[SDCBC] FW: Expedition style bikes for SoAmerica tour?

[Robert Leone]

Dear All:
	Let me top post here. I believe the KHS Urban-Xpress )try Mission Hills 
Cyclery) and REI Buzz V )the rim brake, not disk brake version) meet 
almost all the basic requirements except they've got 700c wheels.
	The Pacific Cycles or whatever they're called up on the southern edge 
of Oceanside have TONS of Surlys in stock. They've got a distressing 
number of Karate Monkey MTB 29er frames built up with drop bars! If your 
two riders are short, the Surly Long Haul Trucker in sizes up to and 
including 54cm are designed for 26" wheels. 56 cm and above are based on 
700c wheels. Adams Avenue doesn't have these in stock, but the frames 
should be available, and if they've not run out a "complete" verison of 
the LHT sells for about $1000 (see the Surly bikes web site for details).
	Bruce Gordon's Rock and Road - X version is a 26" wheeled bike, as the 
BLT-X -- and his web site www.bgcycles.com is worth a shot. He's in 
Petaluma, relatively near SF.
	Also in the "start with a frame" area, some folks touring Vietnam 
started with the Soma Groove MTB frame -- and Mission Hills Cycles does 
have experience with Soma bikes. Soma Fabrication's HQ is in San 
Francisco, www.somafab.com.
	The REI Safari IS marketed as an Expedition/Trekking bike, despite the 
Aluminum frame. Koga-Miyata, one of the European/Asian builders of 
expedition touring/trekking bikes also went with alu. Alas, while the 
Breezer Greenway and Liberty are about as tough as bikes come and are 
built, or overbuilt, to handle a load, they're aluminum and use 700c wheels.
	I don't know whom the local Kona bike dealer is, but the Kona Smoke 
(commuter version, rigid fork, probably could use rebuilt wheels) and 
either the Lava Dome or Cinder Cone (hardtail, front suspension) are 26" 
wheeled bikes. Note: Kona now has a 29" wheeled version of the Smoke on 
their catalog pages, don't know if the 26" wheeled version is extinct or 
available as a remaindered item from Kona. The website there is 
www.konaworld.com.
	I KNOW I've missed a few bets here -- Veloculture on La Jolla Blvd and 
Ye Olde Bicycle Shop on University at 68th St would be my first choices 
for finding a USED mtb frame to be built up to one's desires.

Robert Leone

Kathy Keehan wrote:
>  
> 
>  
> 
> *From:* Bicyclist [mailto:bikes.alot at cox.net]
> *Sent:* Sunday, December 30, 2007 12:58 PM
> *To:* sdcbc at bikesandiego.org
> *Subject:* Expedition style bikes for SoAmerica tour?
> 
>  
> 
> I had the pleasure of providing an overnight stay for a couple of bike 
> tourists, Gal & Rami, from Israel. They are in process of outfitting 
> themselves for a bike trip through Latin America after their year-long 
> Asia cycle tour. See  http://www.silkroadbicycletrip.blogspot.com/ 
> and/or http://ourbicycletrip.blogspot.com/ for a description and photos 
> of their trips... worth a visit.
> 
> Anyway, there are having trouble finding a local supplier - or any - 
> bikes of suitable/strong construction for loaded touring... 26" wheels, 
> steel frame, steel racks, pulling Bob's. Bikes and equipment that won't 
> break and if they do, can be fixed with third-world technology. There is 
> a category of touring bikes called Expedition Bikes that seem to be 
> available in Europe, but not here.  :-(  They have tried REI and Adam's 
> Ave bike shops and are now in San Francisco looking while visiting 
> friends... back here around Jan 2 - 3.... then beginning their ride south.
> 
> So, anyone have leads on new or used touring bikes like those they are 
> seeking? He is 6' - probably 56cm frame. She is quite small, 5'?, and 
> likely would use a woman/small-frame bike and/or one with sloping top bar.
> 
> And, maybe some of you would like to ride out with them when they go. I 
> plan to.
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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