Touring Bike

How to Choose a Touring Bike ust about any bike can be used for touring, as long as it's in good mechanical condition and it fits you well. But some bikes are better suited to the sport than others. It's fine to try a short tour or two on whatever bike you have available. Just remember that touring is far easier and more enjoyable when it is done with the right equipment.

Basic Bicycle Types

Here's a quick look at the main bicycle categories and how they stack up when it comes to touring: Touring Bike Pluses: Touring bikes are designed to perform efficiently and comfortably for extended periods on smooth, hard surfaces. They achieve this through the use of tough, elongated frames and curved handlebars (touring-specific or like those found on racing bikes), allowing riders to pedal comfortably in lower, more aerodynamic postures. Most touring bikes offer wide gearing ranges for good performance on variable terrain. Most come with relatively narrow, high-pressure tires (to minimize rolling resistance and increase efficiency on paved surfaces). But many can be outfitted with wider tires to perform better on softer surfaces like trails and dirt roads. Minuses: Touring bikes are designed specifically for long-distance cycling. This means they tend to be less effective than other bikes for other kinds of cycling (mountain biking, racing). Mountain Bike Pluses: Mountain bikes are designed to perform best on soft riding surfaces like dirt roads and trails. They usually have wider, lower-pressure tires for good grip and control, and heavier, beefier frames and components to handle rougher terrain. Mountain bikes are designed to handle heavy loads and most have convenient attachment points for racks. Most mountain bikes have wide gearing ranges, with lower gears for better performance on hills when carrying heavy loads. Minuses: Because of their wider, lower pressure-tires and heavier weights, mountain bikes are less efficient than touring and racing bikes on paved roads and other hard, smooth surfaces. However, most accept narrower tires. Their straight handlebars provide fewer hand positions but adding bar ends will give you more options. Mountain bike frame shapes cause most riders to sit up more vertically while riding, which increases wind resistance. Town and Trail Bike Pluses: Town and trail bikes combine the ruggedness and go-anywhere nature of mountain bikes with the efficiency and road-readiness of bikes designed for paved surfaces. They offer a compromise to riders who are interested in riding and touring on a wide variety of riding surfaces. Compared to mountain bikes, these bikes usually have slightly narrower, high-pressure tires. They also offer elongated frame geometries that deliver better cruising on flat surfaces. Minuses: As a combination of two extremes, town and trail bikes cannot compete performance-wise with touring bikes on paved routes or with mountain bikes on rugged terrain. They're designed to provide reliable, basic performance on a mixture of riding surfaces. Most bikes of this type have straight, mountain bike handlebars, though curved bars can be substituted. They tend to be heavier than racing and touring bicycles. Road Bikes Pluses: Lightweight and extremely efficient, road bikes are perfect for smooth, paved surfaces. Minuses: Road bikes are not designed for hours of comfortable riding, nor are they designed to handle bike bags or the added weight of big gear loads. Most do not have attachment points for racks or other storage accessories. Road bike gears are often designed for racing, not cruising, and their limited low gears can make climbing up long and/or steep hills, under load, difficult. Road bikes also tend to have very narrow tires, which on soft riding surfaces can be inefficient and hard to control.

Other Factors to Consider

Comfort Touring cyclists spend a lot of time on their bicycles, so comfort is important. The overall fit of the bicycle, then, becomes extremely important. The shape and padding of the saddle and handlebars, the position of the brake and shift levers and other factors also affect your comfort. Efficiency The easier a bike is to pedal mile after mile, the more enjoyment you'll get from touring. In general, the key to smooth cycling is a solid, well-made bike with high-quality bike components. Proper maintenance is also important. As noted earlier, the specific type of bike you use can play a major role since different bikes are designed for different riding surfaces. Gearing Options Gears affect how easy it is for you to pedal on variable terrain. Having lots of gearing options (especially low gears, which help make pedaling uphill easier) makes touring easier and more enjoyable. Good Brakes Reliable stopping power is always important. But when a bike is fully loaded with touring gear, it's even more critical. It's very important to check the physical condition of your brake system. Durability Touring bikes must stand up to lots of miles and heavy loads. Durable frames and components will reduce the chance of mechanical breakdowns. Bike Weight Adult touring cyclists should look for bikes weighing around 25-30 pounds. Lighter bikes may be used for touring, but make sure they're durable enough to stand up to lots of hard riding. Tires Your bike tires can have a significant effect on performance. They can affect the rolling resistance of your bicycle as well as how it handles in various riding conditions and surfaces. Make sure your tires match up with the route you have planned before you leave home. Attachment Points Eyelets and braze-ons are frame attachment points that you can use to attach bike bags and other equipment. (All touring bikes have them.) They're not absolutely necessary for touring (some racks and bike bags can be attached directly to bike frames). But attachment points do make outfitting bikes for touring far easier.