[Farrowlane]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a Touring bicycle and a Randonneuring bicycle?

My thinking is that you could most probably Randonneur on just about any bicycle, but you'd have to be more selective about a Touring bicycle, because of the load you'd most likely be carrying up ascents, and the balance required at slower speeds.

What are your thoughts?

Any Randonneering cyclist around here, anywhere?...

[Jahwarrior]

<--- Not a randonneerer, heck, I didn't know what you were talking about until I googled it.
my thought would be that nearly any bike could be used for randy'ing, but like anything, it depends on additional factors - weight, distance, equipment etc.... nothing flimsy, but nothing special...

[Xela]

I'm interested in the same thing. I really want a bike for hitting the gravel roads around here, but I would love to do some Randonneuring/Brevets on it. Seems like the big deal with Randonneuring/Brevets is a comfortable geometry for looong days in the saddle. In addition, I'd probably be using the bike as my main commuter, so there's something else for me to consider.

I'm currently seriously considering the Rawland Drakkar 2 which is the soon to be released update of the Drakkar. Seems like with some minor tweaks to tire/wheel selection, that just might be the do-it-all bike I'm looking for.

Hmmm...strange. I just went to Rawland's page to send the link for the Drakkar 2 page that I was looking at about a month ago. It is no longer there.

[longjohn]

Originally Posted by Jahwarrior

<--- Not a randonneerer, heck, I didn't know what you were talking about until I googled it.
my thought would be that nearly any bike could be used for randy'ing, but like anything, it depends on additional factors - weight, distance, equipment etc.... nothing flimsy, but nothing special...

I had to google it too. I'm not sure what the advantage would be over a touring bike. I guess maybe if I was doing brevets I would understand. My touring bike has become my favorite bike. I use it for century rides, commuting, and touring. I even use it for group rides when I have a perfectly good road bike sitting in the garage feeling neglected. I live on a gravel/dirt road and my touring bike handles the gravel quite well with the 700/32 slicks.

[Farrowlane]

Originally Posted by Jahwarrior

<--- Not a randonneerer, heck, I didn't know what you were talking about until I googled it.
my thought would be that nearly any bike could be used for randy'ing, but like anything, it depends on additional factors - weight, distance, equipment etc.... nothing flimsy, but nothing special...

+1

This is kinda what I was thinking too...

However, just to add___I was also thinking that Brevets would require possibly lighter bikes that would not have quite the weight carrying capacity. I could imagine a road bike, a hybrid, or a 29er MTB. It either really should have rack and fender braze-ons, in the case of longer brevets. It should also have excellent lighting. It either may or may not have a CF fork.

Perhaps a Raleigh Revenio, a Jamis Coda, a Trek FX, or even a Specialized Tricross.

OTOH, a dedicated Touring bike would never have a CF fork. It would most likely have both a chromoly steel frame and fork. It would tend to have slightly wider tires. It would be absolutely imperative that it have braze-ons for both rack and fenders. It should also have excellent lighting, both front and rear.

Perhaps like a Surly LHT, a Salsa Vaya, a Trek 520, a Fuji Touring, or possibly even a Surly Cross Check, or an Ogre.

[bikertank]

My "Limestone" bike seems it would fit the bill well - fairly lightweight alum with carbon fork - flat bar 9speed raleigh 2011 FT-3 Cadent - only cost me $750 at Koslow Bicycles in Illinois - they might ship - I would give them a call !

[bikertank]

Ask for Beverly !

[stogies4life]

I have been giving thought to doing a rando next year. I have a 7.3 Trek hybrid that I plan on starting with. I am only looking at doing the 200km events right now. But when it comes to differences I don't think there are that many, until you consider the longer brevets (600k and 1200k). Then you would probably want a front rack as well as a back rack to carry extra clothing, food and the like. Also for a brevet that length you must have a headlight and tailight. Fenders aren't a bad idea either.

[superj]

dude, one of those types of events sounds like it would be a blast. ride out with your buddies, do a long trek, take a break, do another trek, break, get to where ever you are going, head back, break. sounds like a blast

[Farrowlane]

Originally Posted by superj

dude, one of those types of events sounds like it would be a blast. ride out with your buddies, do a long trek, take a break, do another trek, break, get to where ever you are going, head back, break. sounds like a blast

There's nothing like a one or two week tour to get to know who your true club friends really are!