Retro touring bikes compared. Which is best, comfort or performance?

The difficult question: if two touring bikes are covering the same distance in the same time, which would you ride: the comfiest one or the fastest one?

Every now and again I do actually ride my bikes. This time, putting retro (if not necessarily vintage) road touring bikes to the test. Three days and a few hundred Ks around beautiful Shropshire, Staffordshire and South Cheshire.
Bikes compared (not including the Kona Sutra!):
1. Spa Audax Titanium, with Shimano 105 road groupset, Mavic Ksyrium Elite S wheels.
2. Hewitt custom tourer, Reynolds cromoly frame, Shimano Deore XT transmission.

[TheRampax]

I think this comes down to what you view as "Bicycle Touring". It varies a lot from rider to rider. If you are looking at 70+ miles per day on decent Tarmac then yes, you should absolutely be looking at light / aero / fast. To my mind this is more in "Challenge Ride" territory, but some fit lads would think nothing of this. My personal view is that a bike tour should be more akin to a holiday. I don't mind some degree of challenge, but overall I want the experience to be relaxing and fun, taking time for the views, long lunches, maybe even a pint, and not being totally destroyed in the evening / morning. I find around 50 miles per day is about right to still be able to take time to actually enjoy it, and you don't need a fast bike for that. I think on the super hilly day even you would have been glad of a granny ring. It's comfort and practicality for me. Yes, I do also like the classic touring aesthetic too, but I am old skool.

[JustGordon]

Putting touring weight on a lightweight “racing” road bike puts excessive stress on components and other parts causing them to fail and break. Fixing simple components on a touring bikes can be done with little problems. The more complex set-ups on your “racing” bike will leave you at the side of the road or walking your bike to a bike shop(and if you’re lucky they’re open). So… while you’re sitting on the side of the road I’m completing way more miles down the road- a little more slowly perhaps but moving forward. It’s like the rabbit and the tortoise…

[SeymourSunshine]

I loved the conclusion: the best bike in the world is the one that suits your riding the best and gets you where you want to go in the way you want to get there..

[bathstreetblues]

Iv just purchased a hewitt cheviot se! What great timming

[badger]

Hi Oliver.
I noticed the 3 point carrier you had on the back. Could you feel the panniers swaying?
I have to say though, back in 91 I bought a Tony Oliver Columbus tubed touring frame to replace my 531 ST Revel Romany. It has to be the most comfortable, stable and effortless ride ever. He built it for his wife and we were the same height and it fitted like a glove.
To answer your question though, at 55 these days it's all about comfort for me. My fast days are long gone 😉

[seansixfive]

It’s a difficult call. I prefer the lighter bikes for 80% of what I do but they dont handle fully loaded touring well which would mean either a second bike for touring or just get a touring bike that can do everything except accelerate fast. I took the second option and bought a Kona Sutra. Suits my riding style perfectly. I’m in no hurry but still get around at a decent pace. The bike feels great unloaded, loaded with light weight bikepacking bags for a weekend away or fully loaded for multi week/month touring.

[Blades-fmck]

"Can I have my thorn back?" Nice 😀

[cnapoli]

Wouldn't a "verdant B.A. Baracus" be the Incredible Hulk?

[andrewbaxter]

Cracking vid. Comfort with close low gearing or 2x up front works for me. Easier uphill, leisurely on the flat and coasting downhill, but damn a cromo set up gets heavy when loaded up with racks and panniers!

[glennpettersson]

Clearly much more in-depth research and analysis is required, a PhD in the making perhaps😁

[Romin.]

As a long distance Bicycle Traveller myself i will stick by my 3x9 and 47mm tires. :)

[johnmclean]

The Mavic sport wheels on the Ti bike have a low spoke count and may be problematic with weight on the back.. I rode many centuries this year with similar wheels on a 1985 Schwinn Tempo with a rack and small trunk bag..32 spoke minimum on the rear wheel is recommended 🚲👍

[robwhite]

Great video, did not anticipate the outcome, but the old saying horses for courses comes to mind. One question, the fellow wearing the orange touring polo shirt with rear pockets, what brand is it, I’ve been looking for one of those for ages. I’m a bit old for the Lycra stuff and have hung up my racing bike and now ride my Claud Butler majestic everywhere I cycle, stylish cycle clothing is now the preferred apparel, and that shirt really is stylish, I really want one.

[chrisw]

Oh dear, I had expected retro bikes like my most modern 2004 Dawes Galaxy or my 1982/3 Mercian Olympic.

[hernehill]

Wow! This is a really good video. It actually felt like I was along for the ride! Plus it gave me quite a few things to think about regarding my next tour. 10 out of 10 indeed.

[alexanderlawson]

I think the question should'nt be about the comfiest or fastest one but the most versatile machine. For a short tour, the light bike will work but when it comes to an extended tour with camping gear, load carrying and strength of the frame has got to be the No 1 priority. On my tourer I can ride rough forest roads, paths just about anything and the road too. In Northern Sweden I had to ride 25 miles on a road which had been completly dismantled down to its base gravel core, it was rough. The lightweight setup would have been unable to cope. My 35c tyres plus cro mo frame handled it just fine. On a tour lasting several thousand miles you just dont know whats coming down the road at you.

[dzoni]

They're both beautiful bikes, but I don't think that titanium one can take anything bigger than 25 mm. tyre and that's not enough for any type of touring.

[splashpit]

Give us an email and we can send in pictures of our vintage touring bikes and you can do a compilation and judge them for your next video.

[tmayberry]

That was a proper video I must say the point that I would add is it's not about getting there in comfort or getting there fast it's about just getting there. Lastly I believe that total weight of the bike plus the rider and bags give it a added level of comfort whether it's a road race bike converted to touring or a standard touring bike you will be comfortable as well as fast when you need to be but the point is getting there doesn't matter how or what you used to get there just getting there is all that matters.. cheers from across the pond and 6 million thumbs up for a proper video

[philiprayner]

what about using a beach cruiser with upgraded gearing and tires ?