Touring on a road bike

[englishpremier]

Got a short tour (10-12 days) of France's east coast coming up soon.

I don't have a touring bike. Any reason I can't/shouldn't tour on my Forme Longcliffe 3.0?

It's got Mavic CXP22 wheels currently with 23c tyres. The rims will comfortably take 28c possibly 32c, but I need to check the clearance first.

The chain stay is pretty short at 417mm but I'm considering the axiom streamliner rack, which should give me another 40mm of clearance.

I've already got some panniers, and am thinking about getting a front bar bag. The forks are carbon with only mud guard eyelets, so probably best not to put a rack there.

I weight just under 75kg, so even the 10kg of luggage the bike should be able to take the weight.

The bike fits me well and is comfortable, but of course extremely stiff, but with wider tyres, and the French roads being better if should be ok.

The other thing is the crank/gearing, it's tall but I'm able to cycle up a 20% gradient (max, 12% average) unloaded, and I don't anticipate anything even near that on the French coast.

What do you think? Anything I'm overlooking?

 

[englishpremier]

Shoes I'm fine with. I love my cleats attached to the bike, then i've got some £1.95 specials that I took around South America. Super comfy.

I've been away on a motorcycle tour, but back this week. Need to get some miles in the saddle, which may or may not need replacing.

Probably double up on bar tape over the pressure areas.

Gloves are something I need to look at.

 

[englishpremier]

i mean cycle shoes with recessed cleats so you can walk when necessary - (i think you have to be spd for that). but if taking a separate pair of shoes that works too.

Yes, I have a pair of those. All day comfy too

I'd quite like a proper touring bike... for photography adventures, mostly.... but wouldn't know what to start looking at. It would have to be going up 1:4 hills quite a lot :/

The Adventure Flat White gets touted as a decent basic touring bike. Think its around £500. Ridgeback Tour is another from a better known brand.

Personally I like my road bike. At 9.5kg it's not crazy light, the wheels are strong enough, and the riding position is relatively relaxed for a road bike. Being British it also has sealed bearings, and mud guard eyelets for our crappy weather.