Remember my 1985 Giant Tourer that I posted last year? 1985 Giant "Tourer" – can you have too much silver? : r/Vintage_bicycles
Well, I took her on a tour! 477.5 km and 6700 m ascent over 6 days of pure riding pleasure!
I did have to make one non-period correct modification which was to convert it to a 3x. This required a new crankset, chain rings, front derailleur and bottom bracket. Details below:
- Bottom Bracket: Token TK838HAL, BSA, 122.5 mm
- Front Derailleur: Shimano DuraAce, FD-7803 – chosen for the bling!
- Crankset: Shimano Exage 300EX, FC-M300, 170 mm
- Chainrings: Specialites T.A.; Zephyr 46t, 34t, 110 BCD; Zelito 24t, 74 BCD.
- Tyres: Continental GP5000 ASTR, 622-34 + RideNow TPU tubes
Unloaded, the bike came in at about 12.5 kg. To which I added ~23 kg of gear, including a tent. With me included, the system weight was around 125 kg.
We started the tour in Sonthofen, Allgäu, Germany. The first pass was the Oberjoch into Austria. Followed by the Hahntennjoch and then the Reschenpass into Italy. I wanted to ride up the Stelvio unloaded but the weather was terrible on the day. We then continued into Switzerland and over the Ofenpass/Pass dal Fuorn before finally the Flüelapass and then down to Lake Constance/Bodensee along the Rhein. As it happens, we also cycled the length of Liechtenstein.
The old girl was fantastic! STEEL IS REAL!! Index shifting is marketing BS! Who needs disk brakes to descend an 20 km alpine pass at 60 kph on a loaded touring bike?!? Triples are the GOAT! etc etc
The only slight mechanical was that I lost a mud guard bolt on the last day and the headset started getting lose towards the end. Otherwise, she survived the light gravel, rain and Italian roads.
by shortnamecycling