The Chainlink

I am a high school junior and this summer I am doing a bike trip across the country from Charleston, South Carolina to Santa Monica, California. I need to use one of the following bikes: Trek 520, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Jamis Aurora, Fuji Touring or the Novara Randonee. If someone has one of these bikes in very good condition that they are not using this summer, I would love to rent it. I would get it tuned up before and after the trip and pay what we agree upon as a fair price to use it for the summer. If you don't have one, but know someone that does please spread the word! Thanks! 

Sam

Views: 995

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

What size?
A 52 or 54 is ideal (54 would be best). I would also be willing to try a 56, but it would probably be big.

Honestly, I would think with the volume of travel and the time you need it, you would be better off finding one used (you've got plenty of time) and simply selling it when you are done.   I've seen a few of these go for between 600-900 on craigslist over the past few months.   If you take good care of it over the summer there is no reason you wouldn't be able to flip it for near what you paid for it now

With a good tune up at the start and a good tune up after that much riding you are most of the way to a good used touring bike.

I don't have the money to buy one even used and my parents said if I want to do the trip I have to find a bike. I'll keep looking for one not too expensive and used but I'd still prefer to "borrow" one

It would be hard for me to give up a bike I would be spending so much time with. I would concentrate on buying a bike before I made plans for a country long bike trip.

 

Who is sponsoring the tour?  Maybe they can buy you a bike as well.

You'll probably need $200-300 in replacement parts and tuneups after the ride to get the bike back into shape. Maybe you're better off buying a cheaper bike? Like this:

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/bik/3531406313.html

 Maybe you should start a Kickstarter to fund your trip!?

This is a better bike for touring than the Trek. It might need $300 or so for a tuneup and some fresh parts, but you could probably sell it for nearly what you put into it, and it's actually a good bike for what you need. Looks like it might be your size. I'd buy it for myself, but I really don't want need my wife to kill me another bike.

Also, you should consider that even after you get such a bike mechanically sound enough for touring, you're still going to need at least one rack and panniers, and maybe a handlebar bag, a pump, a few tools, etc. Just a serviceable rack and a couple of panniers will probably be more than $100, and might be closer to $300 for good ones. Budget for a new saddle if you get a bike like this. Budget for some decent cycling clothing if you don't already have some, and that stuff isn't cheap.

Whatever you decide, if you end up going, good luck!

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/bik/3527675833.html

And I think this is a better touring bike than either of those:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/1985-schwinn-mirada-17-150

I would buy in a heart beat if it were my size :)

It might have some advantages, but the handlebars would be a deal-breaker for me. I wouldn't think of touring on those bars, and converting to drop bars would be very inconvenient. The 26" wheels, cantis, and dual-eyelet fork are nice, though.

I just did a little research on the Miyata 312, and it looks like it's more of a road bike, despite the designation as a "sport touring" bike. I don't think it has rear rack braze-ons, even. Scratch that.

ilter said:

And I think this is a better touring bike than either of those:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/1985-schwinn-mirada-17-150

I would buy in a heart beat if it were my size :)

All of these touring bikes look awesome but I'm actually required to have one of the ones I listed in order to do the trip

Required by who? 

Never mind. Found it. Overland American Challenge, yes?

So you are going on a six week summer vacation which will cost someone just under $6000 before tchochkes, and before airfare from Chicago to Charleston, SC, and from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, and you can't budget an additional $500-$600 for a suitable bike? Is this for school credit? Is this just for fun? Why not just get yourself a $2000 touring bike and ride around the Great Lakes? It would be a lot cheaper.

Samantha said:

All of these touring bikes look awesome but I'm actually required to have one of the ones I listed in order to do the trip

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service