Reply to "Touring" bike from Pawn Shop/Garage Sale?

Has anybody here built up a Katy touring bike from the basic parts you found at a pawn shop or garage sale? I see the trail does not require a "Real" Touring bike (like Cannondale T800 or others), so I am now thinking of hitting the local pawn shops for abandoned bikes and giving one or two (or three, depending on spouse's interest) a good home and a fun run down the Katy.
Good idea? Abysmally BAD idea? I can look for cracked welds, etc...but this trail doesn't require as huge a load as some bike tourists need (as for coast-to-coast), so I think I can get away with it.

Depends on the bike and your level of competence and your goals. Don't assume that you
won't want a "real" bike to ride the Trail. Lance Armstrong could ride the Tour de France
on a pawn shop bike or even one he bought at a chain store, but would he want too? If
you feel like this is what you want to do, look for a known brand name, lightweight
mountain bike frame bike. A mountain bike frame has better geometry for the Trail and
holds up better to the rough parts of the Trail than a road bike frame. You don't need
shocks or any of those types of extras; they just add weight. Remember, on a bike less
weight is better because it means less weight you have to propel down the road. I suspect
that you will spend more money building it up than if you just bought a decent bike from
your local bike shop. I ride a Trek mountain bike that I have modified to ride mostly on
the Trail..namely, took off all the stuff that added weight, replaced the knobby tires with
Panaracer Messenger tires that are about an inch wide and have Kevlar belts and I added a
rack on the back to attach panniers for overnights. So, if you are doing this because you
think it will just be the easy, cheap way out, then I think it is a bad idea...your money will
be better spent buying a decent mountain bike at your local bike shop and having them
help you modify it for the Trail. If you are doing this for the "project" appeal, then by all
means give it a whirl! If you need help with components, or figuring out what will work
best on the Trail, give Mark a call at Hartsburg Cycle Depot (573-657-9599). He can help
you with what you need and they have great prices on parts and accessories.
Tailwinds...Sharon

Agreed....if ya like to tinker, have plenty of time to do it, and have plenty of money to do so without knowing what you actualy end up with....go for it.

Having worked in a few manufacturing company engineering departments.....I give full credit to those engineers at Trek, Cannondale, etc. who have perfected their product by making the discoveries long ago that a pawn shop engineer would in an attempt to construct a prototype bike. Major bike companies already produce a bike for Katy type riding....the Hybrid or Cross bike. Most of these are very affordable. They are trail ready with the exception of a rear rack, a bag or two, and kevlar tires if that is what you desire.

If you decide to reinvent the wheel.....more power to ya!

Hmm...VERY Valid Comments! Thanks! Pawn Shop DIY Bike = Time + Money + More time + Maybe (or maybe not) a bike I will like. Store-bought Bike = More initial money + I get to ride it NOW! The Best of Both Worlds??? (Figuring I LOVE to tinker, but only if it will be an improvement)...I am thinking of buying a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame, and buying a build kit from Pricepoint. Net result should be appropriate to my skills and a really nice bike. This could be VERY good.

There ya go! Many of the bike sponsored racers do a similar thing. The bike company provides the frame and the racer provides his own components based on personal preference. A friend of mine who races, took his free frame and then bought another bike, as the "kit" just for the components. The end result was a very nice racing bike with his choice of components.

Well heck yeah Jim....a Surly will be fine!! If one believes the Revendell philosophy, touring bikes are the best of both worlds as they believe (at Revendell), that those types of bikes can be used for MOST anything. Getting back to your "Frankenbike" thoughts....get a production touring bike, then buy parts as you see fit and during those moments when you want to quit, just get on your production bike, take a ride come back to the house and continue to work on the "parts" bike. You have a host of quality bike shops in the DFW Metroplex. Also July issue of "Bicycling" has an article about a couple of bike mechanics (in Dallas no less), who did a "pimp my Schwinn" number. Bought it new for $89.00, but ended up with hundreds of dollars worth of "parts" that they switched out which included a 58 tooth chain ring (my knees hurt just reading that). Check out Adventure Cycling Association for touring bike ideas...there are many that are cheap, but not cheaply built. Enjoy the voyage.....Mark of the Dalton Boys