Aluminum or Steel Frame for Touring?
I am ultimately looking to have a bike that is good for both everday commuting and touring with panniers/racks long distance with camping. From what I’ve read on the internet steel frames are more forgiving and ride smoother. The guy at my local bike shop tells me aluminum frames have more flex and ride better. I don’t know if he’s just trying to make a sale (Giant dealer) or to trust him, unfortunately the staff there are all just racers not tourers. If you can recommend any brands/models to check out that’d be good. From my research thus far I am in love with Co Motion bikes, just not the price! I’m looking at $1000 max for a good touring bike. Thanks!
Also note, I’m 6′5″ 250 lbs (hoping to trim that down over the summer!). So strength to bear that weight is a factor as well.
At your budget, with a need to do camping/touring with a full set of racks (front/rear), your choices will be limited with new bikes…whether aluminum or steel.
Trek’s 520, which some love and others aren’t so thrilled with, has a steel frame/fork and will carry a full set of racks. The MSRP is over $1200.
Two other affordable options come to mind…
One is the Jamis Aurora. Marketed as a touring bike with a steel frame/fork and currently lists under $900.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_bikes/08aurora.html
The second is the Speciale CX by Masi. It too has a steel frame/fork and lists at $980. It’s marketed as a cyclocross bike that is suitable for light touring. A dealer could tell you more.
http://masibikes.com/cycles/speciale_cx.php
The two previous bikes lack brazeons for rack mounts up front, so they don’t seem suitable for heavy, loaded touring expeditions. But, I don’t see any models by Giant that have front rack brazeons. Actually, their forks all appear to be carbon/composite.
I agree that the Co-Motion products look great, but their prices do seem a bit high for a welded frame, even if it is made in the US. The Surly LHT would make an extremely rugged, steel tourer. But building it up to your desired specs would likely put you way over your limit.
Bike Fridays – commute in Boston AUG 28th 2009
