I have a hard time with a 20# touring rig. I made a cost no object touring bike for a very good friend, Paul Sylvester around 1979. I have done quite a lot of touring in tough situations and know how to make a reliable machine. Touring in the USA and South American is not like touring in Europe. Paul's bike was made with SP tubing, anything lighter in steel is just too flexible. I used Super Record for everything except the brakes, triple cranks, BB and rear derailleur. I made a special BB from titanium. The rear derailleur was a Ti Duopar. Brakes Mafac cantis with SR levers, and I made all the hardware from 7075 alloy. I used Ti for all the bolts that were not 7075 alloy throughout the bike. My CrMo rack in front, the very low one like Blackburn saw and copied in a half baked way. No rear rack. Wheels are a problem on touring bikes. I used Campi low flange 40 hole front and rear, 5 speed. I don't remember the rims, but light rims don't hold up. I remember using the first 700c tires from Specialized, I was testing them for Sinyard.
Anyway, the total weight with all camping gear and cooking kit was under 50 lbs. Paul and his brother Michel rode across the US, then to Europe. I think they rode for 6 months total in this one ride. I met them in Greece and spent 5 weeks riding just in Greece, great ride! I don't remember the bike weight, but I doubt it was much under 25 lbs.
Jim Merz Bainbridge Is. WA
Slightly O.T.------A thought on touring Bike Weights For an interesting comparison I did a ride to a ride (Early Saturday start) Friday night with a friend of a little over 40 miles in the dark on a wonderful night. We were able to arrive early at midnight as the start was not till 7:30 AM, then free camped at the start. My newest bike was "undated classic Alex Moulton" stainless steel job with dual lighting front and rear, tent, sleeping kit, and three changes of clothes, jacket and water and bottle (just one) and it weighed in at 39 lbs total. My Rene Herse Camping/Demontable/Randonese combo bike weighs nearly this much by itself, maybe more. Not shabby but my friend was riding a similar rig sans sleeping bag (chilly night for both us in the 55 d range) configured on one of the best but heaviest camping bikes arround( Miyata terra Liner) and his bike and gear weighed in at 46 lbs total with two full H2O bottles! Not bad. How did those old French bikes get so light?
Yours in cycling,
Gilbert Anderson
Raleigh, NC USA