> 3. Has anyone on the list gone touring in the > 50s-70s, or more recently but on pre-1980 bikes? Steve, I did a few thousand serious cyclo-tourist miles in the '60s and '70s on an Armstrong "racing" bike and on the 1969 Atala Gran Prix that I've often mentioned on the list. Both machines were somewhat lacking as touring bicycles but even racing bikes in those days had relatively long chain stays, so I survived. Neither the rather flexible Pletcher carrier not the canvas American Youth Hostels panniers were too much of an impediment. The 14-28 freewheels and 52-42 cranksets were another story in the mountains. I would still be willing to tour on that Atala but would put a "triple-izer" on the cranks to get some lower gears - but then I might have to change out the Nuovo Record derailleurs... Still, my younger brother managed to climb the same Canadian and New England mountains on the latter Valentino equipped Gran Prix, despite the fact that those things barely shifted. So it can be done. In 1983 my wife and I took a year long tour on our 1979 LeJeune tandem. That bike was geared right and had brazed-on fittings for decent racks but the frame - and even the TA crankset - were much too flexible. But... there were many decently designed touring bikes from that era that can still do the job and even a few "racing" frames that can be adapted well enough. By the way, other than on organized Youth Hostel tours, I never carried cooking equipment. I always managed to find inexpensive prepared food (well we ate a lot of French bread and cheese, too) and occasional restaurant meals. If you must have coffee in the morning this might be a problem but I always took juice. Regards, Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia
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