Here you’ll find photos and details of my main touring bike: a custom-built Oxford Bike Works Expedition (or, as it was originally named, “Tom’s Expedition Bike”), which I’ve now had for 10 years.
I collaborated (in real life, not online!) with Richard Delacour from Oxford Bike Works to design and build this bike back in 2014. This was after many years of touring all over the planet, advising an increasing number of of budding cyclists on trip planning and bike selection, and finally deciding to take my own advice!
Now the flagship model in Oxford Bike Works’ range of touring bikes, this prototype for the Expedition was conceived as the last touring bike I would ever need – a true bike for life.
This page is a brief summary for the casual reader. For an in-depth discussion of the complete design and build process, check out this extremely detailed, full-nerd essay on how I built my “ultimate expedition bike”.
Full-Size Image Gallery
Specifications & Components
Below is the original component listing of the bike as it was built in 2014, should you wish to draw inspiration from it when designing/building your own. Please note that it has been tweaked and upgraded many times since, most recently in 2023 as detailed here.
| Frame: | Oxford Bike Works 26” cromoly touring/expedition frame (Reynolds 525) |
|---|---|
| Forks: | Oxford Bike Works cromoly touring forks |
| Colour: | Desert Sand (custom colour) |
| Headset: | Chris King NoThreadSet 1 1/8”, black |
| Rear Derailleur: | Shimano Deore RD-M591, top normal, long cage, black |
| Front Derailleur: | Shimano Deore FD-M590, low clamp, dual pull, black |
| Cassette: | Shimano CS-HG41-8ao, 11–34T, 8‑speed |
| Shifter Levers: | Shimano Ultegra SL-BS64 bar end, friction front, 8sp indexed/friction rear |
| Shifter Mounts: | from SunRace M96 thumbshifters |
| Chainset: | Shimano FC-M361, 170mm, 22–32-44T |
| Middle Chainring: | Middleburn Hardcoat 32T (CR-104–90-32) |
| Bottom Bracket: | Shimano UN55, 68mm, British thread |
| Chain: | Wippermann Connex 808s 8‑speed with connector link |
| Rims: | Rigida Sputnik 26” (559), 36H, silver, Schrader valve |
| Front Hub: | Shimano Deore XT HB-T780‑S, 36H, silver |
| Rear Freehub: | Shimano Deore XT FH-T780‑S, 36H, silver |
| Spokes: | Sapim Race double butted (front, rear non-driveside), Sapim Strong PG (rear driveside) |
| Rim Tape: | Velox 19mm cloth |
| Skewers: | Allen/hex key (non-QR) |
| Tyres: | Schwalbe Marathon Plus 26x1.75” with SmartGuard |
| Innertubes: | Schwalbe AV13, 26”, Schrader valve |
| Brake Levers: | Shimano Alivio BL-T4000, silver, pair (mmm… BLT) |
| Brake Calipers: | Shimano Deore BR-T610‑L, black |
| Brake Shoes: | Shimano S70C with cartridge shoe inserts (re-order code Y‑8A2 98030) |
| Pedals: | Shimano PD-M324, combination SPD/flat |
| Saddle: | Brooks B17 Champion Special |
| Seatpost: | Humpert |
| Handlebars: | Deda |
| Stem: | Deda |
| Grips: | Ergon GP1 BioKork lock-on, standard diameter, large size |
| Bar-Ends: | Oxford Bike Works rubberised anatomical bar-ends (unavailable to purchase) |
| Rear Carrier Rack: | Tubus Cargo (Classic) 26″ |
| Front Lowrider: | Tubus Tara |
| Mudguards: | Axiom Rainrunner LX Reflex, 26″, to fit 1.5–2.2″ tyres, with rubber mudflaps |
| Extras: | Marine-grade stainless steel bolt replacements, steerer tube spacers, Pletscher centre kickstand, System EX steerer-tube bell. |
In the decade since the bike was built, Richard has continuously developed the base specification of his Expedition in response to rider feedback. Check out the product info page on the Oxford Bike Works website for the current specification and build options.
Latest posts about this bike:
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Oxford Bike Works Expedition: New Upgrades For 2023
Before my recent Australia tour, I took Tom’s Expedition Bike back to its birthplace in the UK for a tune-up and a few experimental upgrades. This post details what’s changed, explores the thinking behind the upgrades, and goes deep into the specifics of why they were made. (Warning: it’s a 5,000-word long read, so maybe put […] Continue reading →
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How To Custom Build The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures)
Some of the most frequently-asked questions I get on this blog are about designing and building custom touring bikes, whether DIY or built to order by a professional bike builder. Especially now the world has opened up to bicycle travel again, these questions often come from people planning cycle tours or bikepacking trips of ambitious […] Continue reading →
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Oxford Bike Works & Tom’s Expedition Bike: The Story So Far
Just before I flew out to Bangkok for my current trip, I paid a visit to Richard Delacour at Oxford Bike Works to collect Tenny’s newly upgraded tourer. Based on a vintage steel Trek frame, the lovingly recycled bike is a tidy piece of work, naturally — but it got me reflecting on the story […] Continue reading →
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Tom’s Expedition Bike: The Full Specification & Parts List (Geek Alert!)
‘Tom’s Expedition Bike’ was designed to meet my needs after years of touring all over the planet and advising hundreds of budding cyclists on trip planning and bike selection. It was conceived as the last expedition-grade touring bike I’d ever need – a true touring bike for life, and the summation of everything I’d learned during more than 20,000km of […] Continue reading →
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A New Expedition Touring Bike From Oxford Bike Works (Designed By… Er… Tom Allen!)
Can’t afford expensive bikes? Do yourself an enormous favour by ignoring what follows and reading this instead. I never imagined I would one day be able to call myself a bike designer. (Or a writer, or a filmmaker, for that matter.) But now I can – as of today. And here’s how it happened: Last summer […] Continue reading →