I have this Novara Randonee. I’ve spent about 50 days doing self supported rides on it. All paved roads and well-maintained dirt roads. I’m looking to do the above trip and was going to make the following modifications:
Add a front shock and compatible front rack.
Somehow attach cruiser handlebars or aero bars sticking up off the drop bars. (I always found myself wanting to sit up straight on long, flat parts of the day. Open to other suggestions).
Replace the current crank set and sprocket to get my gear inches down from 22 to 18. I’ve read 18 is best for Peru.
Get some 38 mm gravel tires.
For those of you who have done this ride or a similar one, am I overthinking this? Under thinking it? Do you have any recommendations?
by joepagac
3 Comments
At that point, you should just get an hard tail or rigid MTB. Plus size tires and send it.
You can get one with drop bars or just get some corner bars and a aerobar and have similar options to a drop bar bike.
Salsa makes a great drop bar MTB people love for more rugged touring/bikepacking.
Also I wouldn’t gear anything more than 17 gear inches and maybe even 16. With a load on steep terrain off tarmac that would be my minimum. Obviously, you can’t go a whole lot lower but having that gear, I can easily spin up most hills loaded.
In addition I’ll say 38 mm tires won’t be very enjoyable. I’d want at least 50 mm…
Yeah leave that bike as is & put your money into a hardtail or rigid mtb with a x2 or x3 crank & aim for 16 inch gear or lower. I have a 2015 Cannondale Trail SL1 29er with 2 x10 ( 22/38 crank & 11-40t cassette with XT derailleur), has a rockshock fork with remote lock out. It also sport Shimano slx hydraulic discs with 203mm front rotor & 180mm rear rotor. So it will climb any mountain pass & descend without overheating the brakes full loaded. You can run any tyre from 32mm to 2.3 inches wide (700c or 29 er).