Comments on: How To: Build The Perfect Expedition Bike (Part 1) http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/ Adventure cycling since 2007 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:06:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: Frank revelo http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-26114 Frank revelo Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:56:48 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-26114 Thorn sells their Ripio steel MTB frame with rigid steel fork as an option. I haven't tried it, but it would probably be the sturdiest such frame around. I think front suspension is a bad idea for most people. Just get fat tires and don't overinflate them. Tires are the best suspension. Personally, I'm not afraid to try impossible-to-repair gear like a Rohloff hub. Just don't abuse it. My body is also impossible to repair. If I lose my eyesight, for example, journey over. So make sure I protect my eyes. Etc. The importance of being able to fix things on the road is over-rated. A lot of stuff on the road is junk. Do you really want to venture out into the middle-of-nowhere on cheapo Kenda tires? No. So if you're tires wear out, you just order new good ones by mail-order and pay an arm and a leg for shipping. It's actually cheaper doing things this way in the long run. "Only a rich man can afford cheap tools", as the saying goes. Thorn sells their Ripio steel MTB frame with rigid steel fork as an option. I haven’t tried it, but it would probably be the sturdiest such frame around. I think front suspension is a bad idea for most people. Just get fat tires and don’t overinflate them. Tires are the best suspension. Personally, I’m not afraid to try impossible-to-repair gear like a Rohloff hub. Just don’t abuse it. My body is also impossible to repair. If I lose my eyesight, for example, journey over. So make sure I protect my eyes. Etc.

The importance of being able to fix things on the road is over-rated. A lot of stuff on the road is junk. Do you really want to venture out into the middle-of-nowhere on cheapo Kenda tires? No. So if you’re tires wear out, you just order new good ones by mail-order and pay an arm and a leg for shipping. It’s actually cheaper doing things this way in the long run. “Only a rich man can afford cheap tools”, as the saying goes.

]]> By: Tom http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-25778 Tom Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:04:05 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-25778 Hey James :) Glad you're finding this stuff useful... I'll be back on the road in April, in the US in fact. I wouldn't worry about your frame for 10,000km if it's relatively new and rugged and good quality, and you set your luggage up right. Aluminium fatigues over time and that's the issue for long-term (i.e. permanent) touring. And in the US you should be able to get the frame replaced pretty easily if the worst happens. It's worth mentioning also that you can usually find aluminium welders at airports if you're really really stuck. Or use cable ties and Gaffa Tape! Where there's a will there's a way... Hope you have a great trip - I'm kind of envious that you're going to Central America. Would love to ride there. Tom Hey James :)

Glad you’re finding this stuff useful…

I’ll be back on the road in April, in the US in fact.

I wouldn’t worry about your frame for 10,000km if it’s relatively new and rugged and good quality, and you set your luggage up right. Aluminium fatigues over time and that’s the issue for long-term (i.e. permanent) touring. And in the US you should be able to get the frame replaced pretty easily if the worst happens. It’s worth mentioning also that you can usually find aluminium welders at airports if you’re really really stuck. Or use cable ties and Gaffa Tape! Where there’s a will there’s a way…

Hope you have a great trip — I’m kind of envious that you’re going to Central America. Would love to ride there.

Tom

]]> By: James http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-25744 James Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:36:31 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-25744 Cheers Tom! So the fondue banquet set and 36 piece luxury silver cutlery collection might also be a bit overprep too then? ;-) I am going to be joining my friends in Bolivia and then continuing onwards to alaska with them so should be >10000km hence the worrying about the frame, though before toooo long we should be out of central america and into the USA where I was hoping if god forbid my frame broke on me I could hopefully moreeasily pick up a kona explosif and swap the components/forks/racks etc onto it relatively painlessly. FYI I found this "how to build the perfect expedition bike" article here straight from google and didn't realise you have a whole other website full of fantastic info too! Have been poring through it today like a man posessed! Thank you ever so much for putting this all online, what a great resource to someone like me just setting out! Are you on the road at the moment? Cheers Tom! So the fondue banquet set and 36 piece luxury silver cutlery collection might also be a bit overprep too then? ;-) I am going to be joining my friends in Bolivia and then continuing onwards to alaska with them so should be >10000km hence the worrying about the frame, though before toooo long we should be out of central america and into the USA where I was hoping if god forbid my frame broke on me I could hopefully moreeasily pick up a kona explosif and swap the components/forks/racks etc onto it relatively painlessly.

FYI I found this “how to build the perfect expedition bike” article here straight from google and didn’t realise you have a whole other website full of fantastic info too! Have been poring through it today like a man posessed! Thank you ever so much for putting this all online, what a great resource to someone like me just setting out! Are you on the road at the moment?

]]> By: Tom http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-25674 Tom Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:55:37 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-25674 Hi James - aluminium is usually fine in the short term. The big advantage of steel is that you can have it welded if it fails in remote places. However more often than not a frame fails because of long-term wear and tear, so if you're going for a few weeks or months, I personally wouldn't worry too much. At some point you have to draw the line at what you can realistically prepare for! Hi James — aluminium is usually fine in the short term. The big advantage of steel is that you can have it welded if it fails in remote places. However more often than not a frame fails because of long-term wear and tear, so if you’re going for a few weeks or months, I personally wouldn’t worry too much. At some point you have to draw the line at what you can realistically prepare for!

]]> By: James http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-25661 James Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:07:23 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-25661 Thank you ever so much for a fantastic article. I have two friends touring South America at the moment on Surly long haul truckers, en-route to Alaska. They have advised that most people out there they've seen are using mountain bikes. I'm now looking to join them and wish to use my own mountain bike. This article has proved invaluable however I would dearly love some advice please on frame material: I currently have a 2009 Kona Cinder Cone which has an aluminium frame. i also have a housemate who has kindly offered to lend me his specialised rockhopper 2009 which again has an M4 aluminium frame. I would be looking to replace the headset and forks on whatever bike I use as well as several other components, however wanted advice on using aluminium for expedition biking and whether or not it can be done, or if as I suspect it is a complete no-no? It would save me money to be able to use either of the bikes above and if anyone knows if an aluminium frame can be used, which of the two above do you think might be most suitable? Finally, apologies for the mini-essay and any help gratefully received!!!!!!!! James Thank you ever so much for a fantastic article. I have two friends touring South America at the moment on Surly long haul truckers, en-route to Alaska. They have advised that most people out there they’ve seen are using mountain bikes. I’m now looking to join them and wish to use my own mountain bike. This article has proved invaluable however I would dearly love some advice please on frame material: I currently have a 2009 Kona Cinder Cone which has an aluminium frame. i also have a housemate who has kindly offered to lend me his specialised rockhopper 2009 which again has an M4 aluminium frame.

I would be looking to replace the headset and forks on whatever bike I use as well as several other components, however wanted advice on using aluminium for expedition biking and whether or not it can be done, or if as I suspect it is a complete no-no? It would save me money to be able to use either of the bikes above and if anyone knows if an aluminium frame can be used, which of the two above do you think might be most suitable? Finally, apologies for the mini-essay and any help gratefully received!!!!!!!! James

]]> By: The most popular posts on adventure blogs | Slow Quest http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-23845 The most popular posts on adventure blogs | Slow Quest Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:11:16 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-23845 [...] How To: Build The Perfect Expedition Bike (Part 1) [...] […] How To: Build The Perfect Expedition Bike (Part 1) […]

]]> By: Stefan http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-14784 Stefan Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:19:42 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-14784 Marin (Marin Muirwood) makes incredibly stable steel frames. I and several others have used them with 50kg+ loaded for several months. Marin (Marin Muirwood) makes incredibly stable steel frames. I and several others have used them with 50kg+ loaded for several months.

]]> By: Mushypea http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-14713 Mushypea Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:40:53 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-14713 Hey guys, You can pick up the Konas in Australia - Group Sportif are the distributors down in Melbourne. I'm using a 29er Big Kahuna Ally frame - what a beaut! I've never used a steel frame but they do make sense, especially if you need a weld repair done. mushypea Hey guys,

You can pick up the Konas in Australia — Group Sportif are the distributors down in Melbourne. I’m using a 29er Big Kahuna Ally frame — what a beaut! I’ve never used a steel frame but they do make sense, especially if you need a weld repair done.

mushypea

]]> By: Tom http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-14527 Tom Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:18:18 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-14527 I'm afraid I don't know much about buying bikes in Australia - I'd get Googling... I’m afraid I don’t know much about buying bikes in Australia — I’d get Googling…

]]> By: The most popular posts on adventure blogs http://tomsbiketrip.com/2010/04/how-to-build-the-perfect-expedition-bike-part-1/#comment-14359 The most popular posts on adventure blogs Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:32:15 +0000 http://tom.ride-earth.org.uk/?p=968#comment-14359 [...] How To: Build The Perfect Expedition Bike (Part 1) [...] […] How To: Build The Perfect Expedition Bike (Part 1) […]

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