride though. Zabriskie has a Niner that is exactly what I had in mind for that type of ride although it did have some quirks to work out with the DA triple setup.

Anyways...here's mine ready to roll the other day for an overnighter on the CT.

http://i25.tinypic.com/b3k5mc.jpg

Flounder

07-05-2008, 11:49 PM

Riverfever,
That is a beautiful set up. Jeff at Carousel Design Works is currently working on a bag system for myself and another buddy. I really like the simplicity of the bar/seat bag, but Jeff really wants us to embrace the frame bag, so we'll give'er a whirl.

Nice set up.

Colorado Trail? I'd be grateful for some beta on that trail. I've never done the entire stretch, but would like to knock out a chunk of the southern end this fall.

riverfever

07-06-2008, 01:15 AM

Jeff is a super nice guy. He just made Matt Lee (Tour Divide rider) a new set of bags this year and they are hot looking. I'll find a pic of them.

http://i27.tinypic.com/2pzfpnb.jpg

Technically, I do think the frame bag is the best way to go as it keeps the COG low and doesn't mess with the handling of the bike as much. People say the Reba fork is flimsy as it is but I for sure notice it being whippy with that bag loaded up. I'm sure that any fork on the market would act that way though (maybe not the Lefty as much). I was a little worried about having stuff just thrown in the frame bag kind of loose. I like the seat/bar bags b/c things are kept tight and in place.

I've never even seen the CT south of Buena Vista Flounder so I'm in for a surprise. Are you planning on riding it? I will definitely be doing a big post ride write up on my site when I'm done with lots of pics. I'll yell your way when I'm done.

sinuhexavier

07-21-2008, 05:05 PM

When I rode the Telluride to Moab (270 miles) hut system I had my Blur and it was a great steed for the job. Being able to lock out the suspension for some of the climbs was so nice, while having the plushness of 4-5"s of travel.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/2075940347_9d985a8964_b.jpg
National Geographic Adventure 2002

Grim Reaper

07-24-2008, 12:55 AM

My Daily driver and weekend adventure is a M400 Cannondale that has been made into more of a Hybrid. Not looking to do full on Mountain biking more light trail riding and cross country. Is is working out pretty good for that so far. Working my stamina up and hope to do some sort of trip soon.

Still playing with handle bars. The 2 inch risers are nice for low speed and in heavy traffic but I am finding I make quite a lot of wind drag. May get a raised stem and a set of drops for it and see how that feels.

Looking for a front rack for it so it can have front and rear panniers. The Topeak is nice for day to day commute but I will get something more like waterproof Nashbar's
http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?category=600066&subcategory=60001004&storetype=&estoreid=&init=y&pagename=Category%3A%20Bags
Or Novara Safari Panniers front and rear.
http://www.rei.com/category/4500129

Rallyroo

07-24-2008, 05:33 AM

Here's my Expo Bike: Bianchi Volpe

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/Rallyroo110/2008/bike01.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a279/Rallyroo110/2008/bike02.jpg

Twenty-niner

07-29-2008, 05:29 PM

Flounder

08-03-2008, 08:33 PM

My ideal bike, for adventuring or any other purpose, is whichever bike is in the basement at the time. I'm a simple man. So for our upcoming ultralight excursions I'm outfitting my usual rig, though I'll drop the gearing from 34x21 to 34x23 to save my knees.

No racks. No trailer. Some nylon webbing and a few dry bags and we're off.
That is just stupid. You can't "adventure" on a bike like that. You need one'a'these:21540
:)

And people thought Flounder and Twenty Niner were the same guy. Clearly we are wildly different. You ride a black Spot with a red king hub. I ride a green Spot with a blue King hub. Waaaaaay different.

Boobies. :)

Twenty-niner

08-04-2008, 08:03 PM

We know quality when we see it, is all. :jump:

Godlykepower

08-05-2008, 02:26 PM

Flounder

08-05-2008, 02:48 PM

I find this thread quite interesting. In the States, do you call an 'adventure bike' anything that can go off road???

Most people seem to be going on about aluminium frames & either front or full sus. In the UK we would not even begin to consider anything made from anything other than steel for a 'real' adventure bike. Suspension is a no-go too, as a 'real' adventure bike needs to be able to have room for a million heavy duty panniers.

Sorry if I come across as being funny, but I do find it interesting how we differ on what constitutes an expedition bike.

For what its worth, before commiting to drive across Africa in my Land Rover....for many years I was going to ride it. My tool of choice? A custom build from Thorn....probably the best expedition bikes in the world.

www.thorncycles.co.uk

Martin
This is why this thread is so interesting. Since the early days of bicycle touring, the typical set up has been a steel frame decorated with 75 pounds of panniers. Here in the US we're seeing more variations on the bike as well as what falls under the header "bicycle touring."

A loaded traditional touring bike is a thing of beauty as long as you don't mind sticking to roads. For the growing number of riders wanting to tour off-road, a Thorn just won't do.

So, it depends what experience you're after. If you're after 100 days of open road the Thorn is the ticket. For 5-10 days of continuous singletrack then the options open up.

DaveInDenver

08-05-2008, 03:03 PM

A loaded traditional touring bike is a thing of beauty as long as you don't mind sticking to roads. For the growing number of riders wanting to tour off-road, a Thorn just won't do.
I dunno, I think the Thorn Exxp might be a fine singletrack tourer. But it really does depend on the intended trail. Some day I will get the time to ride the whole Colorado Trail at once and it'll be on the same bike that I ride sections with right now, the Blur. I really do honestly believe that the right bike is the one you are comfortable with, just like trucks. The right overland vehicle is the one that can get you out of the house.

Godlykepower

08-05-2008, 03:24 PM

I like that. Anything that gets you out the house.

I have spoken to the guys at Thorn a number of times actually, and they say that a lot of their designs were born out of African expeditions. Notably the ExP, which went on to become the ExxP, and the Sherpa models.
Granted, African roads are NOT mountain tracks etc. but they are certainly not smooth tarmac either.

If I were still doing LDN - CT on a bike, it would probably be the Sherpa.

Also, as a bit of a traditionalist, I still am yet to be convinced on the benefits of Rohloff hubs.
As an ex-Pro road rider in South Africa years ago, I just think that you cant beat a beautifully set-up rear derailleur. I find the sound soothing, and love the organic, mechanical sort of feel (if that makes sense?) that a gear change from XTR or Dura Ace gives.

Flounder

08-05-2008, 03:26 PM

I dunno, I think the Thorn Exxp might be a fine singletrack tourer. But it really does depend on the intended trail. Some day I will get the time to ride the whole Colorado Trail at once and it'll be on the same bike that I ride sections with right now, the Blur. I really do honestly believe that the right bike is the one you are comfortable with, just like trucks. The right overland vehicle is the one that can get you out of the house.
I forgot about the Thorn Exxp. I was thinking more along the lines of the more traditional Thorn touring rigs. I agree with you that any bike paired with the right rider and route can be the ideal set up.

This was a baited thread. I knew going in the perfect touring bike was going to be varied and no longer the standard Trek 520, Cannondale T2000, Bruce Gordon or Thorn. Having been around the bike biz a long time, I think this new breed of touring options is pretty cool. Who would have thought that a carbon fiber Orbea mountain bike would be considered a "touring" bike?!?! RiverFever is out shredding that set up right now!

gjackson

08-05-2008, 03:27 PM

Just a pic from Niger. They were doing 100 miles a day, Holland to Cameroon:

cheers

DaveInDenver

08-05-2008, 03:37 PM

Who would have thought that a carbon fiber Orbea mountain bike would be considered a "touring" bike?!?! RiverFever is out shredding that set up right now!
I dunno if what Chris is doing is touring, rather insanity. ;-)

I'll let him chime with the update, but my birdie tells me his race didn't go really well. It sounds like it was out of his control, so it was hard to predict. Sometimes you're the windshield and sometimes you're the bug. He was not hurt in a wreck or anything, so nothing dangerous.

BTW, Ethan Passant finished in 5 days, 2 hours and 26 minutes. That's a CTR record.

dieselcruiserhead

08-05-2008, 04:50 PM

This is why this thread is so interesting. Since the early days of bicycle touring, the typical set up has been a steel frame decorated with 75 pounds of panniers. Here in the US we're seeing more variations on the bike as well as what falls under the header "bicycle touring."

A loaded traditional touring bike is a thing of beauty as long as you don't mind sticking to roads. For the growing number of riders wanting to tour off-road, a Thorn just won't do.

So, it depends what experience you're after. If you're after 100 days of open road the Thorn is the ticket. For 5-10 days of continuous singletrack then the options open up.

Agreed there too... I think with the weight of camping gear (I have a 20 degree bag that weighs maybe a lb and compresses to 8" long) and 2-3 guys you can haul some pretty good stuff... (1 food, 1 tent, etc etc)...

My Lenz came in yesterday, work of beauty. Other than the noise from the Hope hubs I think it'd a pretty good one IMO...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16109&highlight=lenz

Flounder

08-05-2008, 06:50 PM

My Lenz came in yesterday, work of beauty. ]
I'd like to offer my professional services to you, Andrea. I'm a professional bike breaker-inner. I'll even waive my fee and break your bike in free of charge. How does a couple months sound?

:bike_rider:

Twenty-niner

08-05-2008, 07:56 PM

When they unveiled the completed Great Divide MBR about 10 years ago- which for many was our introduction to the idea of off-road touring- a couple fellow bike shop wrenches and I planned a trip that never happend (but will in the next 2 years, by gawd!). As bike shop employees are want to do, we sat around for hours getting paid to scour the GDMBR guidebook and debate the ideal rig for it.

What I find most interesting is that 10 years ago the debate was, "Racks and panniers or a B.O.B. trailer?" Then along come all these badasses (as usual, the racers primarily) who pushed the envelope of what is possible out there. I know the after-hours discomfort of carrying only 20 lbs of gear and food isn't something that everyone finds appealing, but for those who can deal with- or even enjoy- that spartan mode of travel, it opens up all new possibilities. Like being able to escape from your wife and kids for a quick 3-day weekend and cover 120 miles of choice singletrack on a rig that handles pretty much the way your bike rides unladen on the typical Tuesday morning ride before work.

Even the most domesticated and subjugated among us can eek out a 3-day weekend from wives and work, do nothing but ride for 3 days straight... and voila! Instant adventurer! :088:

Not everyone can afford to get away on 6-week excursions on the other side of the planet. For those of us who can't, I believe we can perfect the art of Weekend Warriordom.

Cackalak Han

08-12-2008, 09:24 PM

Even the most domesticated and subjugated among us can eek out a 3-day weekend from wives and work, do nothing but ride for 3 days straight... and voila! Instant adventurer! :088:

You make it sound so easy. :xxrotflma

Jonathan Hanson

08-20-2008, 06:07 PM

Sorry I've missed this thread!

For me the term adventure bike suggests one capable of long-distance self-supported touring on bad roads. The Thorn Nomad will certainly fill that bill, as will a Surly or Koga Miyata or any number of custom designs.

I deliberately eschewed suspension for strength's sake, although since I bought my frame several heavy duty touring designs have been introduced with suspension forks. Still happy with my choice. A proper steel frame and fork with good tires should offer a lot of shock absorption on its own, I think.

I'm not totally ignoring "modern" mods, however: I'd really like to install a Jones H-Bar.

I recently drove a road down the west side of the Rift Valley in Kenya that would make a killer ride on a bicycle, and frankly a full-suspension bike would really make it exciting.

Chris

08-20-2008, 09:17 PM

The Mountain bike Montague Paratrooper.

Darpa Development:

Montague Corporation, the world leader in full-size performance mountain bikes that fold, developed the ParatrooperT Mountain Bike in conjunction with the Defence advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to bridge an important gap between walking infantry and heavy military vehicles like Hummers or other army trucks. Montague Corporation is the pioneer of the Folding Integrated Technology (FIT), deemed to be one of the next-generation trends in the bicycle industry. DARPA, the Pentagon-based agency, known for it's foresight and investment in significant world changing projects (including funding the development of the Internet back in the 70's) recognized the importance of this folding technology for military use and so funded the development of a bicycle that could be used by US Marines, Paratroopers, Military Police, Rangers, Police and other Military divisions

Now available

To date, the military mountain bike has not been available outside of the DARPA development circle. Now, due to an overwhelming demand from hunters, smoke-jumpers, parachutists, and many other guys like Land Rover Enthusiasts that enjoy getting off-the-beaten-track, Montague has decided to manufacture the original Military Bike in the form of the "ParatrooperT" mountain bike for civilian use. This bike is now available in the Landroverweb.com Adventure Shop!

or check out the Swiss version "Swissbike" they both pack in a flight case approx 28x36x13.

:roost:

Jonathan Hanson

08-21-2008, 12:34 PM

As a matter of fact, I'm about to test one of those for Overland Journal.

Chris

08-21-2008, 02:22 PM

I will be looking for your write up. I have owned one each, Paratrooper and Swissbike for about a year now. I took that one step further and added Bionx
power.

I did this for security reasons, It's better then having to hike out, been there done that. A bit costly but it's been great for fun (exploring) and emergincies. best of all, they are enviro friendly and don't hang on the front or back of the rig.

The completed package is a military-grade mountain bike that folds for easy transport and weighs approx 40 lbs. Has a 36-volt Lithium-Ion battery pack mounted low on the frame providing a good center of gravity for balanced riding in the dirt. On flat land I can reach speeds in the 20's and has an awesome hill climbing assist with a range of up to 60 miles on a 3-hour charge.

Heh! I can jump out of a plane with it too.

PM me if you want to talk pros and cons.

:roost: