Refitting a Chinese bike for touring in China

Anyone knows about Chinese bicycles.

I’m currently living in Tangshan, a city not too far from Beijing. During the year to come I would like to travel by bike in the south of China. I want to equip a bike for touring so I must use what I can find here in China.

I’ve talked to a lady who refitted a Chinese bike frame with Japanese parts. In the end she had a decent touring bike with speeds. I would like to do the same. But I am not to sure what kind of frame I can use. Can I buy a one-speed bike then upgrade it to a speed bike. Are there any bike brands or modals I should avoid? In any other kind of advice form what I intended to do are welcomed.

Thanks a lot for your advices,

Dan

Hello

I cycled with a friend from Switzerland throw Himalayas in 2002. These friend named Thomas bought a year before a chinese bike for 60 USD, on which he cycled all Tibet. It caused a lot of problems to him, that's true, but at the end, he did it.

Best regards,
Robert

Hello Oekoumene,

what`s about your chinese language skills? Did you already ask in a bicycle-shop (maybe a friend with chinese knowledge can translate)? But nowadays it should be not difficult to get a multi-speed bike in China. If you come to Beijing you should look around for one.

You should also post your inquiry in the german forum. I think you can post it in english too. Most of the german members speaks and understand english very well and about everyone is an bicycle-expert.

Bernd

hi. I was cycling in China on ordinary one speed bicycle. :-)


it was real fun, and real adventure !!
anyway, there are plenty of stores where you can by china made treks

greets
robb