Homers and road touring

[Lyman Labry]

I have a question or the group.  I ride a Homer and considering using it for road touring.  Since its not by definition a touring Rivendell, is loaded touring pushing the envelope for this bike?

thanks, 

Lyman ATX

[lconley]

A Homer frame would have qualified as a touring bike frame back in the seventies. Loaded touring might be at the edge of the envelope today, kind of depends on how much you, the rider, weighs, and what "loaded touring" means in terms of weight. My Paramount P-15 "touring" bike probably has a shorter wheelbase, shorter chainstays and lighter tubing that a Homer, but it was at least a sport touring bike way back when. I had front and rear Blackburn racks and Kirtland panniers and handlebar bag on it for many years (& Esge fenders and a Sanyo bottom bracket generator). Many a racing bike has been used for touring with no ill effects.

Laing

[aeroperf]

I would say loaded touring IS pushing the envelope for a Homer.  Better would be a Sam, best would probably be an Atlantis or Appaloosa.

I bought a Homer for not-so-loaded touring, and found it was not the bike for the job for me.

[iamkeith]

I've probably linked to this page in a half dozen threads over the years, but it seems appropriate again.  This is from Peter White's website, from back when he was a Riv dealer (and from the era when I bought my Ram.)  Perceptions change but, at the time, the Homer WAS considered a touring bike.  Maybe not Atlantis-rugged, but not Atlantis-heavy, either.  I now have a Suluki so I haven't followed all of the Homer changes over time, but it seems it's gotten more stout if anything.  And longer, which should make it more stable.  Personally, I wouldn't hesitate, especially if you're talking about pavement and or credit-card touring rather than survival/camping/offroad touring.

Here's a relevant excerpt from Peter's page:

"These two frames are so similar, I've decided to keep them on the same page, at least until I think of a reason not to. If you start from the Rambouillet, the Hilsen has longer chainstays, by one centimeter. It also requires longer caliper brakes, because it has clearance for larger tires. Essentially the Rambouillet is great for fast day riding with the racer wannabees, brevets and credit card touring. The Hilsen is more into the loaded touring category. When you put full panniers on it, the handling will be a bit more stable than if you load down the Rambouillet. And with fat tires on the Hilsen, dirt roads will be more comfortable to ride on all day."

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/rambouillet.php

[Piaw Na]

I definitely would tour with a Homer. Anything that can stand up to riding on the kind of unpaved roads that Grant regularly rides on is going to handle a load just fine! I actually think that the Homer is better built and has a much better geometry than many other well known dedicated touring bikes like the Surly Long Haul Trucker. For instance, it has a lower BB, making it more stable. Its seat tube angles are usually more relaxed as well (depending on size). It has longer chainstays, giving you far better pannier hill clearance. Unless your total weight would exceed reason (which you can ask Rivendell about), I don't see why you shouldn't tour with a Homer.

[Fullylugged]

I rode the Mississippi Trail some years back solo on my Saluki, which is a Homer under the decals. Rear racks, front decaleur mount rando bag. Very stable handling when loaded. (get the trail guide book if you do this. Lots of good info). You can tour on a Homer.  Today, Apidura and others make capacious, lightweight  frame and saddle bags that let you save the weight of a frame.

Fullylugged in AL.

[John Hawrylak]

The AHH uses Oversized (OS) tubing (1-1/8" TT & 1-1/4" DT), which is more rigid than Standard (Std) tubing (1" TT & 1-1/8" DT) which most of the frames discussed are.  The extra 1/8" increased diameter results in a OS tube having about the same rigidity as a Std tube which is thicker by 0.2mm.   

It seems the AHH uses OS tubes with butting of 0.8mm x 0.5mm x 0.8mm, which is fairly thin tubing.   Grant never stated what tubing thickness he uses.  This would be have the same rigidity as s Std tube of 1.0mm x 0.7mm x 1.0mm.    IF the AHH tubing is thicker than what I stated, THEN it the equivalent rigid Std tube would be thicker

  My 1988 Schwinn Voyaguer (a full touring frame) uses Std Columbus Tenax tubing which by everything I can find has a 1" TT of 0.9mm x 0.7mm x 0.9mm and a 1-1/8" DT of 1.0mm x 0.7mm x 1.0mm.   So a AHH has tubing which is as rigid as the 88 Voyageur which was sold as full touring bike.  If the AHH tube is thicker than 8-5-8, then it is even more rigid than the 88 Voyaguer.

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ

On Monday, October 10, 2022 at 12:12:05 PM UTC-4 Tirebiter ATX wrote:

[Ryan]

Except that the OP is specifically asking about his Homer. Not to nit pick ...😊

Ryan (retired software developer/current linguistics student...so you know where I'm coming from)

On Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 8:27:21 AM UTC-5 Greg J wrote:

I would not hesitate to tour on the Sam, although I suppose it depends on what you're carrying and how long you're going for.  I've toured on a Rambouillet and a Road Standard with a full set of panniers on weeklong trips, and it was fine.  You say "road touring," so I assume you're not planning on carrying a week's worth of food, etc. With a reasonable load, the Sam should be fine - try it and report back!

[Mike Godwin]

I had a MUSA Homer years ago, 2005-ish or so. With a Nitto rear rack, my return trip from TJs with both panniers loaded displayed whippy behavior. OK for the short rides from the grocery store or TJs, but I would not like handling even for a S24H. Frame was 61 cm for your consideration. 

Mike SLO CA 

[Toshi Takeuchi]

I have a Waterford Homer, 54 cm, and I weigh 150 lbs.  I put about 30 lbs of groceries in panniers in the back and the bike felt great, and if I knew what "planing" was, then I would say the bike was planing because it felt springy when I was out of the saddle.  If I were 180 lbs and 30 lbs in the back, then maybe it would get noodlely?

Why not just load up the bike and see how it feels.  For me, I'm sure it would work great...

Toshi

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[Piaw Na(藍俊彪)]

Not to mention since when you bought the Homer the chainstays have gotten longer. Also, a lot depends on your pedaling style. If you mash the pedals you put a lot more strain on the bike than if you sit and spin. 

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[Lyman Labry]

Incremental and common sense approach to touring on a Homer. This is an amazing group. Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful and diverse feedback. 

Lyman in Austin

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