Bleriot as Light Tourer.

[Matthew Danning]

I have a Bleriot I'd like to convert to a light tourer.  Think weekends, or for 1-2 week trips.  Assuming I convert to compatible gearing, does anybody see any show-stoppers?

And BTW, I never see Bleriots mentioned.  Is it "red-headed stepchild" syndrome?  Be honest. :) You won't hurt my feelings. 

Thanks.

[Matt C.]

Matthew,

I recently sold my Bleriot, but had previously used it primarily as a commuter and also a light tourer. Here are a few shots from a  tour in Northern Vermont. I geared it with a 46/30 crank set and 11-36 cassette and it was just enough to get over the one mountain pass we climbed over. I would probably gear it as a triple up front if I was to do it again. 

When you compare the Bleriot to other light touring bikes from decades ago that ran 700x32 tires max, you are already way ahead in that you can fit a 650x42 with fenders or 650x48 without. The tubing is stout, but when loaded seems to feel fine. 

I would go for it. I've toured on worse bikes. 

[Doug Van Cleve]

Hey Matthew.

The Bleriot predates almost everything commonly discussed here, only the OG Atlantis and Rambouillet are older (I think, and not including Rivendell branded models).  The Bleriot was the mass market version of the Saluki, the 650B only predecessor to the AHH?  They were not only sold thru RBW, but I don’t remember all the details.  I’m sure they are fine with a modest load, but I don’t remember all think they were ever marketed as fully loaded tourers…

Doug

[Joe Bernard]

Fun fact learned from John Bennett, formerly RBW, formerly Rivelo: Bleriot carries its airplane theme because it was originally intended to be a separable frame to pack for air travel. 

[Rick Harries]

Matt, that’s a really nice looking touring rig and cycling area.  Rick Harries, Easton, MD

[Ted Durant]

On Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 6:49:05 PM UTC-4 Matthew Danning wrote:

I have a Bleriot I'd like to convert to a light tourer.  Think weekends, or for 1-2 week trips.  Assuming I convert to compatible gearing, does anybody see any show-stoppers?

I never put a week's worth of stuff on mine (S&S couplers added, to fulfill the Bleriot intention!), but I wouldn't hesitate to do that. You don't say how heavy you are or how much stuff you'd carry, so I'll just give the usual "as long as it's not too much weight." The Bleriot frame is oversize (normal by today's standards) tubing with modest wall thickness, so it's not an especially beefy frame. The heaviest load I carried was set up like Matt, saddle bag and handlebar bag, both smaller than his, on a 57cm frame. I'm pretty light, so the total weight was not a lot. It carried it just fine. I would experiment with different ways of carrying the weight you plan to bring. My hunch is that a pair of low rider front panniers, a modest handlebar bag, and a saddle bag would feel good. 

For perspective, Jobst toured the Alps for weeks with nothing but a saddlebag on a racing frame. Out on one end of the spectrum.

Ted Durant

Milwaukee WI USA

[Nick Payne]

I've used mine as a light tourer. Here it is during a three day trip in the mountains, with everything packed in a Carradice Camper Longflap.

Nick Payne

[Matthew Cook]

My personal viewpoint after riding the Bleriot for about 6 years:

Unloaded the tubing seemed too stout to really plane for my 190/200lb body. Always felt a bit stiff/heavy for long rides where I wanted a more sprightly feeling. 

Lightly loaded it felt better. Honestly the photos from that tour were about the best the bike ever felt. With a mildly loaded handlebar bag/rack/decaileur, I always got shimmy. I never swapped headsets from the FSA I put on there originally, so it could have been as easy as a needle bearing headset to change that. So I could never really ride hands off the bars, which made long rides difficult. 

This eventually led to me sell the frame earlier this year.  

These are my opinions, but if someone had experience and a different opinion I would love to hear it. 

Couple-of-links on the Bleriot that might be interesting. 

One set up for touring:

https://theradavist.com/kyle-from-outer-shell-and-his-beausage-rivendell-bleriot/

John/Ron/Ultraromance and his Bleriot:

https://ronsbikesblog.yjybcom/2024/12/23/my-rivendell-bleriot-650b/

M. Cook

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[Matthew D]

I also used mine for several years as a commuter, but now that I don't commute, and am looking at retiring, I want to try some light touring.  The Bleriot is the only bike I own that has rack mounts, except for a Dahon Smooth Hound I bought as a travel bike.  So unless I sell the Bleriot and buy something else, in think it makes sense to give it a try, especially since I have enough parts lying around that I won't have to outlay any money.

But I'd be interested in knowing if others have suggestions for better frames for my intended purpose, Riv or otherwise.  And thanks to everyone for their input so far.

Kind Regards 

Matt D

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From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Matthew Cook <sircapt...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2025 6:51:36 PM
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Bleriot as Light Tourer.

 

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[iamkeith]

Here's some old literature that talks about touring capabilities (specifically endorsed), and recommended weight limits:

https://archive.org/details/rivendell_bleriot_brochure_650b/page/n2/mode/1up

[Fred Marsh]

I have had both front basket and rear rack/panniers loaded and didn't notice any difference in the ride.

I wouldn't hesitate to load it up for a tour. I also regularly load the front basket with a comical amount of groceries,

steering gets a little stiff, but nothing the bike can't handle. Blurry night photo: https://photos.fife.usercontent.google.com/pw/AP1GczO4e0mqv6ZWd-AmI5DjW4bpMZqOO3_EccWeHleMgXQ8KRuzSokgrndCDQ=w921-h702-s-no-gm?authuser=0

Fred

Mount Prospect, IL

[Brian McDermott]

I had an SS Bleriot for a few months, mostly commuted on it but did an overnight on it with a basket and large saddle bag, and it was great for that. Very decent bike but it was a hair small and I got my double TT Hillborne not long after so along it went. 

On Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 6:49:05 PM UTC-4 Matthew Danning wrote: