thanks!

Yeah, they’re infrequent, but they sometimes pop up. This forum thread for second hand touring bikes was really active until mid-2016. Maybe give it a bump to get people sharing what they’ve seen! http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=75234

Sorry Chris, I don’t think it’ll be complete until right at the end of the month. 🙁

Hi Alee, is the new book out yet? I’m hoping to do the Adelaide to Melbourne route at the end of the month. I’m a beginner but I intend to really take my time (4-6 weeks), so be good to know what available and where I can get it in Adelaide. CHeers

The Vivente touring bikes are built really solidly (ie. you could go around the world on them!). I think they would be overkill for your needs. Don’t worry too much about bike geometry, most ‘light touring’ bikes are set up very similarly – just make sure you head into a shop to get the sizing right. Alee

Hello Alee, thank you for your swift reply, I appreciate that. I will have a look at these light touring bikes. Thank you for giving me some examples; that will give me a starting place. Just wondering, still a little unsure about what my optimum geometry would be. Would you recommend any of the Vivente bikes for this light touring? I look forward to your new book, that should be quite informative, thank you. Kind Regards, Claire.

Also, keep an eye out for my new book on touring bikes (including light touring) – available next month. 🙂

Hi Claire. It sounds like you’re the perfect candidate for what I like to call a “light touring” bike. These bikes are typically a few kilograms lighter than a “long distance touring” bike because they aren’t designed to support the same kinds of weight. They keep a very upright positioning too, and often have a wide spread of gears. Perhaps start by taking a look at the Trek CrossRip or 720 bikes: https://www.cyclingabout.com/2016-trek-adventure-and-touring-bikes/. The Kona Rove and Giant Revolt are two other examples found in Australia.