Raleigh Pioneer Tourer
The Raleigh Pioneer is a very popular hybrid bike, and makes a reasonable tourer in standard form. This one has been heavily modified.
A woman came into the shop wanting a bike for a tour of Italy. She had a reasonable budget, great enthusiasm and one month before she left. This frame was the best option we had at the time. It's the second version of the Pioneer, with a sloping top tube. This example has been used very little, so has lots of life left. It's not the lightest frame, but it is very solid and stiff. She wanted front racks and a second water bottle cage mount, so we brazed these on, and added seatstay rack mounts while we ere at it. There wasn't time to get it powdercoated, so the paint damage was covered with dark green Hammerite. This was a bit dull for her so we applied spray glitter on top. The cantilver bosses were left on the frame, they weren't in the way and don't weigh much.
The wheels are Shimano Tiagra hubs in Mavic A319 rims, laced 3 cross with stainless steel double butted spokes. This is a well proven specification for touring wheels. The frame has lots of clearance, so we fitted 37mm Schwalbe Marathon tyres for comfort and durabilty.
The brakes are Starry dual pivot calipers with Elvedes pads. This might be a bit controversial, with people thinking cantilevers or disks would be better, but these stop to the limit of the tyres and are very easy to live with. Cantilevers need lots of attention, and disks are so easily bent and contaminated they are even worse on a touring bike.
The gear and brake levers are by Microshift. Microshift is not a well known company, and mostly associated with the cheap end of the market, however these levers are well made and very easy to work. Fitting the gear cable is very easy compared with Shimano. The blue hoods were a plus point too. They are 8 speed, and compatible with Shimano, so we used a new rear mech and a good steel front mech. A basic old steel Shimano front mech is much tougher than the new ones, and can be bent back into shape if necessary.
An old pair of cranks were fitted with Stronglight chainrings in 24, 38 and 48 teeth. With the rear cassette being 11 to 34 it should get up most hills. The chain is KMC, the headset and bottom bracket are Tange. The handlebars are brand new Nitto Randoneur, a detail that is sure to earn an approving nod from any experienced cycle tourist.
The rear rack is a very light RSP, the front is a copy of the Blackburn custom. Mudguards are SKS.
In total it weighed about 16kg, a kilo heavier than the more expensive Jamis steel tourer that was in the shop at the same time. It handles well, fits the rider and should be reliable.
A woman came into the shop wanting a bike for a tour of Italy. She had a reasonable budget, great enthusiasm and one month before she left. This frame was the best option we had at the time. It's the second version of the Pioneer, with a sloping top tube. This example has been used very little, so has lots of life left. It's not the lightest frame, but it is very solid and stiff. She wanted front racks and a second water bottle cage mount, so we brazed these on, and added seatstay rack mounts while we ere at it. There wasn't time to get it powdercoated, so the paint damage was covered with dark green Hammerite. This was a bit dull for her so we applied spray glitter on top. The cantilver bosses were left on the frame, they weren't in the way and don't weigh much.
The wheels are Shimano Tiagra hubs in Mavic A319 rims, laced 3 cross with stainless steel double butted spokes. This is a well proven specification for touring wheels. The frame has lots of clearance, so we fitted 37mm Schwalbe Marathon tyres for comfort and durabilty.
The brakes are Starry dual pivot calipers with Elvedes pads. This might be a bit controversial, with people thinking cantilevers or disks would be better, but these stop to the limit of the tyres and are very easy to live with. Cantilevers need lots of attention, and disks are so easily bent and contaminated they are even worse on a touring bike.
The gear and brake levers are by Microshift. Microshift is not a well known company, and mostly associated with the cheap end of the market, however these levers are well made and very easy to work. Fitting the gear cable is very easy compared with Shimano. The blue hoods were a plus point too. They are 8 speed, and compatible with Shimano, so we used a new rear mech and a good steel front mech. A basic old steel Shimano front mech is much tougher than the new ones, and can be bent back into shape if necessary.
An old pair of cranks were fitted with Stronglight chainrings in 24, 38 and 48 teeth. With the rear cassette being 11 to 34 it should get up most hills. The chain is KMC, the headset and bottom bracket are Tange. The handlebars are brand new Nitto Randoneur, a detail that is sure to earn an approving nod from any experienced cycle tourist.
The rear rack is a very light RSP, the front is a copy of the Blackburn custom. Mudguards are SKS.
In total it weighed about 16kg, a kilo heavier than the more expensive Jamis steel tourer that was in the shop at the same time. It handles well, fits the rider and should be reliable.
