long distance travel bicycle

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Best touring bikes: Machines for old-school, long distance riding

The best touring bikes to load up for the long haul or just for local load-lugging

• How to choose

The best touring bikes are designed to be loaded up for comfortable long-distance riding, but they're also a robust, reliable option for local riding with a load or just for commuting .

They're a bit old school now, with bikepacking being the trendy fast and light way to ride far, either on one of the best endurance bikes or the best gravel bikes . The availability and range of models reflect that trend, although touring bikes still offer a great way to see the world.

They're built strong, often with a steel frame and fork and have reliable wheels with plenty of spokes for strength, as well as a wide gear range, which may be via a triple chainset with a smaller range of "speeds" in the cassette or hub gear. Expect an upright ride position and comfortable touchpoints.

Luggage is normally carried in panniers and bags attached to a rear rack, often supplemented by a front rack, as well as a bar bag. Mudguards are also normal, making riding more comfortable in all weathers, while multiple bottle cages mean that you can keep hydrated even when you're far from a tap.

Below, you'll find our pick of the best touring bikes and below that is our buyer's guide to how to choose the best touring bike for you.

Best touring bikes: our picks

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This Genesis touring bike option comes fully loaded, with front and rear racks, lights and a bottle cage, while its 35mm wide tyres give a comfortable ride. There's a Shimano Tiagra triple chainset, which gives a total of thirty gear ratios, which head below 1:1 for loaded climbing. 

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Another steel-framed tourer with many of the extras you'll need already there. The Kona Sutra has a high ride position and is equipped with a Brooks leather saddle for a retro touring vibe, although the disc brakes and wide gear range keep it up to date.

Yet another steel-framed option with front and rear racks and an upright ride, the Salsa Marrakesh has 3x9-speed gearing and mechanical disc brakes. Its 42mm Teravail tyres should provide comfort and grip wherever you travel.

Another long-haul steel model, the Disc Trucker has a very upright ride position thanks to its riser stem and yet more rise to its bars. A triple chainset that goes as low as a 26x34t ratio helps with long rides over steep roads.

With 42mm WTB Resolute tyres, the Marin Four Corners is a bike that can handle poor road conditions. The steel frame and fork are robust, while the triple chainset, nine-speed gearing and mechanical disc brakes should prove reliable. 

The Giant Toughroad takes a slightly different tack from most touring bikes, with flat bars, an alloy frame and carbon fork. Its 50mm wide tyres and very wide gear range equip it for off-road adventures.

Best touring bikes

1. genesis tour de fer 30, specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Genesis Tour De Fer is a great option in this category. It's a top all-round bike, featuring a solid steel frame, durable tyres, disc brakes and all the practicalities such as three bottle cages, front and rear racks, mudguards and dynamo-powered lights.

Simply put, this is a bike ready for whatever you need to do straight away, whether it's commuting, leisure riding or touring. The bike offers an easy, calm ride, and is comfortable enough to get on and go right away.

35mm Schwalbe Marathon tyres come as standard, with their puncture-proof reputation. The Shimano Tiagra triple groupset gives you plenty of range including a sub-1:1 ratio to haul your loaded bike up the hills. You might need that range, with the extra features adding significantly to the bike's weight though.

2. Surly Disc Trucker

Another do-anything bike, the Disc Trucker features a sturdy and good-looking steel frame and fork. It is, however, more suited to road riding than exploring gravel and mud, though it's not to say that you can't tackle gravel tracks with it. The rise to the bars, paired with a long head tube gives a comfortable all-day ride position.

Mounts for three bottles, a pump, and mudguards add to the practicality, while the tyre clearance will let you get some meaty rubber in there. Surly quotes 2.1" tyre clearance on 650b wheels and the smaller frame sizes come specced with this wheel size for better toe clearance.

A Shimano Alivio MTB triple groupset with Sora road shifters provides steady and reliable 9-speed shifting, although it's quite a low end spec. Like the Genesis and the Trek, the Disc Trucker relies on TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes for reliable, low-maintenance stopping power.

3. Giant Toughroad SLR 1

What do you get when you combine a mountain bike, a touring bike and a gravel bike? No, this isn't the start of one of your dad's jokes, you get the impressively capable Toughroad SLR 1. More suited to the offroad than any of the bikes we've looked at so far, Giant calls it a do-it-all bike capable of commuting, but make no mistake, it's built primarily for dirt and gravel.

There's no suspension fork, but the giant 50mm tyres are a dead giveaway. An 11-42 MTB cassette on the back will also help with tackling the steep stuff, although there's not the absolute range of the triple chainsets on the bikes above. Pannier racks front and back and three bottle cage mounting points mean you can pile on whatever you need to take with you.

There are plenty of modern features on the bike, including thru-axles, hydraulic brakes, and tubeless tyres. A reliable Giant wheelset and Shimano Deore groupset round off this bike. You might find the lack of variation in hand position with the flat bar configuration gets tiring on longer rides though.

4. Kona Sutra

The first thing to strike you about the Sutra is its retro features; the Brooks leather saddle and steel frame give a different look to many of the bikes we've looked at. Disc brakes and thru-axles remind you that this is a thoroughly modern bike, though.

It's another bike for touring and commuting on the road and on some gravel/dirt surfaces. Mudguards and front and rear pannier racks are included, while there are other bosses for more additions if needed.

The 10-speed Shimano GRX gravel groupset with Tiagra shifters gives plenty of range, although not as much as a triple like that specified on the Trek, while the hybrid hydraulic/cable-operated brakes should give a bit more stopping power than the TRP Spyre cable brakes specced elsewhere, they are more of a faff to maintain though. It's a classy-looking bike that can work well anywhere.

5. Salsa Marrakesh

A great-looking steel frame is the first thing to catch the eye on this bike, while the fat 42mm tyres give a signal as to its intentions. It's as comfortable off-road as on, whether you're touring, commuting or just riding for fun.

As with the bikes above, front and rear racks are included, though if you want to add mudguards, be warned that the wide tyres will need to go on a diet ­– down to a 40mm maximum.

It's a solid entry into the touring selection, even if it is a bit on the weighty side, however, though not so much that you'll be struggling under the weight. Components include a Shimano Alivio groupset with Microshift shifters as well as TRP Spyre-C disc brakes and wheels and tyres ready to be set up tubeless.

6. Marin Four Corners

The Marin Four Corners is part tourer, part gravel bike. It's got the clearance for really wide tyres on 650b wheels (which is the stock wheel size specced on smaller-sized frames), but you can also set it up for a more traditional touring configuration with 700c wheels.

The steel frame is bombproof while the long head tube gives an upright ride position so you've got plenty of visibility all around. There are mounts for a rack, mudguards and to lash extra kit to the fork legs, so you can load up to head into the unknown. It's a bike more geared to gravel than the road, unlike the more traditional tourers like the Kona and the Genesis.

7. Trek 520

Marketed as a bike for long-haul travel, the Trek 520 is the longest-running bike in Trek's stable, although its days look to be numbered. The 520 is no longer sold in the UK or US, but international buyers in some countries still have a choice of two specs on Trek's site, including the Sora/Alivio option above.

Like the Genesis, the Trek 520 comes with front and rear racks, although you'll have to add mudguards for all-weather use. Small updates include mechanical disc brakes with a thru-axle alloy fork, while the 9-speed Shimano Sora gearing provides massive range from its triple chainset, albeit with quite large jumps across the 11-36 tooth cassette.

It's also nice to see tubeless-ready wheels specced (although not the tyres), so you can set up tubeless, which should up dependability on long rides. 

How to choose the best touring bike for you

Whether you're looking for a practical way to get to work, want that extra durability so that your bike will stand the test of time or want to travel to far-flung corners of the earth with nothing but a tent and a change of clothes, a touring bike a great addition to your stable of steeds. 

You can still get around quickly – whether you're hitting the roads, gravel paths or other rough terrain – but plenty of space for mudguards and racks, as well as a more relaxed position, make a touring bike a better all-round option than a road bike, a hybrid or a mountain bike. 

The relaxed geometry and more upright riding position are also handy for commuting, and the best touring bikes are often built with durable, easy-to-maintain components so they can be fixed when hundreds of miles away from a bike shop. This lends itself to fewer mechanicals and lower running costs. Steel frames also have a far better chance of being repaired all over the world compared to aluminium or carbon fibre if you're on a big trip.

What types of touring bike are there?

Touring bikes can range anywhere from predominantly road-going bikes with horizontal top tubes and 700c tyres, to rugged mountain bikes with knobbly mountain bike tyres. 

What the best touring bikes tend to share, however, is a durable design, comfortable geometry and the ability to carry luggage. Some opt for bikepacking bags , which usually consist of frame bags and oversized saddle bags, whereas others opt for the traditional rack and pannier bag method of carrying luggage. 

As with any bike purchase, consider the riding you plan to do with the bike. For those looking to travel far and wide, a bike with more luggage-carrying capacity will be preferred. For those who are looking to travel off-road, look for a bike that can handle the rough stuff. Live in the mountains? Look for a wide gear range. 

What's different about touring bike geometry?

Touring bike frames feature a relaxed geometry , with a taller head tube and shorter top tube for a comfortable and more upright riding position compared to a racing road bike. In addition to this, they feature a longer wheelbase, which keeps the bike stable even when loaded with heavy luggage. Since they're designed to be cycled over long distances, they're equally designed to stay comfortable for as long as possible.

If you're a geometry nerd you may notice the trail is a little lower than you'd expect for a relaxed ride, but this is often done to counteract the slowing effect on the steering of a heavy front load to avoid the bike feeling like a barge when laden.

Which gearing should a touring bike have?

Gearing-wise, what you should pick really depends on what type of riding you'll be doing. If you're taking on hills regularly, then you'll want a cassette with larger sprockets on the back. Some touring bikes offer a triple chainset too, with easier gearing on offer compared to a double chainset. The addition of extra gear combinations into the mix will add an extra component to maintain, so those on flatter terrain might prefer a single chainring at the front.

The majority of touring bikes offer standard external gear systems – the chainset, chain and cassette we're all used to. Some do have internal gearing though, with an enclosed rear gearbox which requires a lot less maintenance and is less prone to damage but is heavier and will cost you more. Belt drives are also available – this is a multi-tooth belt instead of a chain, so no regular cleaning or lubrication is required. Hub gears like the Rohloff system are favoured by riders taking on huge worldwide tours for their durability. 

Should I look for rim brakes or disc brakes?

As with much of the cycling world, rim brakes and disc brakes are both available, with rim brakes found more often on lower-end bikes. Rim brakes feature two pads grabbing onto the wheel rims to stop the bike, while disc brakes grip onto a separate rotor on the wheels instead.

Disc brakes feature better and more consistent braking performance, which is useful for a heavily laden bike, and are better in wet weather, though. Both adjustment and maintenance are far easier with rim brakes, however, with an Allen key and some new pads all you really need.

Rim brakes will wear down your rim eventually, prompting a rim swap and wheel rebuild or a new wheel. Whereas that's not an issue with disc brakes, and there's more leeway to keep riding with a buckled disc brake wheel or a broken spoke.

Hydraulic disc brakes are generally maintenance-free in operation, however, if you snag your brake hose on a tree in the middle of the Atlas Mountains, there's little chance of repair unless you packed a bleed kit and spare hose. 

What should I look for in touring bike contact points?

Saddles are an important factor, being the main point of contact with your body. Padded saddles may look more comfortable but looks can be deceiving, with thinner padding usually better for you once you've gotten used to it after a few rides. Saddles should support your sit bones, and additional padding can move the pressure elsewhere and rub more, making things more uncomfortable over time.

If you're planning a long trip and already have a saddle that you like, it may be worth swapping out the saddle that comes with the bike, if you're not sure how comfortable it will be for the long haul.

On a multi-day trip, handlebars need to be comfortable as well. Some bars have a slight rearward sweep, which can feel more natural when riding on the tops. A shallow drop is likely to be more comfortable to use as well.

Which pedals should I choose?

It's worth choosing pedals wisely too. While the best road bike pedals give good power transfer, the best cycling shoes that work with them are difficult to walk in, which could be an issue if touring or even for a trip to the shops.

On the other hand, flat pedals may make it difficult to keep your feet well-positioned for longer rides. They will allow you to use standard shoes, which are easier to walk in, but unless the soles are relatively stiff, your pedalling will be less efficient and you may get foot ache after a long day riding without adequate support.

Gravel bike pedals are a good option, as they still let you clip in for more efficient riding, but the cleats are recessed on the sole of the shoes and so can be walked in much more easily. You'll need gravel shoes to go with them that accept two-bolt cleats. These will have soles designed for efficient pedalling and foot support, but most are not too stiff to walk in comfortably.

Alternatively, some of the best commuter cycling shoes also allow you to fit two-bolt cleats.

You can learn more about the pros and cons of two-bolt versus three-bolt pedals in our explainer.on Shimano SPD vs SPD-SL systems.

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Paul has been on two wheels since he was in his teens and he's spent much of the time since writing about bikes and the associated tech. He's a road cyclist at heart but his adventurous curiosity means Paul has been riding gravel since well before it was cool, adapting his cyclo-cross bike to ride all-day off-road epics and putting road kit to the ultimate test along the way. Paul has contributed to Cyclingnews' tech coverage for a few years, helping to maintain the freshness of our buying guides and deals content, as well as writing a number of our voucher code pages. 

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Best touring bikes 2024: tourers for adventures on two wheels

Although there are many bikes capable of cycle trips, the best touring bikes remain the optimal tool for longer journeys

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Our pick of the best touring bikes

What to look for in a touring bike.

The allure of the open road is one of cycling’s enduring themes. Touring by bicycle allows for this on a grand scale, travelling for several days, often in far-flung places with all your kit strapped to the bike. Of course, micro-adventures closer to home can be just as much fun and still keep the spirit of adventure alive.

Whether you’re planning an expedition abroad or fancy exploring more local roads in far greater detail, a touring bike is the ideal tool for the job. Designed for cycling long distances in comfort, the bikes should be both stable and reliable in their handling, as well as providing all the mounts you need for pannier racks and bags and mudguards . Self-sufficiency is one of the tenets of cycling touring, so the bikes are usually designed with ease of maintenance in mind, too.

The good news for touring cyclists is that the range of bikes available to cater for their needs has grown substantially in the last few years.

In this guide, we've rounded up the more traditional options. If you're thinking of going off-road, perhaps investigate gravel orientated options in our buying guide here , and if you plan to go quick and travel light, see endurance road bikes here .

There's more on what to look for in a touring bike below - but first, here are our top picks of the best touring bikes.

Genesis Tour de Fer 30 touring bike

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

This is a bike that's been created exclusively to provide a comfortable and practical ride for a touring cyclist. The Reynolds 725 Heat-Treated Chromoly frame promises a springy ride and an incredibly strong base.

The 160mm rotor mechanical disc brakes are a more modern introduction with a nod to practicality, especially in the wet. Although we’ve found mechanical TRP Spyre brake calipers aren’t quite as powerful or as easy to modulate as a hydraulic brakeset, they are easy to adjust and highly reliable – perfect for a long-distance tour.

A 10-speed Shimano Tiagra drivetrain is about right for a bike at this price point, but in our experience, a 50/39/30 crankset provides gears that are just a bit too big for cycle touring – particularly over hilly terrain. 

But you can always swap this out for a smaller ringed option down the line. We find that with a cassette of 11-34t, going for a granny ring of 26t is generally a good bet.

We’ve always found Schwalbe’s Marathon tyres to be highly puncture resistant and with a good wear rate. In 35c, these are capable of traversing broken roads and tamer gravel, but if you’re planning on spending a large amount of time off road you would want something a bit plumper.

Handily, this bike come with many of the accessories we think are a must. Firstly, mudguards, but also dynamo powered front and rear lights, bottle cages and the Tubus pannier racks front and rear.

Surly Disc Trucker

A spin-off of Surly's much-revered Long Haul Trucker, the Disc Trucker keeps many of the much-loved versatility and can-do attitude, but this time with the addition of mechanical disc brakes and thru-axles – unlike the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 which has disc brakes and QR axles.

Opinion is a little split on thru-axles for touring – if you have any catastrophic issues with your hubs in more remote countries, you're unlikely to be able to find a replacement locally. That said, those kind of hub issues are quite rare and if it does happen you can always get a replacement sent out. For the improved alignment between the rotor and the caliper, we think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

A multitude of braze-on mount means the Disc Trucker is capable of running front and rear bags, full-coverage fenders, two water bottles, a spare spoke and even a pump peg. However, in not coming with these accessories, you will have to factor these into the cost, making the value for money a little less than the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 or the Kona Sutra.

With both 26" and 700c wheel build options available, the Disc Trucker can be as adventurous as you choose. The 26" (in sizes 42-58cm) is capable of taking up to 2.1" tires, while the 700c version (in sizes 56-64cm) has room for up to 42mm tires — both with fenders.

Although touring bikes generally do have a more relaxed position than a typical road bike, designed as they are for comfortably covering long distances, the Disc Trucker does have a particularly high front end. This isn't necessarily a problem, but if you are coming from a road cycling background, you may find just such an elevated position a little uncomfortable 

Made from a CroMoly Steel, the Disc Trucker comes equipped with a Shimano Alivio/Sora drivetrain, with the 48/36/26 triple Alivio crankset and 11-34 9-speed Shimano cassette provides a gearing range we find to be a great balance between top-end speed and low-end winching – particularly if you’re planning on maxing out the rider and kit weight limit of 161kg (355lb).

Kona Sutra All Road touring bike

The gloss black Sutra is made from Kona 's Cromoly steel frame and is kitted out with smooth-rolling Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x40c tires on WTB STi23 rims, which are now tubeless-compatible.

The current model has replaced the previous Shimano Deore 3x10 drivetrain with 2x10 chainset from Shimano's GRX gravel range. It's a move that's unlikely to please the touring purists. The 46/30t chainrings are matched with a 11-36t cassette, which sees the bike's gearing range reduced. It should still see you up the steep climbs, just perhaps not in as much comfort as before.

Gone too are the bar-end shifters, replaced with Shimano 10-speed Tiagra road shifters. Again it's quite the change, moving the Sutra from a traditional tourer into a far more modern interpretation. It reduces some of the bike's previous mechanical simplicity, which is appealing if your tours are long and overseas. That said the move to STI levers will appeal if you're used to riding a regular bike.

Another nod to modernity are the TRP disc brakes, which are blend of mechanical and hydraulic, and the frame's thru-axles.

With a Brooks B17 leather saddle, mudguards and a front pannier rack finishing off this tourer, this good-looking bike oozes style.

The leather Brooks saddle does require a bit more care than what you might be used to – it need to be kept covered from heavy rain and needs a semi regular application of cream to keep the leather supple. But by functioning essentially as a hammock, it is exceptionally comfortable and only gets better over time as it moulds to your shape – it wears in, rather than out..

Ridgeback Voyage

Classic styling never goes out of date - and the vintage-looking Voyage has got it by the bucket load, though a redesign means that modern tech has not been overlooked.

The Ridgeback Voyage uses Reynolds 520 tubing for the frame, with a CroMoly steel fork. A rack and full mudguards (fenders) come as standard. 

The Shimano 48/36/26t triple chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette offers a good range of gearing although with relatively large jumps between the gears due to having just nine gears at the rear. 

We don’t find this to be too much of an issue when taking it steady on a cycle tour but would prefer something a little tighter if multiple very high mileage days are planned.

Shifting and braking is taken care of by Shimano's reliable Sora levers and Tektro cantilever rim brakes. The latter certainly help make the Voyage a maintenance-friendly machine - easy to maintain and find replaces for, even in remote locations - although disc brakes may be a preferred choice for all-weather tourers.

Alex rims with a high spoke count are pretty dependable, even if not the flashiest and fitted with 32c Continental Contact tyres, they can handle a little off road, but are best suited to the tarmac.  

Trek 520 disc touring bike

Constructed from Trek's CroMoly steel, the frame has been designed around disc brakes and fitted with a rack and fenders mounts.

The Bontrager Affinity rims are tubeless-ready, which might be worth setting up if you want a bit of a faster ride when commuting. But for long-term touring it’s generally best to stick with inner tubes so as to avoid the added complication of sealant drying out. Bontrager’s 38c H1 hard-case Ultimate tyres offer good puncture resistance themselves.

The drivetrain is a mixture of Shimano parts with Sora shifters. The crankset is a triple, with 48/36/26 tooth chainrings, and the cassette is an 11-36 so you'll have ample gears when the road goes up. TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc mechanical discs look after stopping.

However, with only nine sprockets on the cassette, the jumps between the gears are a little large, as with the Ridgeback Voyage. But if this does cause you an issue, and if you find yourself not using all of the gears, you could fit a tighter range cassette for smaller jumps.

Like the Genesis Tour de Fer 30, the wheel axles are QR, which can make getting the rotor and caliper aligned properly a little more difficult than with a thru-axle system

The overall weight comes in at 14.26 kg / 31.4 lbs in a size 57, which is lighter than some of the more traditional options.

Cube Travel Pro Trapeze touring bike

Cube offers its Travel Pro tourer in both a traditional crossbar and step-through frame design, with the latter making mounting and dismounting this robust, aluminum bike easy and convenient.

The convenience theme is carried through much of the bike. It's equipped with a Shimano Nexus internal hub gear system and a Gates CDN Belt Drive system which offers super low maintenance compared with a more traditional chain and derailleur system.

With this eight-speed hub, the jumps between the gears is a little larger and the overall range a little lower than you can get with a derailleur system, and it's not quite as efficient. But that said, if you're planning on taking it steady on your cycle tour, those points are pretty immaterial compared to the benefit of much lower maintenance.  

There's plenty of clearance for extra-wide tires and the wheels are currently wrapped in Schwalbe's Marathon Almotion 29x2.15in rubber.

Finishing off this functional tourer are full-length fenders, an adjustable CUBE stand Pro kickstand, a Knog Oi bell, lights (front and rear), and a semi-integrated carrier for pannier bags; these features will have you covered for any adventure.

Salsa Marrakesh

The Marrakesh is designed to take you touring wherever you wish — including a trip around the world if necessary. The frame is built from 4130 CroMoly tubing and has a serious array of mounts. There's room for up to five bottle cages thanks to extra fork mounts plus it comes fitted with front and rear racks. There's even a mount to carry a spare spoke.

Elsewhere there are bar-end shifters and a 3x9-speed Shimano Alivio groupset. The gearing range is designed to get you up the steep stuff even when fully loaded thanks to 48/36/36 triple chainring paired with an 11-36t cassette. The shifters also make roadside maintenance a little easier.

Its world-touring credentials are further aided by its generous tire clearance - 700 x 40mm even with mudguards (fenders), and comes stock with Maxxis Roamer 42mm tires. This means you should eat up the miles in comfort even when the road gets rough.

It's difficult to lay out specific criteria when it comes to choosing a touring bike because the beauty of touring is that it can be whatever you want it to be – there is no single best touring bike for everyone, what is best for you depends on the type of tours you want to go on. However, there are key elements to consider when selecting your two-wheeled riding buddy, which will enable you to get the best touring bike for you.

Touring bike frame

If you're planning a longer trip, and intend the bike to be used primarily for such adventures, then the resilience and comfort of steel is a sensible choice. As such, most of the best touring bikes will feature this metal. The amount you're willing to invest will dictate the weight, strength and character of the steel you end up with.

When looking at steel touring bikes, expect to see the word 'Chromoly' a lot. This is a form of low alloy steel that is used when strength is particularly important. It takes its name from two of the primary alloying (mixing of metals) elements used: “chromium” and “molybdenum”.

If you're planning on using the bike for touring and other duties: club runs, commutes, shorter rides where speed might be more in your interest, consider aluminum or carbon .

Bikes suitable for touring will have a relaxed geometry: a shorter top tube and taller stack to put the rider in a more relaxed position. The wheelbase will be longer, to create a feeling of stability. You'll also notice that the chainstays are longer - this means panniers can be mounted without a chance of clipping your heels and it allows for better distribution when panniers are full.

Touring bike wheels

Elsewhere in the cycling world, we talk about low weight and aerodynamics when it comes to bicycle wheels. And sure, if you're aiming to break a world record on your cycle tour then those are probably still very important areas to consider.

However, if you mainly want to get to somewhere rather far away, and you'd like to arrive there with a wheel that's still true and contains the same number of spokes you left with, then a strong wheel is what you desire. Look for a higher spoke count that you might opt for on a speedy road bike.

The best touring bikes will generally have at least 36 spokes per wheel, tandem touring bike can even go as high as 48. 

Touring bike tyres

It's incredible how much difference a set of tyres can make to a bike. The frame can be designed with comfort top of the agenda, but put on some narrow rubber shoes and pump them up to the wrong tyre pressure and you'll be bumping about all over the road.

Most touring cyclists will want to go for wider tyres - 28mm+, when compared with their road racing cousins. The further off the beaten track you want to go, the wider they should be. If you plan on tackling some light trails, look for 32mm+.

Touring bike brakes

Traditionally, touring bikes had rim brakes and these will certainly do the job for most road-based tours. However, disc brakes do provide far superior stopping power, especially in the wet, and they are now more common than rim brake on the best touring bikes

Since disc brakes don't rely upon the rim to bring the bike to a halt, they also reduce the risk of the rims becoming worn through debris building up on the pads.

Add in that many touring cyclists are carrying luggage, therefore adding to the overall load, powerful brakes that work in all weathers do seem like a sensible addition. However, not everyone likes the appearance of disc brakes on a traditional steel machine and the pads are a tiny bit harder to replace and set up, which is worth considering if you're maintaining your bike on the road.

Luggage and Lights on a touring bike

A purpose-built touring bike will come with pannier racks fitted, as well as fenders and perhaps even built-in lights. These all add to the overall weight, but if the intended purpose requires them, it's no bother.

If you plan to use the bike for other purposes, like group rides, then you may want to look for a bike that comes with eyelets for guards and racks, so that you can remove and fit them as and when.

There's a lot of clever luggage solutions around these days, such as frame bags and oversized saddlebags , that allow you to do away with panniers if you'd rather distribute weight differently.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

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What’s The Best Touring Bike? (2024 Edition)

Posted on 

Touring bike buying advice is a popular topic, so I update this post regularly to keep the details current. If you find any out-of-date information, consider leaving a comment to let me know. Thanks!

Choosing a new touring bike can be pretty stressful for a newcomer to cycle touring – especially when you start looking at the price tags. 

So it’s no surprise the most common question I’ve been asked in 18 years of running this blog is some version of the following:

“Help! What’s the best touring bike for my upcoming cycle tour?”

It’s a perfectly understandable question to ask, because there are a lot of options out there – but answering it calls for a bit of context .

Your choice of touring bike should be mainly informed not by online reviews or paid-for content by sponsored bloggers, but by the kind of tour you’re planning, your unique physiology , your riding preferences as a touring cyclist, and – an oft-forgotten factor – what bikes are geographically available to you.

So the “best touring bike” for a young Brit planning a low-budget tour in Europe would be totally different to the “best touring bike” for an experienced American planning a once-in-a-lifetime, multi-year adventure from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego.

Similarly, the best bike for a rider measuring 5 feet (152cm) tall, who also has reduced neck mobility, would be different to the best bike for a fitness enthusiast trying to win a bikepacking race like the Tour Divide.

And if you ask fellow cycle tourers on forums like Reddit what they think is the best touring bike, the answers will inevitably reflect what’s worked best for them , not what’ll work best for you.

(Yes, I am a fellow cycle tourer, but I’m not just going to tell you what touring bike I ride, any more than I’m going to tell you what colour pants I’m wearing!)

Simply put, there are diverse answers to the question of what is the “best touring bike”.

Luckily, touring bicycles are a mature product with decades of heritage. And despite the the confusion created by the rise of bikepacking as an industry buzz-word , there are still plenty of good commercial touring bikes on the market today. These are bikes that have been designed to meet the needs of a broad range of touring cyclists, and are readily available through local bike shops and dealership networks around the world.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the best of them. The list below showcases some of the most time-proven touring bikes being made and sold in 2024, across the full spectrum of budgets, as well as a few lesser-known models to demonstrate what touring bikes for riders with specialist requirements might look like.

Perhaps you’ll find your perfect touring bike here. Perhaps you’ll realise you’re looking for something else altogether. Or perhaps you’ll find something more interesting to read among everything else I’ve written about cycle touring and bikepacking.

This is not an exhaustive list of every single touring bike on the market.

I’m a veteran bicycle traveller with 18 years of real-world experience, and my goal is to help you make the right choice , not to churn out AI-written spam to get on the front page of Google and generate affiliate commission.

My hope is to give you a taste of the diversity of touring bikes available today, rather than overwhelming you with unexplained jargon and things to click on. The journey of buying a new touring bike is not a short one. Reading this post will just be the beginning!

The list of touring bikes below is arranged in ascending price order. I’ve mentioned the worldwide availability of each bike, roughly speaking, and the manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP, aka: RRP or list price) in £/€/$ as applicable.

Cube Touring

Decathlon riverside touring 520, fuji touring ltd/disc ltd, ridgeback expedition, ridgeback panorama, surly disc trucker, oxford bike works expedition.

• More rider-recommended touring bikes
• Bonus: The secret to actually choosing the right touring bike

(Many good touring bikes previously on this list have been discontinued, including the Adventure Flat White, Dawes Galaxy, Revolution Country Traveller, and Surly Long Haul Trucker, to name just a few. That’s life!)

Summary: Feature-rich flat-bar trekking bike Availability: Worldwide List Price: £800 / €730 / US$760 / CA$1,090

The entry-level touring bike from the major German bike maker Cube is the affordable and simply-named Cube Touring . The basic model in this extensive range is currently one of the cheapest off-the-peg touring bikes on the market, and is widely distributed across Europe and North America.

If you’re used to the appearance of British or American designed tourers, you’ll notice some big differences, such as the flat handlebars and adjustable stem, the resulting upright riding posture, and the front suspension fork, as well as other details like a kickstand, a hub dynamo, and LED lights as standard. These are all fairly typical features of touring bikes from German and Dutch makers, where utility and comfort takes precedence.

To cater for a diverse customer base, the Cube Touring range comes in several frame variations and sizes, including the classic diamond frame (5 sizes), women’s specific with a sloping top-tube (3 sizes) and a step-through frame for riders with impaired mobility (3 sizes), all in a choice of two colour schemes.

The ‘semi-integrated’ rear rack, which is held in position by the mudguard/fender, is unorthodox, and the seat stays and front fork don’t have standard mounting points, complicating any modifications to the bike’s luggage-carrying capabilities. Riders looking for an entry-level touring bike that can be upgraded in the future may also decide to pass on the Cube Touring for these reasons.

The rest of the specification is impressive at this price. The entry-level Shimano V‑brakes and drivetrain components are sensible. As with any bike, you’ll want to fit your own preferred saddle, but the inclusion of ergonomic grips, lights, fenders and a kick-stand makes the Touring more or less ready to hit the road right out of the box.

All that said, the bike’s strongest selling point is the price. The recent disappearance of several popular entry-level touring bikes has left a gap at this end of the market – one that the Cube Touring happily fills.

• Check out the full Cube Touring range on the Cube website .
• Find your local dealer in Cube’s online directories of stockists in the UK and Europe , the USA , and Canada .
• Don’t buy this bike online. Support your local bike shop ( UK list )!

Summary: Good value forward-thinking light tourer Availability: UK, Europe, Australia List Price: £800 / €800 / AUD1,800

There’s no denying the success of Decathlon ’s no-frills approach to designing, manufacturing and selling sports and outdoor gear. The Riverside Touring is the entry-level model in Decathlon’s new foray into touring bikes, and for many riders will be a welcome addition to the sparse options at this lower-budget end of the market.

The Riverside Touring 520 is based on an aluminium frame, whose geometry sits somewhere between the old-school rigid mountain bike and today’s trendy gravel/hybrid rides. The frameset sports a big range of mounting points for more or less any luggage configuration you might imagine, including a front lowrider or fork cages, a traditional rear carrier rack should the semi-integrated stock rack not be to your tastes, and no less than five bottle cages.

The riding position of the Riverside Touring leans towards relaxed and upright, with the sloping top-tube helping with mounting and dismounting, and flat bars with so-called ergonomic grips and bar-ends atop a stack of head-tube spacers, all pointing to a bike designed with the casual or newcomer rider in mind. Comfortably wide 1.75″ tyres will be equally content on asphalt and gravel at the 700C (28″) wheel diameter.

Looking at component choice, Decathlon have specified a 1×11 drivetrain (ie: a single front chainring driving an 11-sprocket rear cassette); unusual on a tourer where riders tend to benefit from a wide and fine-grained range of gear ratios. The hydraulic disc brakes are also an unorthodox choice for a touring bike. 

Both will have traditionalists up in arms, citing increased chain wear rates, a reduced choice of gear ratios, and the near-impossibility of repairing hydraulics on the roadside. But a quick scan of the many customer reviews of this bike suggest that these concerns are academic. In the regions of the world this bike is likely to be used, spares and repairs for this bike will be abundant. And if you want to take it further afield, you can always fit cable disc brakes and/or a regular drivetrain.

Certainly one of this bike’s great strengths is how widely available it is for test-riding, Decathlon having hundreds of locations across the UK, Europe, Australia, and increasingly further afield, including Turkey, India, China, and the list goes on . Indeed, I can easily imagine a first-time tourer with a reasonable gear budget walking out of the store with not just the bike but a full set of luggage and maybe some camping gear too.

There are only four frame size options, however. Taken together with the wheel size, this may prevent those with short body lengths from finding a good match with the Riverside Touring 520.

In summary, while Decathlon have leaned pretty far into the crossover between classic touring and the gravel bike trend, there’s little to find fault with at this price – and there’s considerably more scope for upgrades here than other entry-level touring bikes in this list.

• Buy the Riverside Touring 520 in the UK from Decathlon .
• The bike is also available from Decathlon branches across Europe , Australia , and beyond .

Summary: Sporty steel-framed light road tourers Availability: UK/Europe/USA List Price: €1,000/1,500

Japanese manufacturer Fuji’s entry-level touring bikes are the Fuji Touring LTD and Disc LTD . The cheaper Touring LTD is the flat-bar model with rim brakes, while the Touring Disc LTD features drop bars and cable-actuated disc brakes with integrated shifter/brake levers. 

They’re both built on a Reynolds 520 cromoly steel frameset, with classic touring geometry and all the usual mounting points. Both bikes feature 36-spoke 700C wheels on Shimano hubs, and mudguards/fenders and a reasonably solid rear rack as standard, but no front rack or lowrider (you can of course add one later).

The Touring LTD has a Shimano Alivio V‑brakes and a 3×9‑speed chainset from the midrange of Shimano’s mountain-bike series of components, while the Touring Disc LTD has a 3×9‑speed Shimano Sora chainset with slightly higher gear ratios, making it more oriented towards lighter-weight road rides, as well as the ubiquitous TRP Spyre cable-actuated disc brakes found on so many touring bikes. For the extra money, the Disc LTD has a generator (dynamo) hub built into the front wheel which is already hooked up to the integrated front headlight – a nice touch.

The Fuji Touring LTD and Disc LTD come in no fewer than seven frame sizes, allowing precise fitting and fewer compromises for short or tall riders.

In summary, both models represent high ambitions in a good-value package aimed at a rider who wants a classic, no-fuss steel-framed touring bike, with the Disc being the sportier and more road-oriented of the two.

• Find a list of global dealers on the official Fuji website .

Summary: Beefy yet comfortable long-haul all-rounder Availability: UK List Price: £1,350

Launched in 2014, tweaked in the years since and now thoroughly tested on longer trips, the Ridgeback Expedition  is a strong contender for best value expedition touring bike on the market.

The current model shares design principles with many more expensive touring bikes designed specifically for worldwide expeditions beyond the developed world: wide-range 3×9‑speed mountain bike gearing, chunky 26-inch wheels, and a comfortable upright riding position. Unusually for a British tourer, it comes with flat bars and bar-end grips for a variety of hand positions. Cable disc brakes are now fitted as standard (the first incarnation had drop bars and V‑brakes).

The Ridgeback-branded integrated grips and bar-ends are modelled on the very popular but expensive Ergon range. The latest version of the Ridgeback Expedition also sees a brazed-on kickstand mounting plate added to the non-drive-side chainstay (though not an actual kickstand).

In many ways, as well as being excellent value for money, the Ridgeback Expedition is one of the most full-featured off-the-peg bikes in this list for extremely demanding trips where comfort and durability over time are paramount. Upgrade the rear rack, add a front lowrider and your favourite saddle, and you’ll be ready for the most remote of the planet’s backroads.

• Read my full review of the legacy 2014 Ridgeback Expedition here , and check the comments for feedback from long-haul riders.
• Like the rest of Ridgeback’s range, the Expedition should be available from any authorised Ridgeback dealer .

Summary: Classic British fully loaded drop-bar tourer Availability: UK List Price: £1,600

The Ridgeback Panorama  is a British-designed, Reynolds 725 cromoly-framed, disc brake-equipped, classic touring bike with a durable selection of 3×9sp drivetrain components from both road- and mountain-biking ranges. 

Its road-oriented frameset is prime for being built up into a fully-loaded, long-haul, asphalt touring machine. Both a front lowrider and a rear rack are fitted as standard – Tubus lookalikes, not the genuine articles, but still a welcome addition for fully-loaded riders who are just getting started.

Potential weak points on the Panorama include the integrated shifters/brake levers, which break away from the principle of separating possible points of failure (although you could theoretically swap them out for bar-end or even downtube shifters). The wheelset components are also nothing to write home about; get the spokes re-tensioned before taking this bike on a long-haul tour.

In spite of these question marks, the Panorama has been around for a long time and is very much tried and tested:  read Tim & Laura’s detailed guest review of the Panorama after a 6,000-mile road test , after which they completed their round-the-world trip on the same bikes.

• The Ridgeback Panorama is available from these authorised UK dealers .

Summary: Customisable road/gravel adventure bike Availability: Worldwide List Price: £1,600 / US$2,050 / CA$2,800

Back in 2012, when the jury was still out on disc brakes as a reliable choice for long-distance touring, Surly produced a disc-specific version of their legendary Long Haul Trucker touring bike, cunningly naming it the Disc Trucker . It has since evolved into one of the most versatile and tried-and-tested touring/adventure bikes on the planet.

The Disc Trucker platform had a major update in 2020, about which more detail on the Surly blog. Wheel diameter now complements frame size, ie: bigger wheels suit taller riders and the vice-versa, for a total of eleven frame/wheel size combinations. If, having tried all the Disc Truckers for size, you still can’t find a good fit, you should probably visit a bespoke framebuilder.

The frame geometry is tight and nimble, with integrated gear/brake levers adding to the sporty vibe. This lack of mechanical separation won’t please everyone, but will certainly please riders looking for a performance boost over the uncompromising solidity often seen in the expedition bike niche.

Similarly to the Kona Sutra (see below), the latest Disc Trucker has bolt-through axles, clearance for fatter tyres, and versatility improvements such as multiple fork mounts for fenders, cages or lowriders, to match the kind of wilder, mixed-terrain rides for which the Disc Trucker is increasingly used.

As ever with Surly, racks and mudguards remain excluded, the intention being for you to fit your own according to your needs.

The garish fluoro-yellow paint option of the current Disc Trucker won’t be for everyone, but Surly tell us that it’s also available in hi-viz black.

• Click here to read my full review of the legacy 2014 Disc Trucker .
• To find a place to test-ride one, start with Surly’s global dealer locator .

Summary: Adaptable, performance-oriented road/gravel tourer Availability: Worldwide List Price: $2,100 / £1,900

Canada-based bike manufacturer Kona have long inhabited the left-of-centre in cycling. The Sutra range, too, is progressively-minded, being one of the first mainstream touring bikes to switch to disc brakes back in the early 2010s.

Since then, Kona have adopted the stiffer and stronger bolt-through axle standard (another first amongst bikes in this list), and tightened up the frame geometry to produce a nimble and sporty cyclocross-inspired steel frameset which remains a touring bike at its core.

In 2022, Kona diversified the platform into several models, including the LTD and SE. The standard Sutra went in a more lightweight direction than in previous years, switching to a road drivetrain and cable-actuated hydraulic disc brakes. Today, this performance-oriented version of the Sutra remains Kona’s ‘modern take on the classic touring bike’ (in their own words), with a Shimano GRX 2×10-speed road-bike gearing, drop bars with integrated shifter/brake levers, mixed-terrain Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tyres, and a Brooks B17 saddle and Brooks bar-tape as standard. This all points to the blend of on-road and off-road use increasingly preferred by riders going on shorter, wilder adventures.

The 2024 Sutra’s luggage-carrying capabilities are diverse and adaptable. For those wanting to use the bike as a fully-loaded world tourer, standard rack mounts are provided on the seatstays and rear dropouts, suitable for fitting any standard pannier rack (perhaps a Tubus Cargo or Logo to match the Tara front low-rider already fitted). For those wanting to stay nimble, frame and fork mounts exist for more or less any combination of bolt-on cages and harnesses.

The Kona Sutra comes in six fine-grained frame sizes. This year’s paint colour is Satin Midnight with bronze gloss decals, in case you were wondering.

• I’ve been riding a Kona Sutra myself since 2012 and I love it.  Read my original long-term review of the legacy model here .
• The Kona website has a handy  list of worldwide dealers so you can find a place to test-ride the Sutra.

Summary: Bespoke, round-the-world expedition bike Availability: UK & Worldwide List Price: from £2,789

Originally a one-off “ultimate expedition bike” built to my exact specification, Oxford Bike Works have been refining and custom-building bespoke Expedition s to order since 2015 from their workshop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. Many have now circled the globe. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

As standard, each bike features a hand-built Reynolds 525 cromoly steel frame, a choice of 26″ or 700C hand-built wheels, top-end Tubus racks, rim or disc brake options, Microshift thumbshifters, and tons of other expedition-specific touches.

From a baseline specification, each bike is custom-built to the rider’s exact needs and preferences after an in-person consultation and fitting session at their workshop. While most of their customers are from the UK, they will also ship finished bikes elsewhere in the world in special cases.

Oxford Bike Works have now moved all frame production to the UK, both minimising their carbon footprint and allowing even more individual tailoring – especially attractive for riders with diverse physiologies who may find that the commercial bikes in this list don’t cater well for their needs.

• Check out the full specifications of the Oxford Bike Works Expedition .
• Read my 10,000-word epic, How To Build The Ultimate Round-The-World Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures) , which details every design decision that went into this bike.
• Don’t buy this bike online (you can’t anyway). Support your local bike shop ( UK list )!

Yet More Rider-Recommended Touring Bikes

This is not an exhaustive list, because if it was we’d be here all day. But the following bikes have also been recommended by readers of this blog over the years since I first published this post. All have also proven themselves capable touring bikes over time and miles:

• Bombtrack Arise Tour (Germany & Worldwide)
• Cinelli HoBootleg (Italy & Worldwide)
• Fahrradmanufaktur TX-800 (Germany)
• Genesis Tour De Fer (UK)
• KHS TR 101 (USA)
• Temple Cycles Adventure Disc 3
• Trek 520 Disc (USA & Worldwide)
• Vivente World Randonneur (Australia)

…and you’ll find even more options in my massive list of heavy-duty expedition touring bikes available worldwide .

Remember: don’t buy a touring bike online. Support your local bike shop ( UK list ) and have your bike chosen, fitted and customised by an expert whose job depends on getting it just right, just for you!

Bonus : The Secret To Actually Choosing The Right Touring Bike

Finally, I’m going to tell you a secret. 

It’s something other cycle touring bloggers won’t tell you, because they’d prefer you to click on their affilliate links, buy a bike online, and earn them commission.

If you’re having trouble choosing between the touring bikes listed above, the reason is probably because – on paper – they are basically all the same .

They all cost several hundred pounds/dollars/euros. Most of them have steel touring-specific frames, wide gearing, relaxed riding positions, a pannier rack and extra mounts, and drivetrains from the middle of Shimano’s mountain-bike or road-bike ranges. They’re all built primarily for paved roads, but could handle a dirt track or gravel road if need be. They all have two wheels, handlebars, and a saddle.

So how should you choose between them?

The answer is actually very simple.

Visit a touring bike specialist ( UK list ) and take a few bikes for a test ride. 

In doing so, you will discover that the “best touring bike” is the one that’s available in your area and has been set up for you by a touring bike specialist who’s taken the time to understand your needs.

I’ve written a longer post about what to do when you get to this stage of the touring bike buying process, when you’ve got a shortlist of bikes you found online but you’re struggling to choose between them .

And if what I’ve shared with you here still isn’t enough, you can check out even more deep-dive posts about detailed aspects of touring bike choice, including

• three critical questions you should ask at the start of the touring bike buying process ,
• a discussion about what exactly defines a touring bike ,
• my take on what’s really going on when you can’t decide between two bikes ,
• a hugely in-depth article on how to custom-build your own expedition bike ,
• a summary of the debate over disc brakes versus rim brakes ,

and more on my absolutely massive advice and planning page .

Because of all the things you’ll buy for a cycle tour, the bike is the one purchase you really can’t afford to get wrong.

Bogged down in research for your next big bicycle adventure?

I wrote a whole book to help with that. How To Hit The Road is designed to be read at your leisure, making planning a bike tour simple and achievable, no matter the length, duration or budget. Available globally as an ebook or paperback.

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Also relevant to this post:

• How To Custom Build The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures)
• Surly Disc Trucker Touring Bike: Legacy Review & Detailed Photos
• The Best Cheap (Sub-£1,000) Touring Bikes for Low-Budget Adventures

Comments ( skip to respond )

321 responses to “what’s the best touring bike (2024 edition)”.

I can’t find a Kona Sutra SE anywhere, I think they’re discontinued, so if anyone knows where I can find one let me know.

Yes, you’re right – it looks like Kona have simplified things for their 2024 range, and the plain Sutra is now their classic touring bike once again (as it was for years before the SE was introduced). It looks like you’ll need to add your own rear rack for fully loaded touring, but all the frame fittings appear to be there. I’ll update this post shortly with the new model. Thanks for highlighting it!

My wife’s bike is a basic 2000 Kona Hahana. Persuaded the dealer to sell only frame headset seatpin bars. . Built up better wheels etc tubus racks. Tierra del Fuego to Quito plus many more trips. Still going strong 20 years later. My lovely lightweight Univega bought as a frame lasted until 2013 .The frame broke in Albania survived for 60 km held together with nylon cord and cone spanners. Got it welded by local blacksmith. Now have Surly Troll. Ok .….but will have to go back to Square taper bottom bracket. Wife’s old square tapers have done about 30000 miles. Progress or fashion? Charlie and Bethan

All I can do is repeat the old saying that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Anyone got their hands on a Decathalon Riverside Touring 900? Looks like good all round value, but rarely in stock on their website! Would love to hear some real world feedback on this bike…

I second that – real world stories appreciated!

Hi Tom, I recently cycled from Amsterdam to Genoa covering 2500km in total. I flew into Amster with the bike boxed up. I took with me a carbon frame Ridley Kanzo Adventure, it has all the mounting points and relatively relaxed geometry. I road over every type of terrain and the bike didn’t let me down. What I liked with this bike was that I could arrive at my destination in the evening, remove my pannier bags and then have a light weight roadie feeling for exploring whatever region I had made camp in. The bike also had great performance in the hills. Another plus was that when flying and the bike is boxed up, it’s relatively light weight to transport. This meant that at the start and end of my tour getting the bike boxed up from campsite to train to airport was not such a struggle.

Thanks, Kerry. I really like this approach and I’m heartened to hear carbon frames are now being built to take light luggage loads. Thanks again for sharing!

The 30 year old touring bike you already own becomes the second best, as the next one you buy must necessarily be even better.

I’ve recently gone from a Claud Butler Majestic to a Crossmaxx 28″ Pinion. Naturally, I’m absolutely certain, it’s the best touring bike I could possibly have bought (given my criteria and priorities).

First, let me make this perfectly clear, I’m not a seasoned tourer, so much of what I will say is strictly coming from an amateur. I had to look for a new touring bike after my 85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe got hit by a hit-and-run driver and bent the fork beyond repair, but that bike worked great for my needs.

I could not buy a touring bike from anyone in my city of 350,000 people because no one carries them, the only shop that could have ordered me the Trek 520 but there were some things about the bike I didn’t like, plus it was expensive and with lower end parts, much how I felt the Surly Trucker was, having no choice I had to turn to the internet. in 2019 I compared the Kona Sutra SE, Surly Trucker, Fuji Touring, Masi Giramondo 700c, and one other I can’t recall the name. After much debate, I narrowed it down to either the Kona or the Masi, and ended up with the Masi because of the price of $1,450 at the time, the Kona would have cost me $1,950, but in 2019 they didn’t have some of the stuff they now have on that bike so to make it work I had to make some changes which would have cost me even more; the Masi had the best gear ratios for climbing steep grades with a loaded bike of any bike I saw, and at the time Masi was using 180mm rotors on the front and 160 on the rear and I liked the idea of the bigger rotor on the front, Masi has since reduced the front rotor size to 160.

I did make some changes to the Masi, put on RedShift Shockstop suspension stem and seat post, a change I would have done to any other touring bike I would have bought, now I feel like I’m riding in a Cadillac. The stock Kenda Drumlin tires are junk and heavy, I replaced those with Schwalbe Amotion 38c tires; and the WTB saddle was also junk, so replaced it with a Brooks C17; I ended up not liking the front Tubus Tara rack and replaced it with a Blackburn Bootlegger rack which works better for my needs. 

I think the Masi Giramondo 700c is a very worthy touring bike that a person should at least look at, especially if on the lower budget end of things.

Thanks for this detailed contribution – it’s always good to hear about rider experiences with touring bikes other than those listed here. For other readers’ reference, here’s a link to the California based manufacturer webpage for the Masi Giramondo .

About to begin a year of touring with Breezer Radar Expert. A review of it here https://cycletraveloverload.com/breezer-radar-expert-review-best-budget-gravel-bike/ (not me) I changed the tires to Schwalbe G‑One Overland Evo 28″ 50–622 for this purpose 😉

I’m considering the Priority 600, as my new touring bike and wondering if anyone has any history of using one or opinions of this bike? Thx

For reference, here’s a link to the Priority 600 . I have no personal experience of this bike, but I have published my own detailed thoughts on internal gearing systems such as the Pinion gearbox in the context of cycle touring here (most of the same logic applies to belt drive).

I am a multi day ultra cyclist, so tend to go minimalist. However, I have done big touring rides in the past on my trusty 1993 Cannondale T1000 (my 21st birthday present). I think that a Daws Super Galaxy or Cannondale, still make excellent budget touring bikes. I have been racing and touring on a Niner RTL Steel, which is makes an excellent touring bike, with great touring geomtry and lots of mounts for racks — I use a 1x 46t Shinano GRX groupset with an 11–50 cassette. Gravel bikes can may great touring bikes

Happy you’re reinforcing the mantra that the best touring bike might be the one you already have – even if it’s 30 years old! As for gravel bikes, many of them would certainly make good tourers – just not sure I’d advise anyone to buy a gravel bike for touring if touring-specific bikes are also available.

I think I have been riding the “Best” touring bike for the last 7 years. — https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP8vs7T5hLpNjSBX8

What an absolute beast! Something with that much detailed customisation can hardly fail to serve its rider’s needs best.

Yes HP and Tom, I would like to know about the Marrakesh too!

Interestingly enough, I still can’t find any long-term rider reviews of the Marrakesh. There are, however, plenty of spam reviews which combine manufacturer specifications and stock photos with meaningless filler like “combining Alivio Trekking derailleurs with the Shimano Sora shifters, you won’t have any problem slowing down or torquing up the bike when needed” (yep, actual quote). As a rule, bikes only get on this list when a consensus emerges from the community of people who’ve used them on tour. I just wish I could find more decent trip reports from people riding this one!

Great list, but where’s the Salsa Marrakech?!

I’ve done a few tours on it and can vouch for it’s quality. She’s an absolute beast and rides like a dream! Packed with touring features and has really well worked out geometry.

PS I don’t work for Salsa.

PPS love the blog mate. Did a 6500km+ around Asia a few years ago and your blog was really reaaally useful. ???

Thanks for the comment! The Marrakech was launched in 2015, which in cycle touring circles makes it a newcomer 😉 but you are correct that enough time has gone by now to see real-world results, so I’ll consider it for the next update. Thanks again!

I am looking to buy either Fuji disc touring LTD 2021( priced at 1336 euros) or Trek 520 2021( priced at 1600 euros) . I am really confused , as I don’t understand even though both have very similar specs, why is the trek 520 priced at 250 euros higher? Is trek somehow supposed to be better for some reason that I cannot comprehend or is it price cause of the brand “trek”?

Hi Badri. Prices may differ for many reasons, including import taxes, exchange rates, retailer profit margins, and of course simple pricing decisions by the manufacturer. But my main advice still remains this: if you can’t choose between two bikes on paper, it’s time to visit your local bike shop and take both for a test ride!

Hi I’m from newzealand and touring bikes well decent ones aren’t that easy to come by at the moment because of covid .but I found a Kona sutra the guy had only done about 100 km on it decided he wasn’t going to cycle so sold it and I happen to be at the right place at the right time.great bike to ride and I’m looking forward to my first tour on it in one months time Peter

Unlikely you monitor this anymore, but I’ve been comparing my 80s road bike to modern touring bikes (Croix de Fer and Kona Sutra) and the geometries look the same. Am I missing something or are modern specialist tourers actually very similar to old-school road racers?

Hey Hugh. Actually I make a point of replying to every comment, and I update this post monthly 🙂

Long ago I inherited a hand-built road bike from my grandfather. It was the first bike I’d owned that wasn’t a mountain bike and I was amazed at how fast and light it was, despite being a steel frame. It was a bit on the small side for me, but you’re right that the geometry was quite close to a classic road tourer. The biggest differences you’ll probably find are in the weight (heavier-gauge tubing designed for carrying luggage) and the wheelbase proportional to frame size, although the trend today seems to be for more compact and sporty designs. But the short version is yes, there are certainly a lot of similarities!

Sorry to burst some people’s bubbles.But I want to save you the hassle and frustration. I’ve been touring around north,central and south america,now in Turkey & the Balkans for the last 4.5 years on a 3x9 ‚11–36 cassette Surly Troll 26″ and I can tell you that 26″ anything is absolutely obsolete!! DEAD!! It has been a total nightmare! I can find zero parts for it, anywhere. Definitely forget tires. Impossible! Literally nothing anywhere. Traditional wisdom is gone out the window, China has flooded the market with 27.5/29″ and all the components for these sizes and that’s what killed the 26″ over the last 5+ years. Seriously , almost everything I have for my bike I had to buy off Amazon and getting lucky once or twice when a mechanic spent days looking for parts for me. I’ve spent days and more than 2 weeks stuck in cities looking for what was considered simple parts found “easily”! :9 speed shifters,cassettes,chains,26″ tires,disc rotors 160mm,BB,brake pads,etc…Nada!! Super frustrating! I can’t buy a new bike now but I will sell this 26″ 3x9 Troll in a flash the first chance I get or throw it straight into a river. It’s a shame because it’s a great bike. You can almost still get things for it online, but I think soon these parts will be plased out soon. Due to Covid the shipping is taking weeks and many parts are out of stock now too. I thought that being in Europe people still ride 26″ bikes I might find parts,but no.I’ve been once again stuck Tirana for more than 2 weeks just for a cassette and chain and have to take inferior parts now. If I had a 27’5 or 29″ and 10/11 speed I would have more options. My friends who toured 5–10 + years ago can’t believe this change. All 26″ inch bike frame builders out there need to know this.The market has changed, traditionalists be warned. Good luck!

Hello Ian and thanks for your comment. You certainly sound frustrated! For balance, and for the benefit of my other readers, I’d like to add a few observations:

1. 26″ is a wheel size, not a cassette sprocket count, chain width, shifter indexing system, disc rotor size, etc. It affects rim, spoke, tyre and tube availability. 2. You’re right that the industry is currently swamped with trendy new wheel sizes like 27.5 and 29. But most existing bicycles in the world have 26-inch wheels. These bicycles will always need spare parts and are unlikely to disappear overnight. 3. As for “literally nothing anywhere”, I just walked into my local supermarket and found an aisle of brand new bicycles, all adult sizes of which had 26-inch wheels, and a rack of spare tyres right next to them. I’ve said this before: it’s not just specialist bike shops that sell bikes. This is critical to remember when looking for 26-inch wheel parts in far-flung lands.

That’s all I wanted to add. I hope you get things sorted in Tirana. And I hope you’ll share with us the location of the river you throw your Surly Troll into!

Im fairly sure the Surly Long Haul Trucker promotion pictures are of frames with a different wheel size they are designed for. The picture here looks like a 60cm frame for 700c wheels but fitted with 26″ wheels. This is the same for the picture here as it is on their website, which looks like a 58cm frame for 262 wheels with 700c wheels in place. I own a Surly LHT and theyre great bikes but the frame sizeing can be a bit confusing and the promotional pictures dont help.

I would respectfully disagree, based on the fact that the brake shoes are visibly aligned correctly with the rims. If the wrong sized wheels were fitted to the frame, this wouldn’t be possible. In the past, all sizes of LHT frames have been available for both 700C and 26″ wheels, so I’d guess we’re looking at one of the larger frame sizes for 26″ wheels with the correct wheels indeed fitted. The proportions do look weird at a glance, but it is in fact how these bikes were sold. FWIW the sizing scheme of the Truckers has changed now, so wheel size better complements frame size throughout the range, as mentioned in the latest update to the post above.

Hello Tom — I have a Koga Miyata Globe Traveler which I bought in 2005 from a dealer in Lexington, KY — Pedal The Planet. (Ironically, in 1985, I did a world tour on a Miyata bicycle.) I bicycled the Lewis and Clark Trail that summer, St. Louis to Astoria, OR. 10 years later in 2015 I began a charity ride of the perimeter of the U.S. for Habitat For Humanity and Save The Children (website: usperimeterride.org) and concluded that 12,000 journey in 2017. I’ve been very happy with my Koga Miyata all these years. I’m 71 now, and don’t know if I have any expedition type tours left in me … but I keep thinking. Just wondering your thoughts on the current Koga bikes. I’ve seen a couple of comments here regarding Koga bikes — some positive and couple not (the one regarding the cracked frame). I think that there are no longer any Koga dealers in North America. Am I correct in thinking that? I believe there used to be one in Toronto, and a dealer out in Santa Barbara, CA, that handled parts. Pedal The Planet where I bought my Koga Miyata is no longer in operation. Thank you for all your info on your website!

Aaaand Long Haul Trucker is gone as well. Seems like Surly are phasing out some of the touring bikes.

Same source — LHT FAQ, third answer I think.

That’s tragic – although on closer inspection it does say “for the time being”…

Sadly, Surly will discontinue the Troll model in 2021.

Hi Lukas! Do you happen to have a source for this? I’ve checked the Surly website and social media channels and haven’t found any mention. I just want to be sure that my readers are getting accurate information. Cheers!

Someone asked the question on Surly’s website in Thorn section — Q&A. They asked whether Thorn will be renewed for 2021 and someone from the staff said that they will no longer offer this model. 

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll

FAQ section, should still be the first question asked. 

I was planning to build a tourer on Troll frame and I guess now I should buy it before it’s gone.

I wrote ‘Thorn’ by mistake, should be Troll (I also consider Thorn for my build and must’ve been thinking about it.)

Thanks for the reference, Lukas, that’s very useful. I guess it reflects the diminishing popularity of the 26-inch platform, at least for new bikes (and thus for profit margins).

In the premium category I’d add one of the IDWorx bikes such as the All Rohler or oPinion BLT. I visited their HQ last week and Gerrit and his team are amazing. They won ‘bike of the year 2020’ award for their BLT off-road touring bike. https://www.idworx-bikes.de/

I had the Off Rohler in this list since visiting their stall at Eurobike 2014 – it almost wins the ‘most expensive off-the-peg touring bike in the world’ award! I’m keen to see what they’ve created since then. Thank you for the link and the suggestion!

They arent’ cheap that’s for sure. I tried to trade in my wife for a titanium bike, but they only take euros.

Once they start to explain the engineering behind each component you can understand why they arrive at those prices. Also it’s a 4th gernation family of bike builders, they hand build the bikes, their staff are properly-paid, they have sunk lots of money into R&D and make many bespoke components. The attention to detail is astonishing. I spent nearly a day at their HQ with the attention of the owner, his wife, two dogs and their chief engineer. (He did his Masters theisis on Pinion gearboxes). We rode in the German countryside and tested a score of bikes. The customer service is out of this world. If you can afford it, I’d would recommend IDWorx.

Hi Tom, thanks for your help! Now im planning a big tour for a few years in Africa and America, now i have an Avaghon 26 series with Rohloff and Magura but im thinking to change with a 29″ wheels( im 1,81 cm tall ). What do you think about Surly ECR? Thnaks, Fabio.

I have never ridden the ECR so I can’t speak from experience, but I know it’s a well respected frameset. Your height suggests a 29er would be more comfortable in the long run. For planning a big tour you might want to check out my list of expedition touring bikes – this will also help you see quickly which framesets are Rohloff-compatible. Hope that helps!

I think I have “the best” touring bike available… judge for yourselves. Full suspension mid-drive eTouring bike and trailer evolution. https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP8vs7T5hLpNjSBX8

Hey Tom. Love this website. Is this still current? I can’t find a stockist that has the Flat White. Even Adventure’s own website doesn’t seem to link to it. Or am I missing something obvious? Thanks

It’s still listed at https://www.adventureoutdoor.co/bike/flat-white — I’ll be updating this article this month and will see if I can find any current stockists.

A look at secondhand market worth it as I picked up Thorn Mercury Rohloff for £1200 (pretty much the price of the hub alone) also have a rohloff on my ti 29er and it has been on 2 other mtb before that ……. pretty much fit and forget.

Hi Tom I am preparing for a number of long term trips in the near future and researched bicycles heavily (including use of your excellent website) and settled on the Ridgeback Expedition. However I have now made three attempts to buy one at cycle shops in a variety of towns and no-one seems able to sell me one! I decided to contact the compnay directly, but no phone number and they say that they take two weeks to answer e‑mails. So I would suggest that customer service might be a factor in choosing the bike to buy (these are not cheap acquisitions after all) and any company that cant even manage to communicate with customers at the point of purchase isn’t likely to have ana dequate after sales customer support! Not sure what to do now, but it definitely will not be a Ridgeback anything Dave

Local bike shops don’t tend to sell a wide variety of bikes here in the UK, they make there money from servicing bikes and selling components so it’s not really a surprise you can’t find a bike shop that sells them. A quick google search has just shown several reputable online retailers that supply the ridgeback expedition and will provide you with any customer support you might require after purchase.

Hope this helps

Thx for the info. About same specs as my modded Moonrun. I use SKF bracket spindle but have cheaper headset but works fine for years now. For carrying stuff I use strongest on market today and that is the rear rack made by Thorn. Fitted with M6 steel bolts I can come a way with most everything I throw at it. I had the frame professionally modified by Marten from M‑gineering after which it was powder coated.

Hello, Thanks for this nice article. Why is the TX-800 striked-through in the list ?

You don’t have the Surly Ogre(700c) or Troll(26″) on your list. I got the Ogre because it was suggested over the LHT or disc version because they are a little more rugged. I went from the US to Panama on an Ogre and never had a problem with it beyond needing new tires, I went with the Ogre because I had a really nice set of 700c rims. NEVER EVER go to Latin America with anything but 26″. I read a few blogs on crazyguyonabike.com and with off road touring the LHT(or disc version) needs welding.

Hello Tom. I cycled Armenia three years ago in a short tour and met an old french man Thierri, walking all the way from france to there. one month after getting home he came to me in Tehran and stayed for few days. in his Photoes, i saw you. i knew you in advance beacause of your movie. The intention of writing for you is that we’ve been in contact for one year or so but suddenly i lost him and i Thought you might remember him and have any news of him. I really hope he is doing well and being healthy. thanks sorry for misspeling

best wishes Saied

Yes, he’s safe and well and back living in France. A true legend and inspiration!

I’m currently cycling in Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. 2000km via the coast, in some pretty demanding scenarios. I’m riding the Cinelli HoBootleg 2018 Touring Bike which has been as tough and reliable as I had hoped it would be. I’m 1000km in of the 2000km and think it’s been a great bike. Intrigued it wasn’t listed in the line up.

Should it be? I think so yet if there is a reason for not rating or listing can you let me know? Recognise you cannot list all Touring Bikes yet it does have a great name in many other review pages.

Anyway — I rate the Cinelli!

One other thing, I think the Trek 920 should be listed. The bikes you have reviewed are very traditional and the Trek 920 certainly makes the available options a little more spicy. Touring bikes are surely headed in the Trek 920 direction wouldn’t you say? D

Tom, what do you think about Verso Tour Gitane? I’m from Argentina, and here there aren’t so many good bikes, and I can buy one Gitane, but I’ve never heard about this model. Thank you

I also haven’t heard about this one. On paper it looks like a pretty decent European-style ‘trekking bike’ – the adjustable stem and the Magura hydraulic rim brakes remind me of some better known German and Dutch models. The drivetrain choices are close to what we use for the Oxford Bike Works Expedition. I’d take a careful look at the rear rack, which doesn’t look too sturdy from the photos, and consider upgrading the tyres if you’re going on a long trip.

This bike has a lot of critical components made from aluminium: the frame, forks and rear rack. The front rack would appear to be the chromoly Tubus Ergo. Going on your previous comments about aluminium Tom you could rule this bike out for some types of touring, for example, where a frame, fork or rack break would cause a major disruption.

Thank you for post. Lot of good reading. However i am bit lost in a choice now. Do you think you can shine a bit light to it ? 

I just now finished 300km testing tour on my road bike Coyotee Route 66. I changed a lot of things in a bike like butterfly handlebars, wheels, saddle, etc etc… 

I was riding in UK from Birmingham to Warrington. But after i come back i had a pain all over my body. And i started to think about a choice all over again… 

Now In 3 days i should start trip about 4000km from UK to Portugal. Do you recommend to buy a new bike this short before? 

I explored variety of options of bikes but seems more or less simmilar. I am concern if i will go for normal touring bike riding will be bit boring. Where Surrly Troll seems bit more fun. I was also thinking about hardtail mountain bike with fork suspension. But this seem as quite slow and tiring on road. And also what you think about newer types as using cargo bike (YUBA), hybrid bike should i think about it ? And also if you have any experience with using electic bikes. With a range above 100miles seems as interesting. Go for it or not ?

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Thanks for the article, i plan to travel from Texas to the bottom of South America next year. I was planning on buying a bike there. Do you know much about American bikes and what would be good for that trip, i’m Over 6 ft and about 95kg now. I’m in china now so i don’t think buying one here would be good but, i’m open

The Surly LHT or Disc Trucker is the classic American tourer and widely available. For your height/weight I’d go for a 700c model in L or XL frame size.

Thanks for this great review. I travel now for last 5 years with a Koga World traveller bike. Very happy with it. Please include in your evaluation next time!

Bought a Koga World traveller three years ago, have been very happy with it. BUT, this summer while on a trip in Scotland I saw a nasty crack on the welding. Tried to identify a Koga dealer, and all those mentioned on their website no longer do Koga. I contacted the customer service via their website form and it took them a week to get back basically telling me to contact the seller. I bought the bike in France, so that wasn’t going to help me much! So I went to the nearest reputable dealer in Pitlochry, they confirmed my worry that the bike was too dangerous to use so bought a cheap, but very good Giant mtb, and continued the holiday. Picked the broken Koga bike up on the way back to France and went to the seller.

The bike has been sitting in the seller’s workshop for THREE WEEKS as they wait for KOGA to instruct them on how to proceed (they are no longer a Koga dealer). The frame comes with a lifetime warranty, but a warranty doesn’t fix a bike. The seller has sent photos, and sent more photos at Koga’s request, but still no instructions. They have contacted the nearest Koga dealer in France and no answer from them either. I even went to the nearest dealer in Germany to see if they could help and they refused.

I have emailed, tweeted, tried calling, but nothing seems to get them to react now.

So my advice would be to stay away from Koga unless you are ok with paying a lot of money with no assurance that you will get any form of support if you have a problem on the road.

This sounds like a terrible story and I’m sorry to hear about it. It does seem unusual that one of the most reputable high-end touring bikes would develop such a fault in the first place, however. I’d be interested to hear what solution eventually arises – I would have thought a crack in a weld under warranty would point to a brand new replacement frame.

Tom I have a dawes titanium (not disks) and I was thinking of upgrading the wheels and brakes for longer audaxes. Do you have any suggestions.

thanks David

If I were you, I’d pay a visit to my nearest professional wheelbuilder.

New Trek 1120 is a whole new dimension. Gearing up now for a Canadian ride.

Having been the proud owener of several Koga bikes for around the world trips unfortunately, since 2016 the quality has been declining. For the amount of money it cost, it is simply not worth it. For 2000 € (which the price of a Koga bike) you can get a lot of bicycle elsewhere.

Hi Tom! Thanks for an interesting article! I’m dreaming of bike adventures, both longer trips and weekend trips and try to find a new bike that can make those dreams come true. Mostly, though, I’ll use the new bike for my everyday commute in Sweden. I’ve been watching the Verenti substance tiara/sora — seems like decent components and good value which I’m pretty sure will fill my commuting needs. But how do you think it would do for longer adventures? I’m mostly concerned about weight, geometry and key component durability. I would be very grateful of a brief opinion! http://www.wiggle.se/verenti-substance-tiagra-adventure-road-2017/

Hi all, Great article — many thanks. Very useful while choosing a bike to undertake a cycle across USA in 2018 (I’ve never had a touring bike before). I chose Trek 520 (Disc brake variety) in the end which I’m really happy with. Good value at £1,000 versus other bikes available, comes with pedals and rear pannier rack and very swish gear changers. Reviews on Trek website largely very positive as well. I went for because I’m quite tall (193cm/6foot4) so was struggling to find a big enough frame in any touring bikes. Surly do large frames but are more expensive (~£1500) and no extras like pannier rack. In the end the 60cm Trek frame firs me very well — we checked standover length and top tube length and because of the geometry of the bike it actually matches some other manufacturers who produce larger frames (eg 62cm). Feel free to contact me on [email protected] if you have any questions or thinking of buying the bike, I’d be happy to help.

Ollie, London

If it is a choice between a smaller and a larger frame, my preference is for the smaller frame because a) provided the steerer hasn’t been cut yet, it is almost always possible to achieve a good fit by putting on a longer stem and raising the seatpost (swapping for a longer one if necessary) b) bigger frames are harder to pack for travel c) it can feel more manoeuvrable

Punish the thing, make the bike work for you, and don’t be limited by the bike or its stuff. Bikes get stolen, plans go squiify and so what if we decide to take the really cruddy road upppp that turns into gravel then kind of goat track then.. and you land up pushing and doing singletrack downhill to .. mud and gravel and finally .. So, my bike came out of a skip, a rusty 2012 Scott Speedster S30. Thrown out! Square section BB, road rims and tyres (I know.. but a good spoke key makes life simple). wide range 9x2 gears. But it takes racks.. The boom in road cycling means 700c and road bike bits are much easier than they were a decade ago — even in Yemen and Iran. Total build cost of my bike: £100 including panniers. Bits and pieces off gumtree, pinkbike, etc. If it get bent, hah. If it gets nicked, hah. The no-compromise bits: ‘fit’ / setup, the saddle, my most comfy/worn SPD shoes, tubeless with goop.

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing this!

Hey this is great stuff! However, do you have recommendations for bikes in the US? ‑j

Sure – many of the bikes in this article are from U.S. manufacturers, Surly and Kona being the obvious two. Also check out REI’s range of tourers under the Co-op Cycles brand.

Hi Tom, love your site. I need to thank you not only for an informative site in general, but also for helping me make a decision on a touring bike. Until recently I lived in Darwin, Australia. It’s reasonably isolated and the choice of bike brands is severely limited. Thus, test riding anything decent is out of the question. My wife was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to work in France for 6 months so I saw this a a great chance to purchase the bike of my dreams. Armed with advice from your site (and others) I narrowed it down to two bikes — the VSF TX-400 with Shimano drive train, and the Rose Activa Pro 2. As there wasn’t a Rose dealer where we were living in France, the TX-400 was the winner. That was August last year and I haven’t had even a twinge of regret. I love it. Keep up the great work mate. I look forward to following your adventures (and Charlie’s) for many years to come. Cheers, Derek.

I am surprised that Ridgeback is still fitting aluminium racks to its high-end touring bikes when most other brands fit cro-moly. Aluminium whilst okay for components such as wheel rims, handlebars, and seatposts, is too fragile for heavily loaded racks with thin small diameter tubes and suffers too easily from metal fatigue.

I am surprised that serious riders will still accept an add-on rack of any kind steel or not. Every connection is a weak link. Tout-Terrain, Panamericana. http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/panamericana/ — not interested in the pinion gearing but you can’t beat the frame.

Hi Tom and readers, Does anyone out there have any experience with or notion of what to do with the following problem? (saddle soreness — chafing). My girlfriend has a typical german woman’s uprightish trekking bike by bulls, and we did just one two week tour on it last summer. She’d never toured before. She found her “intim Bereich” (intimate area) got rubbed a lot by the saddle (wasn’t an issue with short local trips previously), so I ended up buying and trying a new saddle, then a series of the best rated woman’s saddles out there, and all of them did the same rubbing thing. Biking shorts and a gel pad didn’t help fully or much. She thought being more upright helped the rubbing, by taking pressure off the front of the saddle and putting it more on the sitz bones, so I got some big curvy bar ends and cranked them way back, so she can sit totally upright. I even added a nice suspension seatpost. But somehow the pain won’t go away. I’m really at a loss about what to do. I wonder if a new frame would help at all. Anyone find a saddle that really helps with sensitive bottoms? I’m leaning towards getting her a recumbent, but can’t really afford it, and she doesn’t tour with me a lot. I ride a bacchetta giro 20 myself and highly recommend it for touring! Thanks for any advice!

hi Jeff and all, dr. jim parker from cruzbike has compiled some very revealing facts regarding health issues cyclists commonly are facing, i.e. genital numbness & e.d. besides the usual (wrist,back & neck). i do suffer from groin pains riding on my dawes upride racing bike within 30–45 min.

hence for my upcoming uk & european (& car replacement) tour i am opting for an “atl-falter” from radnabel in tuebingen, germany. atl stands for “all tags lieger”(recumbent for everyday-all year/tasks); falter stands for folding. they are not well known outside of central europe, have been handbuild for nearly 30 years and are highly regarded for being — safe (long wheel base, low center of gravity), nimble (sharp turning circle), quick (ergonomic design & pushing against the backrest/very good uphills), comfortable (no neck, groin or wrist pain, full suspension), good load carrying capability [70kg total], “protecting” (see: allwetterverkleidung/foldable fairing/poncho), well engineered and sound workmanship. although dieter baumann (builder) speaks english, the webside is in german only. the atl-falter with rohloff, full chain cover, rear rack, pannier holders, twoleg stand weighs 17–18 kg (chrmo steel). 

you get an better idea about radnabels atl’s watching these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgX6zIViBY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBEvBX_S4o

they have proved themselves also on long distance tours germany to china. happy cycling or as we say in bavaria: “frohes radln” regards reinhard

Ok, my thing about touring bikes, what about the weight?! Most tourers are just too heavy, 17Kg+ steel monsters. “They have to be, for the reliability”…well the only frames I’ve had break were a steel and an Al frame. Maybe you’ll say “blasphemy” but my trekking bike of choice is a modified carbon fibre Simplon “Nanolight” K3. My aim has been the lightest bike but still fit for a tour of up to a month on road. This thing has been faultless for 9 years of mainly mountain tours (and daily commuting). The essentials, for me, are: good hub dynamo lighting, hydraulic Rim brakes (discs are, expletive, Primadonnas), brooks saddle, bike rack, mudguards, oh and lightness. Everything is carbon or titanium, except the wheels, saddle and handlebar. it’s expensive but still less than people spend on fancy packages for their car. Final tour weight is around 9.1Kg. I even made my own bike bags out of lightweight cuben fibre. Yes the bike could be seen as excessively focussed on weight, but nowadays trekking bikes could be a lot lighter than they are, we would have many more people on bikes, heavy bikes stop people biking. J Jones.

I have noticed that all these touring bikes have no suspension in the front wheel. I am curious, why? Does a front suspension affect the performance of these long bike trips?

For most tours it’s simply not necessary. A suspension fork adds complication, meaning more to go wrong. Forks without lockout introduce inefficiency. Finally, most forks are incompatible with lowriders (front racks).

Bikepacking (i.e. lightweight offroad touring) is a different story, but still a small niche.

Is there an easy solution to fitting a front light to my Ridgeback Voyage with a bar bag in situ? I do not want an extending arm attached to the drops with the light above the bag. I was wondering if one can purchase a bracket to bolt onto the mudguard retaining bolt on top of the front forks immediately below the headset. This would have to be offset to clear the cantilever cables. Any thoughts Anthony

A bracket on the fork crown is a common (old-fashioned) solution. Some bar-bags also have a mounting bracket accessory for a light (the Carradice one comes to mind). Or you can wear a headtorch!

Thanks Tom for your reply, I have had lots of comments and thoughts from others on the Cycling UK forum too. As is often the case as soon as one starts looking into things there are loads of solutions available. I have learnt a lot just by looking at the various websites sugggested by people. I have now purchased a good light that will fit on the fork itself and and allow to be positioned pointing down to cover the road in front. Not a dissimilar situation from the old ‘ever ready ‘lamps that we had on our bikes back when I was a child in the 50s and 60s. Though this is a USB rechargeable smaller model. I think this will do the job. So thank you again for your thoughts and I will soon start to read your book on my kindle which arrived today. I look forward to that.

Great site Tom and full of excellent stuff and info. Keep it up.

Kind regards Anthony Brewer

Hi Tom and all, Has anyone any experience of the cantilever brakes designed specifically for tandems and tourers by a company in Seattle USA called Rodriguez bikes., R&E Cycles. They call the design ‘The Big Squeeze’. I looked into this as I am not sure in my mind yet whether my Shimano cantis will work on my Ridgeback Voyage as well as I want on a heavy laden bike on very steep descents. The contact I have had with the American company has been excellent and speedy. They have no distributers or outlets in the UK and the brakes are quite expensive but look with all the information they provide a well thought out and constructed brake. Any comments, opinions or knowledge on this from anyone would be very much appreciated Anthony Brewer

Spa Cycles, a touring specialist fit these. 

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s101p2386/TEKTRO-RX-5-Mini-V-Brakes

I have used them on 4 loaded alpine and Pyrenean tours on my Ridgeback panorama and they have been great. They need fine tuning and true wheels but have plenty of power and work much better than the ones supplied by Ridgeback. My Panorama only cost £450 so I would be reluctant to spend $250 plus shipping on those. Also I am not a fan of the style I think they stick out too much and could cause injury in a collision.

Thank you Phil for your comment on these brakes. I use simialr V brakes on my hybrid as per your link to Spacycles. However as I understand things it isn’t possible (easily that is) to change to V brakes ( which I do like ) without quite some work. I have dropped bars with the gear change incorporated in the brakes. The length of the cable is significant and the possible use of a ‘travel agent ’ to allow for the cable pull etc etc. Are you saying that Spa cycles would change my present cantilver system to these V brakes advertised? As I said I have yet to test my present brakes seriously but will definitely be doing so this spring/summer. Thank you for the recommendation Phil Regards Anthony

No problem Anthony. I ordered them from Spa and fitted them in one hour and I am no expert. May have needed new cables and small sections of outer because of the lengths of the runs but it was straight forward. You can remove the original centre-pull aluminium cable stay as the new cable comes from the side. The original brake levers and repeater levers will work, no new ones are required as the travel is sufficient. I also looked into travel agents to gear up the travel but I agree they are complicated. The mini-vs don’t need the same amount of travel as the full size v‑brake. They are just 85mm not 105mm. Admittedly it is possible with them fitted the level can be pressed right onto the bars, but by that time you would be over the handle bars. The large amount of travel gives you precise control. 

It is very straight forward to fit but you could always order them and get the local bike shop to fit them.

PS the cantilevers supplied on Ridgeback tourers are on the verge of being dangerous on a fully loaded tourer down a steep hill. I recommend changing them to Tektro mini- v brakes I showed you or Tekro CR720 

http://www.highonbikes.com/tektro-cr720-cyclo-cross-bike-cantilever-brakes-front-rear.html?gclid=CjwKEAiArvTFBRCLq5-7-MSJ0jMSJABHBvp0WpP5LLsbie8YcECqv8AAZxpL0R1slUyaJFRFZzcQghoC0YTw_wcB

I don’t like them because as I previously said they stick out too much

Again many thanks Phil. You have certainly given me much to consider. However the Tektro CR720 are themselves cantilever brakes too. So I wonder why you have suggested these as a possible alternative to my present tektro Oryx cantilever brakes on my Ridgeback? They look very similar. I do appreciate your comments on this subject Anthony

the CR720s are used by my co-cyclists on tours and are much better than the oryx design in terms of efficiency. It’s all about the distance from the rim to where the cable connects, much more leverage. I included them as an alternative but would still favour the mini-v’s personally.

they look very different from your once fitted: http://bananarider.com/product/tektro-cr720/

Hi, would you consider Specialized Crosstrail Disc 2017 a good touring bike? I am looking forward to buy my first bike aiming to use it for a long tour (upto 3–6 months) next year around europe.

Also a doog opyion in my opinion: http://www.kross.pl/en/2016/trekking/trans-alp

I’ve recently purchased a Cinelli Hobooleg for £1100, although I’ve only been using it for my 10 mile commute so far I’m very happy with it.

It looks the part and from the reviews I’ve read it will hopefully see me safely around North Wales on my first proper test run later this month.

Looking at the features of these touring bikes they look like early 90s mountain bikes. 26″ wheels?Check. Steel frame? Check. Rigid fork? Check. 7/8 speed drive train with thumb shifters? Check. Braze ons for racks and fenders? Check. I would suggest folks keep an eye out for a good used mountain bike from this era and you could save a bunch while ending up with a bike just as robust, lighter and with higher quality parts(granted, said parts may need some love). I found an abandoned Rocky Mountain Team Comp which has frame tubing better than any of the bikes listed (heat treated tubing by Tange of Japan). The bikes of this era were of very high quality as it was the fastest growing sport then and the competition was fierce with leaps in steel tubing technology. Steel was still the material of choice also. I managed to build my bike up(it was missing a lot of parts) for maybe $500 and I have XTR rear derailleur, Sunrace 8 cassette, Suntour XC thumb shifters, Syncros stem, NOS XT UN73 BB…you get the picture. The additional bonus is a bike that is still quite light yet strong. I wouldn’t recommend this to someone who knows nothing about bikes but if you are a bit of a bike geek its pretty rewarding finding a good higher end mountain bike and fixing it up. Parts back then were very well made.

Hey Tom, Edinburgh Bikes have a new tourer out end of the month, http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-country‑2–16

I’m sure it’s similar to your reviewed bike above but would be great to hear your thoughts.

looking at a bike trip in 2018 from shanghai to istanbul semi-supported. been doing self-supported touring on my 25 yo trek 970 but the sour grape machine is ready to be retired. been shopping around and am considering the novara safari–i like the mustache handlebars and the price seems good but worried about the quality of components and whether 700 wheels are potentially a problem…i know 26″ is more the standard when you are in the middle of nowhere. any input would be much appreciated.

Tom, I have been researching touring bikes for quite some time and I think I have found the bike to start touring. Following your advice in this blog I picked up a 15 year old MTB that is in great shape. I will put on touring tires and a rack that I already own and I’m ready to go on some short introductory adventures. Perhaps if I really get the touring bug I will invest in a new bike but for now this will do and the price is right. Thank you.

For anyone currently looking, my local LBS, The Bike Shed Devon, have a bit of a touring sale going on at the moment. Definitely worth looking before making any decisions. http://www.bikesheduk.com/touring-bikes-for-sale

Thank you very much for the tip on discounted 2015 Dawes Galaxy AL bicycles from Evans. I just picked one up for £400!

Evans has also the Dawes Galaxy Cross cromo (steel frame, disc brakes, straight bars) for the same price. Looks like a bargain.

Having cycled and backpacked since I was at school, in my mid 50’s i decided it was time to combine the two persuites and try a spot of weekend touring. Not wanting to spend too much on a bike that i may not get on with, I bought my daughters barely used 2001 Specialized Hardrock off her. It cost me £225 new originally, so she recon I got a bargain at £40 second hand!!! It’s Cr Mo steel frame and rigid forks [not even butted], Acera group set, square drive triple chain rings and 26″ wheels, have a real solid feel, so after fitting Marathon tyres, racks, and bar ends, I treated myself to a pair of 46li Altus rear panniers and a bar bag. Packing lightweight and minimalist, my first weekend away was a real success. On my next outing of 4‑days, a rear spoke went after the first 20 miles, but no rubbing, so I finished my tour in the Cotswolds, but walked up a lot of hills. For my next trip in the Peak District, I had a new twin-wall rear wheel, and a new wider range rear cassette, still walked up many hills, but who cares, I was wild camping, and just making my route up as I went along. I keep looking at new bikes, but don’t know how I would really benefit, the bike just keeps rolling along happily for my short breaks. A new bike may weigh less. My rig weighs in at 16.5kg without panniers, how does that compare with other tourers?

So, the ultimate all-round tourer *is* a 26 inch wheel frame with geometry which looks like my many-times-earmarked-for-the-skip, first generation, double-butted cro-mo mid-80s MTB that’s in the shed? It confirms my own conclusions (though I’m no hardcore global wanderer like yourself). Interesting that it looks as if 26″ wheels will remain relevant. I was thinking there is a gap in the market for a longer and near-horizontal toptube frame style (with, perhaps, 29er wheels), instead of the downhill-style geometry which seems obligatory on all fat-tyre machinery.

[…] spend money on a good bike and the necessary gear you’ll find costs are minimal. Many good quality bikes can be purchased for less than £100. Many travelling bicyclists choose to camp at official […]

Thanks for the advice! I was faffing around for about a year trying to buy a touring bike in the UK but never quite got around to it. I’m now in Vietnam about to set off in a time pressured trip to India (through Laos, Thailand and Myanmar) and I no longer have the same access to the kinds of brands mentioned above(or budgets). I’ve found something called a Windspeed Long Rider touring classic, which is a Chinese brand, and the bike shop is offering a pretty good deal inclusive of accessories. Let’s hope it’s up to the job! Anyone have any experience or knowledge of this bike? Mostly sold only in Asia I think.

Hi. I am trying to choose a bike for touring around the world that would be a slow heavyweight may be some times off road and long term! but in my country there is not a wide choice for me! I have to choose a bike and change it into a touring one! my question is what kind of bikes is good for me! road bikes that mostly used here for races or mountain! here i can find bikes from Merida , giant, Fuji, Scott, specialized! of course I have an old Peugeot mountain bike that i was thinking about changing in to a touring bike but i am not sure! it is too old! thank you 🙂

Finally bought me touring bike, a Specialized AWOL DLT. Took your advice to try it and decided on a medium instead of a large frame (I’m 5′9″) since it was more comfortable. The problem was to find any bike shops who stocks touring bikes in Sweden, found only the AWOL, Kona Rove and Trek 520. As a plus I got a good discount, paid “only” £760 (Evans charges £1160) since the dealer said -“customers ask for touring bikes and then they do not buy them”!

Hi Rob, where in Sweden did you buy it ? I am in Norway (Oslo to be precise) and can´t find any shop stocking touring bikes.

Hi Francesco, http://www.cykelhuset.com sell Specialized AWOL, http://www.jarlacykel.se sell Trek 520 and http://www.fixmybike.se sell Kona. I have only ridden the AWOL and the Rove, both seemed very competent. Just on way back from virgin trip Sassnitz — Berlin, so far satisfied, love the 700x42c tires, perfect for tarmac and gravel!

Tom, for my 21st birthday I got a Cannondale T1000, 22 years and 15000 miles later (low mileage bike) it is going strong. It has been to Paris a couple of times, Amserdam 4 or 5 times and one long trip from Cherbourg to Santander as well as numerous day and weekend UK outings, it has towed a Tag Along for a fair few miles and had a child seat for some of its life. Much of today’s riding is spent on minor roads and tracks around the New Forest and Wiltshire. Few parts have worn out, I am on the second BB, and I upgraded the chainset to an ultegra, other than a couple of tyres, chains and cassettes I have had to do very little. I love the bar end shifters for their reliability, the XT cantilever brakes do a good job stopping the bike, even on 50 mph descents in the Pyraneese with full panniers and camping gear and my 80 kg weight. With an 11 to 32 cassette, 24 speed are fine on a tourer, spacing is well judged. It is really hard to imagine how it could be improved on.….

I just picked up a 2004 Cannondale T2000 for my son’s 13 birthday. Cost just £300 and looks fantastic, in fact looks new. I am surpised how light it is. It Has a few upgrades, including a nice Kinesis fork, which delivers a much nicer ride than my T1000 and it also has a 30 speed XT / ultegra group set and a really nice looking rack. Overall this is the nicest bike I have ever ridden, it is adjusted to perfection and feels really well sorted definately a subtle but noticeable upgrade from the T1000

How does an older mid range tourer like the Cannondale T1000 or T2000 compare with today’s mid range tourers like the Surly LHT or Daws Super Galaxy

To be honest I would be really confident that my Cannondale could tackle a more adventurous tour than I have tried

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” – that sums up any longer and more detailed response I could come up with! 🙂

hey tom! an interesting article you have here 🙂 hopefully you can shed some light on my situation. me and my mate are literally just starting out after training, we are planning a big trip! Our trip in mind is taking us from the uk, through france and to the south of spain. we figure that we want a bike that can take the distance, but can also take us as off road as is sensible. we plan on visiting a few cities also! (we’re thinking cobbled streets and some gravelly paths) so im not entirely sure what kind of bracket we fall under, but the bike i have put a deposit down for (buying new) and am collecting tomorrow, is a specialized sirrus, costing 400 pounds sterling. am i looking in the right kind of bike here considering our journey and our plans? 

as far as i understand (our beginner cycling pedigree in mind) pad brakes are risk free and easily replaced, steel frame and forks are more durable. would having flat bar handle bars restrict us some what? hope you can help! thanks, cillian.

For a trip to the south of Spain pretty much any bike will do, as long as it fits you and it can carry your luggage! (I hope you’ve test ridden this bike before buying it – most important thing of all in getting the right bike!)

Check out this blog series if you want any more info on specific components and things…

Thanks for the swift reply there Tom, yeah I’ve ridden the bike, but as I’m a complete novice, it feels better than any bike I can remember riding. I guess I’m concerned about getting a bike with the right geometry and what not! Any unbiased thoughts on the specialised sirrus as my choice? So long as it’s comfortable of coarse, thanks! Cil

Only that it’s not really a touring bike! £500 would get you a Revolution Country Traveller which would be fully kitted out for touring and has had a number of excellent reviews. You could also get a much higher-spec second hand touring bike for that money.

Fit is important, but if you’re buying a new bike it might make sense to get one that’s designed for the job at hand, rather than adapting a hybrid. Just a thought!

excellent advice good sir! its seems for now that we are settling for our hybrids in good faith that they will pay off when we are mooching around cities and taking scenic bridle ways! thanks a lot for the replies Tom, happy cycling!

Safe roads!

Do you or others on this site have experiences with the Co-Motion bicycles for touring (www.co-motion.com)? They are made in the USA (Eugene, Oregon).. 

I have a Surly LHT with many miles on it and wanted to updated to the new 2015 Disc Trucker with the 10-speen 11/36 cassette, but was considering the Co-Motion Americano. There is a LARGE price delta (Americano is around $ 4,100 US$.

Any experiences/feedback is appreciated.

Have a TERRIFIC day!

Darren Alff of Bicycle Touring Pro has it — Co-Motion Pangea — and he loves it! He had it even repainted recently and put back again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XAwqgXhRzc&t=23s See also his channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCGE4MRedy8pXEdJb9Vsx‑g

Most of the touring bikes I read about in this section either deal with 700c size wheels or 26″ wheels. I bought a Surly Ogre 29er and it’s been the best commuting/touring bike in my opinion. The wider wheels help to accommodate a wider tire (1.9–2.3) that helps absorb the load that you’d be carrying.

You can fit 1.9–2.3″ tyres on a 26″ wheel too. It is the original mountain bike wheel size, after all!

[…] Redninga for den som vil gjøre grundig research blir da å slå over til engelsk. Et bildesøk på “touring bike” bekrefter at dette begrepet har en bestemt betydning. Søket “which touring bike to buy” gir også en endeløs rekke med relevante og informative treff. Spesielt godt liker jeg rådene til min favorittsykkelblogger, britiske Tom Allen. […]

Hi Tom … any thoughts of including a recumbent in your Best Touring Bike selection? Like say an Azub 6? http://www.azub.eu/azub-5-five-recumbent-bike/

While they are the cost of two or three of the above selections I’m interested in your experience or opinions?

Because they’re very much in a niche of their own, I’d rather do a whole feature on recumbent touring options. Suggestions welcome! In the meantime, have a read of my own recumbent tour last year …

This has been an interesting read — as I’m a devout touring bike user, even though touring the world is not on my horizon. Suffolk and noerh Essex are most definitely part of my equation and between 50 — 110 miles per trip are not unusual along with cycling to and from work.

For 18 years I’ve enjoyed my long sought after 1997 Dawes Super Galaxy, which is now up for a complete drive train rebuild (and a return to drop handlebars but without those awful bar end changers), but I’m also keen to add a second bike to the collection as the Dawes is the only form of transport I have and really do need a bike to get to work for as early as 3am (outside public transport times).

My 2 options are the new 2015 Dawes Super Galaxy or the 2015 Ultra Galaxy. Yes, I’m sticking with Dawes, with my current Super Galaxy’s record why not? Also, I can get the bike via the company bike to work scheme and save some dosh. Whilst the budget is between £2000-£3000, I reason over 18 years this will become a bit of a bargain. So the question of this comment is really this:

What are the benenfits of the Titanmium Frame on the Ultra Galaxy over the Reynolds 853 tubing on the Super Galaxy frame? Do I really need to spend that extra £700?

Please, no comments about lucky you etc — it is 18 years since I last made this big an investment and apart from new tyres and inner tubes and a swap to butterfly handlebars the bike is pretty much as it came out of the shop (despite almost 100k miles of travel and commuting). I see this as the kind of purchase that is similar to that of purchasing a car…

Hi Andrew — what did you decide on in the end and are you happy with that decision? I find myself looking at exactly the same choice to make (Galaxy super vs. ultra). It’s not straightforward!

Although I am not a touring cyclist I put in quite a bit of mileage commuting (around 120 miles per week) using either a steel audax type bike (Ridgeback Mercury), alu hybrid or ancient Dawes Horizon (fitted with studded tyres for snowy/icy days). Fancying doing a bit of touring I recently bought a Revolution Explorer with disc brakes and have been riding it since Christmas. Has to be said that the disc brakes are a revelation compared to any sort of rim brake (I have tried them all apart from hydraulic); no constant adjustment, no rim wear, no filthy aluminium slurry all over the rims, silent and they actually work in the rain ( of which there is plenty here in Lancashire). The latter point saved me earlier this week when I had to do any emergency stop to avoid an idiot driver, I doubt any other sort of brake would have been up to it. And I am talking about BB5s which I understand are budget disc brakes.

I am about to buy an used tourer for occasional touring use for my son, he has a Ribble road bike. Budget £300 and I have a choice of Ridgeback World Voyage 2012 …520 CroMo.…Sora.…Alivio etc or a ‘Dale T800 2003, hardly used, Ally.…CroMo forks…Tiagra.…XT etc. I can easily make decisions at work involving lots of cash…but this one appears to have me foxed!! (I have a stable of steeds and tour on a Roberts Roughstuff, I should be able to choose!!!) Please help! Thanks one and all!

[…] utstyret du velger når du skal legge ut på en lang sykkeltur. På nettsida si har han skrevet om hva som er den beste tursykkelen. I eboka går han atskillig mer grundig til verks. Verdt å nevne er at han legger spesiell vekt […]

you forgot koga miyata 😉

I’ve just bought the 2015 Ridgback Tour.

Ive just this minute seen that aluminium frames have a much lower life expectancy than steel due to the fact that they fatigue — is this true? Ive heard that 5 years is the life expectancy of such a frame even if cared for? Have I bought a white elephant — as I planned to treasure it. Thanks.

I’ve just thinking that all bikes mentioned above are in price of year long trip. My humble suggestion is: buy retail! I bought a trek bike in pawn shop for 180euro and so far this holds for 4 seassons (16000km, regions spread from scandinavia to balkans) and now I’m preparing this beauty for 17000km long trip from czechia to indonesia. Throughout these trips I never broke a spoke (seen this problem many times in my friends Dawes) and punctured so few times that it can hardly be mentioned. So far I spend almost 6 months on the roads and during this time I spend less money than price of the cheapiest bike mentioned above.

So my advice is search it, test it, uprgade it, love it and than… finally ride it,-D Put a piece of your heart and skills into your piece of metal. Relationship between tourbiker and his bike must be stronger than click on ebay. Sorry for english and toilet phylosophy, I’m still upgrading,-D

Tom, I just wanted to say a very big thank-you for helping me choose the right touring bike. After spending many evenings checking your advice and loads of websites, I finally opted for a Dawes Galaxy Classic. I took your advice and went via eBay to Kingsway Cycles of Cambridge. I paid £900 instead of £1300 for a 2014 model! More importantly, it’s the right bike. I’ve only done about 60 miles since Saturday, but it’s really excellent. Kingsway are a great bike shop and really nice to deal with — none of that irritating superiority complex so common in good bike shops. I’d recommend them. Again, thank you. Alistair

Seven things:

Now the bike is bedding-in, before a big trip, have the LBS tighten your spokes and true the wheel(s) as required.

Take the time to ensure that the inside of the wheel rims have wide tape, not plastic or thin tape — you will thank me when you don’t get pinch-flats from the inner spoke nipples.

Chop out the brakes for V brakes. I have the same cantilever brakes, and they’re poor. It’s my next upgrade after upgrading my wheel set — as you can tell, this is real-world experience talking here!

If you fit a Ortleib (or similar) bar mounted bag, replace the existing gear cables with extra long ones since they are a little too short as standard and will crop over time and your gear shifting will become increasing difficult and then the front mech’ will cease working.

If you are running Shimano gearing,chain etc make sure the jockey wheels are not a 3rd party set, if so, buy Shimano ones, they work better than others.

You will notice as you ride, most of the touring bikes you’ll encounter are Dawes; how cool is that?

The enjoyment of your adventure is reflected in the width of your daft Cheshire-Cat grin, so grin, then grin some more!

Fantastic! I hope you get many years of touring enjoyment from it!

Hello Tom & Co.,

Do you have input on preferred bikes / systems for long rides with two young kids? 

Preferably sub-$2,000 (US), with a granny gear, and disc brakes.

I am trying to figure out which adult touring bike (and system) to use with my kids. The four-year old child will be in an attached trailer bike (with coupler), and the two-year old child will be in a chariot trailer behind that (via skewer hub)…unless someone has a better idea.

I already own a Specialized Tarmac for zipping around, and a Santa Cruz mountain bike for the trails. For a few years, I’ve reluctantly used my carbon fiber Tarmac for pulling my oldest child in the Chariot trailer. The ergonomics are all wrong, especially in the hills.

Now I have both a four-year old and a two-year old child, plus we live in major mountains. I want to do LONG family rides, and commutes around town (paved / gravel mixed). Ideally the bike could also be used for (solo) century rides. Once they are older, I’d like to explore multi-day touring with me on the same bike.

Salsa Vaya? Trek 520? Surly LHT, Cross Check, or Straggler? 

Big thanks!

[…] started thinking about this tour; my thoughts immediately went to the tried&true options for bike touring (Surly LHT for example), and I was waiting for a deal to pounce on online for months.  But living […]

3864 miles thus far (26 Sept 2014) around Britain and without doubt the most popular bike is the Dawes, maybe 80% (?) streel framed in the majority, and whilst we are at it, Ortlieb panniers, also in the majority.

I am on a 2008 Dawes SG. Rubbish cantilever brakes — to be replaced in short order. Replaced the wheels as the rims were concave, but she is an eBay Special (£590) likewise the four panniers (£83). Fantastic combo with Tubus steel racks.

Hi Tom, I believe the bikes from German Company Tout Terrain have a good name as well. Namely the “Silkroad” seems a fantastic bike to me. Expensive but has all the gimmicks I like to have (Rohloff and disc brakes). http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/silkroad/

i was stranded in london on the 4th aug (after losing my oyster and bank cards) leaving me with just £10 and a predicament a quick look on gumtree found me a nearby bike (complete with 21 speeds and rack and double panniers inc cycle comp for my insane budget and now 10 days later its covered 120 miles and by far best buy ever for a tenner 🙂

ps i live 18 miles away in the subarbs so as to speak

Love the site, especially the discussions on this page!

I’m interested in your views on bar-end shifters. My wife’s Sabbath Silk Route was stolen in Amsterdam recently and she’s loathe to spend quite so much on a replacement. Many of the sub-£1,000 tourers seem to have bar-end shifters and she’s a bit nervous about taking them on. What are the pros and cons compared with integrated brake lever shifters? Quite like the look of the Genesis Tour de Fer but the bar end shifters are the only sticking point.

Pros: Simple, durable, reliable.

Cons: Less efficient to actually operate; inexperienced users whack their knees on them.

For a long-term tourer I’d take bar-end or downtube shifters over STIs any day.

I bought the Tour de Fer and did an 8 day tour in Greece. Its an excellent bike and I’m really happy with it but the bar shifters are annoying. I decided to upgrade the bike with a tubus tara front rack and a son dynamo hub with a plug usb charger. I’ll do a review of the bike later as I’m about to set off on a tour to Singapore something its probably not designed for but it came within my Ride-To-Work budget and I’m not a fan of the 26inch tourers I’d rather take my chances in the bikes shops. FYI the new version has a flat bar instead of drops and a tubus tara lowrider as standard — bonus! Love your site it’s been invaluable in my tour planning

You can always move the bar end shifters up onto the flats using a solution like Pauls Thumbies or SJS do their own version. It’s just a bolt on bracket with a mount for the shifter and a cable stop. If you ride mainly on hoods and flats then they are much easier to reach than down at the end of the drops. Cable maintenance is easier as well.

Many thanks for your excellent website. I’m thinking of doing Land’s End to John O’Groats and have seen a Raleigh Gran Tour at our local cycle shop. It seemed fine on a trial run round the block. Any significant pros or cons that I need to be aware of?

Nick check out the Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker it will be the best Touring Bike you will ever buy and will take you anywhere wheel size go for 26 and you can travel the world buy once not twice

Thanks John. I’ll check it out. 

Another issue that’s coming up is tourers vs endurance bikes. Any strong preferences either way, anyone?

Are you doing an endurance ride? Or are you going on a cycle tour?

Different tools for different jobs…

Hi Tom, I was wondering if you had any experience or knowledge of the Cinelli Hobo? It does seem to come as a fairly complete package as well as a 61 frame which is good for a tall person like myself.

I’m afraid I don’t! Sorry! It does look like a good bike, though.

I have a cinelli hobo for mixed trail touring. I find it incredibly comfortable and a really good load hauler. Some of the stock parts are pretty poor, particularly the FSA alpha drive chainset (replaced with Deore, and the alex rims on sora hubs which i’ve recently replaced. The weakest part of the setup for me is the microshift bar end shifters… I had real trouble keeping them indexed. I have swapped for an old pair of Tiagra STI shifters and these feel much better with a deore chainset and rear mech.

It has shorter chainstays than my old galaxy but still has plenty of heel clearance fitted with ortlieb classic panniers. The bars are the most comfortable I have ever used!

Overall i’m really pleased with it as it suits my choice of riding on mixed road, track and trail with a nice blend of cyclocross and touring capabilities… just a shame the marketing around the bike is so goddamn annoying!

I am planning a touring for next year, I was thinking to get a bicycle with a 29’‘ rim using a 28c tyre, i also plan to use mavic hubs, but i am not sure how tough a mavic hub can be on long touring distances, i guess i may not have problems as far i get some spare bearings and parts for the hubs. any suggestion about the rim sizes? will a 27″ rim do the same job as a 29’’ rim size? I have seen that NS has some cool looking hubs, i know they are for dirt-jump bikes, but those are something i consider dues they are do to resist hard impact of daily trainings, but my doubt is if a a hub for hard impact interfere with speed and smooth riding, by logic i guess it doesn’t interfere depending on what bearing it uses…am i right? Ps.: i enjoy cycling fast. lol

i found some other hub, the DT Swiss looks pretty good… but they don’t have a nice front hub with Disk break, that is what is pity, but i may get normal brakes, cos the disk brake has a high cost maintenance …

Where are you going? Your primary consideration is spare parts availability. 26″ or 700c wheels are the only sensible choice for 99% of tours, and I wouldn’t recommend anything other than Shimano cup-and-cone hubs with loose bearings and easy maintenance, ideally XT. They’re tour proven and won’t need a second thought.

Have found your website invaluable in the preparation of a bike trip my brother and I are making from London to Istanbul on August 10 (our first bike trip). I bought your book this afternoon on Amazon too as it should be a handy guide on the trip.

I’m just about to buy a bike and have come down to the Dawes Galaxy 2014 for £691 and the Raleigh Sojourn, which I founded hugely discounted here for £689 (down from £1,100!): http://www.ashcycles.com/site/raleigh-sojourn-2013 . I’d be very grateful if you (or anyone else on this page) could suggest what you think would be the better buy for my budget of £700?

Cheers, Shaun

Very glad you’ve found this site useful.

In my experience, which touring bike to buy depends on choosing the right tool for the job, and seeing what feels good to ride. I’m going to guess that you’re fairly sure both these bikes will meet your needs, but that you haven’t tried either of them out. So the only useful suggestion I can offer is to see which you can test-ride locally. On paper they’re as good as identical. You can discuss specification charts until the cows come home but it’ll all be irrelevant once you’ve actually started riding.

Ideally you’d test-ride both, but if you can only try one, then at least you can either eliminate it from your shortlist or confirm that it’ll do the job — then buy it.

The other critical reason for testing bikes out is to ensure that you get the right size, as incorrectly-sized bikes are the biggest source of discomfort and even injury on tour.

Hope this helps!

Thanks a lot for the tip Tom and appreciate you taking the time out to respond to me.

I’m based in HK and so unfortunately won’t be able to test-ride either of them (only a narrow window in London and they have to be ordered in advance), but if you say that the specs are identical then it makes the decision a bit easier — comes down to the aesthetics now!

I’ve got a KHS TR-101, bought from Cycle Surgery. Since these are relatively uncommon, I thought I’d put up my thoughts.

It’s a lovely bike to ride and I’ve done 2 3‑week trips to New Zealand South Island on it, usually somewhere between 50 and 100km a day. But I do think the brakes are not good enough for a tourer — I’m going to switch mine out after realising as I coasted down from Arthurs’ Pass in the rain with a loaded bike that I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to — and the mudguard fittings have been annoying — little plastic clips which pop ou, and which don’t hold the guard far out, so it rubs the tyres if the guard gets even slightly warped. Both easily replaced though. I’ve carried medium weights on it — prob. ca. 20kg — with ease, using both front and back racks and it feels very smooth and well-balanced. In fact, I think it’s the easiest bike I’ve ever ridden in that respect. Even the stock saddle is OK although I’m finally switching to a Brooks.

I don’t find the gears allow me to get up big hills when it’s loaded (but that might be just me — I’m not very gritty about hills.…) but it’s very smooth to handle and way faster than most other bikes off the bigger hills. 

I’ve done almost all on road on it and wouldn’t do off road again after an 80km run on the gravel Mavora Lakes road — it coped but it wasn’t nice (could have been the headwind…).

I’m planning one or two more 3 week tours on it (New Zealand again, and then maybe Sri Lanka) but am trying to work out whether in the long term I should just upgrade the parts, or actually invest in another bike. It’s a lovely cycle though — I’d really recommend it, although if you are looking for a real round-the-world workhorse it might be worth looking at some of the more established models. 

No bike is without problems, it aint about the bike without blood, sweat and tears :-X

Hi Tom — Great site, very informative and helpful. I´m looking at setting up my first Touring / Expedition rig.

Wondering if you wouldn´t mind commenting on Santos Bikes out of Holland? I see they make some great looking touring bikes, but only in Aluminium.…I asked them why they dont do Steel and their reply was that the Steel / Belt Drive combination is not good, ie to flexible and that the belt will wear just as fast as a regular chain, therefore, they go with Aluminium?? Any comment. Also, thoughts on the Belt Drive in Combination with a Rohloff Hub??

I´m looking at a go anywhere, do anything rig…2 week tours in Europe and RTW adventures. 

Thanks if you can help me out and keep up the great work 🙂

Hi guys, spoilt for choices,the steel v ali debate?? V brake or disc??Santos i havent seen but if its dutch id expect its a good bike, like koga who use aluminium for rtw touring(a reason people like ali is light for air transit, and it wont rust like steel) but can be a harsh ride,so invest in a suspension seat and a brooks saddle,backside will thank ya..Roholf or mech?? Roholf belt drive i have met a tourer using and he was happy with it, expensive combo but if it rolls for 100,000klm and comp have good rep. As it comes to preference and trail n error..I a bit like yourself wanted a rtw expadition bike. I got a thorn ripio frame which i then built up myself …doing that i chose my best spec bits xt tubus fsa brookes ergo etc( finding good reductions online) and most important get to know how it goes together ..useful as often u must rely on yourself to fix the problem and keep those wheels rolling:-) i like steel frames as they flex and are more comfortable with luggage…frames i would say are worth considering are as mentioned by others, surly lht , thorn and an excellent other is onone.…another option is to find a good old used bike/steel frame i.e 90’s atb/mtb models by specialised, trek, orange and upgrade as reqiured. Invest in strong wheels if offroading full loaded and good tyres, schwable marathon xr are excellent and after 20,000 klms they still got tread. A final thought an expensive shiny touring bike looks great to the owner and a theif, to protect my ride i wrap the frame in old inner tube and tape so protecting frame from damage and making my pride and joy look like a dirty ol ride! Thats all folks:-)

Thanks for the contribution!

Sadly the Schwalbe Marathon XR was discontinued years ago now 🙁

Hi tom and troops„, yeah the xr was too good „buy once product, found early originals recently 2 in holland…(where else.. for any tourers holland is ur candy store). So what u rollin on these days??? p.s u on a tour??? Bon route:-)

Not right now, no. But I have my own stash of XRs for when I am 🙂

Hi Tom, very interesting article. My wife and I are looking to buy touring bikes. We would use them in Europe initially — we have a small child who will be with us on a seat so we’ll leave Africa and Asia etc for a few years. I was thinking of a Genesis Croix de Fer , 725 reynolds probably rather than the expensive 931. What are your thoughts? Versatile but do you think they fall between two stools. Thanks, Mark

The Surly long Haul Disc Trucker not only Ticks all the Boxes but you will only ever need to purchase this bicycle Once No need to upgrade this bicycle will be perfect and last a lifetime of Touring wherever your dreams take you Go for the 26 wheels far stronger and gives you an extra gear on steep inclines happy cycling

Sorry, Now I have seen that you have an article about the Tern Link P24 and touring with a folding bike. My suggestion was totally redundant.

But no less appreciated! Thank you for a great summary (and much a much broader one than mine!)

Thanks Tom for all your great articles. I think that folding bikes are a serious alternative for long-term touring. Certainly less sturdy but have many advantages, easy to carry on planes or busses if needed or into hotel rooms and tents for added security. They are getting better with more reliable frames, even with full suspension (Reise und Muller birdy touring) and all the best specs up to Rohloff and dynamo hubs. Small wheels are not good beyond tarmac or good dirt tracks but there are a foding bikes with 24″ and 26″, though I will go for 20″ as a perfect balance between comfort, stable handling and still compact size when folded, bearing in mind it may nor be the best option to do the Pamir highway or crossing the Andes. There are some models speced for touring with pannier racks, mudguards etc. Tern link P24, Dahon MU with alfine 11 and the awsome Birdy. Worth considering.

[…] reading the reviews of Tom Allen and reading a bit about what is important in a touring bicycle, I became convinced that the Kona […]

Hello Tom, your website is amazing, well done! I’m about to undertake a long bike tour through Asia and Europe …unfortunately my budget is very limited. I think I will buy the kona sutra but I also saw this bike which I really like http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/anyroad.1/14819/66151/ Can you please give me some advice comparing the two models?

I will also convert the bike in an e‑bike with the golden motor magic pie conversion kit plus a solar panel . Do you think the conversion will affect the efficiency of the bike?

Thank you very much for the help Vince

Hi Tom, Great article thanks! I bought a 2008 Ridgeback Panorma World Tour in 2011 and I have loved every moment on it. It’s the old BMW grey model. I have been an occassional cyclist for much of my life but it was only when i got this bike that it really made me want to do more and more miles. We have done the UK coast to coast and will be doing the Way of the Roses in the next few weeks; also did Penrith to John O’Groats when I met up with friends doing LeJog. It eats up the miles and has been bullet proof. Once it’s rolling it flies and the Deore gearing gets me up anything. If anyone is considering this model I wholeheartedly recommend it. I swapped out the saddle for a Brooks B17 and put Ortlieb panniers on it and both have been unbeatable performers. I only wish I could match them 🙂 Cheers Mart

i thank for this advice.this would encourage many of them to cycle.i to got encouraged. i have cycled about Km400 this is just the start,i think all cyclist belong to one family.

I’m planning on building a bike for a round the world adventure but I’m overwhelmed by the choices of frames! Surly, thorn, Kona… The obvious choice for a frame would be a Surly Long Haul, but the geometry doesn’t fill me with excitement. My dream bike and frame is the Santos 2.6 (It looks and feels more like a MTB than a tourer), but at almost £800 for the frame it’s way out of my price range. Flat bars or butterflys are a must for me as I really don’t understand this facination with dropdowns. Top of my list currently and within my price range is a Surly Troll. What are your thoughts about the troll as a world tourer? Should I stick with the tried and tested Surly Long Haul (although I’m not sure if the LHT geometry is ideal for flat bars) or go a bit leftfield and try the Troll?

getting ready for a st malo — malaga ride in the spring and am looking at the Specialized Awol:

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/road/awol

How would you say it compares with the Kona Sutra?

Fantastic website, btw.…

It looks like an interesting bike, if a rather specialised one (sorry) — almost a dirt-road racer with luggage racks, which I think is what Kona have tried to do with the Sutra (mistakenly IMHO; should have been a new model altogether). It looks like a bike for light and nimble loads rather than fully-loaded touring, with 32-spoke wheels and the 10-speed Sora chainset. I’d be very interested to hear a road test report if you do go with it.

Bob Nally!! You may think trying to advertise in here is a good thing which either makes you extremely clever or extremely stupid, which is it folks?? thanks for the info Bob but just encase your advertising here hadn’t noticed this is a about info, advice and camaraderie between true people that have cyling in their heart and you may (or may not) realise this, anyway. guys im a very short woman 4.10 so finding it very hard to find a touring bike to suit me (my mountain bike is 14 inches) but i’m finding it very hard to find something withing my price limit Tom and everyone else, I’m looking for a man’s tourer that can suit my height (I CAN NOT STAND THE LOOK OF WOMANS BIKES) lol so hopefuly I can have Tom or someone else to give me a tip on a “short ass” tourer lol

Does Bob Nally work for Ash Cycles, then? If so, he probably has cycling in his heart too. I’m pleased to hear about it if there’s a relevant deal on, though it would be nice if people disclosed their affiliations of course.

What’s your price limit, Pam? The 26-inch Surly LHT is available right down to a 42cm frame. After that you’ve got seatpost, saddle, stem and cranks to tweak the fit.

For anyone looking for a new bike AshCycles (UK) have the Dawes Galaxy Classic 2013 (and many more bikes) discounted to £879.95 with free delivery.

Thanks for pointing this out!

Hi Tom, I´ve been falling you for over a year and love the movie and the book. I feel like the world is telling me to move south–I´m in Colombia right now and I want to go to Argentina. I am looking into bikes to buy here, and it is very difficult to find aone in a place full of little people (I´m 193cm tall). But that is a problem that I can manage. 

Here in Bogota, these types of cargo racks ( http://bogotacity.olx.com.co/biciclta-panadera-iid-578339198 ) are very popular and they can definately hold a bunch of weight (they usually come in black). I know that there would be wind issues, especially with the front rack–but what do you think of mounting one of these on the back or possibly mounting on both the front and the back of a bike. I´m not too worried about speed but much more worried about control. 

On another note, I bought this from kickstarter ( http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flykly/flykly-smart-wheel ) and when it is developed and shipped to me this summer, I plan to use it to get from point A to point B… I don´t know if it will work or not, the only downside is that I cannot change gears with it… We´ll see. 

On another note–can you recommend a book for learning how to repair/assemble a bike… 

Thanks in advance for the advice and I will probably have a hundred more questions in the coming weeks and months… Say hi to your brother Ben for me… If everything goes to hell in a handbasket, I might just fly to Lebanon in February for the big event.

Hey Wes… faced with a cargo rack decision like that, the only way to know for sure is to take one for a test ride. I think you’d attract a fair amount of attention if you did go with it! 🙂

The Park Tool website is the number one resource for bicycle repair tuition. I’m not aware of a specific book, though.

Drop me an email if you have any more questions — always happy to help.

Hi Tom, just discovered your website and am so inspired that my wife, daughter and I are planning a tour to Paris next year. Anyway…I have a Specialized Sirrus hybrid that to my novices eye seems to be similar to most of the touring bikes above. The only obvious difference being aluminum frame, flat bars and no racks etc. The components all seem similar. Would there be much point in changing to a tourer? Cheers.

If you can fit a rear rack to that frame, you’re good to go. Even if you can’t, a seatpost rack will do you from here to Paris. Enjoy!

Touring bikes are great if you need full camping gear. I rode a kona Jake the snake lisbon-istanbul, cuba etc, cyclocross bikes should be considered for light touring is.bivy sack and no cooking gear. Super fast, built strong to off road and just more fun and nimble to ride, if that’s your thing. I haven’t been carrying front panniers though, not sure how would ride. I’d encourage really trying to lighten everything up, gear and bike, more rewarding — but this does assume staying within a few hundred km of a store/restaurant/hostel although can be self sufficient for a few days.

Just love this site, ride on tom!

Thanks Yuri. I can count the number of times I’ve been more than a day’s ride from supplies on the fingers of one hand. Almost everyone could “lighten up” and go fast and nimble. I guess it depends on your priorities for being on the road!

Was wondering why you haven’t put any of the Thorn Bikes on your list?..Maybe the Sherpa would be a good mid-range,no? Ian

I haven’t read all the comments so I don’t know if it’s been mentioned (I’ll also hold my hands up here and say I work there) but if we’re talking mid-high end touring bikes then Spa Cycles are worth looking at — http://www.spacycles.co.uk there is now a steel tourer available which is competitively priced.

If we’re talking relatively small UK touring ‘brands’ then Thorn would be worth mentioning too.

Thanks Ben! I haven’t included Thorn here as they’re a bit pricey for the mid-range, but I’ll do so in a future piece on higher end tourers…

No problem, really enjoyed the film on Tuesday in Leeds. Has given me even more enthusiasm for riding the 270 miles home to Dorset for xmas in a week or so. 🙂

I did 6000 miles on my 2011 Cannondale CAADX. The Only upgrade was a pair of heavy duty handbuilt touring wheels a Son 28 Hub and some Schwalbe Marathons.…. I have to say it was the driest 3 month trip you could imagine so the lack of crap picked up to wear the Bike out was noticeable… The Only mechanicals, 2 broken cable and about 4 punctures. Get your bike looked over/serviced before you go and remember this, when you ride your bike normally, what usually goes wrong… I bet nothing.….

Hello Tom & thanks for your very useful and cheerful writings. I’m just getting back into bike touring, and still using my faithful 1977 Dawes Super Galaxy, nearly all original but with a re-enamelling job on the frame. Still pretty well perfect for my long but slow road trips. Brittany’s rolling country is a mine of varied and beautiful scenery : have you tried it? All the best

I haven’t been to Brittany since a school camping trip in 1999… maybe I should 🙂

Tom, you’d be very welcome! so yes, maybe you should! You have my e‑mail via this page, I imagine, so let me know if you’re over here & the Super Galaxy will be wheeled out! 🙂

Hi Tom I’m looking for a top end light tourer that’s very comfortable, capable of going as fast as a tourer can go and at home on Tarmac and on dusty tracks. I intend to carry minimal luggage too. How does the Van Nicholas Amazon (or Yukon) Rohloff compare to the Thorn Mercury? Which would you chose?

I’m sorry but I have absolutely no idea! The only way to know for sure is to ride both. It sounds like your requirements are quite specialised, whereas I’m only really intending to cover generalist mid-range tourers in this article. Sorry!

Thanks a lot for the article. The best I could find on the issue over the net.

My question is, did you get to try Kona Sutra 2014 already? I can’t find any comparisons ; 2013 vs. 2014 — yet there’s the huge change of frame.

I haven’t ridden it myself, but here’s my piece on the changes .

I’ve got a bit of a silly question : How should a touring bike “ride”? I’ve been on “racing” bikes forever and find them comfortable and fun to ride. I’ve been hunting for a touring bike and while they are comfortable to cruise around a bit, they seem far too upright for my riding comfort (makes me feel like I’m riding one of those cheap stationary bikes at the gym, on the first one I tried, I had to drop all the spacers on the stem to get comfy, but then ran into issues with the brake stop/hanger not clearing the head tube) and they feel a bit sluggish and hard to “toss around”, especially when out of the saddle on climbs, even in comparison to my light-weight steel mountain bike. I can see why ultra-low gearing is recommended if all you can do is sit and hammer up the climbs. Is that how it is supposed to be?

Hi Isaac I have recently ridden from Adelaide to Darwin on a Tout Terrain bike and I think there are several characteristics that make the touring bike the right one for you. You need to be comfortable if you are going to spend up to 10hrs in the saddle and the more upright positions of most ‘tourers’, seem to take the weight and pressure from your hands/ arms. Also, the touring bike should never feel “twitchy”, especially when loaded. My Tout Terrain rides the same when laden or un-laden and when you find yourself carrying 15kgs of water plus all other camping gear etc, the bike needs to be predictable. Many bike frames will twist when under a load; as a result, your control, reliability and comfort will suffer. I also like having handlebars that give multiple hand positions, which helps with fatigue. The other consideration is that you are an accomplished road bike rider. You are ‘familiar’ with this lower profile riding position and the road bike handling characteristics. This may be why every other riding position feels foreign. Load up a few different bikes including a road bike and try them out on a few long day trips. Consider the advice of others, but ultimately you need to enjoy touring and your decision should be based on what is right for you. As Tom advises, just get out there and problem solve. In essence, ‘touring’ is not a race and almost any bike can be used. You just need to select the one that feels right for you.

Cheers Mark — I echo these sentiments.

Have you tried riding one with a full load (i.e. 15–25kg luggage split between the front and rear)? A touring bike should feel reassuring and stable under such circumstances as it’s what they’re designed for. Riding them unburdened is not going to give you a realistic sense of the ‘ride’.

Cockpit setup is largely personal preference, I think. I’ve seen people touring on everything from upright shopping bikes to mountain bikes to racers with drops — it’s what you prefer. Personally I choose being upright and able to look at my surroundings rather than tucked down grinding away at the asphalt.

Tossing them around and hammering up climbs is not really part of the touring style — taking it slow and steady, especially uphill, is what allows you to reach the end of a day with a hundred k on the clock.

Hope that helps!

Bianchi Volpe

just wondering if a cheap tourer such as the Raleigh Royal or Revolution Country Traveller ’13 would be suitable enough for a first tour of say 3–4 weeks on EuroVelo network through Germany? have done a bit of mountain biking before, and am a commuting cyclist everyday but I don’t really know that much about bikes

Any comfortable bike will do you for 3–4 weeks in one of the most cycle-friendly countries on the planet!

I can vouch for the Revolution Country Traveller. For the money (£430.00 in the sale!) its a surprisingly comfortable and capable bike. Swapped the saddle to a Brooks but otherwise its been perfect.

I saw that the link for the Rocky Mountain Sherpa was broken. Here’s the new URL:

http://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/sherpa/2013

I am moving to Norway and want to get more into touring, would an 2005 trek 6500 mountain bike work for touring? Link to the bike http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2005/archive/trek/6500/#

Any bike will work for touring if you’re determined enough!

You’ll just need to find a way of mounting a rack. Tubus do seatstay clamp kits for bikes like this. Your other option is a trailer like the Extrawheel .

Thanks for the guide. Think I’ll go with the surly long haul trucker. Why? Because I saw a girl with one on the train after she’d come back from an across Britain ride. So I wanted one!

Lo mejor es que a partir de la accin y de la memoria del equipo. Una vez instalado aprieta el botn de encendido que ven en la nube. Sabemos que Nokia ha lanzado un nuevo juego java para celular, es que HTC podr renacer y volver a reproducirlo. La informacin recopilada en nuestro sitio Hoy 9tres tecnologia y servicios estimamos los mejores del ao. Llegaron a descubrir la agricultura y la envia a la interconexin entre centrales 9tres tecnologia y servicios y pblicas. La interfaz es mucho ms fcil, pero me parece curiosa la decisin 9tres tecnologia y servicios de Acer de incorporar Windows 8 que posee? brujerias para enamorar a un hombre http://journals.fotki.com/watersbaxq/my-blog/entry/krbkbqdfbfrr/

Tom have a look at Thorn Sherpa I have one it’s great

Hi Tom, it’s that time of the year when all you want to do is load up your bike, jump on the ferry to France and just go wherever the mood takes you. It’s also the time when you just devour all the reviews and conversations about bikes and gear and destinations. I love it. I’ve had my Dawes Super Galaxy for over 25 years now. It’s the single best item I have ever spent money on and, if I had to get rid of all my bikes bar one, it’s the one I’d keep. I’m in awe of its Rolls-Royce levels of reliabilty, comfort and smoothness. I’ve ridden 10s of thousands of miles on it and it still rides like a dream every time. All the way across the Pyrenees last year; fully loaded, 900kms, 50,000 ft of climbing, horrific weather, faultless. If the new models are as good as the old ones (and they should be) then you couldn’t go wrong with a Galaxy.

Hi, I am not new to cycling but am to touring. I just purchased a Tout Terrain SilkRoad Frame with derailleur hanger (not getting the Rohloff hub version) and want to build it up with durable components. Plan on using drop bars, 26″ wheels, and cable disc brakes. I also like grip shift but don’t know if this is compatible with drop bars, or even if they are still made. Would prefer mountain bike components. Any recommendations for which components group (model year 2013) to get that would be true and durable. I hear Shimano XT is good and light but durability is not what it used to be. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance. J

PS Cash is a factor but don’t want to sacrifice quality either.

Ideally you’d build an 8‑speed drivetrain from a mixture of components (8sp chains being thicker than 9sp and therefore longer lasting). Deore to XT ranges are durable and rugged. Beyond XT it’s about saving weight for racing, with durability sacrificed, so don’t go there. 

The rear derailleur will take more abuse than the front one. 9sp Shimano rear mechs work with 8sp shifters (at least, mine does).

Grip shifts are certainly still made but I have no idea about using them with drops…

Many thanks for your response Tom; the questions you wrote are certainly eminently practical and sensible.

Perhaps it could be assumed that 32 spoke set-ups are strong enough, given that Rohloff and the expedition bike manufacturers, who stake their reputation on reliability and longevity, use that set-up. Though, having said that, it seems Rohloff are now making a 36 hole hub (according to their website).

According to the Thorn website, spoke breakage was an issue; an issue they solved by drilling the spoke holes on the rim differently. Presumably Santos use the same technique as they also hand build their wheels.

You are absolutely correct in saying that the long distance cyclist should be able to repair such things as broken spokes and derailleur malfunctions (and etc). In terms of enjoying trips though, It’s much nicer if nothing goes wrong (ie Murphy’s law takes a holiday). As much as I enjoy servicing and working on my bikes (the mechanics are such “elegantly simple” bits of technology), I prefer the comfort of my own garage. For those reasons a reliable, strong and well prepared bike would be desirable — and that is an answer to your original question about “which bike?”.

Regarding derailleur and Rohloff gears — derailleurs have certainly stood the test of time, though newer sets with more gears may be more finicky than older versions. For that reason, and when the range of use-able gears is considered, the Rohloff hub is attractive (except for the cost — a 60000 km break-even point may not be achievable for many tourers). Interesting that you have heard of misfortunes with Rohloff hubs — I hadn’t, which indicates that I need to do more research. Perhaps a question to be considered here is, “why are top-end touring bike (and some MTB) manufacturers using Rohloff hubs?” Presumably the perceived reliability is a part of the answer to that?

Mind you, all the theorising in the world is still bound by practical experience. 4000 km into last year’s trip the drive train needed replacing (this inconvenience was my fault really, as I should have renewed the components before setting out — the bike was relatively new and I left the original equipment just to see how long good quality components would last). The chain and cluster were easily replaced, but I had to ride another 1000 km without the use of the middle chainring, until I was able to buy a suitable replacement. It was then that I started considering alternatives — a Rohloff hub is one possibility, perhaps also the gears at the bottom bracket, such as fitted to one of the Tout Terrain models.

Anyway, interesting discussion and I look forward to your assessment of the “upper” end of the touring bike market.

Thanks again

If it helps, the builders I’ve spoken with say that the 32 spoked Rohlof hub is stronger than a handbuilt 40 spoked tandem wheel. This makes sense when thinking about dishing and the inherent weakness it introduces to the wheel. The other thing, of course, is that it is easier to repair a broken spoke on the chainside of a Rohlof hub than on a dished wheel with a cogset.

This has been a very interesting discussion — many thanks.

In response to your original question about other brands that might be considered be considered; no one seems to have mentioned the Santos Travelmaster bikes, in 26 and 28 in sizes and in aluminium or cromo.

Now, if I may lead to a dilemma. In one of your responses you referred to a concern that a new derailleur gear system with 30 gears may not yet have been “proven” to be reliable for long tours (paraphrasing your response). That is a good point, borne out by my experience — my older 26 in MTB/hybrid has 21 gears (perhaps indicates how old the bike is) and has never needed adjusting, while my newer 28 in with 27 gears needs frequent attention. Even though I do all the servicing myself and can generally adjust the gears satisfactorily, it can be a pain spending time adjusting the gears while touring (I’d much rather be riding or photographing or sipping cappuccinos in a wayside café). This has led me to consider a Rohloff hub.

That leads to the dilemma. The Rohloff hub bikes (Tout Terrain Silk Road, Thorn Nomad, vsf TX1000 and Santos Travelmaster and possibly Gudereit are all under consideration) all use 32 spokes. I am nervous about dropping from 36 spokes. The theory is that, because the Rohloff hub does not require a “dished” spoke set-up, it is stronger (than the equivalent deraileur set-up). The issue is that I cannot find any info that states how much stronger. One blog mentioned that 26 in wheels are about 10% stronger than 28 in wheels (with the same number of spokes) — but what the 10% is “of” was not explained, and what the measurement of “strength” is was also not explained. Questions remain hanging — is a 32 spoke undished 26 in wheel stronger than a 36 spoke 28 in wheel, for example? What is the “hierarchy of strength” when considering 26 and 28 in, dished and undished wheels?

This leads, of course, to really basic questions such as, for example, “would a vsf TX1000 ( 28 in wheels with wider tyres) be as strong as my current 28 in with 36 spokes”? How much stronger are the Santos wheels with 32 spokes, given that they are hand-made? And so on…

So, if there is anyone who could shed light, with facts, on this dilemma, it would be very much appreciated.

As a final point, I wonder if the steel/aluminium frame issues is now a non-issue — an idea espoused by a metallurgist-cyclist when considering modern frames?

Many thanks

Hi Phil. Thanks for the detailed comment.

The main reason I haven’t included the Travelmaster here is because it’s a top-end touring bike, whereas in this article I’ve been focussing on mid-range bikes. I’ll definitely include it in a future article about top-end bikes, though, along with the other bikes you mentioned — thanks for bringing them to my attention.

Regarding hubs and spokes, I think that the important question here is:

“Would Rohlhoff hubs be fitted to top-end touring bikes if spoke-count was a real issue?”

I doubt it. I hear more tales of Rohlhoff internals failing than spokes breaking. Which begs another question:

“Is it easier to repair a derailleur system or a Rohlhoff wheel on the roadside?”

My money’s on the derailleur. That’s why I’ll keep using them over internally-geared hubs.

And instead of asking what percentage of extra strength 36 spokes gives over 32, I’d be asking:

“Am I able to replace a broken spoke?”

Because that’s what you’ll be thinking when a spoke does inevitably break 🙂

I’ve been using a VSF TX1000 for over a year & completed over 2,000 miles (fully loaded) last autumn through Spain & France on a variety of roads & canal paths… my experience has been very positive… the 32 spoke Rohloff & Son28 wheels show no sign of wear & are true as the day I got them????

Hi Tom! Any comments on the Brodie Elan: http://brodiebikes.com/2013/bikes/elan.php

I tested the Sutra but after trying both 56 & 59 could not make up my mind on what was the right size for me. I am 6 feet tall so I guess I might be somewhere in between. On the other hand I also tried the Brodie Elan 54 & 57 and the 57 felt to big for me… Thanks in advance for any feedback

I’m surprised that the Fuji Touring did not make your list. I’ve been looking around and it seems like a solid touring bike at a good price. 

BTW — I just stumbled across your site and I’m impressed! I’ll be back soon.

Hello, Tom. Why you advice only steel frame bicycles? There’s a lot bikes with alluminuim frame and fork. It’s lighter and easy to buy everywhere.

The main reasons are durability and for ease of repair. Steel has a much longer fatigue limit, and in case of breakage can be welded anywhere by anyone with basic welding equipment. Aluminium, on the other hand, needs specialist attention — in less developed countries this could mean going to an airport. Frame breakages are not uncommon on long-haul tours and that’s why most quality long-distance touring bikes are still made of steel.

Personally, I also prefer the ride quality of a steel frame; there’s a little more give over the very stiff ride afforded by aluminium. For long term comfort that does become noticeable.

For short and occasional touring, I have no doubt that most aluminium frames would be fine, though.

Tom, that old chestnut about a steel bike being welded anywhere by anyone is quite amusing. That is the theory. In reality it takes a skilled welder who has experience with bicycle frames to do that job properly. Yes, you might get a rough cut job to hold your frame together to the next port but on a loaded bike i would’t fancy it. And how many people do you know who have actually had this done in practice?

I do agree with you that the steel frame gives a much nicer and more comfortable ride and that such a frame has much better strength which are great reasons to get steel.

Lots. Including me (Yemen). Andy (India). Al (Sudan). Etc. There’s quite a list. Very common story on very long trips. The fact that any old welder can get you to the next port is the whole point. We all had steel frames and we all managed to continue riding.

On the other hand, I know several aluminium-riding tourers who ended up hitchhiking with broken bikes and then waiting around in cities for new frames to be couriered out because they couldn’t get them repaired at all.

Salsa , Rivendale , Co Motion , Koga Miata — if you looking for really nice touring bike. Expensive but for long run cheap — it is simple , you get quality what you pay for .….. Years back I on $ 400 sligtly modified Raleigh Tarantula MTB , ( now overhauled and equipt with top of the line comnponents still in use for trails in Rockies ) I did made trip from La Paz to Chile . Want to safe some money . It teach me ! Never ever I will make this kind of mistake again .…

Another bike similar to ones already mentioned is the Rocky Mtn Sherpa. I’ve been riding a 2012 model for 8 months and am pretty happy with it. Pros- 36 spoked wheels, 27 gears in a wide range, stiff frame. Cons- the braze on placement on the seat tube (the front derailler is attached between them), I’d like bigger chainrings up front, It doesn’t do well off-pavement.

Cheers, David. I wonder why Rocky Mountain haven’t fitted a rack to this bike — I know people can be picky about racks, but I do think touring bikes at this level should be ready to tour off-the-peg as well. Nevertheless, it certainly looks like a good option. Thanks for the addition!

I was looking at Jamis Aurora Elite 2013 (cannot find the 2012 anymore). However some reviews describe it as a “light tourer”. I understand the problem of the 10-speed cassette. But what would make it a *light* tourer.

A ‘light’ tourer would usually mean a bike that’ll carry some luggage on a relatively short paved-road tour, but probably suffer off-road and with lots of luggage in the long-term.

I have just purchased an audax cycle from my local cycle store (Surosa cycles in Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK) as they build their own frames.. and had it custom built with my chosen spec for a total of £1266 and it’s a very good bike with mudguards, and a heavy duty rear rack with rack bag and 56L panniers.. soon to have an addition of handlebar bag, and front rack and panniers and I’d feel happy to do some touring on that over any distance

That sounds like a good price for a custom frame and build. I’d be interested to know the spec?

People will choose their bikes according to all the factors mentioned by you, Tom, and by other contributors. For some, keeping costs low is paramount and for others, strength and reliability are the main considerations. I think there are also intangible factors such as each individual’s self image as a cyclist and the emotional resonance of one bike or another. I’m far from wealthy but I appreciate the inherent value of high quality engineering and get enormous satisfaction from assembling my own bikes. After much research and deliberation I bought a high quality European frame and a mix of German, Japanese, American and British components. The complete set wasn’t cheap but I did make a considerable saving compared with buying a similar bike off the shelf. I also bought a wheel truing stand and gauges, and built my own wheels. I wouldn’t claim to be an expert bicycle mechanic but the experience of assembling my own bikes has provided not only personal satisfaction but also great confidence for dealing with routine maintenance and potential problems while far from home. I don’t believe there is any one ‘best touring bike’ and I’m skeptical about such claims. The message I take from this section of your blog, not to mention many other bicycle related blogs and websites, is that bicycle touring is a growing phenomenon and that it is rich with variety, in both equipment and people. That is surely a good thing.

You are absolutely right; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I can completely appreciate the process of building a bike up from carefully-chosen top-end parts (as I did myself in 2007), just as I can appreciate the idea of rescuing an old bike from a scrapheap and bringing it back to life (as I’m doing right now)!

Thanks for the very thoughtful comment!

Just about to buy the Ridgeback Journey for some UK touring — perhaps France too next year. I’ve been seduced by the Alfine gearing. Am I being wise?

In 2009 my Roberts Roughstuff (with Rohloff hub) was stolen in Bulgaria with only 2000 miles on the clock. So that I could continue my RTW trip, I bought a Drag ZX5 mountainbike in Sofia, with replacement Schwalbe Marathon tyres, butterfly bars and comfy saddle, plus front and rear racks, stand, fenders and the two components of my wireless computer that had disappeared with the Roberts. The first bike cost just short of £3000, the second (Sofi) cost £500 and has now completed around 18000 miles. I’ve asked myself many times, ‘why did I bother spending all that money in the first place?’ The BMC paid out £250 in insurance btw.

Hi Anne i followed your adventures on crazy guy, was epic. Were the gears on Sofi deore or lesser Regards Pete.

I have almost completed a round the world bike ride on a Koga Signature with a Rolhoff gear system. During my four years on the road i have changed tyres, chain, brake pads and the bike was serviced in Australia and Los Angeles. I am still running with the original rims, no broken spokes and the Rolhoff is bomb proof. The Koga in my humble opinion is by far the best bike on the market. Ive been on wonderful smooth highways, Australia, USA and dirt roads that you wouldnt take a Land Rover on in Patagonia and Bolivia but the bike has just kept going, ive done over 30.000 miles on with not one problem, it still has the original bottom bracket. If you want to ride around the world buy any bike if you want to return home problem free then buy a Koga Signature.

Hi Robert, I was offered a World Traveller today for €1200 (2013 with 500kms) although I’ll probable go for the Kona Sutra as I perceive it to have a broader and more efficient range of use and I have no plans for outside Europe. How did you find your bike on load touring, daily tasks?

Sorry mate, we are going to drop the http://www.8pedsls.com site. To expensive to keep up for the entire 4 years. 

http://Www.facebook.com/8pedals http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=11458&v=3Z

So we are now on fb. And crazy guy on a bike. 

I would put my vote for the BB7s. A mechanical system may require more pull on the lever than a hydraulic system it doesn’t have all the potential service issues. The BB7 are durable and been around for a while. The nice thing about the BB7 vs the BB5 is that both pistons are adjustable on the bb7 making the setup and adjustment easier. Also the 7 brake pads are bigger than on the 5 which would make you think it stops better. I can’t comment on the ease of finding pads since they are not on my tour bike but since the bb7 uses a Juicy style pad it may be more common. For me I always carry spare pads regardless of where I am. The sintered metallic pads will give you longer pad life…just make sure that your rotor is rated for a metal pad. 

The other nice pluses for disc setup is no wear on the rim from brake pads, better stopping power in bad weather/muddy conditions and if you break a spoke or come out of true your brakes are still fully functional. The downside however is more strain on the hub shell and if you bend a rotor it can be next to impossible to get it perfectly straight…and there is the advantage of having both pistons adjustable on the bb7.

Hi Tom, I’ve read about Thorn bikes before (specifically the Raven) — any views?

Also, I would be interested to know why drop bars are so popular. I find a more upright cycling position more comfortable so would probably choose bullhorn or butterfly bars, but hardly any bikes seem to have these. 

What’s your view on disc brakes? I notice that the Kona Sutra has them — does it not cause an issue when you run into maintenance problems, especially outside Europe? (I would apply the same logic to hub gears).

I ride a Raleigh Royal, which is fine as a sturdy budget option (£500).

Thanks for article, really really useful!

The reason I haven’t included Thorn is that most of their models are above the price range I was aiming for here. I’ve never ridden one, but I have been told by several people that they’re great bikes, and that the people who make them are quite obnoxious.

I’ve found drops to be comnfortable, but I never use the dropped part except for shifting. I would imagine that’s fairly normal. Instead I make use of the various hand positions available on the upper part of the bars, which is at a height comparable to other types of handlebar once you’ve raised it with spacers and an angled stem, such as on the Kona Sutra. You get a very comfortable and fairly upright position out of that arrangement.

Before, I used an adjustable stem and riser mountain-bike bars. Now when I sit on that bike I feel like I’m on a Harley Davidson with pedals!

Disc brakes — well, models like the Avid BB7 have been around now for long enough to prove their reliability in the long term. They use the same cables and levers as V‑brakes, the mechanism is simple, and they’re maintenance free, except for changing the pads, which you can carry with you. They last longer and are lighter than V‑brake blocks. They’re also becoming easier to find spares for outside Europe. If your fork has V‑brake bosses, you’ve got that option in case of a really unlucky breakdown or accident. So I think the risk is now a very manageable one.

Thanks for the budget bike suggestion — I’ll work that into a future article.

All the best!

Hi Tom, and everyone! I’m one of those lucky enough to be able to afford several bikes, so I can make some comparisons based on experience. If you live in the U.K. it is definitely worth looking at the Thorn bikes as they are just so well built and I can vouch for the ride being ultra comfy and smooth for long days in the saddle. If you look at their prices they seem to be expensive at first but on their website they often have amazing deals on bikes they already have built up. They are absolutely worth it and are designed by someone who really knows how to get touring DNA and experience into a bicycle. The Surly Troll is another great choice with even more versatility in the drivetrain area but rides more like an MTB ( which it is ) than the Thorns. A word of advice for those who are wondering how to carry stuff. get a Burley travoy, the trailer that packs up into a shopping bag. It is a game changer and can carry a lot.You can get the load off your bike with it and still have a rack and space for other gear on your bike frame. Sometimes you can park it and ride your bike ‘naked’ without being bogged down with gear. It is the single most amazing piece of touring gear I have.

Ooops! Forgot to mention about disc brakes. I’ve got both systems. I find that disc rotors need to be perfectly flat for good performance and once they get bent even slightly on a tour they don’t function as well and are a pain to straighten out. They also can squeal a lot. For the first reason I found V brakes better for serious touring. Even though the disc fashion is popular now, i wouldn’t go that way for touring and seriously, a good pair of V brakes will stop you just as well. Concerning hub gears. My Rohloff and Alfine units have given me ZERO problems and i mean zero plus they are weatherproof. Derailleurs are not . If you have good mechanical skills you(ll be happy with them but if not definitely go IGH if you can afford it.

A tip for straightening out a bent rotor is to use an adjustable spanner to grip the rotor at the warped point and then give it a few nudges back in the right direction. With a bit of care this’ll cure all but the most traumatic bends.

Thanks for the comment! I have heard lots of good stuff about Thorn, and I’m sure they deserve their reputation. I’d put them in the “top-end” category on price point, which is why they’re not included here. One day it’d be nice to try one out… (hint!)

Re drop bars: I wouldn’t want to tour without them, and I use them a lot, but especially when I have to ride into the wind. On any tour, there will be long hours, and sometimes days, when the wind is blowing head-on, and I’d go nuts if I had to be sitting straight up, catching the full force of the wind, the whole time. However, it’s important to note that not all drop bars are the same. Some bars are marketed as “randonneur” bars, and they allow for a wide range of positions, which is really important as you can change positions frequently and relieve tension on your hands, wrists, neck and shoulders. On my current bike, a Surly Long Haul Trucker, the stock (drop) bars are very good. I probably spend the most time with my hands on the top section of the bars, but it’s a blessing to be able to get right down into a crouch when I have to ride into the wind.

The Paul Hewitt Cheviot is a very good bike too.

Tom I think the comment that the 5 models you showcased are basically the same bike is spot on. Yes there are bikes with better components but the few that you chose will do the job. Its easy to build a $5000 tour bike and I have seen several. However at the end of the day I would prefer to have a tough as nails work horse that doesn’t mind another scratch or two. 

I laugh as I think that my wife’s tour bike frame, a steel Rocky Mountain Soul, was perfectly fine and yet was about to be thrown into a dumpster when I saved it. Put a fork on it for 75 cents from the reuse it center and then built the rest from bits and hand me downs of solid mid range mtb components. For a few hundred dollars I built a bike that has easily survived several hard tours. It took a little time and patience but in the process I learned how to fix just about everything on the bike. Not to mention the satisfaction of giving it a new life. Now I would never consider buying a new bike from a shop. There are just so many great used bikes that would make a perfect tour bike project. With the internet as a resource you can research just about every part there is. It however takes time.

One more little story. On our trip to India, one of our group bought a $100 bike off craigslist in Vancouver. We checked it over and and made sure everything was sound and then shipped it over. She rode it for a month on tour and then donated it to an orphanage. Think they were happy? It was a pretty special moment. Would I have ridden it around the world…maybe not but it served the purpose and then some. Sometimes its just not about the bike.

Hey Henric — thanks a lot for this perspective. 

I agree that renovating an old bike is just as valid as buying a new one. (In fact, that’s a project I’ve got on the go at the moment.) I do also think, though, that there’s room for everyone to have their own way of approaching the situation — a new bike might be what takes someone from a dreamer to a die-hard cycle tourer — and for another person, the love that goes into a rebuild of a completely unique vintage bike may achieve the same thing.

Thanks for your input!

I pulled an old green Chicago Schwinn Varsity off the trash when I was in High School, fixed it up and rode it for a long time. Last year I put new wheels and tires on it, and then had to replace the rear derailleur. This year I’ve put saddlebaskets on it and use it to go to work everyday, and am planning to take it on a short 200 mile tour this summer. The only gripe I have with it is that the original gearset doesn’t have quite a low enough first gear for the hills in Albuquerque, but when I get back to Chicago next week it should be just fine again. Absolutely reliable bike (though it’s really heavy at 45lbs without the baskets, close to 55 or 60lbs with the baskets)

Fantastic. That’s the spirit.

I love my Surly Troll.

A real work horse and rides suprising well both loaded and unloaded. I personally think it’s better than the LHT because it’s a great alrounder.

It does look good. Rear triangle & caliper positioning like the Sutra. Very flexible-looking setup!

I’m lucky enough to own a pair of touring bikes, a Thorn Sterling ( discontinued I think ) and a Troll, both built to my spec, with Shimano XTR v brakes ( I don’t like discs, squeaky, rotors too easily bent ‚hard to replace on a tour, and extra weight ), They are both fantastic bikes but with a different ride quality. The Surly is a bit more agile, rides more like a trail bike, but for putting on the miles when you are going to be riding seven or eight hours a day, the Thorn just cruises through it sffortlessly. It’s also one solid bike. Don’t believe i’ve ridden any another frame that is as comfortable as the Thorn for long days in the saddle. For those shopping for a tourer, I’d give careful thought to whether you’ll be on or off road. Both of my bikes can handle either but they both excel at only one.

For several years I have gone on a European cycle tour with my tent and cycled for a period of no more than six weeks. I have had a couple of good touring bikes which I upgraded the wheels to Mavic 719 and the gears to Shimano XT As I got older now 62yrs of age I decided to invest in a Thorn Mercury straight handlebars and a Rolhoff Hub including Disc Brakes the result is perfect my saddle is a Brooks B 17 the bike is a dream to ride 853 Reynolds Steel Stiff and flexible to enjoy many miles in the saddle As for the Rolhoff I could Never Tour with a derailleur gears again the Rolhoff is all they say it is German engineering at its best the people at Thorn did a first class job their manner appears firm but they certainly know their business and I am really pleased with my byclcle Thorns lowered the gearing to its maximum and I can climb most hills fully loaded if it’s touring on Tarmac with the occasional canal towpath I recommend the Mercury byclcle and with Swarbe marathon plus tyres your bike is bomb proof I am always amazed when cyclists talk about weight on a byclcle yes if you are racing but when you Tour a couple of kilos really makes no difference my only regret is I didn’t purchase a Rolhoff years ago not cheap but it will last you a lifetime and should you upgrade your bike you can transfer it to your next byclcle making the former into a single speed for training purposes as for disc brakes when I am fully loaded coming down a steep mountain side I know I can safer stop otherwise it’s possibly very hot wheel rims and possibly wheel failure it just depends on what kind of cycle touring you wish to do if it is traveling in south east Asia 26* wheels and no disc brakes but after cycling for over 50 years I believe I have finally found what works for me

Hey Tom. Just found your site. Thought we would say hi. We are in the midst of organising a lap around the world in 2014. For 3 years. Great site look forward to investigating it further. We r using 1 Surly lhdt, 1 world Randonneur $ 2 giant boulder bikes. Check it out under bike specs on out 8pedals site. Early days for us. 

Thanks! (Everyone else, check out 8pedals.com !)

Walmart sells nice bikes (really). I ride combined packed dirt (nation forest) roads and paved. I use a dual suspension 21sp MTB upgraded with wide seat and swept back handlebars, better tires. Racks and other acc. as needed. for $250USD you can replace it every 2 years, transfer the custom parts to the new bike and still sell the old one for $35. Thieves know its a cheap bike and don’t bother it, joyriders main threat. My current bike was a $89 model, but I installed wide range gearing in addition to the other modifications. Going on 4 years 8500 miles, frame still good.

re your comment “They’re all built primarily for paved roads, but could handle a dirt track or two if need be.“ I bought a Surly Long Haul Trucker for a tour that included hundreds of kilometres of gravel road, and it was fabulous. A key factor was to use fairly beefy tires (1.75”). The setup on the Surly allowed getting down on the drop bars for long stretches against the wind, but enough cushioning in the tires (and frame) to make rough sections comfortable. I suspect this would be true of most of the bikes you mentioned, as long as they have room for wide tires. There have been a few loose dirt trails where a mountain bike would offer better control, but the Surly has been an ideal compromise for most of my rides.

After perhaps 25,000 km of touring we lashed out and bought Thorn Nomad each, with Rohloff. These are a little heavy, but the most comfortable and durable bikes imaginable…the Rolls Royce of touring. We can’t speak too highly of the Rohloff hubs.…just fantastic. But then, we travel slowly and thoughtfully.….you might say “savoring the experience”.…too old to do it anyother way! Check out Thorn’s website.

i would agree with the above. The Nomad is like a two wheeled tank, bit heavy, but can carry loads and tackle almost everything thrown at it. Slowly and thoughtfully ? ……… i couldn’t have put it better.

Hey, Tom! Since I have come back from my first bike tour to Europe I decided to buy Kona Sutra but question about what sixe should I choose is too complicated for me. I am 6 ft 2 inch. Thank you.

Hi Alex. The best thing to do by far is to test ride the different sizes. But if that isn’t an option, my brother is 6′2″ and he has the 59cm model, which fits him very well, if that’s of any help.

i have no money what small improvements could i make to my cannondale quick cx 4 2012 to make it a little better for touring

I would start by going on a tour with it and seeing if you run into any issues — depending on what you’re doing, it might be fine as-is!

Was all set to go for the Kona Sutra 2012 after much research and your review for a 1000km trip in SE Asia followed by a coast to coast of Oz, but just seen the Dawes Super Galaxy for £1125 at Spa Cycles. Almost the same price as the Kona. Would be interested on your thoughts on the Super Galaxy. I don’t plan on carrying much weight if that helps.

I’ve never ridden the Super Galaxy, so all I can say is going on the specs on the website. They look very similar, although the Super Galaxy has marginally better drivetrain components and better tyres. On the other hand, the Sutra has powerful disc brakes, bar-end shifters and a stronger/more widespread 9‑speed drivetrain, rather than the Dawes’ 10-speed which I consider a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

I’d toss a coin, or take them both for a ride and go with your gut!

Quick update — several stores are doing the 2012 Sutra at a discount now, including the two links in the article above…

Hey Tom, I went with the Kona Surtra based on my gut feeling and it felt right when I test rode it. Thanks for the link to cyclestore and your advice. I did a 3000 miles plus tour of SE Asia quickly followed by JOGLE on a mountain bike which was blast, but very much looking forward to journeying on a proper touring bike. Should make things less laborious hopefully. 

Top website!

Have to say I was a bit surprised at your mention of ‘stupidly expensive’ bikes then trying to claim that £1500 is a mid-range price. Anyway I have a Dawes Ultra Galaxy Ti and love it!!!

£1500 is a mid-range price 😉

My wife and I have had our Ridgeback Panorama’s for a couple of years now and are really pleased with them. We would, however, agree with Mark’s comment about the brake pads/blocks. Fortunately, easily rectified with a better brake block compound. We find that, when fully loaded, the bike comes into its own with regards to comfort, response and stability due, I think, to the Reynolds 725 tubing.

I bought a Panorama for touring in the Alps. Testing around Rutland hills I realised the brakes weren’t even good enough for here, let alone 25mile descents. I swapped them for Tekto mini “V” brakes available from Spa Cycles for £25. More than enough braking power now, it made a huge difference.

Hi Tom, I followed your adventure to the Arctic. Good to see you passing on your knowledge. Both my DH and I have Koga Randonneurs and I love mine. He preferred his Dawes Super Galaxy that he had upgraded with the Koga multiposition bars unfortunately , it was stolen and never recovered. They come complete with dynamo for lighting and I have a gizmo to charge the I phone. Good to find your site again. Brenda

Thanks for the article. A bit disappointing recumbents are not mentioned, as these are hands down the best bicycles for long distances. The first question should always be: Do I have a reason for not choosing a recumbent?

I can think of several — price, availability and familiarity are the first three. 

I do appreciate all the arguments for the benefit of recumbents, but this article was intended to highlight mainstream mid-range options, and unfortunately recumbents are still a long way from being part of that. I’d love to run an article about them, but not until I have some first-hand experience…

Great article Tom, I suspect most of us spend too much money on our bikes. Its refreshing to see someone write about the mid-rangers. Rather than the “you need this bike with Rohloff, Son, Magura, tubus” that you read on most sites..

Too true. I’ve got an interesting article in the pipeline which will go even further in the ‘budget’ direction. Watch this space…

I’ve just completed a tour on my new Vivente World Randonneur 

It’s probably at the upper end of the middle for touring bikes, if that makes any sense. But for me doing heavy highway touring it is ideal. Strong, stable. The dynamo on the front wheel is excellent at charging up all my electronics.

As you said, a bit pricey, but a lovely looking bike — thanks!

Is it possible to put a dynamo for charging up a GPS and iPhone on the front wheel of a Surly LHT? Does it reduce speed much?

Go for it. I have done it and could not be happier. The reduction in speed is minimal.

+1 for the Ridgeback. Like you say, everything is a compromise and in the Panorama’s case the manufacturer has skimped on the brake pads the most. Happily this is easily fixed. Another slight annoyance was caused by the shifters, which needed the addition of brake noodles to route the gear cables away from the handlebar bag I added — couldn’t quite justify 105 levers with integral cable routing for a tourer. Top bike, highly recommend it!

Novara safari is a great and inexpensive tourer sold at Rei Cheaper then any of these by a large margin with butterfly handle bars Novara randonee is more in line with what is here Khs tr 101 very complete even includes clipless pedals.

Thanks for this, Andrew. I had a look at the specs of these bikes. As you say, the Novara Randonnée is a closer fit for this list of mid-range tourers, though I would still be concerned about the rear rack’s strength and the 10-speed drivetrain. It’s also missing fenders. Otherwise it looks like a good bike at a good price. 

I’d probably put the Safari in the ‘budget’ category rather than the mid-range, due to it having a lot of entry-level components. While that’s fine for short tours and commuting, I’d be concerned about its long-term durability on a big tour, where the aim is to reduce the likelihood of repairs and replacements.

The KHS TR 101 looks like a very capable road tourer — I’d like to see some real life reviews.

Thanks again!

Also love your site and check my rss reader for your posts daily such a inspiration keep on riding man :).

I’ve done short tours on my Randonee for years, and love it. Hildy (my Randonee) climbs hills like a madwoman and can haul as much cargo as need be quite handily. The bike will even handle mild off-road. I’ve long since worn through the stock tires, and replaced them with Schwalbe Marathon tires. 

I’ve replaced the rear rack, but I’m told by many that the tock rear rack is quite sturdy. (I already owned a pair of Tubus racks from my previous bike when I bought the Randonee.) This fellow rode from Florida to Washington State on a Randonee, and used the stock rear rack. 

I have an older Randonee that has a 24-speed drivetrain, and I have to say that I share your concern about the newer, 30-speed drivetrain. It seems odd that they would put a 10-speed cassette on a touring bike. However, I am pleased to note that they have gotten rid of the old STI shifters and moved to the more dependable bar-end shifters. If I had the spare cash, I’d have those installed on Hildy. 

The Safari looks like a fun bike for short tours that contain off-road components, but I’d worry about those disc brakes on tour.

I put a huge vote in for the Surly. I can say I’ve treated mine like a mountain bike on previous tours and it’s never been a problem. Its just built to take any punishment I fell like dishing out.

I have had negative experiences with an older Kona Sutra; however, it was with the former placement of the bb7 brake caliper and subsequent rear rack configuration with a huge bolt and spacers. It’d just sort of snap whenever we were running late, battling poor weather, or having trouble finding camp. Now that they’ve moved the brake to the lower chain stay, that problem is gone and the rack is likely as bombproof as the frame.

Yeah, that’s probably what prevented it from being taken seriously for so long — I’ve read some similar comments about older models. I probably wouldn’t have included it here a few years ago, but I can attest to its vast improvement in the last couple of years. Had an interesting chat with Kona’s designers in Vancouver earlier this year — they decided to redesign it from the ground up, rather than try to beef up a road-bike design as they’d previously done.

I had a 2007 or 2008 Sutra and one of the rear rack eyelets broke off during the first week of my very first tour. I finished the ride with the rack held up with bunch of zip ties. I was very disappointed with that frame.

A good bargain i.m.o. would be the vsf Fahrradmanufaktur TX-800 XT with 30 gears. handmade in Germany, complete Shimano XT-Group, Tubus Cargo and Tara lowrider racks (made out of Steel tubing, Magura hdraulic rimbrakes, a XT hub dynamo and a pretty good, rigid wheelset including some Schwalbe Marathon 47–622 reflex tires. There are Shops in GB too, in € it would be 1499,-. Of course, a sturdy steelframe and-fork.

Or, my ride of choice, the Surly Troll (mine is a custom-setup by myself, but the complete bike gets some good reputation too), more like a Offroad-Utility-Bike. (can be driven with V‑Brakes, Disc-Brakes, a Rohloff Hub, a normal rear derailleur or even singlespeed). http://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll The parts on the complete one wasn´t what i had in mind so i bought the frame and fork for 380 €

Thanks for the comment and suggestions!

The Fahrradmanufaktur looks like good value for money, as you say. I wouldn’t take a 10-speed chainset far beyond Europe, though — very new tech and with every increment comes a narrower, weaker chain, with spares almost impossible to find outside high-end bike stores. My first expedition bike was built with a 8‑speed rear mech for exactly that reason. Even a 7‑speed would still be stronger and easier to find parts for in most of the world.

The Troll reminds me of the Explosif I built from the frame up for off-road touring. Looks absolutely great if you want to build your own and ride a lot of dirt! Shame only a few stores import them over here in the UK.

Tom, and All Others, 

Can I ask for your opinion on the new Fahrradmanufaktur bikes? I was about to purchase one, but I’m a bit unsure for two reasons: 1) It has hydraulic brakes. Do you think that would require more (complicated) maintenance? 2) It’s a women’s frame. I haven’t seen many female frames among long distance touring bikes. Is there a good reason for that?

This is the original TX-400: http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/katalog/expedition?product_id=668

And this is the one I’m eyeing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/371133699189?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thank you, I would really appreciate your input on this.

Sofia, I’m a woman travelling around the world with the TX-800. The Magura hydraulic brakes don’t need any maintenance, just changing brake pads when needed (very easy, with a click). I have the male frame as I always had male frames in all my bikes and it’s what I’m used to. Another Spanish girl is also travelling around the world with the TX-400, male frame, and also happy with it. The advice the experts give is always the same, try to test both of them, male and female frame, and see how they feel.… Good luck!

Hi I bought the TX-400 last year and took it on 10 tour of Oman. It’s a really great bike! Very sturdy, and of course heavy but very easy to handle. My ony complaint was the company’s website. Everything is in German and they are very difficult to communicate with. Tried registering the bike using the website but couldn’t as it was in German. So a called them and emailed them a couple of times… again with no response. So my worry is that if on a longer trip I need to get spares, how could will their service be?

I guess it was many us who thought the same, as vsf fahrradmanufaktur have translated their webpage into English and Dutch… 

Regarding contact, our experience was totally different. We had a lot of doubts before buying the bikes, and although they kept telling us to contact the retailer, they replied most of them, even sending the bike documentacion translated into English, a list of spares,… Communication has always been in English.

As for their service, I had to use it twice in this trip, nothing serious, and it was very easy. I guess it helped that I was cycling through Germany at that time. They arranged for a shop in Leipzig to tight my cassette that had become lose, and they sent new pedals to another shop in Dresden as I wasn’t happy with the spinning of the ones that came with the bike. So far… so good. Hopefully I don’t need to contact them anymore!! 🙂

I’ve also got a TX800, it’s hugely strong and very well built, and will happily go anywhere a mountain bike will go, even when fully laden. It’s not the fastest bike but very reliable and robust. So far have only ridden the highlands of Scotland (including off-road touring) and a quick trip to Ypres plus 800 miles of commuting but the Zanskar valley beckons… 

To sum up this bike, think flat handlebars and fat tyres. Surly LHT, Dawes Galaxy, Koga typically have drop handlebars / skinny tyres, and will get you there quicker. The TX800 has a very upright position and quick (light) steering, ideal for circumnavigating rocky trails (like a Landover) but if you are the slow lad/lass at the back wanting to keep up then buy something skinnier.

This is a proper trekking bike, suited to carrying heavy loads away from tarmac. (And very reliable commuting, but not too quickly…)

Oh, and it comes in bright black and day-glo brown. It’s a German thing…

Believe it or not, an excelent touring bike is an old style Shwinn Varsity, 1982. With its steel frame, steel wheels, Suntour components, top-pull Diacompe breaks, narrow width drop handlebars, this bike is suprisenly stable and so well balanced you can ride no handed for as long as you like. Mine was a 25 inch frame, 27 inch tires. Tough long lasting and and inexpensive, I paid $175 used. My current touring bikes include crom-moly and aluminum, yet this steel Shwinn is probably my overall favourite

I have toured mainly in Europe always on Tarmac or the odd canal route my byclcle has been a Edinburgh Counrty traveler two years ago I opted for a Genesis day one steel frame bike with a Alfine hub I have since changed the handle bars to straights with bar ends this stopped the pain I developed between my shoulder blades after cycling 90 miles or more I also went to Thorns who fitted a Rolhoff 14 gear internal hub yes it was expensive however I must confess I would Never want to tour on a derailleur system again I appreciate the derailleur system can be easily repaired however the Rolhoff Hub has 14 distinct gears and it certainly does the job beautifully many of my friends who also tour and have cycled on both sets of gears now would not go back to a derailleur system my advice is you can cycle or your on just about any toe of byclcle Tom Allen has proved that but in life you get what you pay for I would personally recommend a steel fram touring bike good set of wheels Swarbe Marthon Plus tyres Bomb proof and a once in a lifetime investment purchase a Rolhoff the world then is your oyster and should you decide to later go for an expedition byclcle you can take your Rolhoff with you and transfer it to your new bike as it gets better with age

Hello we are currently cycling from Barcelona to Australia and using vsf tx400 fahrrad manufakture.the bike is great the only weak point do far are the tyres for us. We have it comes with schwalbe marathon mondiale which for us are not strong enough as we had to repair so many puncture. We think is a great bike and awesome value for money but just consider the tyres. ?

I bought my VSF 1,5 years ago from a dealer in NL, he says when buying from factory a lot of small adjustments needed to be done by him as the derailleur and that jizz wasnt properly adjusted, same i can imagine with the rear cog. I love how it is specd! Love the front dynamo light as it is bright as hell and the rear light stays on after stopping for a minute or two which is great regarding saftely. The frame (60cm for me) is not to stiff but very comfortable during my 10.000 K trip last year.. Also definitely a rear kickstand is a must, I have always had a centre stand but Rear kickstand has been amazing. I added an Andra Ryde rear rim that has proven to be bomb proof under load. I love the bike. But keep in mind that if you get rimbrakes or discbrakes it is impossiple to change after purchase as the frame is not compatible for both simultaniously.

I bought a Dawes Super Galaxy 2001 second hand in a fairly sorry state. I guess it was 30 years old then. I have ridden through Brittany on it 3 times and use it every day. I’m on my third set of wheels and it has had 2 complete drive train changes. I have been thinking about getting a new bike for 5 years but them I spend $100 on new bits and keep it going. Anyway, it was built to last. Don’t know if the new build quality is as good?

That’s the mark of a good frame!

I’ve picked up a 2013 Kona Sutra from bikes.com.au for $1200. The Dawes is now chained to the shed like the old dog out of Babe (sheep pig). I am loving the Sutra. I use it every day commuting and it is very comfortable. The saddle was hopeless but my old saddle suits the bike well. Anyway, thanks for the advice, think I got a bargain.

Sounds like an extremely good deal. You’re right about the saddle, but I can’t remember buying a single bike for which I didn’t replace it!

Hi Tom I have purchased a Genesis Day One with an Alfine 11 speed Hub To climb the Steeper hills I have changed from a 42 tooth to 38 front ring and an 18tooth on the rear Would this bike be suitable for European Touring can you advise please

Practically any bike is suitable for European touring, as long as it’s comfortable enough to ride all day. You’re never more than a few miles from a bike shop or train station if something goes wrong. I know people who’ve toured Europe on bikes from scrapheaps.

That is not budget.

…or VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 — either with Rohloff or not. https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/de/katalog/expedition-2017/tx-400-rohloff-speedhub-14-gang

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• Touring & Bikepacking Bikes

Here Are The 13 BEST Touring Bikes You Can Buy In 2022

Table of Contents

How did i select the best touring bikes, coronavirus supply chain issues, 2022 masi giramondo (us $1299), 2022 co-motion deschutes (us $2645), 2022 riverside touring 900 (€1299), 2022 cube travel (€899), 2022 koga worldtraveller (€2199).

• 2022 Rose Multisport 1 (€1249)

2022 Kona Libre AL (US $2099)

2022 focus atlas 6.7 eqp (€1899), 2022 cube sl road pro fe (€1199), 2022 brodie mega tour (ca $1625 / us $1300), 2022 genesis longitude (£1199 / us $1600), 2022 panorama taiga exp (ca $3199 / us $2500), 2022 on-one rocky road (£1299 / us $1750).

Today, we’re talking about the best touring bikes you can buy – with their price factored in. This is going to be a long article with a tonne of advice, so strap yourselves in.

We’ll start by discussing the most important aspects of a touring bike. We’ll then go through each touring bike category where I’ll be revealing my picks.

The cool thing is that even if you don’t like my picks, you can apply this knowledge to any touring bike you’re looking to buy – expensive, cheap, new or second hand.

To arrive at this shortlist, I’ve narrowed down the 270 different models that are featured in my 2022 Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide . This book goes into way more detail than I possibly can in this article, so if you’re interested – grab yourself a copy.

The first thing I did was calculate the low climbing gear  of every bike in my book.

Low climbing gears are important for bicycle touring as they allow you to ride up hills at a sustainable effort with all of your luggage. When your climbing gear is too high, you’ll be working much harder than necessary, which results in more muscle fatigue, and frankly, makes hills much less enjoyable.

To compare the lowest climbing gear of different touring bikes, we’ll be using a unit of measurement called gear inches .

This is the diameter of the wheel, times the size of the front chainring and divided by the size of the rear cog. With this information, we can compare bikes with different wheel sizes, tyre widths and drivetrain setups.

I’m looking for 20 gear inches or less for paved roads, and less than 18 gear inches for dirt roads. But really, the lower – the better!

Don’t worry about the fact we’re using inches as the unit. These numbers aren’t ever converted, and they are relative too. For example, a bike with an 18-inch gear will climb 10% slower than a 20-inch gear, which means you’ll either find the same hill easier – or you can use this mechanical advantage to carry more goods.

I next assessed the frame geometry for each of these bikes. I’m looking for bikes that are long, upright and have the appropriate steering characteristics for the handlebar type.

More specifically, I’m looking for long chainstay and wheelbase lengths, a tall ‘stack’ height up front, and slower steering speeds (more trail) on the bikes that offer higher steering leverage (flat bar bikes).

I then narrowed things down further by determining the bike’s value for money .

As touring bikes have a pretty hard life, the price points I have chosen are where you get the most reliability and performance for your money. These bikes are almost always priced between US $1000 and $2500. If these prices are still too high for your budget, find an older version of these bikes second-hand and you’ll never be disappointed.

Frame stiffness is another important consideration for a touring bike.

The majority of touring bikes support a front and rear load, and your frame is the medium that needs to resist the twisting forces between these two points. A bike that is not stiff enough will feel unstable, and can more easily induce speed-wobbles.

When it comes to the handling, stability and general feel of a touring bike, we want our frames to be as stiff as possible without weighing a tonne. An appropriately stiff bike will use oversized frame tubes that make it feel very stable when it’s all loaded up.

Due to the heavy loads and uneven road surfaces, touring bikes really benefit from wide tyres.

Narrow tyres work well on smooth roads, but the reality is that there is very little speed penalty to using a wide slick, which you’ll find is more comfortable and will take you on more varied terrain.

The optimal tyre with fender clearance for most on-road touring bikes is around 50mm or 2.0″. This configuration allows you to fit narrower tyres on the smooth tarmac, but also switch to 2.2″ mountain bike tyres if you find yourself on dirt roads.

If you’re riding exclusively on dirt roads, you will find tyres wider than 2.2-inches to be the best option.

And lastly, I’ve prioritised bikes that have kickstand mounts.

It’s crazy how many touring bikes don’t have the option of fitting a kickstand. My kickstand is just 250 grams (9oz) and I use it dozens of times per day – that’s whenever I pack my bike, re-supply at the shops, take a photo or maintain my bike.

One last note, COVID has wreaked havoc on the bicycle supply chain, and there is also unprecedented demand for bikes. This means that you will likely have to wait a while for these bikes after ordering – some more than others.

Best Touring Bikes: Long-Distance

Long-distance touring bikes are optimised to carry heavy loads on a mix of road surfaces, however, they specialise in smoother surfaces. This is the kind of bike suitable for cycling around the world on primary or secondary roads.

My drop bar touring bike pick for 2022 is the Masi Giramondo. This bike stands out thanks to its price, which surprisingly went down recently.

The steel Giramondo offers a great climbing gear of 18 gear inches, which is 14% lower than the average bike in this category. You’ll find a generous 50mm tyre clearance, long chainstays, bombproof bar-end shifters, and excellent TRP mechanical disc brakes.

When you consider this bike comes with Tubus steel racks valued at US $250, it’s even more of a bargain.

If you haven’t heard of Tubus racks, these are the best in the business. I’ve never broken one, but in the unlikely event that you do, Tubus will send you a replacement, free of charge, anywhere in the world – for the first three years. They then go on to provide a 30-year guarantee.

With popular mass-produced touring bikes like the Kona Sutra now cracking the $2000 mark, this makes the slightly more expensive, but USA-manufactured Co-Motion Deschutes a very appealing option.

The Deschutes features larger diameter tubes than almost every steel bike available, which results in one of the stiffest steel touring bikes. Even when it’s loaded to the brim, you can expect this bike to handle very well.

The quality of drivetrain parts is better than most bikes in this category too. It’s fitted with high-performing Shimano 105 shifters that are hooked up to an 11-speed mountain bike derailleur (via a shift-ratio converter). This allows the fitment of a larger cassette to yield the 20″ climbing gear.

Moving on to flat bar touring bikes, the Riverside Touring 900 made it onto this list thanks to its exceptional price point.

This tourer is fully decked out, ready to go. It has racks, fenders, pedal-power dynamo lights, an ever-popular Brooks B17 saddle, ultra-tough Schwalbe touring tyres and a full Shimano XT groupset, which is about as good as it gets.

You can even charge your electronics from the front dynamo wheel using a USB charger conveniently located in the steerer tube. Independent testing suggests the Cycle2Charge unit performs quite well at 20KPH too.

The Riverside frame offers long chainstays, the steering speed is suitable for a flat bar bike, and the climbing gear is under 20 gear inches.

Speaking of value, I still cannot get past the Cube Travel.

This bike is more capable than many touring bikes on a mix of surfaces, as it has 29×2.2″ tyre clearance with fenders. The climbing could be better (22 inches) but you can always improve that yourself by fitting a cassette with a 36 tooth cog.

The Cube Travel comes with lots of great features including a rear rack, kickstand, Shimano 27-speed groupset, hydraulic brakes and even a dynamo hub and light set.

The frame is available in five sizes, and there are an additional three step-through frames if you fancy something easier to get on and off.

If you are after a top-tier frameset without the top-tier price, I don’t think you can beat the KOGA WorldTraveller.

These frames are incredibly stiff laterally, which allows them to handle very heavy loads with grace. There is fully-guided internal cable routing inside the frame, super-smooth welds, a steering limiter to prevent your front wheel from turning too far, super long chainstays to maximise the ride stability, and an abrasion-resistant powder coat paint job.

The WorldTraveller comes with everything you need to set off around the world, including super-strong wheels, dynamo lights, Tubus racks, Schwalbe touring tyres, a Topeak pump and a low 20″ climbing gear.

You can choose between a step-through or a traditional frame, which are both available in five sizes. And if you wanted to do some off-road touring like me, you can buy some rims in the 27.5″ diameter and then fit some wide 2.6″ tyres.

Please note: I am sponsored to ride KOGA bikes. But I simply could not find a bike this good at this price point!

Best Touring Bikes: Trekking

Trekking bikes are long distance touring bikes built around a suspension fork. The fork adds comfort on rough dirt and cobblestone roads. The downsides are that it’s harder to fit a rack for front panniers (most people just use rear panniers) and the suspension fork requires regular maintenance.

2022 Rose Multisport 1 ( € 1249)

The Rose Multisport 1 is a great option at an exceptional price point.

It has a coil-sprung suspension fork up front, which works out a little heavier than an air fork, but is less likely to experience problems on a long trip. You can lock the fork for the smooth road sections to ensure you aren’t wasting your pedal power.

The 21″ climbing gear is decent for most touring applications and the frame geometry is both very upright and stable.

The Multisport uses a Shimano Deore 30-speed groupset, dynamo lights, rear rack, fenders, kickstand, lock, chain protector and suspension seatpost. It’s a killer deal.

Best Touring Bikes: Light Touring / Gravel

Light touring bikes are designed to be lighter and faster on smoother surfaces. They aren’t as bombproof as long-distance touring bikes, but will comfortably handle 10kg of luggage or so.

At a touch over 10kg, the Kona Libre AL sheds more than 4kg/9lb compared to a dedicated touring bike.

What really draws me to the Libre is the frame geometry. Most bikes in this category have evolved from a race bike lineage, which results in a long reach to the bars, and a substantial saddle-to-bar drop. This puts your body in a speedy ride position but tends to be less comfortable over long distances.

Touring is about enjoying the ride in comfort and discovering new places, so I think more bikes in this category would benefit from being as relaxed and upright as the Libre. An added benefit of a tall front end is that you put much less weight on your hands, so you’re unlikely to experience numb fingers after a long day. Plus, you have better access to the drop section of the drop bars, which means more powerful braking and much better bike control.

The Libre has excellent tyre clearance (50mm), good hydraulic brakes and all the mounts you’ll need – but there are two downsides to this bike.

The climbing gear is high, so you might need to swap in some new drivetrain parts. And the large seatpost diameter will likely provide inadequate comfort, so factor in a carbon seatpost or suspension seatpost. Check out my comprehensive articles on suspension seatposts and carbon flex seatposts .

If you’re after something fast, lightweight (12.7kg), and with dynamo lights, fenders and a rear rack – the Focus Atlas is looking very good.

This frame is the stiffest gravel bike ever tested by Tour Magazin, which is a good thing when it comes to a bike that’s loaded with luggage.

The bike comes with 37mm tyres as standard, however, will comfortably fit 47mm tyres if you were to remove the fenders.

While the 24″ gear is a touch high by touring standards, keep in mind that this bike is designed for tarmac roads and lighter loads. Should you feel like pushing the limits of the drivetrain, the Shimano GRX rear derailleur that comes with the bike is known to handle cassettes with much larger sprockets.

The Atlas also wins my heart because it comes with a kickstand, and there’s also a flat bar version of this bike if that’s what you prefer.

My light-touring-bike-with-flat-bars pick is the Cube SL Road Pro FE.

Like the Focus, it’s been fitted with all the touring accessories you need to travel, right down to the dynamo lights. It also offers the same 24″ climbing gear and 47mm tyre clearance without fenders.

The reason I picked the Cube over the Focus is that value-for-money is next level on this bike – it’s €400 cheaper with similar quality components.

Best Touring Bikes: Off-Road

Off-road touring bikes are essentially mountain bikes with tougher wheels and provision for racks, fenders and extra water bottles. A key characteristic is the wide tyre clearance on offer.

The Brodie Mega Tour caught my attention for a few reasons.

The first thing was the price. Brodie is a Canadian company, so when we convert to US dollars and we end up with $1300 – which is hyper-competitive in this segment.

The next thing I noticed was the choice of a 2X drivetrain. While almost every off-road touring bike has switched to a 1X drivetrain, Brodie opted for a front derailleur.

What’s the advantage? Well, you get smaller jumps between each gear change, which is especially handy on flat or rolling terrain where you can better fine-tune your speed in accordance with your pedalling cadence. It can be more efficient too. You can read more about 1X vs 2X drivetrains in my article HERE .

The Mega Tour has a low gear of 18″, generous 29 x 2.6″ tyre clearance, a sweptback handlebar, Shimano hydraulic brakes (with large 180mm rotors)… and there’s even a kickstand mount out back.

This is not only a recipe for a great off-roader, but it could easily be a long-distance touring bike with some slicks.

In the ‘plus bike’ category with 3.0″ wide tyres, I’ve picked the Genesis Longitude.

It just so happens that this is another 2X bike, but I primarily picked it because it represents excellent value for money. The climbing gear is 18 gear inches, however, you can quite easily replace the front chainrings to achieve a 16″ should you need.

The frame is a bit taller than average and is decked out with mounts. It’s tough enough too – I know quite a few people who are currently or have previously cycled across continents with this bike.

If the idea of a 14-speed Rohloff hub piques your interest, the Longitude also has horizontal dropouts that make it an appropriate fit .

This new steel off-roader is a great buy!

The Panorama Taiga has a carbon fork to keep the weight down (11.8kg/26.0lb) but it will also accommodate a MTB suspension fork should you need it. The stats on this bike are great – there’s 29 x 2.6″ tyre clearance, a 20″ climbing gear, a 52cm wide handlebar and the ability to fit a Rohloff 14-speed gearbox hub  and  belt drivetrain .

To achieve the low climbing gear, a SRAM MTB 12-speed derailleur has been hooked up to an interesting Gevenalle indexed shifter. These shifters are not particularly elegant but having used one previously, they’re fast-shifting and extra durable.

As you can see, the Taiga’s frame geometry is super upright. This is so that you can comfortably use the drops for long periods of time, where you have the best access to the brakes. And when you use the hoods or bar tops, you will have less pressure on your hands than a less upright bike. The frame also features long chainstays to keep your front wheel planted on steep climbs.

The only thing to note is that the Taiga is using a lightweight 28 spoke wheelset that’s very light. If you weigh more than average or are carrying a heavy load, you will want to replace it with something much stronger.

Ok, I never expected a titanium bike to end up on a value-for-money bike list.

This is the On-One Rocky Road, which retails for £1300 but can sometimes be found for under £1000 (US $1350). That’s smack-bang in steel or aluminium bike price territory.

By using titanium, On-One can build a frame with the equivalent stiffness and strength of a steel frame, with an 850-gram (1.9lb) weight saving. But the modest weight reduction isn’t the reason I would buy a titanium bike – it’s the scratch and rust resistance that I like most. You can easily buff out any scratches on the frame so that it looks as good as new.

Interestingly, the head tube angle is quite steep compared to modern mountain bikes, which results in a quick steering feel and reduced wheel flop. Given your front luggage weight slows the steering back down again, this is not a bad thing at all.

The bike comes with a carbon fork, hydraulic disc brakes and a 1X drivetrain. As the SRAM SX derailleurs are not known for their durability, I’d recommend upgrading it to an NX or GX model if you’re cycling anywhere remote.

To round things out, the frame geometry is quite upright, the maximum tyre width is 29 x 2.6″ and the climbing gear is ideal at 17.5 gear inches.

That rounds out the best touring bikes for 2022, with price factored in!

It was super hard narrowing this list down to so few but can see all the other great models in my 2022 Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide . In this book, you’ll learn about all the important features of a touring bike and can then use the tools at the back of the book to compare over 270 different bikes. It’s updated yearly for free, so expect to get great value out of it.

Are There Any Other Good-Value Touring Bikes That Should’ve Made This List?

• best touring bikes

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The best touring and bikepacking bikes of eurobike 2023.

• Gravel Bikes

The 7 Best Budget Gravel Bikes With Drop Bars (Under $1000)

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Cycle Travel Overload

Bikepacking & Adventure Cycling

13 Best Touring Bikes For Worldwide Travel 2024

Looking for top-tier traditional touring bikes? You’re in the right place. As the cycling industry evolves, particularly in the gravel and bikepacking realms, the landscape of adventure cycling has changed dramatically. Yet, traditional touring bikes, once the go-to for adventure, remain as relevant as ever for fully loaded, long-distance journeys.

What Are The Best Touring Bikes – Our Recommendations

Panorama forillon, koga worldtraveller.

• Tout Terrain Silkroad

Bombtrack Arise Tour

• Falken Jagd Hoplit +

Surly Disc Trucker

Decathlon riverside touring 900, vivente gibb, salsa marrakesh, genesis tour de fer, co-op cycles adv 1.1.

While gravel bikes gain popularity for their versatility, traditional touring bikes continue to be the definitive choice for extensive touring on paved roads and beyond, including off-road expeditions. Today’s variety of touring bikes, catering to a wide spectrum of adventures and terrains, can seem daunting.

This article aims to simplify your decision-making process by focusing on the type of adventures you’re planning. We’ve curated a diverse collection of modern, capable touring bikes suitable for everything from month-long trips to lightweight, credit card-style touring. Here, you’ll find a touring bike for every cyclist, regardless of your preferred style or destination.

Light Touring or Gravel Touring Bikes

Kona sutra se.

(A Classic All-Road Touring Bike with Modern Touches)

Price: $2,199 USD (about $3,446 AUD)

Bomb proof, rock solid, smooth and comfortable ride. with traditional touring bike components; Brooks Saddle, bar-end shifters and Deore groupset

Weight :  14kg (30.86 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – Kona Cromoly Butted . Fork –  Kona Project Two Cromoly Disc Touring

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Deore, 26/36/48t crank and Shimano Deore 11-36t 10spd cassette

Gear Ratios :  19.90″ to 120.50″ (0.72 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.56 chainstay 445mm – wheelbase 1,073mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg – trail 71mm – Fork offset/rake 50mm. Bottom bracket drop 72mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  700c x 40mm With a max tire clearance 29×2.3″ (Check clearance with racks)

• Many mounting options
• Comfy, smooth and rock solid bike
• Clearance for 29×2.3″ tires
• Able to ride MTB sections
• Traditional bar-end shifters
• Rides well loaded or light
• A little sluggish when you need that extra speed for endurance bikepacking events
• Breaks have been known to freeze during winter
• Derailleur hanger is known to break slightly easier then others
• Have had issues with paint quality overtime

The Kona Sutra, my personal bike of choice, embodies the essence of a traditional touring bike while incorporating a 1x gravel drivetrain, a unique twist on the classic design. While the SE model maintains the frame of the Sutra LTD but stands out with its more versatile gear range. An especially notable feature is the stock Brooks saddle, a hallmark of comfort and quality.

On my own Kona Sutra LTD, I’ve managed to fit tires as large as 29×2.3″ without fenders, suggesting the potential for even broader options beyond the standard 700x40c Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tires that it usually sports.

The detailed specifications below are tailored to the touring bike variant of the Kona Sutra. However, if you’re intrigued by the prospect of a build more suited to off-road adventures, I highly recommend reading our review of the Kona Sutra LTD .

This bike is astonishingly versatile. I frequently use mine on challenging mountain bike trails , and it’s proven its worth time and again, effortlessly handling jumps and rugged terrain. Its performance as a commuter is equally impressive, proving itself capable of handling a diverse range of conditions.

In comparison to its peers, like the Trek 520 and Surly LHT, the Kona Sutra boasts superior specifications on paper. It features a full Deore groupset and includes bar-end shifters, which add a touch of traditional touring aesthetic.

A bombproof, fun machine that can take you anywhere. Offering a smooth and comfortable ride, it stands out as a rock-solid choice for both enthusiasts and serious cyclists alike.

(A true Swiss Army knife for on-the-go travel bike)

Price: $2,399 CAD (about $2,747 AUD)

Weight :  13.15 kg (29 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – REYNOLDS 525  Steel Fork –  CUSTOM CR-MO 4130 Steel

Groupset & Drivetrain :  2×11 microSHIFT XLE, FSA – FSA OMEGA 2X MEGAEXO, 46/30T crank and MICROSHIFT XLE 11-42T cassette

Gear Ratios :  19.85″ to 111.81″ (0.71 to 4.18 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.55 chainstay 455mm – wheelbase 1,050mm – (steering) headtube angle 71.8 deg – trail 67mm – Fork offset/rake 50mm. Bottom bracket drop 76mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  700c x 44mm With a max tire clearance 700c x 50

The Forillon by Panorama Cycles is a steel all-road touring bike that combines a mid-component range with a budget-friendly price, making it an ideal choice for adventurers looking to explore the world. This bike is designed for efficient riding across various road types and maintains stability and ease of handling even when fully loaded with luggage.

At its core, the Forillon is a testament to strength and reliability, a theme that is evident in its choice of components. It features 36 spoke double-walled rims with reinforced eyelets, paired with robust 700x50mm tires, ensuring durability and stability on diverse terrains. The frame and fork of the Forillon are constructed from high-quality materials, including Reynolds 525 steel tubeset and 4130 steel, known for their resilience and long-lasting performance.

The Forillon stands out with its integrated kickstand plate and a plethora of mounting options, which include front and rear racks, fenders, and triple cage mounts on the fork and under the downtube. These features make it an excellent choice for riders who require a bike that can carry substantial gear on extended tours.

Other noteworthy aspects of the Forillon include its low bottom bracket, long chainstays, and a 2×11 drivetrain, all contributing to a comfortable and stable ride.

The bike also boasts mechanical BB7 brakes and bar-end shifters as part of its well-rounded build kit. Additionally, the frame and fork are treated with an anti-corrosion internal ED coating, enhancing the bike’s durability.

The Forillon is not just about functionality; it also has an aesthetic appeal. The frame graphics, inspired by topographic maps and created by Vancouver-based artists Pellvetica, add a unique touch to the bike’s design.

Offered in three sizes and weighing 29 pounds for the medium build, the Forillon is available at a retail price of $2,149 CAD (approximately $1,675 USD) through PanoramaCycles.com. This bike is a reliable, versatile, and stylish choice for those looking to embark on long-distance, all-road touring adventures around the globe.

(The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike)

Price: Approx $6,000

Weight :  17.5 kg (38.6 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Aluminium Build

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Deore XT groupset or Rohloff drive belt

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.57 chainstay 477 mm – wheelbase 1,170 mm – (steering) headtube angle 69.5 deg – trail 82.4 mm – Fork offset/rake 50 mm. Bottom bracket drop 60 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) : Possibility to mount tires up to 72mm wide

• Can be packed up to 120 kg
• Super stiff for touring
• Built for durability & serviceability
• Includes mini-kick stand on the front rack and other accessories
• Life time warranty on the frame
• More standard touring equipment then most bikes
• Top of the line components
• Dynamo hub and lighting system as standard.
• Not the lightest touring bike on the block
• Quite expensive then most

The KOGA Worldtraveller series, recognized for its robust and versatile trekking bikes, is an ideal choice for all kinds of cycling trips. These bikes are designed to comfortably carry all your essentials, whether you’re gliding over smooth asphalt or tackling rugged gravel roads.

A notable aspect of the series is its unique alloy build. Despite the current popularity of steel touring bikes, the alloy construction of the Worldtraveller provides a solid and reliable alternative.

This bike remains stable and performs smoothly under a touring load, even when outfitted with sensible width tires. This combination of strength and smooth ride quality sets the Worldtraveller apart in the realm of long-distance touring bikes.

The series has been recently updated, with the new WorldTraveller model featuring a total load capacity of 180 kg. It can accommodate tires up to 72mm wide, enhancing its suitability for various terrains. The integrated rear carrier and new frame design contribute to improved rigidity and cycling performance.

For those interested in an electric version, the E-WorldTraveller includes the Bosch Smart System and a 750Wh battery. Customization is a key feature of the range, offered through the KOGA Signature programme.

The Worldtraveller range comprises several models:

• The standard WorldTraveller, a versatile trekking bike with numerous attachment points for luggage.
• The E-WorldTraveller, an electric variant with a Bosch motor and 750Wh battery.
• The E-WorldTraveller Suspension model, featuring a suspension fork with 100mm travel.
• The Worldtraveller Classic, a proven model known for its reliability.
• The Worldtraveller-S, offering choices in front forks, groupsets, and drive belts.

KOGA also offers extensive customization options through their Signature programme, allowing riders to tailor their bike to their preferences. Test rides are available to prospective buyers, showcasing the bike’s capabilities.

Tout Terrain Silkroad II 275

(A Steel Expedition Dream!)

Price: From €5,349 / $5,835 USD or $8,711 AUD

Weight :  From 14 kg (30.09 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Rohloff drive belt

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.52 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,081 mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg – trail 73 mm – Fork offset/rake 47 mm. Bottom bracket drop 60 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  27.5″x2.0″ / With a max tire clearance 26″ x 2.0″ (50mm) with mudguard, 27.5″ x 2.0″ (50mm) with mudguard, 700C x 42 mm with mudguard

• Steel frame and oversized tubing create a robust structure
• Suitable for various terrains and heavy loads
• Standard with Rohloff hub or belt drive
• Customisable
• High-end components and features contribute to a higher price point
• Limited tire clearance
• Limited availability in certain regions

The Tout Terrain Silkroad is a high-end touring bike designed by the German company Tout Terrain. Known for their specialization in steel bikes for about 15 years, Tout Terrain’s Silkroad incorporates several innovative features and is built for durability and versatility.

The bike’s frame is made from steel tubes manufactured and welded in Taiwan, chosen for their ability to be easily repaired and modified. The Silkroad frames are among the first to pass rigorous safety testing, supporting a combined weight of rider, bike, and luggage up to 180kg/400lb. The bike uses oversized, thick-wall tubing to build a strong structure, which is beneficial for carrying front and rear luggage.

Key features include a steering limiter to prevent cable damage, an integrated steering lock to stabilize the bike when parked, and the option for either double-legged or rear-mounted kickstands. The Silkroad also boasts an integrated stainless steel rear rack designed to be indestructible and compatible with both regular panniers and the specially designed QL3 system panniers.

For power and lighting, the Silkroad uses 12mm thru-axles front and rear for maximum stiffness and alignment, and incorporates SL dynamo wiring in the fork for powering lights and USB chargers. The lighting system features Schmidt lights and a dynamo hub, and a Cinq Plug5 Plus USB charger integrated into the steerer tube.

The bike is equipped with a 14-speed Rohloff hub for the drive system, known for its reliability and efficiency, especially in challenging conditions. It also features a belt drive, preferred for its low maintenance requirements. Hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable stopping power, and the bike allows for the use of up to 203mm rotors.

The Silkroad offers different wheel size options, with 27.5″ being recommended due to the availability of high-quality tires. The bike is also fitted with Tout Terrain’s in-house “Black Label” components and a Selle Royal saddle from the Scientia range.

(Classic Touring Bike Aesthetics)

Price: $1,499 USD / $2,240 AUD (Estimates)

Weight :  14.7 kg (32.4 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – 4130 double butted CrMo, heat-treated front triangle, TA sliding dropouts, rack/fender mounts . Fork –  4130 CrMo, TA, rack/fender mounts, internal hub dynamo cable routing

Groupset & Drivetrain :  BOMBTRACK AMES forged aluminium crank and MICROSHIFT CS-H103 10-speed, 11 – 42T cassette

Gear Ratios :  19.62″ to 115.53″ (0.71 to 4.18 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio 1.51 – chainstay 435mm – wheelbase 1,045 mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg – trail 68mm – Fork offset/rake 55mm. Bottom bracket drop 70mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) : With a max tire clearance of 700C x 40C / 700C x 35C with fender

• Includes dynamo, quality Tubus racks, and lighting for an affortable price
• Microshift bar-end shifters give you the seamless and classic touring bike feel and look
• Affortable price tag
• Only has 32 spokes on wheels
• The mudguards are know for being low quality and breaking
• The frame length is a little short, for that extra stability when under a load, shorter then most touring bikes.

Offering a blend of traditional touring design and modern components, all wrapped in an eye-catching metallic green color that is sure to turn heads.

At its core, the Arise Tour features a double-butted steel frameset known for its adaptability and resilience. Enhancing its touring capabilities are the Tubus touring racks and aluminum fenders, designed to handle all your storage needs while protecting you from the elements. Illumination for those early starts or late finishes is provided by a full lighting system from KT and Supernova, ensuring safety and visibility in all conditions.

The bike’s transmission system is built for reliability over long distances. It features Microshift’s ultra-reliable bar end shifters and a 10-speed clutch mechanism. The wide-range 11 – 42T cassette and a subcompact 46 / 30 chainset make for a versatile and efficient setup, ideal for tackling various terrains with ease.

When it comes to braking, the Arise Tour relies on TRP Spyre C mechanical calipers, coupled with a 180 mm rotor upfront. This setup offers controlled and effective braking, particularly important on those thrilling long descents.

Every component on the Arise Tour has been meticulously selected for its proven reliability and durability. The goal is to let you focus on the joy of riding, rather than worrying about bike maintenance.

FalkenJagd Hoplit +

(Pinion Titanium Touring Bike)

Price: €6,798 / $7,415 USD / $11,000 AUD

Weight :  17 kg (37.5 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Titanium Build

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Belt Drive

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  WTB Trail Boss 27.5 x 2.35″ / Clearance for 650b x 3″ or 29er x 2.6″

• High quality components made of titanium and almost everything on the bike is tianium not just frame and fork
• Copes well on all surfaces
• Ultimate touring bike build!
• Very expensive

The Falkenjagd Hoplit PI Plus is a standout travel and expedition bike, designed for those who seek durability and reliability on long bike trips. Named after the elite warriors of antiquity, this bike lives up to its name with its robust build and high-quality components.

At the heart of the Hoplit PI Plus is its titanium frame, known for being extremely stable, scratch, and corrosion-resistant. The frame design, featuring a longer head tube and a slightly shorter top tube, facilitates a more upright sitting position, optimal for touring.

A key aspect of its design is the lower bottom bracket, which, by lowering the center of gravity, especially when carrying luggage, results in improved stability.

The bike’s rear triangle is notably sturdy, with chainstays designed for increased tire clearance and comfort. The rear dropouts are a technological marvel, allowing for longitudinally adjustable quick-release axles to optimize belt tension, and incorporating an integrated stand holder and a strap lock.

The Hoplit PI Plus is equipped with the Pinion P1.18 gear hub and a low-maintenance Gates CDX toothed belt, ensuring a smooth and reliable ride. It can accommodate either 28 or 27.5-inch wheels, offering flexibility depending on the rider’s preference for smooth running or damping.

This bike is an all-terrain champion, providing maximum comfort even under high payloads, thanks to its wide tires. It stands out for its high-quality titanium components, including the frame, fork, spacers, stem, handlebars, seatpost, luggage rack, and bottle cage.

Other features include a SON hub dynamo and lighting, a comfortable Brooks Cambium C17 saddle, Falkenjagd Titan Axios racks, Pitlock thru axles with theft protection, Magura MT7 4-piston disc brakes, and SKS Bluemels B65 mudguards.

The Hoplit PI Plus version extends its capabilities with its ability to take tire widths up to 3.0 inches (650B) and 2.6″ (29″). It boasts specially adapted chainstays and rear dropouts, which are adjustable in length for optimal belt tension. The bike’s design also ensures neatly laid cable pulls and flat mudguard and light mounts for a secure and aesthetic finish.

Trek 520 Disc

(The Longest-Running Touring Bike On The Market)

Price: $1,829.99 USD

Weight :  14.2 kg (31.31 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Steel frame / Alloy fork – Trek butted chromoly disc touring, 135×5 mm QR, Tire Clearance: 2″, Color: Diablo Red and Alloy disc touring fork, rack mounts, 100×5 mm ThruSkew.

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Alivio with 48/36/26T crankset and 9-speed 11-36T cassette.

Gear Ratios Inches :  19.79″ to 119.81″ (0.72 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.49 chainstay 450mm – wheelbase 1,048mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 65mm – Fork offset/rake 52mm. Bottom bracket drop 70mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  700x38c / With a max tire clearance 29 x 2″

• One of the most budget friendly options in the list
• Steel frame is rock solid and feels great
• Perfectly comfortable touring bike
• Long chainstays and a slack head-tube angle offer a stable, comfortable, semi-upright riding position, suitable for both touring and commuting.
• Trek’s history of producing the 520 model since 1983 adds to the trust in the brand and model.
• Frame is however a little on the heavier side
• Stock pedals suck (order replacements if you consider this bike)

The Trek 520 stands as a testament to durability and adventure in Trek’s lineup, holding the title of their longest-running model. This true touring bike is designed for those who yearn for long journeys, offering a perfect blend of stability and comfort through its touring-specific geometry.

With a sturdy steel frame paired with an aluminum fork, the Trek 520 balances strength with practicality, weighing in at a manageable 31.4 lbs / 14.2 kg. It’s equipped with both front and rear racks, ready to handle all the gear you might need for your adventures, making it an ideal choice for the avid tourer.

Renowned for its solid build and reliable performance, the Trek 520 has been field-tested and established as an industry standard. It’s a bike that’s not just ready for your next touring adventure but is also built to last, promising at least a decade of enjoyable riding experiences.

However, it’s important to note that this bike demands regular maintenance to remain in peak condition, particularly in keeping the drivetrain clean to avoid gear hopping. But this small trade-off is worth the exceptional experience it offers, especially considering its versatile gearing range that makes conquering hills feel effortless.

For those looking for even more versatility, the 520 Grand is also an option to consider. Excelling in bikepacking, trail riding, and handling a mix of gravel and pavement, it expands the horizons of where the Trek 520 can take you.

(A staple dirt tourer, just like its predecessor Long Haul Trucker)

Price: $ 1,749 USD or $2,600 AUD

Weight :  15.2 kg (33.5 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Frame – Surly Long Haul Trucker, 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Fork –  Surly Long Haul Trucker, 4130 CroMoly, lugged and brazed

Groupset & Drivetrain :  3 x 9 Alivio, Sora drivetrain. Shimano Alivio 48x36x26t crankset and Shimano Alivio, 11-34t, 9 speed cassette.

Gear Ratios :  19.42″ to 111.40″ (0.76 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach 1.58 ratio – chainstay 450mm – wheelbase 1,076mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 57mm – Fork offset/rake 45mm. Bottom bracket drop 50mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) : 26″ x 46mm With a max tire clearance for 26” x 2.1” tires with or without fenders, or 700c x 47mm with or without fenders

• The steel frame is robust
• 20-30mm taller frames and a 30mm taller handlebar, offer a more comfortable riding position.
• 10 frame sizes, catering to a wide range of rider heights
• Has the heritage of the LHT
• Toe overlap issues
• Not ideal for singletrack or technical trails due to its long wheelbase and less agile handling. (If you want to go off-road)
• No longer has the Shimano 3X10 bar-end shifters
• Smaller frame sizes have an increased standover
• The reduced chainstay length effects its capability as a touring bike
• It now has 32 spokes instead of 36
• No kickstand frame mounts
• A downgrade in drivetrain to Shimano Alivio from the previous Shimano XT
• The price has also increased

The Surly Disc Trucker, known for its reliability and no-nonsense approach, is a drop-bar steel touring bike. A staple among touring enthusiasts, this bike is recognized for its ability to handle long, loaded rides comfortably, though it doesn’t necessarily stand out in terms of its specifications.

Having personally ridden the Long Haul Trucker for thousands of kilometers, I can attest to its suitability as an excellent introduction to bicycle touring.

The 2021 model of the Disc Trucker however, sees some significant updates, including a taller frame and handlebar, additional tyre clearance, user-friendly STI shifters, and more mounting points, along with internal fork dynamo wiring and TRP Spyre brakes.

However, it loses some features like the Shimano 3X10 gearing and bar-end shifters. The Disc Trucker is well-suited for road travel and light off-road conditions but may not be the best choice for more technical or agile riding needs.

(Best Value for Money Touring Bike You Can Buy!)

Price: £1,299.99 / $1,650 USD or $2,463 AUD

Weight :  17.1 kg or 37.7 lbs

Frame/Fork Material : triple-butted aluminium

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano XT Trekking groupset – 26-36-48 triple chainring – (11-36) cassette

Gear Ratios :  18″ to 80″ (0.64 to 2.91 ratio)

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.47 chainstay 458 mm – wheelbase 1,096mm – (steering) headtube angle 71.5 deg – Bottom bracket drop 54 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  28 x 1.75″ tires / With a max tire clearance up to 29 x 2.4” (estimated)

• Can carry up to 170 kg
• 33 mounting points for various accessories and luggage
• Equipped with Shimano Deore XT and a Brooks B17 saddle (High quality components.)
• Integrated Dynamo Hub
• Lifetime Warranty on frame, suspension, stem, handlebars, and rack.
• Insane value – priced competitively with comprehensive features.
• Heavier at 17kg, which may affect maneuverability and speed.
• Basic Pedals and Grips may need upgrading
• USB charger effective only at higher speeds
• Potential issues with exposed wiring for lights
• Despite having a mount, a kickstand is not included
• Steering lock mechanism to prevent over-rotation may take getting used to

The Riverside Touring 900, by Decathlon, is a highly robust and versatile touring bicycle ideal for multi-day trips, commuting, and carrying heavy loads. A bombproof touring bike, along with the bikepacking friendly Touring 920. These bikes are ready for adventure and for unbeatable value. 

The 900’s key features include a strong and comfortable frame capable of carrying up to 170kg, internal cable routing, 33 mounting points for customization, and reliable Shimano Deore XT components. The bike is equipped with a Brooks B17 Imperial saddle, known for its comfort and durability, and TRP Spyke dual-piston mechanical disc brakes for reliable stopping power.

It also features a USB cycle-to-charge socket integrated into the stem for charging devices on the go, and robust aluminum mudguards. Before embarking on a major trip, it’s advisable to test the bike’s charger to ensure it meets your requirements. Consider whether you’ll need an extra power bank, as the charger requires extensive cycling to power your devices effectively. While it functions, its capacity is just sufficient for navigation purposes with the screen active.

However, it has a heavier frame at around 17kg. But if you don’t tour for speed that little extra weight shouldn’t bother you. And it comes with basic pedals and grips that might need upgrading for better comfort. But for the amount of touring bike you get you can’t beat it for value!

(Legendary Australian Touring / Expedition Bike)

Price: $6,600.00 AUD or $4,420 USD

Weight :  16.8kg (Estimated)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build – Double butted Cr-Mo touring frame and 1-1/8″ full Cr-Mo, threadless, mudguard, lowrider and electric cable mounts, through axle, steering stabiliser hook.

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Andel crankset – BCD 130mm, 5 arm, 165/170/175mm, with FSA QR-1 self-extracting crank bolts. With Rohloff speedhub 500/14, 36H, CC DB, black, external transfer box, OEM axle plate, quick release

Gear Ratios :  extra low gear ratios down to 15.9″ to 83.6″ with options in between or traditional 20.0″ to 105.2″

Geometry (M) : Chainstay 464 mm – wheelbase 1,087mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 67 mm – Bottom bracket drop 75 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes:  Options for: 700C×40 (for road), 27.5 × 2.00 (for tracks), 27.5 × 2.80″ (all-rounders).

• Designed for minimal upkeep, ideal for long tours.
• Made from 4130 chromoly steel, offering stiffness and resilience, especially suitable for touring
• Superior mudguards, ergonomic handlebars, and intelligent dynamo light.
• Integrated rack and rear disc caliper, reducing the need for spacers and long bolts
• Comprehensive Tool and Spare Kit: Enhances self-sufficiency on long trips.
• One of the heavier touring bikes in this list
• Not the most beginner friendly bike – The comprehensive nature of the bike might be overwhelming for new cyclists.

The Vivente World Randonneur (VWR), particularly The Gibb model, stands as a pinnacle of touring and transportation bicycles in Australia. This bike, admired for its meticulous refinements over the years, now incorporates a series of desirable upgrades, culminating in a nearly perfect touring experience.

At its heart lies the Rohloff SpeedHub 500, a 14-speed hub gear known for its unparalleled range and reliability. While this hub adds to the cost and weight of the bike, its maintenance-free nature and durability make it a worthwhile investment for serious riders.

The bike’s 4130 chromoly steel frame ensures resilience and comfort, making it ideal for long rides. Its geometry is finely tuned for stability and ease of handling, enhancing the overall comfort during extended touring. The bike is also notable for its comprehensive tool and spare kit, ensuring riders are well-equipped for any situation.

The hydraulic disc brakes provide consistent stopping power, a crucial feature for safety and reliability. The dynamo-powered USB outlet is a thoughtful addition, allowing riders to charge devices on the go. While the bike may be somewhat daunting for beginners due to its complexity and the initial friction in new gears, its overall design is geared towards low maintenance and high performance.

(Entry Level Traditional Steel Touring Bike Design)

Price: USD $2,049 (About $3,211 AUD)

Weight :  12.25 kg (27 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build – Marrakesh Triple Butted CroMoly – BB Standard: BSA, 68mm, Threaded – Tire Clearance: 50c – Color: Gold

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Alivio – 11–36t, 9-speed cassette and 48/36/26t crank

Gear Ratios :  20″ to 121″ (0.72 to 4.36 ratio)

Geometry (55 cm) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.55 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,055 mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.8 deg – trail 64 mm – Fork offset/rake 55 mm. Bottom bracket drop 77 mm

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  Teravail Rampart 700c x 42 mm / With a max tire clearance 700c x 40mm tires with fenders and 29 x 2.0″ or Apparently you can run up to 27.5 x 2.6″ tires

• More then enough eyelets for storing gear
• Rohloff hub compatible drop out
• Very comfortable ride
• Traditional touring bikes design and aesthetics – bar-end shifters for example
• It comes with 42 mm tires but the minimum tire for fenders is 40 mm!
• Can only use the Salsa rear pannier rack due to how it attaches to the dropouts.
• The rear drop out swingplate is non-standard. A potential problem if it is damaged with limited access for parts
• The 2020 models in particular has paint chipping issues – even though it looks great
• Smaller frames may have limited space inside the frame for bikepacking frame bags and room for drink bottles
• Heel-striking is a potential issue on smaller frames

Made from a burly steel but heavy frame (not as heavy as some other bikes in this list) the Marrakesh offers a rock solid, stable and comfortable ride as you would expect in a touring bike.

With a dual capability for both off-road and on-road adventures. This bike is versatile enough for touring, commuting, or leisure riding, offering a comfortable experience across various terrains.

Despite its somewhat hefty build, the Marrakesh doesn’t compromise on maneuverability or performance. It comes equipped with front and rear racks, although fitting mudguards requires a slight reduction in tire width from the stock 42 mm tires to a maximum of 40mm. 

The bike’s solid construction is further complemented by a reliable Shimano Alivio groupset, Microshift bar-end traditional touring bike shifters, and TRP Spyre-C disc brakes. Additionally, its wheels and tires are tubeless-ready, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

However, a notable concern for potential owners, particularly those with smaller frame sizes, is the chainstay design. The positioning of the rack is forward by about 20-30mm compared to other models, which impacts the bike’s handling, making it more akin to a shorter gravel bike when loaded.

This setup also raises the possibility of heel strike, a drawback that could affect the bike’s overall appeal as a touring option.

(The Most Budget Friendly Option In This List)

Price From: $1,590 + USD

Weight :  15.6 kg (34.40 lbs)

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Tiagra

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.52 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,083mm – (steering) headtube angle 71 deg – trail 56 mm – Fork offset/rake 55 mm. Bottom bracket drop 75 mm

Tire Clearance:  700x35mm, with fenders, but the frame can accomodate 700x38mm without.

• 36 spoke wheels – strong for bicycle touring
• High quality Busch und Müller lights
• Well-balanced geometry ensures a stable yet responsive ride.
• Budget friendly option
• The Sunnywheel fenders might be a little narrow
• Limited tire clearance only up to 38 mm
• At 15.6kg, it might be considered heavy for some riders
• Not as capable off-road thanks to limited tire clearance

The UK-designed Genesis Tour de Fer 30, drawing inspiration from its sibling, the popular Croix de Fer, stands out as a remarkable blend of innovation and tradition in the world of touring bikes. This model is unique for its slightly longer build than most other touring bikes, providing an added level of stability and comfort for those extensive journeys.

But is it really a “Do-It-All Tourer?” With limited tire clearance, therefore limited off road capabilities it is better suited to traditional road only touring.

At the heart of the Tour de Fer 30 is the reliable Reynolds 725 steel frame, noted for its strength and relative lightness, making it a dependable companion for long-distance travels. The bike’s design is complemented by a chromoly steel fork with quick-release dropouts, further enhancing its durability and resilience.

A standout feature of this touring bike is its high-quality Busch und Müller lighting system, powered by a dynamo hub. These lights not only offer superior illumination for safer riding but also add a touch of sophistication to the bike’s overall design.

The shifting and drivetrain responsibilities are adeptly handled by Shimano’s Tiagra groupset, which includes a triple chainset offering a wide range of gears, ideal for tackling diverse terrains and steep inclines. The 10-speed cassette ensures low-maintenance, consistent performance, a crucial factor for long tours.

In terms of braking, the Tour de Fer 30 is equipped with TRP’s Spyre cable disc brakes, known for their consistent and sufficient stopping power. While they may not be as powerful as hydraulic brakes, their ease of maintenance, especially in remote locations, makes them a practical choice for touring.

The bike rides on robust Sun Ringlé Rhyno Lite rims and is fitted with the legendary Schwalbe Marathon tyres, renowned for their durability and puncture resistance. This combination ensures a smooth and reliable ride across various surfaces.

Finishing touches include Genesis branded components like a 27.2mm seatpost, a flared handlebar for comfortable handling, and a saddle designed for long rides. Practical features such as full-length mudguards, bottle cages, and spacious racks (including a Tubus Tara low-rider front rack and an AtranVelo Tour 365 rear rack) enhance its functionality for touring and commuting alike.

(The Most AFFORDABLE Touring Bike At the Time of Writing!)

Price: 1,699.00 NOW ONLY $1,358.93 USD

Weight :  13.61 kg (30 lbs)

Frame/Fork Material : Full Steel Build – Double-butted chromoly steel and Chromoly steel fork with 15mm thru-axle.

Groupset & Drivetrain :  Shimano Deore, 48/36/26T crank and 10 speed 11-34T cassette.

Gear Ratios :  21″ to 120″

Geometry (M) : Stack/Reach ratio – 1.54 chainstay 455 mm – wheelbase 1,054mm – (steering) headtube angle 70.5 deg

Tires and Wheel Sizes (Tire Clearance) :  Schwalbe Marathon with puncture protection 700 x 38mm / With a max tire clearance up to 50mm

• Reliable Shimano Deore and Deore LX parts for the drivetrain
• Double-butted chromoly steel frame provides stability and a smooth ride
• Can support up to 300 lbs. including rider and gear (140 kg)
• Comes with spare spokes
• Getting on the heavier side but mid range weight compared to other bikes in this list.
• Tight clearance for fenders
• You could question the practicality of hydraulic disc brakes for touring bikes

The Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 emerges as a robust and reliable touring bike, well-suited for long-distance journeys and heavy-duty touring. A very suitable bike for tackling steep inclines with heavy loads, which is what you want in a touring bike.

Its double-butted chromoly steel frame ensures a stable and comfortable ride, even under heavy loads, and the bike can support up to 300 lbs. The combination of a Shimano Deore crankset and Deore LX rear derailleur, along with the Tektro HY/RD hydraulic disc brakes, underscores its focus on durability and performance.

The bike is particularly noted for its excellent performance on long tours, with users reporting successful journeys over thousands of kilometers. It is equipped with puncture-resistant Schwalbe Marathon tires and comes with custom front and rear racks for carrying essential gear. An ultra-low gear option is also available, making it easier to navigate steep terrains.

However, some riders have noted the bike’s weight as a potential drawback, particularly when compared to lighter adventure options. There are some concerns about the practicality and maintenance of the hydraulic disc brakes for touring purposes.

Comparing These Bikes

Below, I’ve compiled a table featuring key information for each bike, making it easier for you to compare and decide which one best suits your needs. I hope this helps!

Why You Should Trust Cycle Travel Overload’s Advice

Hey I’m Codey Orgill and have been exploring this world by bicycle for over 8 years now! I have a long history with touring bikes, first being introduced to the world of bicycle travel with a classic Novara Randonee touring bike, then a Surly Long Haul Trucker and I now ride the Kona Sutra Touring Bike .

I have ridden my bikes across 10+ countries so far and a lot of trips where I live here in Australia! Lover of bikes and so passionate about researching, riding, and writing 🙂 about adventure-focused bicycles. That’s why I started this blog ! Have helped over 1 million people find, compare, and decide on their dream adventure bike! Nothing means more to me than getting more people out into the world on two wheels!

What Makes A Good Touring Bike? Criteria For Choosing These Bikes

First I wanted to focus on mostly more traditional touring bikes in this list. As I plan to put together a updated guide for off-road touring bikes better suited for bikepacking type adventures.

Comfortable and Stable Geometry & Design: A top priority was the bike’s geometry. We looked for models with a long wheelbase, (average touring bike wheelbase: 1050 to 1070mm) and chainstay to ensure sufficient heel clearance during pedaling, (average touring bike chainstay: 445 to 470mm) and to accommodate rear panniers. The ideal geometry also contributes to a stable center of gravity, enhancing balance and creating a smoother ride. Additionally, a front center of (around 600 millimeters) is ideal for toe clearance and compatibility with front panniers, a typical setup for world-spanning adventures. For predictability and more stable steering a 60 to 70 mm trail is ideal!

Upright Riding Position : An upright riding position is crucial for comfort during long tours. We sought a stack-to-reach ratio of about 1.5 or higher to avoid a hunched-over posture, reducing back strain over extended periods.

Gear Ratio : The gear range was another vital factor. We looked for bikes with a broad spectrum of gears, especially low-end ratios for climbing with a heavy setup. Ideal bikes offer gearing as low as 18 inches for steep ascents and up to 120 inches for comfortable descents, accommodating various touring conditions. However if you are doing lighter touring and commuting, typically up to a 25 inch low gear is a pass, but not for fully load adventures.

Wheels and Components : Quality components are non-negotiable for durability and performance. We ensured that each bike had robust components unlikely to fail during extended tours. Wheel strength is vital, so we preferred bikes with a high spoke count, ideally 36 spokes to support the weight of a fully loaded touring setup. But some of the lighter touring bikes or not so good build quality bikes may have 32 spokes which isn’t ideal.

Weight Considerations : While weight is a factor, it’s less critical in touring bikes. Most selected bikes weigh around 13 to 15 kilograms or heavier, standard for this category. With added gear, this weight increases significantly, but our focus was more on reliability than lightness.

Other Considerations: The bike’s load capacity is a pivotal feature, with higher capacities being more advantageous. Ideally, a robust touring bike should be able to support a total weight ranging from 130 to 180 kg. Additionally, factors like frame stiffness and the configuration of the kickstand are also important considerations for these types of bikes.

What Are Touring Bikes? The Different Types of Touring Bikes

Touring bikes can be broadly categorised into four distinct types, each tailored to different touring needs and preferences. While there are even more nuances within these categories, this classification provides a solid foundation for understanding the diverse range of touring bikes available in the market.

Traditional or Classic Touring Bikes

Traditional or classic touring bikes are built to be tough and withstand the rigors of long, continuous cycling over days, months, or even years. Unlike road bikes, these are designed with a focus on durability and stability. Typically made from steel, these bikes feature an upright geometry, longer chainstays, and are often equipped with fenders and a rear rack for panniers. The wheels are usually 700c with a high spoke count (32 or 36-hole) to endure the demands of bike touring. While classic touring bikes traditionally had rim brakes, mechanical disc brakes are becoming more common in this category. Both flat and drop bars are seen on these bikes, which often have a vintage look, as their design emphasizes functionality and longevity over aesthetic changes.

When discussing traditional touring bikes, the Novara Randonee instantly springs to mind as the quintessential example. With its bar-end shifters, classic steel frame, and comfortable touring geometry, it embodies everything a touring bike should be. This bike holds a special place in my heart as my first introduction to the world of bicycle travel. I’m eternally grateful to both the bike and Eric, the generous legend who gifted it to me. Thanks, mate!

Expedition Touring Bikes

Expedition touring bikes are designed for epic, long-duration trips, such as around-the-world adventures. Made primarily from steel for robustness and ease of repair, these bikes typically feature 26-inch wheels and rim brakes. The choice of these components is strategic, as they make it easier to repair and replace parts, even in remote corners of the globe. These bikes are built for resilience and are capable of carrying all essentials for extended journeys, making them a top choice for serious long-term touring enthusiasts.

These bikes are quite similar to traditional touring bikes but offer even more adventure focused components and parts as standard like kick stands, Dynamo hubs and light setups, and trekking bars or flat swept back alt bars are often more common on these bikes for that extra comfort in the saddle. The Koga WorldTraveller is a perfect example of this category of bike.

Adventure Touring Bikes

Adventure touring bikes or off-road touring bikes are crafted for rougher terrains, such as loose dirt, single tracks, and off-road wilderness paths, making them ideal for exploring less-traveled roads. These bikes are essentially a blend of road and mountain bikes. They usually come with drop bars and either mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes, offering strong stopping power for diverse conditions. Adventure bikes can accommodate a variety of wheel sizes and have clearance for wider tires. Many models are also equipped to handle dropper posts, adding to their versatility for different types of terrain.

For example, the Tumbleweed Prospector is engineered for supreme reliability and performance in rugged terrains. Its design eschews trendy materials for durability, particularly excelling with the Rohloff SPEEDHUB, an internally geared drivetrain known for its resilience in diverse conditions, from deserts to snowy mountains. Unique features like the Phil Wood eccentric bottom bracket and custom cast dropouts, coupled with a design focused on maximum mud and tire clearance, make the Prospector a top choice for adventurous global expeditions.

Light touring or gravel touring bikes are similar to gravel bikes in that they offer the flexibility for both on-road and off-road use, but with the added functionality of eyelets for attaching racks. They are designed for carrying lighter loads and are more suited for shorter bike tours or bikepacking trips. Generally lighter in weight than traditional touring bikes, they provide a versatile and adaptable solution for cyclists who prefer a mix of on and off-road experiences. These bikes are often interchangeable with gravel bikes, focusing on a balance between lightness, flexibility, and durability.

In this category, the distinction between gravel and touring bikes becomes more nuanced, existing on a spectrum. Some gravel bikes are adeptly equipped for touring and off-road adventures , thanks to their tire clearance, touring-inspired geometry, and build quality. Others, however, are better suited for lightweight touring, with their capabilities leaning more towards smooth roads or light gravel paths due to certain limitations in design and gearing. This diversity means that while some models excel in rugged conditions, others are ideal for less demanding journeys. A good example of a lighter touring bike would be something like the Fuji Touring Disc or the Salsa Journeyer.

How To Choose A Touring Bike

When it comes to choosing the perfect touring bike, understanding your specific needs and priorities is key to narrowing down your options and making an informed buying decision. Every touring bike offers a unique combination of features, and what works for one cyclist might not suit another. By focusing on what is most important for your touring experience, you can filter through the plethora of choices and find a bike that aligns perfectly with your requirements.

1. Prioritize Your Touring Environment : Are you planning to ride mostly on smooth roads, rugged trails, or a combination of both? The terrain you expect to encounter is a primary factor in determining the type of touring bike you need. For instance, if off-road adventures are your main focus, a bike with sturdy tires and a durable frame, like an adventure touring bike, will serve you well. On the other hand, if you’re sticking to paved roads, a traditional touring bike with smoother tires would be more appropriate.

2. Comfort vs. Performance : Long-distance touring demands comfort, especially if you’re spending several hours a day on the bike. Consider bikes with a geometry that offers an upright riding position, reducing strain on your back and shoulders. However, if speed and performance are more important to you, a bike with a more aggressive geometry might be preferable.

3. Load Capacity and Accessories : Assess how much gear you need to carry. If you’re planning a self-supported tour with lots of luggage, look for a bike with a high load capacity, robust racks, and multiple mounting points. Conversely, if you prefer light touring with minimal gear, a bike with fewer rack options but a lighter frame might be better.

4. Maintenance and Durability : If you’re touring in remote areas, consider the ease of repair and maintenance of the bike. Bikes with simpler, more robust components are easier to fix on the road. The bike’s durability also plays a crucial role, especially in challenging conditions.

5. Budget Considerations : Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Higher-priced bikes usually offer better quality and more features, but there are also great mid-range and budget options that can meet your needs effectively.

Panniers for Touring Bikes

Much like the diverse range of touring bikes available, the market is also rich with various styles of panniers to suit different touring needs. Whether you’re setting off on an extensive cross-country adventure or planning a brief weekend escape, selecting the appropriate panniers can greatly elevate your experience. In this article, we delve into the world of panniers, offering insights into robust touring options, streamlined micro bikepacking choices, and minimalist solutions for those who favor a lighter setup.

What About Specific Touring Bike Handlebars and Saddles?

When embarking on bike touring or bikepacking, comfort is paramount, especially considering the main body contact points with your bike. A crucial aspect of this comfort is finding the right handlebars, which can greatly impact your experience over the many miles ahead. This article focuses on what to look for in touring handlebars and presents some of the best options available.

Choosing the right saddle for your bike touring or bikepacking adventure is a decision that can significantly affect your comfort on long rides. In our latest article, we address the essentials of bike saddle comfort and how to select a saddle that reduces discomfort for extended periods in the saddle.

A comfortable bike saddle is crucial, especially when you’re planning to spend days, or even months, pedaling across diverse landscapes. It’s not just about picking any saddle; it’s about finding the one that fits your unique body shape and riding style. We explore the factors that contribute to saddle comfort, from shape and size to materials and design.

Are Touring Bikes Good For Commuting?

Touring bikes are a great option for commuting due to their unique combination of durability, comfort, and carrying capacity.

Designed for long distances and varied terrains, these bikes are robust enough to withstand the daily wear and tear of urban travel, ensuring longevity.

he upright and relaxed geometry of touring bikes offers significant comfort, which is crucial for daily commutes, especially over longer distances.

This design effectively reduces strain on the back, neck, and shoulders. One of the key advantages of touring bikes for commuters is their ability to carry loads. Equipped with racks and multiple mounting points, they are ideal for transporting work essentials, groceries, or other personal items. Want to use a touring bike for commuting?

While touring bikes are versatile and perform well on different surfaces, making them suitable for various commuting routes, they are generally heavier than road bikes.

This might not be ideal for those who need to frequently carry their bike.

Additionally, they might not be as fast as road bikes, which could be a consideration for those with longer commutes seeking speed.

Moreover, the focus on durability and functionality often makes touring bikes more expensive than some basic commuter bikes.

Despite these considerations, touring bikes offer a reliable, comfortable, and practical solution for daily commuting, balancing efficiency and stability, especially when carrying loads.

Other Touring Bike Reads

• The Tips, 67 bike travellers wish they knew earlier – Beginner Bike Touring Advice
• Best Bike Touring and Bikepacking Handlebars – Everything You Need to Know
• Gravel Bike For Touring – 6 Best Gravel Bikes For Touring!
• 12 Best Front Bike Racks For Touring & Bikepacking
• Best Off-Road Adventure Touring Bikes 2024
• Best Flat Bar Touring Bikes & Expedition Bikes
• Best Touring Bike Kickstands & Everything You Need To Know

About The Author

Codey Orgill, a seasoned bicycle adventurer, has been exploring the world on two wheels for over 10 years. Since embarking on his initial cycling journey, Codey Orgill has traversed numerous countries, experiencing a series of epic adventures.

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Commuter Bikes

What’s the Best Bike for Long Distance Commuting? [5 PICKS]

By Kevin Glenton

Updated Aug 28, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, which help to keep Discerning Cyclist rolling. Learn more .

Commuting by bicycle has many variants. City dwellers hop on a ride, avoiding underground systems or busy walkways. In the suburbs, new cycling infrastructure might open safer routes which include dropping kids off or stopping for a coffee. There is also a place for longer-distance commutes.

Long-Distance Bike Commuting

As many developed countries’ authorities begin to incorporate longer, safer and more connected routes that encourage cycling via segregated lanes or away from vehicles via shared ways, we can see an increased number of options to bring more riders out onto the roads from longer distances than ever before.

Choosing a route for a longer distance commute needs to take in considerations such as the distance of a commute (covered here ), riding surfaces, infrastructure and safety, lighting conditions in winter, proximity of public transportation, and emergency facilities like a bike shop.

PICTURED: Bicycle Anatomy 101 Mug (Limited Edition)

Once you’ve looked into these (forums or apps like Komoot or Strava are great for identifying commonly used routes by sharing user data) you can then add probably the most important part of the jigsaw; the bike. Most of the biggest brands in the world now offer models for any type of riding, as we examine here .

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Best Long Distance Commuter Bikes

• Touring Bikes
• Gravel Bikes
• Folding Bikes
• Electric Bikes

1. Road Bikes

Road bikes are pedigree machines with the principal aim of being ridden quickly. To do this, the bike needs to be aerodynamic and light. These models are designed in order to cheat the wind and they can do this by creating a riding position which reduces your ‘drag’ but can be uncomfortable over long distances if you’re not wearing specific kit.

Manufacturers have invested a lot in shaping the frame to assist the aerodynamics and also apply components which are light and reliable. Tyre width and the tucked in, cramped riding position mean shifting around a bit more while sat on the saddle. If you commit to a road bike, your commute will be the quickest but probably the most ‘skittish’ and tense.

You will most likely follow the arteries and veins of other vehicles’ journeys if you choose a road bike. You will be jostling with other road users more frequently. The average speed that a cyclist on a road bike can maintain might mean that you will keep up with, or need to pass, other road users. Road bikes are not the easiest to move around on when riding slowly – the turning front wheel is closer to your foot during the pedalling motion than almost any other type.

Commuting on a road bike is covered in more detail here . The routes you can take because of the riding surfaces and to some extent, the infrastructure can influence the fulfilment of a journey. Of course, you can ride in a traditional upright position but that is not what the road bike is intended for. They can vibrate quite a lot and the frames and riding position are ‘stiff’. You perhaps need to train and condition yourself more when learning or mastering a road bike than most others.

Road Bikes for Long-Distance Bike Commuting [PROS + CONS]

Best road bikes for long distance bike commutes.

Trek Domane AL2

The Domane range from Trek is packaged to offer a more comfortable riding experience than most other road bikes. The position is less formal and rigid. A longer-distance commute should be easier to manage.

Both handling and comfort are considered with a more relaxed frame geometry and curved forks – this also dampens the vibrations too. It comes with plenty of mounts and fittings for racks and mudguards / fenders.

Specialized Allez E5

The Specialized Allez is a machine with over 50 years of research and development behind it. The gender neutral frame design is relaxed which reduces aches and pains and light frame tubing are ideal for long commutes.

A carbon fibre fork reduces vibration from road buzz which makes longer distance rides more tolerable. The component parts are tried and tested and there are integrated mounts for mudguards and racks.

2. Touring Bikes

Touring bikes are a great solution for long-distance commuting. They are incredibly functional machines – never in fashion or subject to trends and built as workhorse modes of transport. Their essential design incorporates loads of luggage carrying potential. This lowers the centre of gravity and also gives a very relaxed riding position for riding day in day out.

You will naturally be drawn to a more upright position which is more comfortable and allows for more visibility – both for you and of you – which is obviously safer. Then there is the option of a butterfly handlebar which are more comfortable for some riders even than the flat bar of a hybrid. Touring bikes are really suited to road and light gravel terrains – canal towpaths and shared ways are ideal but off road hills are going to be difficult.

A really important feature is the reliability. The brakes are very strong as they are intended to carry more weight than most other models and there is the potential for wider tyres too. You get the balance of a road bike and gravel bike which tops up the number of possible routes you can consider with your commute – towpaths and the converted old railway lines that go into urban areas will be a cinch.

Touring Bikes for Long-Distance Bike Commuting [PROS + CONS]

Best touring bikes for long distance bike commutes.

Kona Sutra SE

This bike is packed with features which are really useful for long-distance commuters. There are plenty of gears and gear-shifters handily placed at the end of the handlebars.

Kona frames are considered to be some of the smoothest around but our favourite feature has to be the Brooks leather saddle . Good components for the price too.

Ridgeback Voyage

A bombproof traditional steel touring model harking back to frame building techniques founded at a time where cycling commuting and touring was a way of life. It uses Reynolds steel which is a benchmark for reliability.

A great frame and fork is supported by a Shimano groupset and full length mudguards and a rear rack. This is a really elegant machine to support commuting as a mode of transport which might earn more space and respect on the roads.

3. Gravel Bikes

You’ll need to do a double-take to spot the differences between a road bike and gravel bike at first glance. However, the subtle changes are really helpful in reducing or eliminating some of the challenges of using a road bike for a long-distance commute.

Gravel bikes are so comfortable. Because they are designed for durability over sketchy surfaces, when you transfer that set-up to the road, you get a buttery ride. The geometry sits between a mountain bike and road bike which means balanced control and comfort. Gravel can handle most surfaces easily apart from deep, wet mud.

The tyre clearance means softer rides too and wider tyres can be inflated to lower pressures without ticking off all of your speed. You can also choose a tread that combines road and gravel capabilities. Have a look at gravel bikes vs. road bikes here .

Perhaps the best aspect for a longer commute is their versatility – you can accessorise if you need to carry luggage, they all suit mudguards / fenders, the gearing is wide ranging for most commuters and you really can take them everywhere a commute might expect to take you.

Gravel Bikes for Long-Distance Bike Commuting [PROS + CONS]

Best gravel bikes for long distance bike commutes.

Triban RC 500

This is a straightforward introduction to the world of gravel and long distance commuting. The geometry is vey comfortable and the contact points for you and the road are ergonomically designed.

It uses Shimano Sora groupset which can be worked really hard without compromise.

Mechanical disc brakes will help you to moderate your speed, even in the wet and there’s plenty of versatility for racks and mounts.

Giant Revolt 2

A great example of gravel balancing out the harshness of a road bike. This bike has some built in shock-absorption without harming a surefooted ride so your comfort levels go up.

The handlebar and seat post are designed to smooth out the bumps of all surfaces.

It comes from the world’s largest producer of frames by volume and is supported by a reliable Shimano groupset.

4. Folding Bikes

Folding bikes are becoming more popular for what are known as multi-modal journeys where you take more than one form of transportation. They can make all the difference for a commuter.

Their small wheels are great for acceleration which suits urban stop-starts at red traffic signals. This can be a stumbling block for longer commutes because of a perceived loss of stability. The steering ‘column’ is a little further away than other bikes which creates a different ‘feel’ for the steering which requires practice.

They fold up quickly and easily without protruding, greasy parts to annoy you or fellow commuters on public transport. For those who struggle to find safe and adequate parking, they do fit under desks or should be stored in the workplace itself.

If your commute takes in both overground and underground rail, or (check with bus companies first) a Park + Ride stop, then a folding bike is ideal. They are most suited for road surfaces although mixed terrain models can be found. We look at folding electric bikes in more detail here – a new take on assisted riding .

Folding Bikes for Long-Distance Bike Commuting [PROS + CONS]

Best folding bikes for long distance bike commutes.

Brompton A Line

Brompton is the best-known folding-bike brand. They are well liked for their iconic award-winning design.

The quality of the build gives off elegance and the frame is as light and strong at this level.

After practice the folding process takes as little as 30 seconds, which is important if you’re doing this four times a day.

Bickerton Junction 1908 City

The Junction model in this range from the British manufacturer has slightly larger wheels at 20 inches.

This could increase stability on longer journeys and offer a more comfortable ride than with traditional 16 inch wheels of the genre.

The chain is on the inside of the folding mechanism which is going to help you and those around you on the busy concourse.

5. Electric Bikes

The electric bike is the ultimate aid to a long-distance commute. They are a boon to new commuters and leisure riders alike. They are increasingly common across Europe. As they become more popular, any stigma attached to riders ‘cheating’ is going to fall away. They appear to put a smile on the face of their owners.

In essence, you can receive electrical assistance via a motor – this assistance is immediately available when starting, or can be used to give a boost up hills. The top speed is limited by law. The boost is usually supplied via a button or lever on the handlebars. The batteries used to power the motor can be clipped off (in most cases) to be charged at your convenience. Most take less than a working day to recharge.

The range of the motor should be acceptable for all long commutes – depending upon the weight of the bike (we’ve looked at some here ) anything from 42 – 128 miles between charges. We wouldn’t say that electric power should be on at all times – the assistance that they provide on hills or when riding into head winds is usually enough.

E-bikes are now available across the entire range of bicycle styles so they are true, go anywhere machines. We look at the best e-bike brands here . Their versatility is their strong point because of the assistance they offer.

E-Bikes for Long-Distance Bike Commuting [PROS + CONS]

Best e-bikes for long distance bike commutes.

Raleigh Centros – Hub Gear

This impressive machine has a 128 mile range between charges so will not need regularly charging during a working week.

It has two types of ‘crossbar’ depending on your riding style and comes with mudguards, pannier racks and a kick stand.

RadCity 5 Plus

This manufacturer take a lot of the design cues from the well loved Dutch style of riding and has incorporated them into this design.

This means you get a great package of a comfortable, upright ride which is both elegant and makes you visible to other road users.

The motor provides an unconscious feeling of more power via a sensor and will give you an automatic boost.

Rear racks, mudguards / fenders and a kick-stand top off this very good looking machine. The range is expected to be 28 miles / 45 kilometres (minimum) between charges.

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UPDATED May 14, 2014

BY The TDA Team

IN Company , Staff Picks

33 comments

Choosing a Bicycle for Long Distance Touring

Click here to read our most recent ‘choosing a bike’ blog post.

This is the most common question we get asked by people contemplating a bicycle tour with us. For any cycle tourist – whether in a group or going solo, and cycling the smooth cycleways of western Europe or thru the rugged back roads of South America – choosing an appropriate bike for the tour is no easy task.

>>Related: What to Expect on a TDA Bike Tour

Three Basic Types

To help you make the right choice, we have broken down your options into the three most suitable options.

1.    Mountain Bike with Front Suspension

A ‘hard tail mountain bike’ is the most versatile choice for any bike tour. It provides suspension and relative comfort for the off roads, and with a thinner set of tires it provides a decent ride on paved roads. The drawback is that it will be a little slower, a little heavier, and a little less efficient than other bikes on pavement. Having locking front suspension is useful, as you can ‘lock out’ on the smooth roads and engage the suspension on the rougher roads. This bike is the most common choice on tours crossing rugged terrain.

PROS: versatility, durability, and comfort CONS: less efficient on smooth roads, less mounts for panniers, more complicated parts

2.    Cyclocross or Touring Bike

Cyclocross bikes are becoming more and more popular among cycle travellers, as they combine the ruggedness of a mountain bike, with the speed and efficiency of a road bike. These are quite similar in style and form to classic touring bikes. While cyclocross/touring bikes do accommodate wider off road tires they do not have suspension, and riders may be seriously challenged on the rougher off-road sections. Touring bikes, moreso than cyclocross bikes will have excellent mounts for racks and extra water bottles. Both these bikes are a good choice for places with better roads or on any tour where speed is more important to you than comfort.

PROS: efficient on the smooth roads, while still rugged enough for the rougher roads CONS: no suspension, less comfort

3.    Hybrid Bicycle

This bike has the same wheel size as a cyclocross bike, but with straight handlebars instead of road style drop bars. Hybrids sometimes have front suspension and suspension in the seatpost. Hybrids are designed more for comfort and leisure than for performance, and have more of an upright sitting position. This is a very popular style of bike for European cycling trips, that also works well in other places.

PROS: comfort, good mounts for racks and bottles CONS: not always designed for rugged terrain

>>Use our Tour Finder to choose a bike tour that’s right for you (and your bike)

5 Tips for Choosing your Bike

1.    Ask an Expert : Bike shops are a great place to get valuable insight into the latest bike technologies and to gain from the collective experience of the cyclists who work in the shop. Most bike shop staff are happy to share some advice and to let you test ride a few different models.

2.    Blogs by Cycle Tourists:  Type in ‘cycling thru [ your destination ]’ and you are bound to find a blog from someone who has cycled there recently. Look at their photos and see what they are riding. Then send them an email, and most of the time, they will be happy to share their insights.

3.    Consider your Riding Style : What type of rider are? Do you like to sit upright to have a full view and worry little about speed? Or do you like to be tucked into an aerodynamic position and go as fast as you can, and as efficiently as you can? This will help you narrow down your options very quickly.

4.    Key Criteria : Durability and Simplicity: As you narrow down your choices, remember that two factors guiding your decision are durability and simplicity of the bike and its components. What frame material is it made from? What quality are the parts? How often will I need to replace them?

5.    Don’t Panic : There are nearly limitless choices these days. Each bicycle manufacturer has several models in each category, and so choosing can feel overwhelming. Whatever bike you end up with will have its advantages and disadvantages. There really is no perfect bike. The bike you choose will not be the pivotal factor that makes your trip a success or not.

>>Read: Why Ride with TDA Global Cycling?

Further Reading

If you want to read further on this topic, there are several excellent posts at these websites which will give you another perspective on the topic:

Travelling Two

Matador Network

The Adventure Journal

Related Posts:

33 Comments for "Choosing a Bicycle for Long Distance Touring"

Hi there is one more bike group to look at and that is the Adventure bike’s. Like Specialized Awol, Salsa Fargo. I how have an Awol and this is a 100% better then the Cyclo X bike I had in Africa with TDA in 2012.

My name is Chandan I’m from India I wanna going to do India book of record in India by non stop cycling about 1837 km in 100 hours can u please suggest the best cycle model for this event…

Get a cyclocross! Light and fast! Adjust it so it fits you! Spezialzed Awol is too heavy – bought one and sold it. Since TDA transfer all your bags you can choose a bike that it’s not ment to carry all bags around the world on your bike!

Got a Kona ( Jake the snake) for Paris – Istanbul – loved it. Now its ready for Venice – Lisboa

[…] For reference read ‘Choosing a Bike for Long Distance Touring’. […]

I see a lot of down talk in various blogs and sights over hybrid use for long distance touring! I ame a man and purchased a womans hybrid fuji silloette! The bike shop guy never could sell it due to being black painted as it was more masculine look didnt apeal to the gals! It fit me perfect !! It has 9 rings on the cassette and a tripple on the front ! My climber is a 32 , rapid fire shifters and chain stay is 2 inches longer than my specialize carbon fiber robaix ! Also disc brakes ! My super tor dx rack is solid on the mounts provided and i carry 25 lbd of stealth camping gear with absolutely no problems! The bike control is awesome even on gravel roads and old trainbed trails with 32 tires ! I have no problen clearing my panniers with my heels !! When traveling with the soandex croud of course tge roubaix is the way to go with sagg supported touring cruising 15 to 17 mph avg. but then i get tired of the testosterone hype of having to make the distances quicker and missing out on taking some pictures etc. am i slower on it? Of course but who cares when time is ni factor in the equasion ! I avg anywhere from 12.5 to 13.2 moh avg loaded and that was on a 55 mile journey including a dirt road here and there! I have seen many expedition bikers only avg 9 to 11 moh averages ! This bike is aluminum frame and feels very sturdy traveling! Also very cofortable ! To me cross country tourin/ adventuring is not about how fast you go its about nature/ fun ! If it is a little more effort riding all you do is take more breaks. No big deal! Sure i like to get out and haul on my carbon fiber niw and then but when alone i could care less about soeed ! I say tge right hybrid is a great long distance traveler !

!!!!!!Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for mentioning that there are three basic types of mountain bikes. You also said that a ‘hard tail’ mountain bike is the most versatile option. I think it’s a good idea to choose a mountain bike that has a comfortable seat for long-distance travel.

Have you considered payments for “image rights” now that I’m a famous touring cyclist?

lookin’ good Mick 🙂

Good memory Shanny hope all is well.

I know the cycling. Enjoyed cycling as a child. Still I am physically fit and do yoga regularly. I just want to do cycling for long distance to nature with cycling.

I plan to browse route 66 on bicycle what kind of bicycle and accessories could you advice me

Francois Tamburello

How about a Brampton, Dahon or other folding bike?

That might be a challenge is the daily distances get over 80 kms.

I am just starting out bicycling to stay in shape and just for the fun of it. I have found some really nice bikes but they are used. but of good quality and would like to know of a good web site that could help me get them back in shape. Do you have any suggestions for me? Thanks

Kong Sutra wheel question North American Epic 2019 I have the ‘factory’ equipment, including those giant 50 mm wheels. Will my bike be too slow? I can’t really get an idea On my own, because I haven’t been able to get out this spring to enjoy riding…. or even to train…. due to breaking an elbow, having the fortune of living in this century, so an orthopedist could insert a metal device and 8 screws to hitch the olecranon back onto the ulna …so I don’t know how it will perform….

Will I wish I had suspension systems?

Should I bring another set of wheels? I’m not sure how much of the trip will be on paved roads

Many thanks Cynthia

Hi Cynthia,

The first week or so of riding is on dirt roads where those tires would be a good fit. After that, there are mostly paved roads, and you may want to bring a second set of thinner tires. However, this is a matter of personal preference. This is a tour, not a race, and many people are perfectly happy to ride on paved roads on 50c tires.

I plan for long distance bycycle trip ( approx 2000+ km ) could you advice me, which is best bycycle & what kind of assesories are require.

What is the general advice on e-bikes with pedal assist? I’m concerned that I will not quite be up to the task and would like some assistance with the big hills and headwinds.

I’m told that riding the newer ones without using the assist is just like the regular ‘sister’ of a particular e-bike model – except for the added weight. So for the most part I would be un-assisted – just not sure about the toughest days.

I ride a lot of long distance. Did the Camino in 2013 on my Cervello RS road bike with an 11-32 rear cassette. With the stiff frame and slightly easier rear cassette range, I could do 22% grades.

Since then I’ve switched to an aluminum Trek 720. The bottom bracket is not as stiff, but I’ve put an 11-36 cassette on the back which makes the steeps easier. The really nice thing for distance is that I can put a carrier on for a pannier to carry rain gear etc. I also modified the standard tires with an upgrade to a 32mm tire. I can actually corner better with the bigger tires. They’re also nice on gravel and dirt. I use drop bars as I can put my hands in many different positions over the course of the day. I find that I get ulnar nerve parasthesias with flat bars. Plus it’s easier to fight a headwind when you’re down low. Standard handlebars too low, you can always get a stem with a rise so that you can still get down on the bars, but not so low to be uncomfortable. All in all, not as fast or light as the Cervello, but more versatile.

So, a frame as light as you can get while still being durable, wide range gears, slightly bigger tires and drop bars. The Trek lineup has some nice bikes in their gravel category that seem very similar to my 720 (maybe that’s why they dumped it from the touring line up). The frame is set up for racks and fenders and there’s a pretty nice drive train. Comes in all carbon or aluminum.

Great tips and very easy to understand, Thank you.

I am living in Prague. I like cycling. After 5 years, now i am starting starting bycycle. Sometimes, i am riding in city & outside Prague. In near Prague lots of cycling route & medium level mountain track road.. igo to mountain & staying alone in roadside with my tent.my question ROADRIDER ST530 is good for my,this type of travel. I like this bycycle because hydrolic brakes, tyre thick & grip is good,winter & rainy days perfect.next week,i buying this bycycle. What is your suggestion. My height 6 feet & weight 90kg.

Hi Adnan That’s a great bike for off road conditions and camping with gear. I would check on the bikes company website regarding sizing recommendations.

I’m planning to do a bike tour in Europe and don’t know what type of bike to get. I’m 5feet 3inches tall weighing 58kg. being new to cycling, of course I wish to have something as much strength-efficient as possible. I do hiking a lot though. I guess I need to mount a camping gear, personal effects and essentials. Please advise me, thank you.

Hi Maureen, thank you for your question. We have a great blog about choosing a bike for fully supported tour, these bikes also work very well for solo touring.

https://tdaglobalcycling.com/2020/02/choosing-a-bike-for-a-supported-cycle-tour/

sir i am from nepal and want to travel from my place to southern part of nepal i have a bicycle but don’t know how to prepare my bike for the ride please help me

Hello, thank you for your comment. We have some great resources on our website in the “touring advice” blog section. I would suggest you research the road and trail conditions you will be on and start by getting good tires. Check out our tire blog https://tdaglobalcycling.com/2020/08/the-best-tires-for-cycle-touring-schwalbe-marathon/ .

Hello, thank you for your comment. We have some great resources on our website in the “touring advice” blog section. I would suggest you research the road and trail conditions you will be on and start by getting good tires.

I am long distance cycling

important points to consider

1 tyre selection is huge, choose tyres with much lower rolling resistance

2 bike fit is huge, having a good fit becomes much more important with long distance cycling

3 as stated in the article there is no perfect bike, every type of bike is a compromise, but there is a perfect bike fit and a perfect type of tyre, and even a perfect aerodynamic can be achieved with pannier and load placement

4 start off slowly and focus on enjoyment and experience rather than distances, live in the moment

I am surprised that Ridgeback is still fitting aluminium racks to its high-end touring bikes when most other brands fit cro-moly. Aluminium whilst okay for components such as wheel rims, handlebars, and seatposts, is too fragile for heavily loaded racks with thin small diameter tubes and suffers too easily from metal fatigue.

I know you wlll destroy me for me for this idea: But why not using a Road bike or even a triathlon frame for travel? I am a Triathlete and a world cyclist traveller. I have a road bike, a Salsa Fargo and a TT Frame Bike. I travelling the last 6 years with Salsa. Sure you can drive everywhere. BUT i became step by step a problem with my back and Piriformis because i sitting too much upwards. I assembly an aero handlebar extension and now a bit better. In October i try with my road bike to go into the mountains and made 450km in 4 days and two big mountain climbs. And i feel much comfortable on the road as ever with the Salsa. Why? Because i put less stuff on the bike, my lagguage was much lighter then with 4 -5 Ortlieb packs. i was faster, i made some 30-35km within one hour and arrived much earlier on the hotel. And i was not that tired after 100km as with the Salsa 100km. All in all it was a much better way to travel, because i thinking about what i need on the way and what i dont need. i would try i out in spring with the time trial frame and a Extrawheel trailer.

I used to ride a stock Specialized Rockhopper mtb until the straight handlebars started causing numbness in my hands and forearms after a long ride.

I still ride the same, but have swapped the straight handle for a touring bar – difference is amazing. No more soreness in hands, much more comfortable and enjoyable on long distances. I’ve also put on smoother tyres for a better road experience. Almost feels like a sofa. The ruggedness of the mtb frame and wheels gives confidence on the potholed roads and the tougher components give much more confidence on the longer trips….and it’s not heavy.

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The 7 Best Touring Bikes for Your Next Long-Distance Adventure

These bike-packing-friendly rides are ready for your next multiday tour or cross-country adventure.

In an industry that thrives on specialization, the touring bike is designed to be a versatile machine that can be your everyday commuter as well as the bike that takes you from Portland to Patagonia. Touring bikes differ from “regular” road bikes in a few ways. Here’s what you need to look for.

See our top picks below, then scroll down for more in-depth reviews of these bikes and other great options, as well as helpful buying tips and advice.

The Best Touring Bikes

Best Overall

Salsa cutthroat grx 810 bike.

Cannondale Topstone 4

Most Versatile Aluminum

Specialized diverge e5.

Best E-Bike

Bianchi impulso grx600 e-bike.

Best Carbon

Otso waheela c.

Best Heavyweight

Surly disc trucker.

Most Versatile Steel

Niner rlt 9 steel, what to consider, classic, adventure, and expedition.

Classic touring bikes are typically steel, have upright geometry, long chainstays, and often have fenders and a rear rack for panniers. They can look vintage even if they’re brand-new. The wheels of classic touring bikes are usually 700c and have a high spoke count (32- or 36-hole). Classic touring bikes used to have rim brakes, but mechanical disc brakes are starting to take over the category. Classic touring bikes can have either a flat or drop bar.

Adventure bikes are built to blur the lines between mountain bikes and road bikes . They love pavement, they love gravel, they love dirt, and that’s good because you might come across all of those surfaces during your tour. They typically have a drop bar, mechanical or hydraulic disc brakes, and a “dealer’s choice” of wheel sizes with clearance for a variety of tire sizes. And many adventure touring bikes are equipped to handle a dropper post.

Expedition touring bikes are exactly what they sound like: burly steeds crafted to handle big miles in remote territory. They’re almost always made of steel, with 26-inch wheels and rim brakes. All of this is designed to make them easy to work on and find spare parts for, even if you’re in a tiny town whose name you can’t pronounce.

Touring Bike Materials

Steel is the classic frame choice because it is strong and stiff and can be fixed by any mechanic with a blowtorch in a pinch. But you’ll find plenty of aluminum touring bikes on the market and an increasing number of carbon frames, although repairing a carbon frame in rural areas isn’t really an option. You can find titanium touring bikes that are expensive but tough and light, and the vibration damping can be a godsend on rough roads and dirt .

[Related: 7 Amazing Cycling Tours That Should Be on Your Bucket List ]

Touring Bike Geometry

A handful of subtle differences within touring bike geometries set them apart from road bikes. Touring geometry is more upright, creating a riding position that’s more comfortable during long hours in the saddle. Different bike companies refer to this as their “endurance” or “adventure” geometry. This “endurance” geometry plays out in a handful of different ways.

The wheelbase and chainstay of a classic touring bike is typically longer to make room for rear racks and panniers, and the bottom bracket is typically lower to increase stability. The head tube is typically longer on a touring bike, essentially elevating the handlebar, and there’s more slack, helping to extend the wheelbase. Touring bikes also generally have a shorter top tube, or more importantly, a shorter “reach,” which is the distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube. This is designed to keep you more upright, making you reach less for the handlebar.

How We Evaluated

Finding the best touring bikes requires riding hundreds of miles while hauling a heavy load. Our list comprises touring bikes we’ve personally tested, with some picks based on market research and prior brand experience. We dug into each touring bike’s specs and reputation and looked into Bicycling archives to find the best of the best. These touring bikes are tough, weight-bearing, and can confidently take you cross-country.

The Salsa Cutthroat is an ideal match for the performance-focused gravel rider who commonly encounters gnarly terrain on their adventures. It’s nearly a hardtail mountain bike, with a rigid fork and drop bars. Outfitted with a full-carbon frame and fork, a Shimano GRX 1x groupset, and 29x2.2-inch Teravail Sparwood tires, five bottle mounts, and front- and rear-rack mounting points, this bike is ready to embark on your next adventure and deliver a performance-oriented ride for the duration of your journey.

The Cannondale Topstone 4 is one smooth ride, thanks to a stiff aluminum frame. No, it doesn’t have suspension, but it doesn’t need it: Its bump-absorbing carbon fork is excellent for gravel and trails alike. No hydraulic disc brakes, unfortunately, but for its price, the Topstone 4 is a fantastic adventure bike with mounts to match.

Body-inclusive bike influencer Marley Blonsky, who rides a Cannondale Topstone 4 in size XS, loves this bike. “It’s an amazingly sturdy and versatile bike,” she says, “especially for the money. I’ve done everything from Unbound Gravel to bike camping to commuting on it—it has worked beautifully for everything!"

The Diverge E5 is one of the better do-anything, go-anywhere bikes today. A swap from its stock 38mm-wide tires to 30mm- or 32mm-wide tires can make it feel a sporty road bike, while switching to 700 x 47mm or 650b x 2.1-inch tires gives it some off-roading ability. For adventurers, it’s got frame and fender mounts, plus mechanical Tektro Mira flat-mount disc brakes that are, surprisingly (for its price), reliable and firm.

Our test editor Dan Chabanov loves the Diverge E5 and says it can be set up to do almost anything. “It’s not the perfect tool for any one task; it is capable of doing them all.”

Read Full Review

The Bianchi GRX600 is an e-bike outfitted to handle gravel and steep hills as much as pavement. It has rigid suspension, an aluminum frame, and, thankfully, hydraulic disc brakes for great stopping power. Kenda 700c x 35 tires help riders plow through the muck, plus a tire clearance of 38mm lends it some extra rubber when needed. It's also got plenty of mounts for baggage. The downside? You'll need an outlet to charge that bike once its battery runs out of juice.

“Touring with electric road bikes is an increasingly popular option for riders, and e-bike touring is very popular in Europe,” says Bicycling deputy editor Tara Seplavy . "E-bikes are a good option for hotel/B&B touring, or if you are camping and know that your destination has the electricity to recharge when you arrive.”

One of senior test editor Matt Phillips’ favorite bikes of 2022 and a gravel award-winner for the year, the Otso Waheela C is a versatile carbon ride with a lot of range. It has adjustable rear dropouts which adjust chainstay lengths to 420, 430, or 440mm, and has room for up to a whopping 54mm in either 700c or 650b. It’s also one of the only production bikes with suspension-correct geometry, terrific for extreme gravel riding. And yes: It still has plenty of mounts for carrying baggage.

“Perfect it is not—the bike is a little on the heavy side, and the ride is a bit firm with narrower tires,” says Phillips, “but the Waheela has a long front center for stability with the fast and lively feel of a high-performance bike.”

Surly’s Long Haul Trucker has been a favorite of touring cyclists for decades. However, its Disc Trucker, initially introduced in 2012, has been redesigned, giving it the edge over its older cousin. Surly shortened the chainstay length for snappy acceleration and adopted a thru-axle for increased stiffness.

The Disc Trucker also has a decreased stand-over height and increased stack height, which gives the bike a more upright geometry for long days in the saddle. The Truckstop handlebar complements that all-day geometry, and a new fork accommodates pack mounts so you can carry some of your load on the front of your bike. The bike isn’t all new and glitzy; you still get the tried and true 3x9 drivetrain, so you have plenty of gears for the climb.

What if your bike were actually several bikes that transformed based on your shifting moods or terrain? That’s the concept behind Niner’s RLT9, a super customizable long hauler built for gravel, pavement, dirt…whatever floats your boat. The hand-welded Reynolds 853 steel frame anchors the build, but the RTL9 also features a PF30 bottom bracket that makes it easy to go from the stock 11-speed drivetrain to a single-speed setup. The clearance has room for tires up to 700 x 50c but also fits 650b wheels. You can even add a dropper post to get into the steeps.

Niner borrowed some tech from the mountain bike world, most notably the lower bottom bracket height and a slack headtube angle to boost all-day comfort, and the rig comes stock with Shimano GRX800 components, which are built to handle the dirt and grime of gravel. We also like the 26 different mounting points and the custom bags that Niner makes mount directly to the frame without needing straps or Velcro.

Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.

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The 100 Most Popular Touring Bicycles

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The Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide

A touring bicycle is a bicycle designed specifically for bicycle touring (also referred to as “cycle touring, bike touring, bike travel, bicycle travel, adventure cycling and bike-packing”) – the act of riding a bicycle for days, weeks, months, or even years on end as you travel across entire cities, states, and countries under your own power (without the assistance of a motor).

There are hundreds of different touring bicycles available to you. There are touring bicycles made for short day rides near your home; touring bicycles for fast, speedy and lightweight club-style cycling adventures; and touring bicycles made to carry you and your gear all the way around the world. No two touring bicycles are the same!

The Best Touring Bicycles in the World

This article contains a list of 100 of the world’s most popular touring bicycles, along with a photo and a short product description of that bike (usually from the manufacturer). But be warned – each of these touring bicycles has been designed for a specific purpose. While the bikes on this page may look similar to the untrained eye, there are a number of minute details that make each bicycle better equipped for a certain type of bicycle touring.

For example: Did you know that there are three main types of bicycle tours with more than a dozen different sub-types under that? For each of those various types of bicycle tours, there is a corresponding type of touring bicycles.

For example, each touring bicycle on this page can be placed inside one or more of the following five categories:

• Sport Touring
• Light Touring
• Road Touring
• Off-Road Touring

This means that a bicycle designed for short local day trips should probably not be used for a long-distance bicycle tour across an entire country or all the way around the world. And a bicycle made for off-road riding won’t last long if used alongside bicycles designed with fast, speedy sport touring in mind.

This is why it’s so important that you understand not only the different types of bicycle tours, but also the different types of touring bicycles and what they have been designed for, before you go out and purchase a touring bicycle for yourself. More details on this can be found inside The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles .

Touring Bicycles – What You Need To Know

Sadly, most local bike shop owners don’t know much (or anything) about bicycle touring. Because bicycle touring is such a small niche within the cycling industry, local bike shops rarely ever focus any of their time, energy, or money on this type of cycling and almost never have touring bicycles of any kind on hand at their stories. If you can find a local bike shop with someone working there that actually knows something about bicycle touring, you should consider yourself very lucky!

Unfortunately, many of the people who go into a local bike shop looking for a touring bicycle come out having been sold a bicycle that isn’t really designed for bicycle touring at all. The result of this is not only an investment in a product that won’t suit your needs, but could result in damage to your bicycle, your belongings and your body (because an ill-fitting or improperly designed bicycle could break apart during a bicycle tour (yes, this really happens… and it occurs more often than you might thing) or cause pain, discomfort and even long-lasting nerve damage to your body when used on a multi-day bicycle tour).

So, go ahead and check out the impressive list of touring bicycles below, but before you go out and purchase a bike for yourself, make sure you understand what type of touring bike you are buying and how you wish to use it . Don’t make the mistake of buying the first bicycle your local bike shop owner suggests. The bicycle you buy is going to be the biggest and most important investment you make… so make sure you make the right decision!

Bianchi Volpe

The Bianchi Volpe features a smooth riding steel frame and fork and a variety of good components from top manufactures so as to deliver a great affordable bike that can do anything from commuting to hard road rides.

Brodie Elan

Pacific Coast Highway 101, Lake Garda en-route to Lake Como, the Cabot Trail or the Tour D’Afrique. Just climb aboard and pedal where your heart leads you. With classic features which are imperative in Brodie’s first ever touring bicycle, you’ll be so happy that your first touring bike could easily be your last!

Brodie Rombulus

Shimano STi levers handle the shifting and braking duties, a triple chain ring lets you choose the rate of gait and a cromoly frame keeps the components flying in tight formation. Beautiful looks without the beastly price.

Bruce Gordon Cycles BLT-X

Designed for serious loaded touring, with a frame geometry that ensures a stable ride. Versatile 26″ geometry will accept standard road tires, as well as the normal 26″ off-road capable tires.

Cannondale Touring

Back in 1983, Cannondale made its very first frame: a touring bike. Since then, the touring bike has always been in its line. From the market in Kara-chi to the grocery in Kalispell, Cannondale touring bikes have been there, done that.

Co-Motion Americano

The Co-Motion Americano has established the standard for what a touring bike should be – an entirely new breed of bicycle that handles self-supported, transcontinental touring without even breaking a sweat. We’ve developed ideas from our unsurpassed tandem designs to increase touring load capacity and provide a level of rugged reliability unmatched by any other bicycle.

Co-Motion Nor’Wester Tour

If you’re not seeking the extreme capabilities of Co-Motion‘s Americano or Pangea bicycles, the Nor’Wester Tour is one of the finest touring bikes money can buy. The Nor’Wester Tour provides an incredibly stable ride and the kind of positioning you want when your goal is to cover more ground while taking in the scenery.

Co-Motion Pangea

An outstandingly rugged, 26” wheeled touring bicycle that is perfect for our shrinking world. The Pangea has all the features you need for touring in the most challenging of environments. Far from a mountain bike with a drop bar, the Pangea is designed with the stable, responsive touring geometry that has made Co-Motion an industry leader.

Cube Central

The Cube Central has been designed deliberately more sporty than the other models in Cube‘s Global Travel Series. The Central combines the technology of Cube‘s Global Travel Series, but with more athleticism.

The ambitious design of the Delhi makes for a perfect trekking bike. The bike has a long wheelbase, so you can ride in comfort—even with a large load.

Cube Kathmandu

Cube‘s Global Travel Series bicycles are distinguished by their high comfort and easy handling. Special emphasis is placed on the frame geometry, weight and maximum stiffness. This bike has extremely balanced handling and is capable of carrying heavy loads.

Cube Touring Pro

Long rides and short tours are what the Cube tour bikes were developed for. Adventures on two wheels, no matter if the weather is good or not. The especially developed ECG – Efficient Comfort Geometry delivers a comfortable riding position without sacrificing optimum power transfer.

Dahon Tournado

The all day, all weather, all roads, travel bike. The Tournado is a handmade, lugged steel touring bike that celebrates classical frame geometries and component designs. In true hand-made tradition, each frame is painstakingly welded and brazed from Tange Prestige tubes. The Tournado features a frame geometry designed for upright riding stability. The result is a superbly balanced, supple ride that will deliver mile after mile of smiles and still packs easily into a suitcase for your next adventure.

Dawes Cycles Galaxy

The Dawes Galaxy features another legendary tube set made from Reynolds 631. The forks use Reynolds 520 chromoly blades that make for a smooth but reliably strong ride for the longest journeys. Equipped with 27 speed Shimano Deore gears with bar end shifters, Trktro Oryx cantilever brakes, Tubus cargo carrier, WTB Dual Duty rims, Shimano hubs and Schwalbe tires. The Galaxy is a great touring bike.

Dawes Cycles Horizon

The Horizon features a reliably strong, yet light, Reynolds 520 chromoly frame and chromoly forks. The geometry is configured to give enhanced comfort even through those long days in the saddle. It is equipped with 24 speed Shimano Alivio gears, Tektro Oryx cantilever brakes, WTB Dual Duty double wall alloy rims, Shimano hubs and Schwalbe tires. Those long journeys are made more comfortable with the Selle Italia FLX saddle and chromo-plastic mudguards.

Dawes Cycles Karakum Gents

The KaraKum features a lightweight alloy frame and chromoly fork. Distinctive because of its butterfly handlebars it offers unrivaled comfort with multiple riding positions on those long tours. A roll call of quality components consist of Shimano Deore 27 speed gears, Shimano hubs, Shimano V-brakes, Scwalbe Silento II tyres and an ultra comfy Selle Italia FLX Gel saddle.

Dawes Cycles Sardar

Bikes really don‘t come much tougher than the Sardar bike, with its strong 26″ double wall rims, steel trekking fork and it‘s compact alloy expedition frame. The Sardar really does allow you to attack almost any terrain you choose whilst still allowing you to carry every necessity you desire.

Dawes Cycles Vantage

The Vantage is designed for the tourer on a budget who still wants the best value money can buy. With a 6061 alloy frame and Chromoly fork you’ll experience a quality ride and still be able to carry your kit on board. The Vantage is ready for anything with its Shimano 24 speed gears, Truvativ cranks, Schwalbe tyres, luggage rack and mudguards. An ideal starter bike for long jaunts.

Devinci Caribou

Sturdy frame. Triple curved seat stays that help reduce vibrations. The fork can be used to install both a rack and front disc brake. With its proven design, the Caribou is the great travelers‘ bicycle. The Caribou is designed and assembled in Canada.

Fuji Touring

The Fuji Touring is a full-fledged touring bicycle with a classic look and modern components – available at a super low price. An excellent introductory touring bicycle!

Giant CRX-1

Whether you ride for fitness or transportation, Giant‘s CRX-1 will get you where you are going. The Lightweight ALUXX frameset and wide-range gearing tame steep city inclines, while the quick handling reflexes and flat bar let you sling corners with precision. Tuned ride comfort meets road racer efficiency.

GT Peace Tour

GT’s renowned Peace platform, built for touring. If your idea of a perfect ride is cruising the countryside, panniers packed, and rack loaded down, this is your ride.

Jamis Aurora

The Jamis Aurora is arguably the last of the production-built, loaded touring bikes—unbeatably efficient at hauling you and your stuff, and the ultimate ride for big-distance commuters and cyclo-tourists. The bike‘s touring geometry combines a lanky wheelbase with stability-enhancing weight distribution.

Introduced in 2009, the KHS TR-101 has quickly become a big hit with the touring and trekking crowd because of its low price and touring features, such as front and rear fenders and braze-ons designed to support both front and rear racks.

Koga-Miyata Traveller

The Koga-Miyata Traveller is a popular touring bike with an aluminum frame. It is a complete, appealing bicycle for versatile use. The bicycle comes in both a mens and womens version and can be purchased in both aluminum and steel.

Koga-Miyata World Traveller

The 26″ touring bike for rough terrain; also ideal for mountainous or pathless terrain. The super stable aluminum frame is completely outfitted with Shimano Deore XT equipment, Tubus carriers, double eyeletted rims and battery lighting.

Feel good all over the world and then some with Kona’s wondrously refined touring bike. This year the Sutra returns with new chainstay mounted disc brakes for easier fender fit and more fender options. We’ve also added lighter, disc specific stays and, ahem, fenders themselves (sorry for the delay). Take your pleasure seeking on the road, ride deep into new dimensions, and do it all on a bike specifically designed to take you there-and back again of course.

Kross Trans Line

The line of Trans trekking bikes from Kross were designed with the thought of long trips on paved roads in mind. Thanks to the geometry of the frame, a comfortable saddle, fenders and rear rack, the bike is perfect even in difficult conditions, whether you choose to travel near your home on go on a much longer expedition.

Kross Trans Pacific

The Trans Pacific was designed with the thought of long trips on paved roads in mind. Thanks to a comfortable frame geometry, fenders and rear rack, the bike is perfect if you choose to go on a real expedition far from home.

Louis Garneau LGS-GMT

Designed with disc brakes, front and rear fenders, braze-ons built for front and rear racks and all the comfort you would expect in a fully-loaded touring bicycle, you‘ll be lucky if you can find this bicycle on the market today. It’s no longer in production as far as we know.

Marinoni Turismo

The roads around the world are at your fingertips with Turismo! Robust and stable, its framework has been designed to support heavy loads while maximizing energy transfer, thus ensuring the rider reaches port as efficiently as possible!

Norco Cabot

The Norco Cabot is a touring bike built with a Reynolds 525 chromoly frame, 3 water bottle mounts, pump pegs, spoke holder, fender/rack mounts and IS disc tabs. Full Shimano 18-speed drive train with 105 rear derailleur. Sturdy wheels: Shimano LX trekking hubs, butted stainless spokes and Mavic A316 hole rims.

Norco Fraser

The Norco Fraser is a touring bicycle built on a double butted chromoly frame with 3 water bottle mounts and fender/rack mounts. Shimano 18-speed drive train with FSA Vero triple cranks.

Norco Qwest

A bicycle that may no longer be in production, the Norco Qwest is a bicycle designed with sport touring and trekking in mind. The butted Chromoly frame easily accepts both front and rear fenders and racks.

Novara Randonee

The Novara Randonee is a traditional touring bike sold by REI. It’s apopular, low cost touring bike model that’s great for beginners looking for their first touring bike.

Novara Safari

The ultimate adventure-touring cycle, the Novara Safari rides on – even when the pavement runs out! A popular touring bicycle sold at REI stores in the United States.

Weighing in at 27.6 lbs, the Opus Largo is a traditional touring bike built on a triple butted profiled CrMo frame with an Ora Touring aluminum raked fork. Front and rear rack compatible.

Opus Legato

Weighing in at 25.8 lbs, the Opus Legato is a lightweight touring bike built on a triple butted profiled 6061 aluminum frame with an Ora Touring aluminum raked fork. Front and rear rack compatible.

Patria Argos

The lightweight Argos is a fast and agile bike, but not only on smooth asphalt: it rolls on easy running 26″ tires and provides good grip even on trails. With a noble frame made of Columbus Zona tubing, the Argos has a geometry and seating position that allows you to go from long distance to sporty.

Patria Boston

The Boston combines the driving characteristics of a modern light trekking bike with the sporty elegance of the classic sports bike. Thanks to its high-quality components and the long-distance posture it is suitable for long-distance cycling and for everyday use alike.

Patria Helios

The Helios is a light and elegant sports bike. The framework architecture is of the highest quality. Even with all of its components, the weight is surprisingly low. The Helios shown here weighs under 13 kg (with lights, without pedals). The frame is stiff, but with just the right degree of long-distance comfort.

Patria Randonneur

The Randonneur drives like a racing machine – both in the narrow 28″ version and with the wider tires on the 26″ version. Two or three different race configurations can be chosen from.

Patria Ranger

The Ranger was named “Bicycle of the Year” in 1985, even before the term “trekking bike” was coined. In the meantime, over more than 20 years of continuous product development, the Ranger has evolved into an impeccably well-engineered trekking bike of premium quality parts.

Patria Sporttourer

The frame of the Sport Tourer is a pure racing frame. For light day trips, a rear rack can be mounted onto the rear.

Patria Terra

The Terra is designed as a 26″ touring bike with wide tires for those planning to travel with gear on rough roads. Its durable Chromoly frame is lugged and carefully soldered by hand, like all bikes from Patria.

Patria Trondheim

Absolute quality and stable driving is what you will find in the sporty bicycle. It is easy to maneuver, safe and comfortable, even under high loads and at high speeds. It is suitable for sporty drivers, but is great for cyclists traveling long distances with luggage as well.

Raleigh Sojourn

A modern touring bike with old-school charm, the Raleigh Sojourn features Reynold 520 Butted Chromo w/CNC Dropouts, Spoke Holders, Pump Peg, 4130 Chromo Cross w/Disc Mounts, Shimano Tiagra & Shimano Deore deraiulluers, Shimano FC-R453 Octalink 30/39/50t Cranks, Shimano Dura- Ace 9spd Bar End Shifters and Freedom Ryder 2.3 Trekking Double Wall Rims.

Ridgeback Panorama

If you are looking for a sensible steel touring bike, the Panorama might just be the bike you‘ve been looking for. The Ridgeback Panorama features Reynolds tubing, top of the line Shimano components and the kind of ride that long distance expedition types really enjoy.

Ridgeback Voyage

If you want comfort, then the Ridgeback Voyage is the bike that will provide all you need and more. It is responsive and fantastic to ride around the city or on the open roads.

Riese And Muller Delite Touring

The touring is optimized for low weight without compromising functionality. The 27-speed derailleur is sporty and very efficient. Other features include a high quality lighting system with steady light function and LED technology. Demanding everyday cyclists can find their own personal training partner in the Delite touring.

Riese And Muller Delite Traveller

The traveller’s special, super-rigid frame ensures a very stable ride. The 27-speed derailleur (Shimano Deore XT) and disc brakes are reliable and time-tested. The special expedition rack is connected via a linkage system to the rear swing-arm providing greater rigidity. There is no tour that it can’t handle.

Riese and Muller Intercontinental

The Intercontinental is a pro tourer designed and developed to withstand even the hardest of applications. If you intend to go on a world tour by bike, you’ll already be a step ahead with this premium, robust touring bike. The extremely tough frame has many interesting design details: a rigid rear rack integrated into the frame, and connected to the rear suspension system by a link system, over-sized tubing and long wheelbase geometry.

Roberts Cycles Clubman

The Clubman combines the best of tradition with modern technology. It’s a design aimed at the rider who rides regularly on the weekend and enjoys the odd cycling holiday. The Clubman is tough enough for long-distance tours, yet comfortable enough for regular commuting.

Roberts Cycles Cumbria

The Cumbria is the perfect combination of commuter bike and heavy-duty tourer. It’s built like a conventionally-styled touring bike, but uses 26″ wheels and has plenty of clearance for up to 26? x 1.75″ tires.

Roberts Cycles Roughstuff

While it looks like a mountain bike with skinny tires and dropped handlebars, the Roughstuff is designed firstly as an on-road/off-road tourer. Compared to a mountain bike, it has a lower bottom bracket height for greater stability and a taller head tube/handlebar height for increased riding comfort.

Roberts Cycles Transcontinental

Developed and refined over many years using feedback from serious cycle tourists who have traveled the far corners of the world, the Transcontinental is the classic “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” tourer. A surprisingly light- weight mix of Columbus Nivacrom and Reynolds tubes are joined using the finest lugs and meticulous care to provide for a long lifetime of hard riding.

Rocky Mountain Sherpa 10

Touring is all about exploring and adventure and there’s no better bike to tour on than the Sherpa. From intelligent rack mounts, to gearing, to durable paint – every detail has been considered. A long-time staple in the Rocky Mountain lineup, Sherpa offers the durability and features that every long distance rider needs.

Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30

Touring is all about exploring and adventure and there’s no better bike to tour on than Sherpa. From intelligent rack mounts, to gearing, to durable paint – every detail has been considered. A long-time staple in the Rocky Mountain lineup, Sherpa offers the durability and features that every long distance rider needs.

Rodriguez Adventure

If you want room for fenders and big wide tires, mounts for rear and front racks, a bomb-proof frame and fork, mounts for 3 water bottles and a frame made in the U.S.A., what you are looking for might just be a Rodriguez Adventure. This is a comfortable, American made, steel, classic touring bike with modern day components and the old school conveniences, plus hand built wheels with a 3-year warranty.

Rodriguez Navigator

The Rodriguez Navigator is a Randonneur/Sport bike with clearance for fenders, a rear rack and wide tires. The Navigator is a comfortable, versatile bike that is perfect for commuting, day touring, or a weekend ride with your buddies.

Rodriguez Rainier

The Rodriguez Rainier is perfect for the Randonneur cyclist or the commuter who doesn’t need a front rack set up. Not really a touring bike, but a sport bike that accommodates full fenders and a rear rack.

Salsa Casseroll Double

Salsa‘s Casseroll Double is a relaxed road bike, perfect for everything from non-competitive road riding and commuting to credit card touring and charity rides. An extremely versatile frame set is what makes the Casseroll Double so… well, versatile.

Salsa Fargo

Crafted of Salsa Classico CroMoly, the Fargo is a bit of a cycling anomaly: a disc brake only, drop bar mountain bike designed for off-road tour- ing. Six (count ?em, six) water bottle cage mounts (on sizes 18 – 24″) help keep you hydrated on a long journey. The sloped top tube allows plenty of stand over clearance for those fully-loaded starts and stops.

The Salsa Vaya is a road adventure bike designed to take on any surface that someone might consider abroad‘. Crafted of Salsa Classico Cro-Moly, the Vaya is loaded with braze-on‘s for fenders, racks, and lowriders. This makes everything from wet weather commutes to full-on touring a breeze.

Santos Travel Master

Hailing from the Netherlands – where they know a thing or two about riding practical bikes long distances – the Santos Travel Master is a very impressive, well-rounded tourer.

Schwinn World Tour DLX

An inexpensive touring bike made for weekend travel.

Seven Cycles Cafe Racer

The Café Racer pays homage to the vintage motorcycles that once roamed Europe‘s motorways of the 1960‘s. Seven‘s exclusive IntegrityTM titanium tubing provides the utmost utility and durability.

Seven Cycles Expat S

The Expat is two bikes in one: a mountain bike for loaded pannier exploring and a touring bike that is off-road worthy. 700c wheels allow for every type of tire available—from 23c road slicks to full-on 29er mountain tires. Designed for multi-day exploration of uncharted territory, the Expat excels where the road ends.

Seven Cycles Halcyon

Long days and heavy loads make touring some of the most demanding riding there is. Seven’s touring-specific tubing design, along with custom geometry and options ensures comfort, handling stability, lightweight, and durability no matter where you go.

Seven Cycles Vacanza

A genuine touring bike, custom built with your choice of rack and fender mounts, extra water bottle mounts, and more. The Vacanza employs Seven‘s exclusive ArgenTM butted titanium tubing.

Specialized Tricross

Point the Tricross down anything from a gravel strewn fire road to a pothole packed bike path or maybe even a chunk of smooth single-track, and you’ll realize that its numbness-killing chassis, predictable geometry and robust wheelset will help you redefine what’s possible on two (skinny) tires.

Surly Cross Check

The frame itself is Surly’s own 4130 cromoly steel, and provides a relatively relaxed and forgiving ride. Like all of Surly‘s bikes, the parts package was chosen for its value, durability and purpose. Surly sells it as a 2×9 speed, but you could add a third ring if you wanted. Or you could make it a single speed. Or a fixie. People use it for commuting, light touring, single-track riding, hauling kids, just about anything you can do on a bike.

Surly Long Haul Trucker

If you want to carry a lot of stuff while riding your bike long distances, you‘d be hard pressed to find a better bike than the Long Haul Trucker. It starts with the frame, whose custom drawn 4130 tubing and geometry were specifically designed for loaded travel, low bottom bracket for stability, long head tube, long stays, the whole thing. Surly added braze-ons for everything you‘re likely to need. They gave it parts that are durable and long lasting, and ready to travel. Add racks, bags, and fenders… and go somewhere!

Terry Valkyrie Tour

The Valkyrie Tour is a sporty bicycle designed specifically for women that has clearance for fenders as well as has rear rack mounts, alpine gearing and all the comfort of steel for long, loaded days on the road.

Thorn Audax MK3

A superb frame, fast enough for high performance cycling. Comfortable enough for long distance Audax events. Strong enough for medium weight touring. Inexpensive enough for winter training.

Thorn Club Tour

A modern take on a traditional touring cycle at a good old fashioned price! With geometry that truly gives impressive handling! Ideal for leisure, medium paced Audax, commuting, touring and cycle camping.

Thorn Raven Nomad

The ultimate, yet affordable, Rohloff equipped expedition touring bike. With an option to add S&S couplers, the Raven Nomad is totally reliable, easy to maintain, and cheap to run. Lifetime frame guarantee.

Thorn Raven Sport Tour

The Thorn Raven Sport Tour is a high performance road-going machine with a sporty geometry, low bottom bracket height and tight clearances. It‘s a lightweight bike with traditional touring capabilities.

Thorn Raven Sterling

A high performance touring mountain bike, designed specifically for the Rohloff hub with the EX box. Utterly stunning off-road performance!

Thorn Sherpa

The Thorn Sherpa can take you to the other side of town, or to the other side of the planet. It is rugged enough to survive careless handling, yet light enough to be enjoyable in your sportier moods. The Sherpa is unlikely to be your fastest bike, but over time it may grow to become your favorite bike. It is so versatile and reliable. Good looking, but not ostentatious. You can take it anywhere.

Tout Terrain 5th Avenue

The 5th Avenue is a bicycle for the particularly discerning everyday cyclist. It runs exceptionally smoothly on a level thanks to its slim-line 28 inch wheels, and it effortlessly ascends slopes with its (in everyday cycling terms) sensationally low weight of just 12.5 kg.

Tout Terrain Boulevard

The Boulevard is a lightweight urban bike perfectly suited for pleasurable and classy cycling. Design and sophisticated technology are at the very forefront: balanced ergonomics, easy handling, and preeminent comfort.

Tout Terrain Grande Route

The Grande Route is a classic Randonneur who enables long distance riders to cover great distances in a sporty pace without abstaining from a comfortable seating position.

Tout Terrain Panamericana

With the Panamericana you are equipped ideally for all adversities you potentially experience on remote routes. Gravel roads and twisting single-track will hardly affect you, because the Panamericana is the first full suspension travel bike that is exclusively designed for this purpose.

Tout Terrain Silkroad

The Silkroad is an extremely robust travel bike. The “less is more” principle was the main focus when designing this bike. By integrating the rack into the main frame of the bike, many of the weak points you find on typical touring bikes have been cut out.

Tout Terrain Via Vento

The Via Veneto is characterized by its fast and agile handling and is especially designed for sporty cyclists who are looking for an urban bike as well as one that can be used for light touring.

Outfitted with features like an extremely durable butted chromoly frame, wide-range Shimano gearing, and stout Bontrager rims, the 520 strikes the perfect balance between the amenities you’ll want for comfort and convenience and the reliability and performance you’ll need for long-haul peace- of-mind.

Unibike Expedition GTS

A technically advanced, high-quality trekking bike made in Poland.

Unibike Globetrotter

Unibike‘s best-equipped touring bike. Complete Shimano LX indestructible, Schwalbe Marathon XR tires and an oil shock are just a few advantages of this super tough bike.

Van Nicholas Amazon

The geometry of the Amazon has been designed to enhance day-long comfort and stability under load, whilst still offering rewarding handling for a faster ride. The Van Nicholas Amazon is a Cycle-Cross/touring/upright road and Audax frame. You can seize the day and configure this frame in a multitude of variations to meet your performance and riding criteria. This bicycle comes in a ladies, Rohloff and Rohloff ladies version.

Van Nicholas Pioneer Rohloff

This bike was designed so that as little as possible could go wrong with it: so no hydraulic cables, no derailleurs and no front suspension. Van Nicholas combined a heavy-duty, paint-free Titanium frame with a Titanium seat post and bullet-proof Schwalbe Balloon Tires for comfort. And it comes with the integrated 14-gear Rohloff system (like having 27-MTB gears) for one- handed shifting through the entire range, whilst stationary or pedaling.

Velotraum Cross CrMo

This bike‘s Taiwanese welded frame is a contemporary interpretation of a classical touring bike with a heavy-duty steel frame. With rack mounts on the front and back, you can use this bike for your touring needs or use it to quickly get around on the open roads and asphalt strips.

Vivente World Randonneur

Developed by the team involved in the original ‘Randonneur Project’ that started in the early 1980’s. The frame is made from double-butted Cr-Mo steel to give a more ‘alive’ feeling that is a delight to experience, especially on a long day.

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur T-400

If you are looking for the ideal touring bicycle, the T-400 models from VSF Fahhradmanufaktur may be your answer. These bicycles have been designed to be extremely compact and robust. The frame geometry ensures high stability and good handling, and the Magura hydraulic rim brakes are there for safe braking in any situation.

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur T-700 XT

The epitome of timeless aesthetics and quality: The T-700 scores with its sporty handling, and offers high stability and ease. A good performance, durable, and fast bicycle.

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur T-Line

VSF Fahhradmanufaktur produces a number of commuter-style trekking bicycles in their line of T-50, T-100 and T-300 bicycles. The T-models from VSF Fahhradmanufaktur give you easy-to-control handling, equipment that meets all the requirements of your specific ride, and of course—elegance and comfort.

Windsor Tourist

An inexpensive, Eco-friendly sport utility vehicle. Custom Chromoly tubing and Touring-Specific geometry. So comfortable, it lets you hit the road without it hitting back.

While the bicycles listed on this page are indeed designed for the various modes of bicycle travel, I chose (simply as a matter of aesthetics) not to include any folding bicycles, recumbents, tricycles or cargo bikes in this list of touring bicycles.

This is only 100 of the more than 150+ different types of touring bicycles you can choose from. Inside The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles there are even more touring bikes listed for you, along with detailed information about what makes a touring bicycle different from other bicycles you are probably familiar with (such as road and mountain bikes).

The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles discusses the important features that makes touring bicycles ideal for long, multi-day cycling adventures and how the manufacturers of these bikes tweak their designs ever-so slightly in order to make the bicycle more rugged and able to carry more weight/gear, while at the same time making the bicycle more comfortable on your body (especially on your back, neck, arms and hands).

If you have experience with any of these bicycles, I would love to hear what you have to say. Leave a comment below and let me know what bike you have, how you’ve used it and what you like best/worst about that bicycle.

Darren Alff

My goal as the "Bicycle Touring Pro" is to give you the confidence and inspiration you need to travel by bicycle anywhere in the world. I'm here to help you plan, prepare for, and execute your first bike tour and remove all the guesswork, wasted time and frustration that plagues so many first-time bicycle travelers.

61 thoughts on “ The 100 Most Popular Touring Bicycles ”

2013 Specialized Tri Cross Sport Disc, decked out for touring. racks, fenders, a triple, brooks saddle, bar riser, trekking bars, front an rear torch. def not a turn-key but more passion goes into it.

Thank you for this list! It would be even more helpful, if you included price categories too, it would be even more helpful!

Price details and other information on each of these bicycles is available inside “ The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles .”

Hey Darren, my name is Aiman. I’m brasilian spending the summer in Norway now, and realy feeling to make a small touring bike here. Something like a 5 days trip. The thing is that I’ve found one Merida Hybryd inside a container garbage here in Oslo and I’m trying to fix it to travel a bit. Since you like Norway and Sweden, and acctualy at this moment you are traveling in this area, I wanna ask you if you think that a simple Hybrid Merida would be enought to make this 5 days trip…cicling some moments on the asphalt and some moments in the forest (but more in clear paths and tracks). What do you think? Hope you are enjoyng your trip, Scandinavia is realy amazing, for sure! Thanks anyway, Aiman.

Yes, I think a Hybrid bike like that will probably work fine for a short 5-day bike tour. Just as long as it is in good working condition.

I agree. Some ball park prices would be very helpful..new biker age 77 … Jim Leslie

I have an original Bianchi Volpe, circa 1991. Tange superset and suntour xpress/x1 drivetrain. Winters, loaded touring, tooling around. I think that frame will outlive me. Glad to see they still build them, but I wouldn’t trade on the new model..

Where is the beautiful Cinelli Hobo?. Tested in de Tour d’Afrique

Thanks for the good and comprehensive list.

Please try to look at the following as well.

Cinelli touring bikes

The all original Miyata 610, 910 and the Miyata 1000

And the Urbanite from Toronto Urbane Cyclist, who will build it up to your niche

and of course the All City bikes

I had a Miyata 610 for a few years and did many three day trips on on it, and it would have been the same Miyata 610 the same bike I would ride from Vancouver to Montreal in 1986, however Air Canada destroyed my original Miyata. I stripped some of the non-standard stuff like my 40 spoke concave Weinmann back wheel and put it on my replacement Miyata 610. That 59 day ride from Vancouver was a trip of a life time. But definitely would still like to one day complete the stint to the East Coast.

Darren, you have included the Salsa Fargo but have omitted the comparable Surly Troll. As you know, I rode 6200 miles around the US on varying terrain and experienced few mechanical issues. I would recommend this bike to anyone who isn’t a weight weenie.

Dutch high-end Koga-Miyata has been re-named KOGA. No connections with Japan anymore. Dutch-German IDWORX is non-plus-ultra. Wow! Check it out and put it on this list, please. All German STEVENS is a favourite among Germans. Top quality.

Can confirm Ridgeback Voyager credentials – 3,800 miles tour round coast of Britain and LEJOG without a glitch

Great site and article congratulations. However most of the touring bicycles that you choose to shown in the article are “dream machines” with very big price tags which make them largely inaccessible to most of the “ordinary cycle-touring” enthusiast due to their high costs. Especially for touring cyclist from the south hemisphere like me… As a suggestion I would strongly recommend you take look on the “Revolution” line of touring bikes made by Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op’s, which in my opinion are great “entry” level or “not such expensive” options for cyclist that don´t have so much money to spend on a touring bicycle. Despite been a considerable cheaper option they have really good performance for bicycle touring. I have owned one a Revolution Country Traveller for a few years and cycled many many kilometers with it without any problems, including many kilometers in Brazil´s dirty road. So as said I would strongly recommended such bikes as excellent “entry” level or “not such expensive” options for cycle touring. Another thing that I like about those bikes is the fact that Revolution bikes are made by Edinburgh Bike Co-op, an UK’s original workers’ co-operative bicycle retailer, so when you buy one of those bikes you are helping the workers instead of giving money for big commercial bicycle brands that in the majority of the cases don’t really care about sharing their profits in a fair way with the workers they employee. So ultimately you will have a good affordable touring bike with the added value that it was build and commercialized in a much more fair and ethical way. If you want to know more about those bikes here is a link for a good review made by CTC, the teh UK national cycling charity: https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/site_sizing/product-reviews/revolution-country-traveller-cycle/revolution-country-traveller-cycle.htm Warm regards Felipe Spina

Didn’t see the Surly ECR on the list. It is a workhorse for bike packing and off road touring. Don’t let the big 29+ Knard tires fool you though, it does well on sealed roads even though it lives for dirt and gravel.

Photo for the Cube Delhi appears to be a Giant CRX1. Lot of really nice bikes.

Hello all, here is my review of the Surly LONG Haul Trucker. I have the Bike since November 2010 and am very pleased with it. It is a very solid comfortable Platform for carrying loads of Gear. It gives a very comfortable ride over long distances. I got the complete Bike with the Standard Components plus SKS Mudguard . I just did not like that WTB Saddle that came with the Bike to sharp so I got a Brooks Leather Brown B17 Flyer Saddle with Springs which is very comfortable.

It is not a terribly fast Bike but fast enough , but dont expect it to chase after other Cyclists on group Rides. Now for the niggles , It could do with a Chain Guard around the front Chain Ring. I gouged my Ankle twice with the Teeth of the front Chain ring. So when you are getting your Bike , try and get a Chain guard put on the front Chain ring. Surly recommends you do not put a kick stand on your Chain stay. But it is hard to put a double kick stand on the Bottom Bracket. I have now got a Hebie kick stand that I want to put on the Bike.

I just do not like those Cantilever Brakes. They are fine for pottering around the City but not for going down steep hills in the Mountains with a full load . I like the idea of having Disc Brakes that are on the new LHTs more braking power. I have read reports of the repairability of Disc Brakes out in wilderness areas and it seems to be fine. So I am cautiousely optimistic of them and would get a bike with Disc brakes for Touring in the future.

Is there anything else I would like to rant about. It would be good for all Bicycle manufacturers to present there Bikes for sale with the options of having Mudguards and Pedals and Dynamo Lights already in Situ just like the Dutch Bikes. Everybody knows you have to have Pedals Mudguards and Lighting so why dont they have them on a Bike when you buy it and Dynamo Lighting is the best.

I love the Surly LHT between it and the Thorn Sherpa there is not much difference. If and when I choose another Touring Bike I think I will go for the Thorn Sherpa or Koga Miyata in Steel.

Thank you , this is so great!

Darren: Very nice list. Given the increasing number and variety of companies making touring bikes, perhaps the bike shops will eventually start stocking a few. The shop I deal with has a Gunnar touring bike, made by Waterford Bikes in Waterford Wisconsin, so I would ask that you include Waterford/Gunnar bikes on your list.

Louis Melini

HI there . A further Addenda to my above review of the Surly Long Haul Trucker. Some of you asked about price. I am from Dublin in Ireland and I ordered my Bike in October 2010 and was delivered to Shop in November so it took about two to three weeks to get to Ireland.

The price for the complete Bike was at that time € 1,200 Euro Tax included . The VAT rate Value added Tax / Tax sur le Value Adjoutee/ in Ireland was 21% then it has now gone up to 23%. So the price now might be a bit dearer than €1,200 Euro.

The Price for a Dawes Galaxy in Dublin in 2010 was € 1,500 Euro so the Surly LHT was very good value.

The brand name Koga-Miyata is history. It’s Koga since a couple of years. The list doesnot include the superb Idworx. A Dutch-German dream for any bike traveller with a healthy bank account.

What’s the matter with the Waterford?

I am 1.93m tall (6’4″) with 46 size shoes (13.5 in IS I think)

Long chainstay and long wheel base is most important for me (among other things of course). Which bike would you think would be more suitable for me from the European market?

thanks in advance Haris

Neat list…while my old tourer (LHT – stolen) is here, I’m fairly disappointed not to see my current touring bike, which I love, the Soma Saga. I got a great deal on it when my insurance money for the LHT came in…and frankly, I like it better.

Samtos travelmaster. The people at this company have no eye for detail and built the bicycle really really bad! Unbelieveble that people say they built good bikes. The dont care and it is just a mind game from them. The bicycles are not even build symmetric. The alignmentt of yhe bicycle is not good!! Bottom bracket is not good mounted. If you bought this bike… dessemble completly and put it back together. Met 5 s antos travelers and 3 oofthem would not have bought this bicycle again. It is not the dealer that is the problem it is santos and the peoplwith money (4000 DOLLARS)that don t know what they arebuying but taltalk like it . But that is thetargetgroup for santos, blind people with money who have no brains, for bicycles n! Not the real world travelers they only use (abuse) them for there promotion! Feeling bad for al the people who bought this bike for cycling 8000+km because you been marketed and lied to. Big change problems will sttart. Does internet stories don t tell the hole story. Warning!!

Ben, Dutch Santos has among the best touring bikes money can buy. A great many world cyclists from both the Netherlands and other countries are in high praise of their Travelmasters and other high-end models from Santos. Your comments are one-of-a-kind.

I’m Riska from Santos Bikes and I feel very sorry to hear that your Santos experience was not what it used to be. We would like to get in contact, so we can discuss whether we could help you to find a solution. We are always open for feedback and take this very seriously, as we have the ambition to build the best bike as possible for every unique person. You could always contact us directly, as our company is small and approachable. We would appreciate it if you could send us your feedback by email ([email protected]) or call us on +31 (0)252 426 123.

Best regards, Riska Santos Bikes

Nice list! I’ve never tried touring so I don’t really know what to expect but my friend does it often and he has the Cube Pro Tourer.

I love the description for the Cannondale bike, as I live in Kalispell, and yes I have seen these bikes around!

The best-descending bike I have ridden is a Bike Friday (Air) in ’05, though I spend more time on Serotta Ti and Bruce Gordon Rock and Road Tour. Why did the folding bike not make the list,especially as the packability of a bike seems so relevant?

No Rivendell’s??? The Atlantis is easily as capable as 75% of this list and I’d venture to say far prettier. Did I miss an explanation why you wouldn’t include a companies’ bikes that are in my opinion more suited to Touring than a number on your list… Evidence the Surely Cross Check???????

The Rivendell bikes are included inside The Essential Guide To Touring Bicycles: http://www.touringbicyclebook.com

What do you mean the Surly Crosscheck isn’t for touring, i did a 9000km tour on it.

Not one recumbent bike? Really?

That’s because this is a list of TRADITIONAL touring bicycles – not recumbent touring bicycles. You have to see http://www.touringbicyclebook.com for a list of recumbent touring bikes.

As to be expected very it turns out to be a list of generic steel bikes. However glad to see some Titanium bikes in there. Personally I wouldn’t ride anything else on a long tour after riding my Kinesis Tripster ATR to China last year. Innovative geometry, forgiving titanium, with custom carbon fork makes it beautiful to ride everyday, take a look here:

https://welovemountains.net/the-kinesis-tripster-atr-my-latest-thoughts/

You’re missing the Specialized Awol. It’s a nice bike, and certainly suitable for touring.

Great site!

In this article you miss the aarios bicycles, they are handcraftet and more ore less like the toutterrain, very good velos! I cycled with the aarios discovery through hole europe and in to weeks i will start my asia trip for 5months, and until now i had not once a problem or something with this bicycle.

Greets Oliver

After 28 years commuting and touring on a Peugeot 103 Carbolite heath demands have necessitated a model which has had to be step-through. Thorn cycles seemed to be one of the few companies to cater for older riders and had I been able to I would have gone to them. Unfortunately I now need some assistance and have had to go for an aluminium bike after a lifetime on steel. After a great deal of consideration I went with the Kalkhoff Agattu touring model. I have had this for three years now and it has certainly proved itself to be an able work-horse, both in its load-bearing capacity and in reliability. My only criticism would be that even the smallest model is just a few inches too high for my short legs. I had to remove the suspension saddle to get it to a level where I could cycle safely. The braking system is still a novelty after the appaling braking on the Peugeot. It is great to have such strong working brakes. The lights that come with the bike are not a great deal of use and I have added a pair of Catseye front lights which allow me to see and be seen on unlit country roads. I would still be nervous of using this on a long-haul trip, mainly because of the aluminium frame, (I’m still a steely at heart), lack of public availability of charging facilities and some nervousness about availability servicing of internal hub gears if this became necessary on the road. As my long-term plans did not include air transport, the extremely heavy weight was not an issue. It is not a bike to be lifted up and down stairs or on and off long haul buses! However, until I am forced to move to a tricycle, I think this bike will carry me wherever I need to go for the forseeable future and would highly recommend it to older cyclists or those with disabilities or hip/knee injuries. It will keep people on the road, enjoying life when they can no longer manage a conventional model.

I’d like you to consider adding Cinelli Hobo in the list above, Thanks in advance Darren.

Carmine Specchia [email protected]

This list deserves an update. Koga of the Netherlands is no longer Koga-Miyata (quite a few years already!. German-Dutch Idworx should be included – high-end, so it will cost ‘a few dollars more’. Hamburg-based Stevens is another good manufacturer of quality trekking bikes. My Stevens Sovereign XT Lite not only has a stiff frame, the components are top: Tubus, Pletscher, Ergon, Shimano XT, the best. Stevens bikes are much better than the VSF Fahrradmanufaktur ones, praised by the author of this list, Darren. Frames score good on stability? Forget it! Just go downhill fully packed and you will feel the difference with better bikes. My advice: spend more and you get so much more.

By the way, where do people from all over the world (yes indeed) buy a new quality trekking bike? Just visit http://www.vakantiefietser.nl . In Amsterdam, so another good reason to come to the Dutch capital. The best bikes, the best advice. No, I am in no way connected to them. Ask owner Eric about VSF!

Another good one to check out in the Four Corner’s Collection from Marin. Two build options.

I have the 2017 Marin Four Corners Touring bicycle. Very happy with frame geometry, stock 700x40c tires and disk brakes. For some reason this bike does not get much coverage, maybe cause other brands are just more of a house old name.

When I read your article I couldn’t help wonder where all the recumbents were. You have some nice bikes here but if you really wanted to sample everything there should have been at least 5 or 6 bents in the list. My bike for example. Slipstream by Longbikes. Long wheel base bicycle built like a tank. Capable of 100+ miles a day, day after day. Over sized tube. Good strong racks. Let’s you look at the scenery in stead of the road below you and never a soar muscle at the end of the day. I don’t think any of the bikes listed here can top that. I think you should rewrite the article. Be a little more open minded and get to the truth. I know bents are for every one but if a few people had voted in a different direction a few years ago these you listed here probably wouldn’t exist today. Why? Impractical, painful and unsafe.

A bike that is not on the list ,but that I do strongly recommend to have a look at is the “MTB Cycletech Papalagi”. It’s designt for touring around the world. ( https://www.mtbcycletech.com/core/shop/front/prodlist.php?parmx=cGclM0Q4JTI2bGFuJTNERw%3D%3D&parmz=f5424d8d8b8dc0feaeab6da8a59b63ed ). Another brand, which I could recommend is “Aarios”. They also make the offical Swiss Military bike. ( https://www.aarios.ch/produkte/reiseraeder.html

I have a 2016 Velo Orange Campeur, a medium trail touring bike in the old French style. Its not mentioned in your list, but is absolutely brilliant. Road, gravel, gentle off road; a fantastic machine. I’m running 700C x 38mm Compass tires, full fenders, 3 bottle cages, triple crankset (24/34/48) with an 11-34 cassette – just a lovely bike. I’m 70 so I need the wide range gearing. The only negative: after running discs on my 2006 Giant mtn bike turned commuter/tourer/errand bike, I find the cantis on the Campeur are woefully inadequate in the rain and require too much pressure on the levers when compared to one finger disc baking.

Ive been riding a Fuji Tourer for five years, its a really nice bike, but worn out a bit now. My next bike (in a few weeks I hope) will be a Vivente Swabia. This bike come fully kitted out with Rohloff 500/14 hub and Gates Carbon Drive. I’m very excited about it. The man behind these incredible bikes lives here in Tasmania, added bonus.

Don’t forget to include the new Santos Travelmaster 3+ !

REI bikes are now Co-op Cycles, they dropped the Novara name.

Thank you for site

Looking at a “National ” touring bike from Mountain equipment Co op.has pretty good components. Any opinions on this bike ?

What happened to the Waterford?

KOGA !!!! Not Koga-Miyata, that’s history.

Thanks for the article, Darren, but you made no mention of Specialized Awol or Awol Comp for bike touring? In your opinion, would you recommend this particular bike for touring? Thanks!

Fantastic bikes! I bought a custom Franklin Frame Mountain Expedition Touring bike in 1990. It has carried me over 100,000 miles without a problem. Phil Wood hubs and bottom bracket. It rides and rides across continents and 14 times across the USA. Frosty Wooldridge, 6 continent world bicycle traveler

so now a days people buy 4000 dollars bicyles to cycle 40000km .

I bought in 1990 a Giant Expedition model prune color with Shimano Deore LX set, i dreamed to travel, but i used for few trip to my town so basically i think did not ride 1000 Km perhaps few hundreds only. Stored in the garage it looks good and plan to keep anyhow. Wonder how would compete today after so many years with present production.

However the look is still very nice to me.

As a former NYC bike messenger in the glory days before a fax, beeper, internet, email and cell. When people modified beach cruisers into the first mountain bikes. When people knew how to ride a fix before it was a trend and now people pop they’re knees out and get joint pain and arthritis at twenty five. We looked for junked bike frames in the street found a decent 1″ inch steel Reynolds tube frame or later 1-1/8″ inch aluminum frame or purchase the ultimate prize that last forever and is bomb proof, titanium. Then started to collected the components and put them in a cardboard box. After you find your frame hang it on the wall like a painting then carefully research all your components separately. Don’t buy wheel sets purchase rims, spokes and hubs seperately and according to desired color. I’m old school with silver/naked aluminum parts only. Research the bearings, spindles, axle and metal cups materials, the various types of greases. Research your drive train, headset, bottom bracket, stem, handle bars, brakes, levers, cables, housing, caps, spindles and dimensions on pedals, crank arms, chainring count (steel). Front and rear derailleurs, chain (KMC). And shifters I prefer old thumb friction shifters but there is SIS, index. I personally do not like hydraulics, SIS, index, shocks unless I’m doing some kind of insane mountain racing. Regarding wheel size I’m an old fart, only 700C A.K.A: 29’s (road) and 26″ (mountain/cargo). They’ve called me an elitists bike snob (a$$hole) as I roll into the bike shop looking homeless and only purchasing Joe Smiley fuzzy dice for my wheels (big spender). The only big problems you should have on long tours are broken spokes and a few flats. The less moving parts the less you have to fix the more you enjoy the trip. If you built it you know how to fix it. If someone else built it become a commuter and don’t tour. When your in the middle of nowhere believe me you’ll learn your lesson in an ugly way. Have fun and don’t get hit by a crazied driver or attacked by wild animals or a Norman Bates country side serial killer or a steep fall.

I can’t believe you did not include the Bob Jackson Super Tourist. A fabulous bike with all Reynolds 531 double butted tubes, hand crafted and gorgeously painted. I’ve been a cycling tourist since 1973 and I sprung for a Bob Jackson Super Tourist in 1985. My 1985 Super Tourist has over 70,000 miles on it and it still performs like a dream machine. Sadly, after 85 years making great bikes Bob Jackson(RJR Cycles) is closing their doors in December, 2020. I’ve cycled all over Europe and North America from the deserts in the US southwest, through Alaska and Canada to the alps in Switzerland and Austria and throughout all of the UK. Never had a problem with this great bike. Always travel fully independent, self contained with panniers usually around 36-40 pounds. Gone through a couple of Brooks leather saddles, a few chainrings, 3 paint jobs and several freewheels over the years, but the frame and other components have held up beautifully. This is truly a classic touring machine.

Bianchi Volpe was recommended by my trusted bike expert. He beefed up the rear wheel and it’s been my ride from 2010 to 2020. Made it to the top of Monitor Pass (elev 8314), around Lake Tahoe, and all over Southern California. Solid, bomb-proof.

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Best Bikes For Long Distance

February 12, 2024

‍ Key Takeaways

• Touring bikes should combine load-bearing capacity and comfort for long distances.
• The type of touring bike you choose should correspond with your journey needs.
• Proper selection involves personal preference, with a focus on bike features.

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

‍ Venture on epic journeys with the finest touring bikes tailored for long-distance adventures. Let’s explore the best models for your adventure.

The best touring bikes for long-distance journeys are the Trek 520, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Kona Sutra, Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1, Cannondale Topstone, Salsa Marrakesh, and Specialized AWOL. These models offer durability, comfort, and versatile features ideal for extended travel.

With years of firsthand experience and a deep passion for touring bikes, I've navigated countless long-distance journeys, testing and refining the top models. My expert insights and firsthand knowledge ensure you're equipped with the best advice for your next adventure.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

‍ Best Touring Bikes For Long Distance Journeys

Touring bikes are designed with the long haul in mind, built to handle both the weight of luggage and the demands of long-distance riding. They offer the stability and comfort necessary for travelers who are bound for adventure across varied terrains. While the search for the best touring bike is subjective and hinges on individual needs and preferences, certain characteristics are common in all great touring bikes, such as durability, comfort, and the ability to carry heavy loads with ease.

Selecting the ideal touring bike can seem daunting with the myriad options available. Expedition touring bikes are built sturdy to endure rough trails, whereas classic touring bikes cater well to paved roads and lighter loads. For those drawn to unpaved paths, off-road touring bikes offer the necessary robustness, while lightweight touring and adventure touring bikes strike a balance between performance and functionality for long-haul endeavors.

Here’s a table comparing the key features of the best touring bikes:

1. Trek 520

The Trek 520 stands as a testament to enduring design and functionality in the touring bike category. Recognized for its ability to handle heavy loads over long distances, this bike is tailored for the adventurous rider.

Specifications

Performance.

The Trek 520 is designed to deliver a comfortable ride under heavy load, making it ideal for long-term touring. The bike's steel frame and touring bike geometry contribute to its reliability and strength on diverse terrains.

What Sets It Apart

This touring bike distinguishes itself with a comfortable steel frame and classic touring design, designed for stability and endurance. Its ample tire clearance and ability to fit both front and rear racks, as well as bottle cages and mudguards, make it a versatile choice.

Recent Updates

The latest iteration of the Trek 520 has seen enhancements in tire clearance and the incorporation of a Trek 520 disc brake system, improving stopping power and performance in various weather conditions.

• Puncture-resistant tires for fewer interruptions
• Upright riding position enhances comfort
• Robust steel frame for durability on long rides
• Versatile frame geometry for stability with heavy loads
• Heavier than carbon or aluminum frame bikes
• Disc brakes may require additional maintenance

Who Should Buy It

If you're planning on embarking on long-term touring, the Trek 520 is tailored for you. Its ability to carry heavy loads coupled with its comfortable ride makes it a reliable companion.

Where To Buy It

For purchasing, the official Trek Bikes website offers the latest models.

2. Surly Long Haul Trucker

The Surly Long Haul Trucker stands as a top choice for long-distance touring, known for its exceptional frame durability and comfortable ride. This bike is built to handle heavy loads and offers great value for money, making it popular among marathon cyclists who prioritize self-sufficiency on the road.

Frame Materials:

• 4130 Chromoly steel
• Double-butted main triangle
• Extended for stability
• Comes in both rim and cable disc brake options

The bike's long wheelbase contributes to a stable and comfortable ride, especially under a heavy load. The frame stiffness is fine-tuned to absorb road vibrations, ensuring comfort during long hours of riding.

Unlike many touring bikes, the Surly Long Haul Trucker offers a balance of durability and comfort. It's highly acclaimed for self-sufficiency with ample braze-ons for spare parts and pannier racks.

Recent versions of the bike, including the Surly Disc Trucker, have introduced disc brakes for improved stopping power and tire clearance for different riding conditions.

• Made for the long haul
• Suitable for various touring conditions
• Designed to carry whatever you need for the journey
• Heavier than some other touring bike options
• Not the fastest bike due to its robust construction

If you're gearing up for long-distance touring where reliability, comfort, and the ability to carry a heavy load are crucial, the Surly Long Haul Trucker is a bike worth considering.

The Surly Long Haul Trucker and its variants are available through official Surly dealers , offering different build and customization options.

3. Kona Sutra

When it comes to versatile long-distance touring bikes, the Kona Sutra stands out for its robust construction and readiness for adventure. Designed to handle a heavy load with ease, this bike promises a reliable ride across diverse terrains.

• Frame Material: Cromoly steel
• Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
• Wheel Size: 700c
• Tire Clearance: Up to 50mm
• Gear Range: Wide range for challenging inclines
• Pannier Racks: Included, front and rear

With its cromoly steel frame, the Kona Sutra delivers strength and a smooth ride over bumpy roads. The hydraulic disc brakes provide you with consistent stopping power, giving you confidence even when fully loaded.

Unlike some touring bikes, the Kona Sutra is equipped with fenders and pannier racks, making it tour-ready straight off the sales floor. The durability and comfort of this bike make it suitable for both on-road and off-road use.

The latest models come with improved puncture-resistant tires and hydraulic brakes for better performance under load. Moreover, the introduction of the Kona Sutra SE brings even more versatility to the range.

• A sturdy frame supports heavy loads
• Comes with essential accessories like fenders and pannier racks
• Hydraulic disc brakes ensure reliable performance
• Heavier than some other materials, which may affect speed
• Chromoly steel frames can be less forgiving on extremely rough terrain

If you're planning multi-day journeys and need a bike that can closely follow your ambitious spirit, the Kona Sutra is for you. Its design caters to both the devoted tourer and the weekend warrior.

For a secure purchase, you should consider reputable bike shops or the official Kona website . Online marketplaces like Amazon often stock the Kona Sutra, providing convenience and buyer protection.

4. Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1

When you're gearing up for a long-distance journey, the Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 stands out as a robust option for adventurers. Throughout this section, we'll examine its specifications, on-road performance, unique features, and more to understand why it might be your next touring companion.

• Frame Material: Aluminum
• Gearing Type: 3x10 speed
• Brake Type: Hydraulic disc brakes
• Weight: Approximately 30 pounds
• Suspension: None

The Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 is designed to provide a stable and comfortable ride. Its cable-actuated hydraulic disc brakes ensure effective stopping power in various weather conditions, while the 30-gear system offers versatility for different inclines.

What makes the ADV 1.1 a standout is its capacity to carry heavy gear loads without compromising the bike's handling. Its durable aluminum frame can withstand the rigors of long-distance touring, which is critical for solo travelers who need reliability.

In recent iterations, the ADV 1.1 has seen improvements in comfort and functionality. These include enhanced brake systems and more ergonomic handlebar designs, ensuring that riders have a more enjoyable experience on their tours.

• Durable construction handles demanding tours
• The versatile gear range is well-suited for varying terrains
• Hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable stopping power
• At around 30 pounds, it is not the lightest touring bike
• Lack of suspension might affect ride comfort on rough terrains

If you're an avid cyclist craving adventure across different landscapes, the Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 is tailored for you. Ideal for solo expeditions, it's built to support you and your gear mile after mile.

For the latest Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1, head over to the official REI website where you can purchase it directly. This ensures you receive the manufacturer's warranty and support.

5. Cannondale Topstone

When considering a bike for long distances, the Cannondale Topstone is a standout choice, designed for the ultimate adventure cycling experience. Below, I’ll provide an in-depth look at what makes it a top contender in the touring bike category.

• Frame: Aluminum
• Fork: Full Carbon
• Gears: 1x and 2x drivetrain options
• Tires: 700c, various widths available
• Brakes: Hydraulic disc

The Cannondale Topstone is a bike that's ready to take on a variety of terrains. You’ll appreciate the smoothness of the ride, whether tackling gravel paths or paved roads. It's geared for reliability, providing consistent performance mile after mile.

What distinguishes Topstone from other touring bikes is its focus on comfort and adaptability. Its frame geometry is designed for long hours in the saddle, without sacrificing efficiency or control.

Cannondale has revamped its Topstone models to include updated alloy versions and the introduction of a carbon fork, which brings down the weight and increases vibration dampening for a smoother ride.

• Enhanced comfort for long rides
• Versatile gearing for various inclines
• Durable construction
• Heavier compared to race-oriented bikes
• May require customization for ultra-endurance rides

If you’re the adventurous type looking to embark on multi-terrain rides, the Cannondale Topstone is tailored for you. Its balanced setup makes it ideal for both new touring cyclists and seasoned riders.

To purchase the Cannondale Topstone, you can find it available on platforms like Rei , where a range of options and price points are offered.

6. Salsa Marrakesh

The Salsa Marrakesh is built for the long haul, offering a sturdy and comfortable ride for adventurers.

The Salsa Marrakesh handles beautifully on diverse terrains, providing a smooth ride quality. Gear shifting is seamless, making it ideal for variable inclines.

Unique to the Marrakesh are the Alternator Dropouts, which allow for easy adjustments and finer tuning of the bike’s geometry.

The latest models feature updated color schemes and compatibility with modern bikepacking gear.

• Reliable across multiple terrains
• Durable steel frame construction
• Heavier than some touring bikes
• Limited color options

If you thirst for long-distance cycling adventures with no compromise on gear load, the Marrakesh is for you.

The Salsa Marrakesh is available for purchase directly through the official Salsa Cycles website or selected retailers, including options to buy complete setups or just the frameset.

7. Specialized AWOL

The Specialized AWOL series represents sturdy and reliable companions for your long-distance touring adventures. With a focus on comfort and versatility, the AWOL is engineered to handle a variety of terrains while fully loaded with gear.

• Frame : Premium Steel
• Fork: Steel, with eyelets for racks and fenders
• Gearing: Wide-range gearing system
• Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes for consistent stopping power
• Wheelset: Robust rims paired with multi-surface tires
• Weight : Balanced to support heavy loads without compromising handling

You'll find the Specialized AWOL is a heavy-duty workhorse ready to take on long treks. With endurance-optimized geometry, you can expect stability and control even when the bike is burdened by full panniers and weighty handlebar bags.

The AWOL stands apart with its exceptional steel frame that absorbs road vibrations, coupled with a thoughtful component mix, it's a bike that's designed for comfort on extended journeys.

Specialized's commitment to innovation keeps the AWOL line fresh. Recent models have upgraded drivetrains for greater reliability and include mounting points for bike-packing and touring essentials.

• Steel frame construction ensures longevity
• Capable of handling a mix of terrains
• On the heavier side compared to lightweight touring options
• Not designed for those seeking a race-ready bike

If you're gearing up for cross-country trips or lengthy bikepacking adventures, the AWOL has the ruggedness you're looking for. It's built for riders who prioritize durability and versatility over speed.

To get your hands on a Specialized AWOL, check the official Specialized website for availability and competitive pricing.

How To Choose The Best Touring Bike For You

Embarking on the journey of selecting the ideal touring bike requires thoughtful consideration of various factors tailored to your individual preferences and riding needs.

Consider Your Riding Style

Your riding style greatly influences your choice. Are you a fast-paced road cyclist or an adventurous off-roader? Choose a bike that matches your preferred terrain and riding speed.

Frame Material Matters

Steel frames offer durability and absorb road vibrations, ideal for long-distance comfort. Aluminum frames provide lightweight options suitable for speed and agility. Consider your priorities when selecting frame material.

Gear Range and Components

A wide gear range ensures versatility across various terrains. Opt for bikes with ample gears, accommodating both uphill climbs and speedy descents. Quality components enhance performance and reliability on extended journeys.

Tire Clearance and Size

Tire clearance determines the width of tires your bike can accommodate. Choose models with sufficient clearance for your desired tire size, balancing comfort, traction, and stability on different surfaces.

Comfort and Fit

Prioritize comfort and fit to avoid discomfort during long rides. Look for features like ergonomic handlebars, adjustable saddle positions, and frame geometry optimized for touring to ensure a comfortable and efficient riding experience.

Budget Considerations

Set a budget that aligns with your needs and priorities. While higher-priced bikes may offer advanced features and materials, there are also quality options available at lower price points. Evaluate the features and benefits against your budget to make an informed decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choosing the right touring bike for long-distance journeys can be overwhelming, but knowing the right questions to ask can simplify the process. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned rider, understanding the differences between touring bike features and their benefits is key to making an informed decision.

What should a beginner look for in a touring bike intended for long-distance travel?

When you're starting, look for a touring bike with a comfortable geometry that allows for long hours in the saddle without strain. Durability in components is crucial for enduring the rigors of extended travel. Additionally, opt for a bike with multiple mounting points for carrying gear.

How does a touring motorcycle differ from a standard motorcycle in terms of features?

Touring motorcycles are built for the long haul, featuring a larger fuel tank, comfortable riding position, and ample luggage space. They often have fairings and screens for wind and weather protection, which is not always the case with standard motorcycles.

What are some affordable touring bikes suitable for extended trips?

For budget-conscious riders, there are affordable touring bikes that don't skimp on quality. Look for models with robust frames, reliable gearing systems, and the capability to carry luggage. Many brands offer entry-level options that are well-suited for extended trips.

What characteristics have made some touring bicycles stand out as the greatest of all time?

Bikes that have withstood the test of time typically boast exceptional durability, versatile gearing, and comfortable, yet efficient, frame geometries. The ability to customize the bike to fit the rider's needs and preferences is also a hallmark of top touring bicycles.

Can you explain the difference between a touring bike and a trekking bike?

Touring bikes are designed for long-distance rides carrying heavy loads, with an emphasis on comfort and durability. Trekking bikes, while similar, cater more to recreational riding and commuting, often featuring accessories like lights and fenders for daily practicality.

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About THE AUTHOR

Danny Lawson

Mountain biking is more than just a hobby for me - it's a way of life. I love the challenge and excitement that comes with it, and I'm always pushing myself to go faster and ride harder. Some people might think that mountain biking is dangerous, but I see it as the only way to live.

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About PedalChef

PedalChef is a blog on all things cycling. We are a group of people who love bikes, and we want to share the joy that comes with the experience. You can read more about us here .

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Tony's Trailers – Bike Trailer Reviews, Tips and More

Best Touring Bikes in 2021 – Long Distance Travel Bicycles

• Best Overall
• Roadmaster 26” Granite Peak Mountain Bike

• 26-inch wheels
• For riders 5’4” – 6’2”
• Available in blue & black
• CHECK AVAILABILITY
• Premium Choice

Schwinn 29” Traxion Mountain Bike

• 29 inch wheels
• Available in gray & blue
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Great Value
• Schwinn Sporterra Adventure Gravel Bike

• 700c wheels
• Cross country frame

Among the most versatile bikes up for sale everywhere, touring bikes are indeed one of the aptest machines for those who want to start cycling, traveling, frivolous pedal riding, even touring cyclists looking forward to leisure by bicycle.

Featuring a more relaxed geometry and plenty of practical add-ons like rack and mudguard mounts, it’s no wonder touring bikes are the optimum bike for an everyday option. Apparently, touring names always give a hint about bikes being well-built, sturdy, and easy, a perfect pal to ride on over long distances and multiple days.

We have scoured the market and brought together the best touring bikes around, with a wide range of detailed selections.

Top 7 Touring Bikes

Listed below are our best picks for this year’s most promising touring bikes, making sure every journey – no matter how long –  is as fun, easy, and comfortable as possible.

Roadmaster 26” Granite Peak Men’s Mountain Bike

Our top pick for the best bike for long distance riding is the Granite Peak 26-inch Men’s Mountain Bike by Roadmaster hallmarks an outstanding all-around mountain bike. This one’s built just right for a rugged unpaved path or even just passing by the streets in your neighborhood.

Unveiling its steel mountain frame and front suspension fork, this bike offers a smooth ride, ensuring each that ride will be comfortable and easy to navigate. Not to mention, its 18-speed twist shifter for smooth shifting on the trail, this bike is surely one to beat. On top of that, the front and rear linear-pull brakes offer an incredibly quick and stiff stopping.

Additional durability of the bike lies with the alloy wheels and strong 3-piece mountain crank. Oh, did we mention its tool-free adjustable padded seat post? This feature alone is so convenient. Besides the handlebars with comfort grip is a plus. Talking about packaging, this bike is already partially assembled, so setting up is easy and only takes a few minutes.

• 26-inch wheels with knobby tire treads
• Suitable for riders 5’4” – 6’2” tall
• Available in blue and black

Also check out: the best mountain bikes under $300

The Schwinn Traxion mountain bike is sure to let you ride around the most difficult trails and the steepest hills with its 29” wheels and mountain bike frame made of aluminum and featuring a dual-suspension design. It even has a suspension fork to provide superior comfort, along with hydraulic disc brakes. In other words, it’s top of the line.

Stopping with those disc brakes is sure to feel efficient and crisp, and more importantly, riding with the bike feels incredible as it handles incredibly smoothly. There are also EZ-Fire Shimano shifters in 24-speed gearings that make each gear shift easy, smooth, and fun.

Other features of this bicycle are a rear Shimano derailleur, along with alloy cranks made by Schwinn, giving you the best possible bike made with durable parts that bear superior brand names in the cycling industry. Even the double-wall, high-profile alloy rims as well as the knobby and thick mountain bike tires are sure to last long.

• 29 inch wheels with extra-wide rims
• Available in gray and blue

Schwinn Sporterra Adventure 700c Adult Gravel Bike

If you’re looking for a next-level riding escapade with the best bike for long distances, this Sporterra Adventure Gravel Bike by Schwinn is unsurprisingly a good one to catch. Featuring a Schwinn aluminum gravel/ adventure frame and rigid fork, it’s definitely not mediocre for a bike. Just and perfect for fast riding on speckled terrain.

Comprising the 14-speed Shimano shifter/ brake lever combo and Shimano rear derailleur,  gear change will never strain again. Also, optimal gearing confides with Schwinn alloy duple cranks. You can ride with confidence and fancy-free, thanks to the superior stopping power of the alloy mechanical disc brakes.

Go anywhere and have an exciting bike adventure in multi-terrain. Plus, the quick-release seat post makes it easy for saddle height adjustments. You get to enjoy a limited lifetime warranty like all Schwinn bikes.

• 700c wheels with multi-terrain tires
• Lightweight cross country frame

Related read: this year’s best gravel bikes

sixthreezero Around The Block Women’s Beach Cruiser

Cruise with style around The Block Women’s bike and experience the supremely comfortable feeling that the best budget touring bike can give. It highlights an upright riding design and smooth sweeping cruiser handlebars, keeping your back and shoulder relaxed.

Aside from the divine comfort it gives, The Around the Block amps up for its eye-catching curvy 17-inch steak cruiser frame. Bringing terrific details from high-density foam on the wide handlebars, dual-spring seat ensuring a tailbone comfort on long rides, to a 26-inch, 2.125-inch wide aluminum wheels with large waffle tread tires smoothing out the bumps.

No need to fuss about stopping, it has front and rear handbrakes to a much easier and precise stopping. Additionally, this bike is made up of a 7-speed Shimano external hub allowing you for a wide range of riding, from leisure to long-distance travels. And, a 3-speed Shimano internal hub allows you to handle longer distances and moderate hills easily.

•    Available in 4-speed gear options
•   Comes with a rear rack and chainguard
•    Suitable for riders 5’ – 6’4” tall

Learn about the different types of handlebars here .

Tommaso Forza Fitness Bike

Make your day in and day out awesome with this sturdy urban bike from Tommaso. Aside from featuring a great performance when on the ride, the Forza is also equipped with Avid BB5 disc brakes, assuring all-out stopping power in the bumpiest situations.

Not to mention, the lightweight and compact aluminum frame combined with an SST steel fork for extreme toughness makes it hard to beat. Likewise, featuring a 30/39/50T tourney crankset and 12x28T tourney cassette, this 3×7 Shimano tourney groupset is exceptionally perfect for varying terrain, from flats to hills.

Adding the amazing BB5 disc brake for reliable all-weather stopping power is a major plus. Great shifting in all riding conditions is all on the Shimano Tourney shifters. You will have on-demand power at your fingertips, with this Forza Fitness Bike.

•  Can be customized with racks and fenders
•  Optimized for increased power and riding comfort
•  Limited lifetime warranty

TYCOLIT Adult Mountain Bike

A bike for work, school, even just a cross country ride, the great aluminum Alloy frame which amazingly reduces the weight of the bicycle provides an exceptional riding experience at a faster speed advantage makes it an ideal bike to go for everyday rides.

This mountain bike offers an effective start if you’re just new to cycling and operate your driving with smooth shifting with its 24- speed/21-speed Shimano speed control, front derailleur, rear derailleur. Lightweight calls its name as the wheels are created from alloy rims featuring spoke wheels with good toughness and impact resistance.

This long distance bicycle can exclusively meet the needs of increasing transmission power without any fuss. Also, it doubles riding efficiency, bringing you an exceptional racing experience. All in all, the TYCOLIT adult mountain bike is a great option for touring and other riding styles.

•   26 inch or 700c wheels
•   High-quality Shimano and TAINX components
•   Available in blue, black/blue, and black/red

hosote 26 Inch Mountain Bike

Finally, if you’re up to challenge the mountain, this 26 inch Mountain bike by hosote is the perfect gear for you. The dual suspension frame and fork soak up bumps and thumps, providing you a resilient riding experience. Besides its outstanding features, the bike also highlights the sturdy solid frame.

The merging of the high carbon steel material folding mountain bike frame and excellent welding technology allows this bike to be a sturdy and durable touring bike. Also, it has 21-speed trigger shifters – bringing you a strike and stable riding experience. Furthermore, the read derailleur makes gearing change easy and smooth.

Aside from those, it hallmarks mechanical disc brakes on the front wheel, thereby increasing your stopping power with equal force for easier adjustments when needed. On the other hand, mechanical disc brakes on the back wheel provide a fine crisp stopping power and steady speed regulation on downhill descents, keeping you safe and in control.

•   26-inch wheels
•   Ergonomic rapid-release seat
•   Available in blue and black

Touring Bike Buying Guide

Frankly speaking, laying out specific criteria in choosing a travel bike is not as easy as it may seem. Buying touring bikes depends on how you like it to be. No two tours are the same. However, keeping in mind the key elements of selecting your two-wheeled riding buddy can help you pinpoint the best elements that your bike should have.

Most bike trips fall somewhere on the following spectrums:

• Fast vs slow riding
• Short vs long-distance rides
• Traveling light vs packing cargo
• Pavement vs off-road paths

Mentioned above are the questions that will help you choose the best touring bike to have.

Type of Touring Bike

An ideal bike for your touring trip relies on the terrain you plan on taking and how many kits you wanted to bring on the ride. Here are the most common types of long distance bikes:

A classic touring bike will typically be made of steel, featuring pannier racks and fenders, sporting an upright geometry, and showcasing long chainstays. Aside from the functionality of these features, you’re also getting a vintage aesthetic even with a brand new bike.

Another common feature of classic touring bicycles are 700c wheels with a high 32 to 36 hole spoke count. Previous classic touring bikes featured rim brakes, though mechanical disc brakes are becoming more and more popular now.

Adventure bikes love pavement, gravel, and dirt, which is pretty good since it is possible to encounter these kinds of trails on track. These bikes typically have drop bars and disc brakes, as well as a wide range of tire and wheel sizes. Oftentimes, an adventure bike will also feature a design that is able to handle dropper posts.

In essence, an expedition touring bike is designed to handle the beating of high mileage rides in unfamiliar territories. As such, an expedition bike will usually feature all-steel builds, rim brakes, and 26” wheels. These features make the bicycle easy and hassle-free to work with, even when it comes to replacing spare parts.

Bikes suitable for touring will have a much-relaxed geometry; meaning, a shorter top tube, and a taller stack to put the rider in a more relaxed position. The wheelbase will be longer, creating a feeling of stability. Aside from the frame geometry, however, it’s also important to consider what material a touring bike frame is made of.

Steel is a sensible option for long trips and demanding adventures since it offers comfort and resilience. Of course, you do need to factor in the character, strength, and weight of the kind of steel the bike frame is made of, but essentially, that’s what you can expect from a steel bicycle frame.

Chromoly is also a highly common bike frame material for touring bikes. Actually, chromoly is a type of steel that is low-alloy, and its main characteristic is added strength. The term “chromoly” comes from the two alloying materials that are used, namely molybdenum and chromium.

Carbon / Aluminum

Finally, for those of you who have a need for speed, especially when participating in touring activities, short rides, daily commutes, and club runs, carbon and aluminum are great choices for touring bike frame materials. These two materials are also great options if you want a light touring bike.

When it comes to bicycle wheels, you’ll usually look for slickness and low weight. There’s nothing wrong with that especially if you’re after gaining as much speed as you can from your ride.

But for the goal of actually reaching your destination with the least strain on your body and least amount of wear-and-tear on your wheels, you should at least consider getting strong wheels with high spoke counts. Yes- higher than what’s on a typical road bike.

Your set of tires on a touring road bike can incredibly create a huge difference when it comes to bikes. Usually, you’ll see bicycles advertised as comfortable; meaning, the focus is placed on the frame quality and geometry.

But, it’s also important that the bike be fitted with the right size tire filled with the correct tire pressure. Otherwise, you won’t feel that promised comfort, and you’ll go home with a sore bum from all the bumps you’ll feel along the way.

As a touring cyclist, it’s best to opt for relatively wide 28mm tires. These are better for touring as compared to the standard tires on a road bike. Basically, the rougher the path is, the wider the tires should be. Then again, comfort and speed don’t always go together, so that’s one thing you’ll have to consider.

You might also want to check out this comprehensive guide on mountain bike tires .

If you’re taking on hills regularly, then you’ll want a cassette with larger sprockets on the back. Some touring bikes offer a triple chainset too, with easier gearing on offer compared to a double chainset. Additional gear combinations into the mix will add an extra component to maintain, so those on flatter terrain might prefer a single chainring at the front.

The majority of touring bikes offer a standard external gear system – the chainset, chain, and cassette we’re all used to. Belt drives are also available – this is a multi-tooth belt instead of a chain, so no regular cleaning or lubrication is required.

Touring bikes traditionally featured rim brakes. While they work just fine, disc brakes still provide stopping power that is simply so much better, especially in wet riding conditions. Besides, you’re getting a reduced risk of wearing out your brakes due to build up of debris since you’re not utilizing the rims to stop your bike. 

Not to mention, it’s also a good thing that disc brakes don’t really add much weight to the bike while still being powerful under all weather and road conditions. This is particularly beneficial for touring cyclists who often carry luggage along for the long trips ahead.

Saddles are another important factor that you should consider, being the main point of contact with your body. Here’s what you need to understand, though: padding doesn’t always equate to comfort. Sometimes, saddles with seemingly thin padding can feel a lot more comfortable than those sporting two-inch-thick cushions.

Added Features

Common inclusions on touring bikes are fitted pannier packs, built-in lights, and fenders. It’s also great if the bicycle features eyelets so you can install racks and guards as needed, and remove them freely whenever you need speed.

More than that, you will also benefit from smart storage solutions such as bike handlebar bags , saddlebags, and framebags. These should let you differently distribute cargo weight over your bicycle, and even not have to use a pannier.

The best touring bikes hold the name of a durable design and the ability to carry luggage. While some opt for a bikepacking variation – which commonly consists of frame bags and oversized saddlebags, others opt to have the traditional rack and pannier bag method of carrying luggage. It’s very important to go with what you’re comfortable with.

When purchasing a bike, it is very crucial to consider the riding you plan with the bike. If you wanted to travel far-and-wide, it is best suitable to go with more luggage carrying capacity for your riding essentials.

However, if you’re into off-road traveling, a bike that can handle rough stuff is preferred. Live in the mountains? Best check the bike with a wide gear range for a better biking experience!

• Category: Buying Guide

Hybrid Bicycle

The ultimate guide to long distance travel: 10 best hybrid bike brands in 2021.

Get ready, wanderers! We present to you the ultimate guide to long distance travel: our top ten hybrid bike brands for 2021.

Trek, Specialized, Giant, and more await, ready to ignite your adventurous spirit. These bikes, designed for liberation, will take you on breathtaking journeys across any terrain. With their sleek frames and cutting-edge technology, these brands will make every pedal stroke a thrilling escape.

So buckle up, fellow explorers, and let’s embark on the journey of a lifetime!

Key Takeaways

• Trek, Specialized, Giant, and Cannondale are top hybrid bike brands known for their excellent performance, durability, and suitability for long distance travel.
• Specialized offers innovative designs and high-quality craftsmanship, with top-rated models like the Specialized Sirrus and Specialized Crosstrail.
• Giant hybrid bikes are perfect for extended journeys, offering a comfortable and efficient riding position, lightweight construction, and impressive features for excellent value.
• Cannondale is a prominent player in the cycling community, known for its innovative designs, state-of-the-art components, and exceptional durability in long distance cycling.

We love Trek bikes because they offer excellent performance and durability for long distance travel. Trek has a wide range of hybrid models that are perfect for those seeking adventure on two wheels.

These bikes are designed to excel on both paved roads and off-road trails, making them versatile and suitable for various terrains. One of the standout features of Trek hybrid bikes is their lightweight construction, which allows for easy maneuverability and efficient pedaling.

Additionally, they’re equipped with high-quality components that ensure smooth shifting and reliable braking. The ergonomic design of Trek hybrid bikes also prioritizes comfort, with features such as adjustable handlebars and padded seats.

Whether you’re embarking on a city commute or a weekend getaway, Trek hybrid bikes are the ideal companion for your liberating journey.

Specialized

When it comes to top-rated hybrid bikes, Specialized is a brand that consistently delivers. With their innovative designs and high-quality craftsmanship, Specialized bikes are a popular choice among cyclists.

Whether you’re looking for a hybrid bike for commuting or long-distance touring, Specialized offers a range of models that cater to different needs and preferences.

From their lightweight and agile options to their comfortable and durable touring bikes, Specialized has something for everyone.

Top-Rated Specialized Hybrids

We highly recommend checking out the top-rated Specialized hybrids for an exceptional long-distance travel experience. Specialized is known for producing high-quality bikes that are designed to perform well on various terrains while providing comfort and efficiency.

Here are the top three specialized hybrid models that are worth considering:

Specialized Sirrus: The Sirrus is a versatile hybrid bike that offers a lightweight frame, smooth-rolling tires, and a comfortable riding position. It’s perfect for both urban commuting and long-distance rides.

Specialized Crosstrail: The Crosstrail is designed for those who enjoy both on-road and off-road adventures. It features a suspension fork for added comfort on rough terrains and powerful disc brakes for reliable stopping power.

Specialized Turbo Vado: The Turbo Vado is an electric hybrid bike that combines the benefits of a traditional bike with the power of an electric motor. It offers a smooth and powerful ride, making long-distance travel effortless.

With specialized hybrids, you can enjoy the benefits of durability, versatility, and performance, making them an excellent choice for your long-distance travel needs.

Specialized Models for Touring

For touring enthusiasts, Specialized offers a range of models that are specifically designed to handle long-distance journeys with ease and comfort. Specialized touring bikes are built with durable frames, reliable components, and comfortable features to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride.

One popular model is the Specialized Sequoia, which is known for its stability and versatility on various terrains. It comes equipped with wide tires for better traction, disc brakes for reliable stopping power, and multiple mounting points for carrying touring accessories.

Speaking of accessories, there are a few recommended touring accessories to enhance your long-distance travel experience. These include pannier racks for carrying your gear, handlebar bags for easy access to essentials, and comfortable saddles for hours of riding comfort.

With Specialized touring bikes and the right accessories, you’ll be ready to embark on your next adventure with confidence and freedom.

Let’s dive into why Giant bikes are an excellent choice for long distance travel.

Giant hybrid bikes are designed with features that make them perfect for extended journeys. Here’s why you should consider a Giant bike for your next adventure:

Comfortable and efficient riding position: Giant bikes are built with ergonomic designs that prioritize rider comfort. The upright riding position reduces strain on your back and neck, allowing you to ride for longer periods without discomfort.

Lightweight and durable construction: Giant bikes are known for their high-quality frames made from lightweight materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber. This combination of lightness and durability ensures that you can tackle any terrain with ease while minimizing fatigue.

Excellent value for money: When compared to Trek hybrid bikes, Giant offers a great balance of price and performance. You get top-notch components and features without breaking the bank.

With their impressive features, durability, and value for money, Giant bikes are a fantastic choice for long distance travel.

Get ready to embark on your next adventure with confidence and freedom.

Now let’s explore why Cannondale bikes are a top choice for long distance travel.

Cannondale has been a prominent player in the cycling industry, known for its innovative designs and commitment to pushing boundaries. Their latest innovations have revolutionized the way we approach long distance cycling.

Cannondale’s contribution to the cycling community goes beyond just creating high-performance bikes; they’ve actively participated in advocacy efforts, promoting cycling as a sustainable and liberating mode of transportation.

With their lightweight frames, advanced suspension systems, and comfortable yet responsive geometry, Cannondale bikes provide the perfect balance of speed, comfort, and durability for long distance travel.

Whether you’re embarking on a cross-country adventure or conquering challenging terrains, Cannondale is a trusted brand that will take you the distance.

Speaking of top hybrid bike brands, let’s now shift our focus to Scott.

We can’t discuss the best hybrid bike brands without mentioning one of the top contenders: Scott. Known for their high-quality craftsmanship and innovative designs, Scott hybrid bikes are a favorite among avid cyclists.

Here are three reasons why Scott stands out in the world of hybrid bikes:

Cutting-edge Technology: Scott bikes are equipped with the latest advancements in bike technology, ensuring a smooth and efficient ride. From lightweight frames to advanced suspension systems, Scott bikes are built to enhance performance and comfort.

Versatility: Scott hybrid bikes are designed to handle various terrains, making them perfect for long-distance travel. Whether you’re navigating city streets or exploring rugged trails, these bikes offer the versatility needed for any adventure.

Attention to Detail: Scott takes pride in the meticulous attention to detail they put into each bike. From the precise engineering to the sleek aesthetics, every aspect of a Scott bike is carefully considered to provide the best riding experience.

With their exceptional features and commitment to quality, it’s no wonder Scott hybrid bikes are highly sought after by cycling enthusiasts.

Now, let’s dive into the next brand on our list: Santa Cruz.

When it comes to Santa Cruz bikes, there are a few top models that stand out.

One of them is the Santa Cruz Blur, known for its lightweight frame and excellent suspension system.

Another popular choice is the Santa Cruz Tallboy, which offers a versatile ride and great maneuverability.

With their top-notch features and performance, Santa Cruz bikes are definitely worth considering for long distance travel.

Top Santa Cruz Models

Let’s explore the top Santa Cruz models that offer exceptional performance and durability for long distance travel. Santa Cruz is known for its bike innovations and technology advancements, and their top models reflect this commitment to quality.

Here are three of the best Santa Cruz models that are perfect for long distance adventures:

Santa Cruz Hightower: This versatile model combines the agility of a trail bike with the stability of a cross-country bike. With its advanced suspension system and lightweight frame, the Hightower offers a smooth and efficient ride on various terrains.

Santa Cruz Megatower: Designed for conquering rugged terrains, the Megatower boasts a robust frame and aggressive geometry. Its advanced suspension technology provides excellent traction and control, making it ideal for tackling challenging trails during long distance rides.

Santa Cruz Tallboy: The Tallboy is a popular choice among endurance riders and bikepackers. Its efficient pedaling platform and comfortable geometry make it a reliable companion for long hours in the saddle. With its innovative features and durable construction, the Tallboy ensures a smooth and enjoyable ride, even on the toughest terrains.

Whether you’re embarking on a multi-day bikepacking adventure or exploring new trails, these top Santa Cruz models will deliver the performance and reliability you need for a successful long distance journey.

Santa Cruz Bike Features

Our Santa Cruz bikes feature high-quality components and innovative designs that enhance performance and comfort for long distance travel.

One of the standout features of Santa Cruz bikes is their suspension system. With advanced suspension technology, these bikes offer a smooth and controlled ride, absorbing bumps and uneven terrain for a more enjoyable cycling experience. Whether you’re traversing rough trails or cruising on the road, the Santa Cruz bike suspension ensures that you stay in control and maintain optimal comfort.

Additionally, Santa Cruz bikes are crafted using top-of-the-line frame materials. From lightweight carbon to durable aluminum, these frames are designed to be strong and responsive, providing a solid foundation for your long distance adventures.

The combination of superior suspension and high-quality frame materials makes Santa Cruz bikes a reliable choice for those seeking liberation on their long distance journeys.

We love Kona bikes for their durability and versatility on long distance trips. Kona hybrid bikes are designed with features that make them perfect for tackling various terrains and weather conditions.

Here are three advantages of Kona hybrid bikes:

Robust Frame : Kona bikes are built with sturdy frames that can withstand the rigors of long distance travel. Whether you’re navigating through city streets or venturing off-road, the frame provides stability and durability.

Wide Range of Gears : Kona hybrid bikes come equipped with a wide range of gears, allowing you to easily adjust your speed and handle different inclines. This ensures a smooth and efficient ride, no matter the terrain.

Comfortable Riding Position : Kona bikes are designed with ergonomics in mind, providing a comfortable riding position for long hours on the saddle. The adjustable handlebars and seating position reduce strain on your back and wrists, allowing you to enjoy the journey without discomfort.

With these features, Kona hybrid bikes offer the perfect combination of durability, versatility, and comfort for your long distance adventures.

When it comes to hybrid bike brands, Bianchi is definitely worth mentioning. Their top models are known for their exceptional quality and performance, making them a popular choice among long distance travelers.

With a reputation for durability and reliability, Bianchi bikes are built to withstand the challenges of long distance travel, ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride.

Whether you’re tackling rugged terrains or cruising through city streets, Bianchi offers the performance advantages that can enhance your long distance biking experience.

Bianchi’s Top Models

One of the top models from Bianchi is the Via Nirone 7, a versatile hybrid bike perfect for long distance travel. The Via Nirone 7 features a lightweight aluminum frame, designed to provide a smooth and comfortable ride.

Bianchi offers a range of color options for this model, allowing riders to express their individuality and style. Whether you prefer a classic black or a vibrant red, there’s a color to suit every taste.

In addition to its stylish design, the Via Nirone 7 boasts a carbon fiber fork, which helps to absorb road vibrations and enhance stability. This combination of frame materials ensures a responsive and agile ride, making it an excellent choice for commuters and adventure-seekers alike.

Durability of Bianchi

As avid cyclists, we’ve found the durability of Bianchi bikes to be exceptional, making them a reliable choice for long distance travel.

Bianchi has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality bikes that can withstand the test of time and rough terrains. The durability of Bianchi bikes can be attributed to their superior craftsmanship and the use of top-notch materials.

Whether you’re riding on paved roads or tackling off-road trails, Bianchi bikes are built to last. Among their top models, the Bianchi Infinito CV and the Bianchi Oltre XR4 stand out for their exceptional durability. These bikes are designed with advanced carbon frames that offer excellent strength and stiffness, ensuring a smooth and stable ride even on the toughest terrains.

With Bianchi bikes, you can trust that they’ll endure the rigors of long distance travel, allowing you to focus on enjoying the journey.

Performance Advantages of Bianchi

We absolutely love the performance advantages of Bianchi bikes, as they offer an incredible combination of speed, agility, and responsiveness. When it comes to long distance travel, Bianchi has proven to be a top contender.

Here are three key advantages of Bianchi in long distance travel:

Efficient Power Transfer: Bianchi’s technology and innovation in performance ensure that every pedal stroke translates into maximum power on the road. This efficiency allows riders to maintain a consistent and comfortable pace over long distances, minimizing fatigue and maximizing endurance.

Superior Handling: Bianchi bikes are known for their precise and responsive handling, making them a joy to ride on both smooth roads and challenging terrains. This exceptional maneuverability allows riders to navigate tight corners and unexpected obstacles with ease, providing a sense of confidence and control.

Comfortable Endurance Geometry: Bianchi’s endurance-focused geometry is designed to optimize comfort during long rides. The frame geometry and components are carefully engineered to reduce strain on the rider’s body, ensuring a more relaxed and enjoyable experience, even after hours in the saddle.

With these advantages, Bianchi bikes are a perfect choice for long distance travel, offering the perfect blend of speed, comfort, and reliability.

We love Fuji bikes for their durability and versatility on long distance journeys. Fuji hybrid bikes are designed to handle both on-road and off-road terrains, making them perfect for adventurous riders who seek liberation on their travels.

With features like wide tires and suspension forks, Fuji bikes offer a smooth and comfortable ride, even on bumpy or uneven surfaces. The frames are made from lightweight yet sturdy materials, allowing for easy maneuverability and efficient pedaling. Fuji bikes also come equipped with a range of gears, allowing riders to conquer steep hills and maintain speed on flat roads.

Whether you’re planning a multi-day tour or a weekend getaway, Fuji bikes are built to withstand the demands of long distance travel, providing you with the freedom to explore new places and embrace the thrill of the open road.

Why should we consider Norco bikes for our long distance travels?

Norco is a reputable brand that offers hybrid bikes designed specifically for long distance rides. Here are three reasons why Norco hybrid bikes are a great choice:

Versatility: Norco bikes are known for their versatility, making them suitable for various terrains. Whether you’re riding on paved roads or tackling off-road trails, Norco bikes can handle it all. They provide a smooth and comfortable ride, allowing you to conquer long distances with ease.

Durable Construction: Norco bikes are built to last. With high-quality materials and sturdy frames, these bikes can withstand the rigors of long distance travel. They’re designed to be reliable and dependable, ensuring that you can enjoy your journey without any worries.

Advanced Features: Norco bikes come equipped with advanced features to enhance your long distance riding experience. From ergonomic handlebars and comfortable saddles to efficient gearing systems and powerful brakes, Norco bikes offer a range of features designed to optimize your performance and comfort on the road.

When it comes to long distance travel, Norco hybrid bikes are a top choice for their versatility, durability, and advanced features.

In conclusion, when it comes to long distance travel, the 10 best hybrid bike brands in 2021 offer exceptional options.

Trek, Specialized, Giant, Cannondale, Scott, Kona, Bianchi, Fuji, and Norco have all proven themselves as reliable and high-performing choices.

Whether you’re exploring rugged terrains or cruising through city streets, these brands offer the perfect blend of comfort, durability, and versatility.

So grab your hybrid bike and embark on your next adventure with confidence and style.

Zane rides her bike because she loves it, but also because she is mindful of the need to leave a better world for her children.

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The top 5 reasons why hybrid bikes are the best for commuting and leisure.

Are you in search of a bicycle that offers the liberty to roam around your city, simplifies your work commute, and enhances your weekend outings? Think about getting a hybrid bike! These bikes blend the best characteristics of both mountain and road bikes, offering riders a mix of comfort, quickness, agility, and adaptability. This post will delve into why hybrid bikes are the superior option for both daily commutes and recreational riding by examining the top 5 advantages that make them an outstanding choice.

First off, hybrid bikes are extremely comfortable due to their design which includes wide tires, adjustable handlebars and seat post as well as suspension fork. This makes them suitable for both on-road cycling and light off-roading. So whether it’s riding around town or taking a scenic route through nature – you’ll be able to do it all without feeling discomfort while pedaling!

Secondly, hybrid bikes are incredibly efficient when it comes to getting around quickly because they combine elements of both road and mountain biking designs. The result is a bicycle that combines lightweight frames with thinner wheels and narrower tyres allowing riders to move faster than ever before on roads and trails alike. Plus, thanks to the upright seating position provided by these bicycles, you won’t have any problems keeping an eye out for potential hazards during your ride either.

So if you want a bicycle that can provide you with comfort, efficiency, safety and versatility then look no further than hybrid bikes ! Keep reading this article to learn more about why these bicycles make great companions for commuters and leisure-seekers alike.

Overview Of Hybrid Bikes

The hybrid bike is a great choice for those looking to ride in comfort and style. Whether you’re commuting to work or taking a leisurely journey around town, hybrids are the perfect combination of performance and convenience. Let’s take an overview of what makes these bikes so special.

Hybrid bikes typically feature a lightweight aluminum frame that’s designed for both speed and stability. This makes them ideal for long-distance rides as well as daily commutes, with plenty of traction on rough terrain. Meanwhile, their upright handlebar design offers excellent visibility and easy handling –so even if your route involves hills or tight turns, you’ll be able to stay safe and steady along the way!

Finally, modern hybrids come equipped with other features such as integrated lights, kickstands, mudguards, baskets and adjustable seatposts–allowing riders to customize their experience according to their own needs. From amateurs to experienced cyclists alike, there’s something for everybody when it comes to this versatile type of bicycle.

Benefits Of Hybrid Bikes

When it comes to hybrid bikes , the advantages are clear. From commuting and leisure riding to tackling both road terrain and mountain trails, there’s something for everyone with this type of bike. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top benefits that make them so great!

First off, when it comes to commuting, hybrids offer all the convenience you need for your daily ride . With their lightweight frame and upright handlebar design, you’ll be able to get from point A to B quickly and safely–without breaking a sweat. And if your route involves hills or tight turns? Don’t worry – these versatile bikes can easily handle whatever challenges come their way!

Leisure riders will appreciate how well-suited hybrids are for longer trips as well. Whether you’re taking a scenic tour around town or exploring new routes in nature, these bikes provide plenty of stability and traction on any kind of terrain. Plus, with integrated lights and other features such as baskets and kickstands, they make travelling easy and comfortable too.

In addition to performance and versatility, another big draw is the sheer comfort that hybrids bring to cycling experiences. From adjustable seat posts to ergonomically designed saddles, these bikes have been tailored specifically for rider satisfaction–so no matter where you go or what time of day it is, you know you’ll always be travelling in style!

Comfort And Convenience

When it comes to comfort and convenience, hybrid bikes deliver both in spades. Whether you’re commuting or cruising for leisure, these versatile two-wheeled wonders are designed with the rider’s needs in mind – providing an easy, comfortable ride that won’t leave your legs aching at the end of the day!

For commuters, this means being able to get from point A to B quickly and without breaking a sweat. With their upright handlebar design and lightweight frames, hybrids make pedaling easier than ever before–allowing you to cover more ground faster while enjoying every minute on the road. Plus, integrated features such as lights and baskets add even greater convenience by allowing riders to bring along whatever they need with them during their journeys.

Leisure cyclists will also find plenty to love about hybrids. From adjustable seats posts to ergonomically designed saddles, these bikes offer superior comfort when tackling any kind of terrain–whether it’s roads or trails. And since you’re not constantly shifting between gears like other bike types require, you can enjoy a much smoother ride too!

The combination of comfort and convenience makes hybrid bikes ideal for all kinds of cycling experiences – so if you’re looking for an enjoyable way to explore new routes or just take some time out for yourself, then look no further than one of these amazing machines.

Cost-Effectiveness

One of the biggest advantages of hybrid bikes is their cost-effectiveness. Not only are these two-wheeled wonders extremely affordable, but they also provide a price advantage that allows riders to get more bang for their buck. With prices ranging from as low as $200 to upwards of $1,000 depending on the model, you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of riding without breaking the bank!

This cost saving doesn’t just mean cheaper upfront costs either – it’s also reflected in ongoing maintenance and repairs too. Hybrid bicycles require less intensive upkeep than other bike types due to their simple designs, meaning you won’t have to pay out for costly components such as derailleurs or expensive repair jobs down the line. This makes them an excellent option if you’re looking for a reliable ride that won’t blow your budget when something goes wrong.

The affordability of hybrids also means they can easily fit into any budget – whether you’re a first time rider or an experienced cyclist looking for a new set of wheels. With so many different models available at such competitive prices, there’s sure to be one that meets your needs–allowing you to make the most of your cycling experience without breaking the bank.

In short, hybrid bikes offer unbeatable value no matter what kind of rider you are – making them perfect for anyone who wants great performance at an affordable price!

Versatile Design

The versatility of hybrid bikes is another big plus point when it comes to commuting and leisure. As their name suggests, hybrids combine elements from both mountain and road bikes – giving riders a bike that can easily transition between different terrain types. This makes them suitable for everything from city streets to winding country roads, hills or off-road trails. Whether you’re looking for an efficient way to get around town or the freedom to explore new areas on two wheels, there’s no better option than a hybrid!

Not only are these bikes incredibly versatile in terms of where they can take you, but they also offer great performance too. Their combination of flat handlebars, wider tires and shock absorption systems make them perfect for tackling any kind of terrain with ease. Plus, as they don’t require complex gear changes like other bike types do, riding one is much simpler and more intuitive – allowing you to focus on enjoying your ride instead.

And if this wasn’t enough already, hybrids offer several other benefits too:

• They have comfortable seats which are great for longer rides;
• The upright position puts less strain on your back;
• And thanks to their rugged builds, they can be used all year round without needing major maintenance jobs.

With so many advantages combined into one package, it’s easy to see why hybrid bicycles are becoming increasingly popular amongst commuters and leisure cyclists alike!

Variety Of Options

Having already discussed why hybrid bikes are the perfect choice for commuting and leisure, another great advantage is their huge range of options. From different types to styles, models, sizes, and colors – there’s a hybrid bike out there that can suit everyone’s needs !

When it comes to choosing a type of hybrid bike , there are three main categories: comfort hybrids which provide superior shock absorption; fitness hybrids designed for speed and agility; and trekking hybrids with extended wheelbases for longer rides. All offer slightly different benefits depending on what your specific requirements may be.

In terms of style, popular choices include classic designs with upright handlebars or more modern builds featuring drop bars like you’d find on a road bike. On top of this, many manufacturers also offer various models ranging from entry-level all the way up to high-end professional versions. And when it comes to size and color – again, plenty of options exist so you can customize your ride exactly how you want it!

With such an extensive variety available, anyone looking for a bicycle that offers both performance and versatility doesn’t need to look any further than the trusty hybrid. No matter what your individual preferences may be, there’s sure to be something in the vast selection of bicycles out there that will fit perfectly into your lifestyle!

The hybrid bike is a great choice for everyday commuting and leisure activities. It offers comfort, convenience, cost-effectiveness, versatility, and variety in one package that can’t be beat. Riding a hybrid gives you the smooth ride of a road bike with the stability of an off-road mountain bike so you can take on any terrain without having to worry about your safety or performance. With its wide range of styles and colors, there’s sure to be something perfect for everyone no matter their taste or budget.

When it comes to getting around town quickly and comfortably while enjoying fresh air and exercise at the same time, nothing beats hopping on a trusty hybrid bike . From urban cycling enthusiasts to weekend warriors who want to explore more trails, hybrids are the ultimate combination of power, style, and reliability. Like a faithful steed that carries you wherever you need to go – they provide both freedom and practicality in one convenient package!

So whether you’re looking for a reliable way to commute every day or just want some fun outdoor recreation during weekends – investing in a good quality hybrid bike could prove to be an excellent decision for anyone wanting to make every journey an adventure!

Ralf is a devoted husband and father who loves spending time with his family. He enjoys riding his bicycle as much as possible, and takes every opportunity he can to get out on the open road. Ralf is a kind and gentle person who wants only the best for those around him.

From Commuting To Exercise: How Hybrid Bikes Are Used In 2023

As of 2023, hybrid bicycles have surged in popularity as a preferred method of transport. The era when one’s commute involved being stuck in traffic jams or awaiting public transportation seems to be a thing of the past—nowadays, you can simply jump on a bike and reach your destination swiftly! Moreover, hybrid bikes open up a myriad of possibilities for discovering new locales while simultaneously engaging in physical activity. In this piece, we will explore how hybrid bikes have evolved into a fundamental aspect of daily life and the reasons behind their unprecedented popularity.

We all know that regular cycling is great for our physical health—it’s low impact, it helps us stay fit, and it can even reduce stress levels. But what many people don’t realize is just how convenient riding a bike can be too. With a hybrid bike , you can enjoy the convenience of being able to use both roads and trails without needing two separate bikes! Plus, with certain models featuring electric motors, you won’t even need to break a sweat if you don’t want to.

So whether you’re looking for an exciting way to commute or simply want to experience nature up close, there’s something special about hopping onto a hybrid bike and hitting the road (or trail). Read on to find out all that hybrid bikes have to offer in 2023!

As we move into 2023, it’s clear that hybrid bikes are becoming increasingly popular. Not only do they provide an efficient means of transportation, but they also offer a great way to get some exercise and explore new places. Here, we’ll take a look at the many benefits of owning a hybrid bike in this modern age.

For starters, hybrid bikes are incredibly versatile because they have features from both mountain and road bikes. This allows riders to easily switch between different terrain types with ease – perfect for those who want to mix up their daily commute or weekend adventure! Additionally, these hybrids come equipped with wide tires and shock absorbers which make them much more comfortable than traditional road bikes when riding on rougher surfaces like dirt paths or cobblestones. The wider handlebars also give riders more control over the bike no matter what type of surface you’re on.

Finally, these hybrid bicycles can be used for all sorts of activities such as commuting to work, running errands around town, exploring nature trails or city streets alike – whatever suits your lifestyle best! With so many advantages combined in one package, it’s easy to see why these machines have become so popular among cyclists everywhere. Transitioning seamlessly from commuting to exercise has never been easier thanks to the amazing capabilities of the modern-day hybrid bike !

Types Of Hybrid Bikes

When it comes to choosing a hybrid bike , there are many models available and each offers something unique. From gravel bikes for the off-road enthusiast to folding models perfect for city living – no matter what type of rider you are, there’s sure to be a hybrid option that suits your needs! Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types:

• Cruiser Bikes : These hybrids offer upright seating positions and wide handlebars for maximum comfort during long rides. They usually come with suspension forks, making them great for smooth cruising on roads or trails alike.
• Electric Hybrid Bikes : For those looking for an extra boost while riding, electric hybrids provide just that! With their powerful pedal assist motors and high capacity batteries, these machines can easily tackle hills and longer distances without breaking a sweat.
• Folding Models : If storage space is limited in your home, then consider getting one of these lightweight bicycles which fold up into a much smaller size than traditional frames. Perfect for commuting by bus or train!
• Gravel Bikes : This style allows riders to explore rugged terrain like gravel paths but still maintain control over the machine thanks to its wider tires and shock absorbers. Ideal for adventure seekers who want to go where few have gone before!
• Suspension Hybrids : Comfort should never be sacrificed when cycling – this is why so many cyclists opt for suspension hybrids with front and rear shocks built right into the frame. You’ll feel confident taking on any surface with ease knowing that you’re well protected from bumps along the way.

No matter what type of hybrid bike you choose , they all offer amazing versatility that make them ideal companions both on short commutes around town as well as adventurous journeys across unknown lands. Whether you’re going out for leisurely rides or pushing yourself physically – owning one of these trusty two-wheeled friends will undoubtedly help bring joy back into cycling again!

Comfort And Safety Features

When it comes to riding a hybrid bike , comfort and safety are key. Luckily, modern hybrids come with many features that make them both safe and comfortable for everyday use. From adjustable seats to powerful disc brakes – let’s take a look at some of the most common comfort and safety features:

Adjustable Seats : A good fit is essential for long-distance rides or tough terrains, so having an adjustable seat can be a real lifesaver! With easy height adjustment options, you’ll have no problem finding your perfect position on any journey.

Disc Brakes : Unlike traditional rim brakes, disc brake systems offer superior stopping power even in wet conditions. They also require much less maintenance over time than other braking systems – making them ideal for commuters who need reliable performance day after day.

Shock Absorbers : When taking on bumpy trails or cobblestone streets, shock absorbers built into the frame will help ensure a smooth ride every time. Whether you’re tackling steep inclines or cruising downhill – these suspension systems will keep you comfortable all along the way!

No matter which type of terrain or distance you plan on covering, there’s always something special about hopping onto a trusty two-wheeled companion that allows us to explore our world without sacrificing comfort or safety. With their versatile designs and impressive features – hybrids continue to be one of the most popular choices among cyclists today!

Popular Accessories

As you hit the open road and enjoy the freedom that comes with cycling, it’s always important to have the right gear. From bike lights for night-time riding to security locks for urban adventures – there are plenty of accessories available today that will help make your journey even more enjoyable! Let’s take a look at some of the most popular items:

• Bike Lights : Whether you’re commuting in the evening or heading out on an overnight ride – having good lighting is essential. With rechargeable LED headlights and taillights, you’ll be able to see and be seen from miles away.
• Bike Bags : Bicycle bags come in all shapes and sizes these days , so finding one that fits your needs should be easy. Not only do they provide extra carrying capacity but they also keep your belongings safe while you ride.
• Bike Locks: Keeping your beloved two wheels secure is crucial when travelling through busy streets or leaving them unattended during errands. Look for high quality bike locks which can withstand cutting tools as well as tampering attempts by would-be thieves.

From sleek helmets to convenient racks – there’s no shortage of incredible accessories designed specifically for hybrid bikes . And with improved designs and technology, cyclists now have access to products that are both stylish and functional!

Cost And Maintenance

The cost of owning and maintaining a hybrid bike can vary greatly depending on the type of model you choose. Entry-level hybrids are often quite affordable, while higher-end models may carry a hefty price tag. But don’t forget about maintenance costs – if you plan to keep your bicycle in good shape for years to come, regular tune-ups and repairs will be necessary.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save money when it comes to bike maintenance. Investing in quality parts, taking advantage of do-it-yourself tutorials online, or bringing your ride into a reputable shop all help keep down the total amount spent over time. Plus, certain types of lubricants and cleaning products can extend the life of your components even further!

When investing in any two wheeled vehicle it’s important to understand what kind of upkeep is required as well as how much that might add up to financially. With some simple preventive measures and a bit of research, you’ll have no trouble keeping your hybrid running smoothly so you can enjoy many miles together!

Looking after our environment has become increasingly important in recent years. In the next section we’ll explore the environmental impact associated with hybrid bikes and discuss why more people are choosing them for their daily transportation needs.

Environmental Impact

In today’s world, we’re looking for ways to minimize our environmental impact and reduce air pollution. Hybrid bikes are an excellent choice for those who want a sustainable form of transportation that helps reduce their carbon footprint. Here’s why:

• Hybrid bikes are powered by your own energy, which means they emit zero emissions. This makes them much more eco-friendly than cars or motorbikes when it comes to getting around town.
• They require far less maintenance than other types of vehicles , meaning fewer chemicals used in the process and less waste in landfills over time.
• When you ride a hybrid bike instead of relying on public transport or driving, you’re contributing directly to reducing air pollution in cities and towns across the globe.
• Bicycle commuting is also great exercise! Not only will you be helping the environment but you’ll also benefit from improved physical health and mental well-being while doing so.

The advantages of investing in a hybrid bike go beyond just saving money on fuel costs – they can help make a real difference in protecting our planet and keeping our communities cleaner too! With their versatility and convenience, it’s no wonder these bicycles have become increasingly popular throughout the years as people strive to live more environmentally friendly lives.

In conclusion, hybrid bikes are an excellent choice for both commuters and exercisers in 2023. They provide the perfect combination of convenience, affordability, and versatility to meet a variety of needs. Their comfort and safety features make them ideal for leisurely rides as well as long distance commutes. With their multitude of accessories available, you can customize your bike to suit any need or style. Maintenance is relatively straightforward and inexpensive compared to other types of transportation. Plus, they have much less environmental impact than cars or even public transit – making them suitable for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint on the planet!

All in all, hybrid bicycles are a great way to get around town while also getting some exercise at the same time. Whether you’re commuting to work or just out for an afternoon ride with friends, these trusty two-wheelers will take you wherever you want to go ‘in a flash.’ With so many options available from reputable brands, there’s no reason not to hop on one today and start reaping the rewards that come with owning a robust yet fun machine like the hybrid bicycle!

Olivia’s writing is not only informative but also inspiring. She has a knack for telling stories that capture the essence of cycling and the joy it brings to people’s lives. Her writing has been praised by readers and industry experts alike for its clarity, depth, and authenticity.

In addition to her writing, Olivia is also an avid cyclist. She enjoys exploring new trails and routes and has participated in several cycling events and races. Her first-hand experience with cycling gives her a unique perspective on the sport, reflected in her writing.

Overall, Olivia is a talented writer passionate about cycling and dedicated to producing high-quality content for FlatironBike. Her contributions to the magazine have helped make it a go-to source for cycling enthusiasts worldwide.

Why Hybrid Bikes Are The Swiss Army Knives Of Two-Wheeled Transportation

When it comes to biking, think of hybrid bikes as the Swiss Army Knife on two wheels – they’re versatile enough for nearly any purpose! Whether you need a dependable bike for your daily commute, a sturdy ride for off-road explorations, or something that falls somewhere in the middle, hybrid bikes are unmatched in their adaptability. As passionate cyclists, we understand the freedom and empowerment that biking brings; so, if you’re eager to dive into that experience, a hybrid bike is the way to go.

If you’ve been considering adding a bicycle to your life but don’t want to commit to one specific style of riding , then look no further than the hybrid bike. These bikes have been designed with both road and mountain biking characteristics, allowing them to handle all kinds of terrain and conditions with ease. From city streets and country roads to fire trails and single track, these versatile machines bring together the best aspects of each type of cycle into one package – making them perfect for almost any occasion.

Hybrid bikes provide riders with freedom from boundaries set by traditional bicycles – whether those boundaries were geographical or physical. With its combination of agility, comfort and durability, there really isn’t much that a good quality hybrid cannot do; it’s simply up to us as riders as to how far we take this newfound freedom! So now let’s dive deeper into why these amazing machines are truly the ‘Swiss Army Knives’ of two-wheeled transportation!

What Is A Hybrid Bicycle?

Have you ever been curious about what a hybrid bike is? A hybrid bike , sometimes called a crossover or city bike, is the perfect combination of two-wheeled transportation. It’s designed to offer its riders a smooth ride while allowing them to easily navigate different terrain. Bike hybrids are versatile and great for recreational riders and commuters who need an efficient way to get around town.

These bikes are made from lightweight materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber , allowing for more speed than mountain bikes but providing better maneuverability than road bikes. The components on most hybrids will vary depending on the manufacturer, but typically include features like flat handlebars, suspension forks, and wide tires all of which help make it suitable for multiple types of riding conditions.

Hybrid bicycles have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their versatility and comfort level – something no other type of bicycle can match! They’re perfect for those looking for practicality without sacrificing style and performance. As we’ll see in the next section, these two-wheeled machines offer numerous benefits that make them quite possibly the best option for finding reliable transportation.

The hybrid bike is quickly becoming one of the most popular two-wheeled transportation options out there. It has all the advantages of a commuter or city bike with added features that make it suitable for any terrain you might need to tackle – making it truly the Swiss Army Knife of bicycles! Let’s take a look at some of the major benefits these versatile bikes have to offer:

• Versatility and All-Terrain Utility : Hybrid bikes are designed to handle multiple types of terrain, so they can be used in many different environments. With their larger tires, flat handlebars and suspension forks, they provide excellent stability on both roads and paths while also offering enough speed capabilities to keep up with other cyclists during races. Furthermore, hybrids often come equipped with mounts for racks, fenders and lights that allow riders to customize their setup according to their needs. This makes them an ideal choice if you want something that can do it all!
• Commuter Bike Advantages : Hybrids are great for commuting due to their lightweight frames and efficient gearing systems. They’re also very comfortable which makes long rides more bearable. Additionally, because these bikes generally don’t require as much maintenance as mountain or road bikes, they’re perfect for people who want reliable transportation but don’t have time to tinker around with adjusting components and tuning gears.
• City Bicycle Pros : Besides being great commuters, hybrids make excellent city bikes too! Their wider tires give improved traction on wet surfaces like cobblestones or gravel and they can easily navigate tight turns without sacrificing stability. And since they usually come with plenty of mounting points for accessories such as baskets and panniers, you won’t ever have trouble carrying your groceries home either!

Hybrid bikes really do seem like the perfect combination of speed, comfort, versatility and style. Whether you’re using yours as your primary mode of transport or just taking leisurely rides through nature trails on weekends – this type of bicycle offers something everyone can enjoy!

Now that we’ve explored the benefits of hybrid bikes , let’s take a look at what types are available and which one might be right for you. Generally speaking, there are five main categories: hybrid mountain bikes , hybrid road bikes, hybrid touring bikes, hybrid commuting bicycles and hybrid city bikes. Each has its own unique features designed to suit different needs and styles of riding.

Let’s start with hybrid mountain bikes; these hardy machines feature wide tires, front suspension forks and disc brakes – allowing them to tackle tough trails with ease . They also have lower gear ratios than other hybrids so they can conquer inclines more quickly while remaining stable on descents. If you’re looking for an all-around off-road bike capable of handling anything from singletrack to gravel roads then this is the type for you!

Hybrid road bikes combine lightweight frames with efficient gearing systems making them great for longer rides or training sessions on flat surfaces such as tarmac paths or highways. These models usually come with slightly narrower tires than their mountain counterparts which helps reduce rolling resistance meaning your speed will increase without having to put in too much extra effort. Additionally, many modern versions include mounts for accessories like racks and mudguards so they can easily double up as commuters when needed!

Finally, if your goal is primarily recreational riding then a hybrid touring bike could be just what you need. These models offer a comfortable upright geometry combined with larger wheels that make it easier to cover distances over varying terrain including hills and rough ground. Furthermore, some brands provide additional mounting points specifically designed for attaching panniers which makes carrying luggage easy – perfect if you plan on taking extended trips!

Whether you’re planning on tackling rugged mountainsides or cruising around town, there’s sure to be a suitable hybrid option out there waiting for you!

Considerations When Purchasing A Hybrid Bike

As the saying goes, ‘you get what you pay for’, and when it comes to hybrid bikes that couldn’t be more true. Hybrid bikes are like the Swiss Army knives of two-wheeled transportation – they can do almost anything with a little adjustment! Before you make your purchase there are several things you should consider in order to ensure you get exactly what you need. Here’s a list of key points worth mulling over:

1) Bike Features : There’s no one-size-fits all solution so it’s important to look at features such as frame material, wheel size, gearing system and brakes before making any decisions. Understanding how each feature contributes towards overall performance is essential; if unsure seek professional advice or consult an online guide.

2) Bike Styles : Different types of hybrids have been designed with specific purposes in mind; from mountain biking to touring or commuting. Think carefully about where and how often you plan on riding then compare models based on their intended use – this will help narrow down your choices significantly!

3) Price Points : Don’t let price tag alone dictate which bike you choose – research different brands and check customer reviews first to determine value for money. Remember, spending a small amount extra now could save hundreds further down the line when repairs become necessary due to poor quality components!

4) Maintenance & Safety Tips : It’s always wise to factor maintenance into your purchase price too; some bikes require more frequent servicing than others depending on materials used and complexity of design. Finally, don’t forget safety features such as helmets and lights – these may seem insignificant but could end up saving your life someday!

Now armed with all this information, plus some additional tips from experienced riders, choosing the right hybrid bike doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With careful consideration anyone can find the perfect set of wheels for their needs – whether tackling trails or cruising around town!

Maintenance And Safety Tips For Hybrid Bikes

With a hybrid bike , you’re getting the best of both worlds – combining lightweight frames and multiple speeds with sturdy construction. But if you want to maximize its potential then regular maintenance is essential. Here are some tips for keeping your hybrid bike in tip-top shape:

First, inspect all components regularly; look for signs of wear and tear on brakes, tires, chains, cranksets and other parts. If any pieces need replacing don’t wait too long as this could lead to bigger problems down the line! Secondly, consider using lubes or waxes every few weeks to keep everything running smoothly – just be sure to read product instructions carefully before applying them. Finally, it’s also important to check brake cables for rust or fraying which can cause serious safety issues when riding at speed.

Safety should always come first whenever cycling so here are a few extra precautions worth taking: Wear a helmet that fits properly and meets current standards; make sure lights are attached securely (especially rear ones) and visible from afar; carry spare inner tubes in case of punctures; practice defensive driving techniques such as signaling early when turning corners or merging into traffic lanes. Taking these steps will help protect not only yourself but others around you too!

Whether commuting or exploring off-road trails, having an efficient machine helps make the journey more enjoyable. With proper care and attention hybrid bikes can last many years so apply these key maintenance & safety tips now and reap the rewards later!

Popularity Of Hybrid Bicycles

In recent years, the popularity of hybrid bikes has skyrocketed. In fact, a survey conducted by Bicycle Retailer & Industry News showed that in 2018 alone there was an impressive 16% growth in sales of these two-wheeled wonders compared to 2017. It’s no wonder why – they combine features from both road and mountain bikes, making them versatile enough for all types of terrain while being light enough to easily maneuver around town or go on long-distance rides.

The demand for hybrid bicycles is only expected to grow as more people are drawn towards their convenience and ease of use. Whether you’re looking for a commuter bike or something more rugged for weekend adventures, having one machine that can do it all is very appealing. Plus with the rise of e-bikes (which are essentially hybrids), even those who aren’t necessarily fitness fanatics can join in on the fun!

As technology advances, so does the hybrid bike market – giving riders access to lighter frames with better suspension systems, improved shifting capabilities, and other design improvements like integrated lighting systems. And with companies offering warranties and free tune-ups when purchasing new models, now may be the best time to invest in a top quality ride. With its versatility and utility, there’s no doubt that this type of bicycle will remain popular in the coming years.

When it comes to two-wheeled transportation, hybrid bikes are like the Swiss army knives of the biking world. They offer an incredible mix of versatility and convenience that no other type of bike can match. With a hybrid bike , you get all the benefits of both mountain and road riding in one package – plus they’re easy to maintain and ride safely too!

In short, if you want a versatile form of transport that will serve your needs for years to come, then a hybrid bike is definitely worth looking into. Whether you’re commuting through busy city streets or off-roading on rough terrain, a hybrid bike has got you covered – making it truly the ultimate two-wheeled companion!

To sum up, there’s simply no denying how amazing hybrid bikes really are. They have become increasingly popular over time due to their incredible combination of speed, agility and comfort – proving once again why they are often referred to as ‘the swiss army knife of two-wheeled transportation’.

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We are a passionate team driven by the belief that cycling is a fantastic and accessible way to stay active while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Our mission is to share our love for cycling with as many people as possible. We provide a welcoming environment for individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to come together and ride bikes. With Ralf’s visionary leadership, Zane’s expertise in cycling adventures, and Olivia’s dedication to community building, we strive to create a vibrant space where everyone can experience the joy of cycling. Through group rides, workshops, and inclusive events, we inspire and empower individuals to embrace an active lifestyle. Join us in our quest to pedal together, embrace the joy of cycling, and foster connections that last a lifetime.

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Best Electric Touring Bikes for Your Next Adventure

Bicycle touring has been around for hundreds of years, with some of the earliest records dating back to the 1800s.

Long before cars and motorbikes were invented, people would use bicycles to tour long distances, sometimes across entire continents. Typically, this was done on slow, old steel-framed bikes and required a high degree of patience and fitness.

Nowadays, with recent improvements in electric bicycle (eBike) technology, a new wave of touring eBikes has emerged.

What Are Electric Touring Bicycles?

E-Touring bikes can take you to desired locations with way smaller effort. Like any other electric bike, a touring/trekking eBike features a rechargeable battery and an electric motor connected to the rear hub or crankset.

Best Touring Bikes in 2024 for Multi-Day Cycle Adventures

While many touring bike purists might balk at the idea of having electrical assistance, for some people it’s a necessity due to injury, old age, or poor fitness.

In most cases, the electric motor doesn’t fully propel the bicycle like on a motorbike but rather provides pedal assistance, making it easier to pedal and taking pressure off the knees.

In the case of touring, where heavy loads are usually involved, or long century rides , this little bit of assistance can make a huge difference.

They may not be the best choice for long cycling expeditions, such as riding the Cairo to Cape Town route , but they are handy for shorter adventures.

Best Electric Touring Bikes in 2024

#1 santa cruz skitch cc apex.

A class 3 e-bike for gravel riding and touring

Price: $6,300

The Santa Cruz Skitch is a mid-drive electric bike that saddles the gap between gravel and touring.

The combination of 45 mm tires, stable geometry, and common touring features like fender and bottle mounts give this bike its versatile capability.

With speeds of up to 28 mph, it’s the perfect touring eBike for the more adventurous riders out there. If you are looking for the best electric bike for camping and long-distance touring, the rigid-frame Santa Cruz Skitch might be the answer to your needs.

The Skitch boasts a lightweight Fazua Ride 60 motor combined with a 430 Wh battery that provides a 60-mile average range. 

Schwalbe G-One 700c x 45 mm tires

Wide, treaded tires like these give the Skitch an off-road capability that exceeds most other touring eBikes. It is considerably more comfortable on rough surfaces and super efficient over long distances. Schwalbe tires are famous in off-road biking for their durable qualities and high performance. 

Carbon frame

The Current features a carbon frame with internal cable routing for a clean appearance and better protection. The fork is built from the same durable material and has thru-axles. The integrated 430 Wh battery conceals neatly into the downtube and contributes to the clean look.

SRAM Apex Eagle 12-speed

The wide-range SRAM Apex Eagle 12-speed is geared towards long-distance and loaded touring, providing easy pedaling on most gradients. As a gravel-focused gearset, it provides smooth, reliable shifting without locking up or dropping out. 

SRAM Apex hydraulic brakes

A popular choice amongst all manufacturers, the ever-reliable SRAM Apex hydraulic brakes won’t let you down, come rain or shine. With 160mm rotors, they stop with excellent power and reliability. 

Buy on MikesBikes.com

#2 Cannondale – Treadwell Neo 2 EQ

Best electric bike for short tours and commutes

Price: $2,175

The Cannondale Treadwell Neo 2 EQ is an electric bike with a frame perfectly suited to touring. With thick-treaded 47mm tires, this bike is clearly intended for mixed-terrain riding.

250W Hydrive MRC-250

The 250W Hydrive MRC-250 motor is situated at the rear hub, providing 40Nm of torque into the drivetrain while you pedal. As a Class 1 pedal-assist motor, it can take you up to 20 mph, making it ideal as a light touring bike.

250Wh lithium-ion battery

The modest 250Wh battery will provide up to 47 miles of pedal-assist power on a single charge. Pop the battery on charge and it will be full in five hours. This battery makes the Treadwell an excellent commuter or light electric touring bike.

Aluminum frame

Unlike most standard bicycle frames, touring bikes and electric bikes require a more robust design built from stronger materials. The Cannondale Treadwell Neo 2 EQ is formed from SmartForm C3 Alloy with a tapered head tube and internal cable routing. 

Hydraulic disc brakes

Any experienced cycle tourist will tell you that decent brakes are a necessity not to be overlooked. When hurtling down a steep descent packed with all your life’s possessions, the last thing you need is your brakes failing you. Tektro’s HD-R280 hydraulic disc brakes are a tried and tested staple in the eBike industry, trusted by thousands of manufacturers for their consistent reliability. 

Buy on REI.com

#3 Gazelle – Ultimate C380 Plus

Women’s electric commuter bike for touring

Price: $4,749

The Gazelle Ultimate C380 Plus is an electric city bike with a difference – it uses a Gates belt drive system, which means no chains, no cogs, no grease, and extremely low maintenance. For bicycle touring, this is a great addition as it means far less hassle, fewer cleaning requirements, and less chance of breakdowns.

Bike weight: 54.6 lbs

Weighing in at a moderate 54.6lbs, the Gazelle Ultimate C380 is lighter than it looks. Despite a long-range battery and powerful motor, Gazelle manages to keep things light with an aluminum frame.

500 Wh, 13.4 Ah battery

The 500Wh battery balances a fine line between weight saving and capacity, providing power for up to 70 miles on Eco mode. If you need a bit more punch, it also has Tour, Sport, and Turbo mode.

Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus 3.0 (50Nm)

The Bosch Performance Line 3.0 mid-drive motor pushes out 65Nm of torque, slightly more than the standard found on most Class 1 eBikes. This gives the Gazelle a bit of edge over the competition, especially when climbing hills fully laden with luggage.

28″ wheels

Another unique feature of the Gazelle Ultimate C8 is the 28″ wheels, an uncommon size description in the cycle touring community. This size measures the same as 700c or 29″ wheels. They’re wrapped in Schwalbe’s eBike specific Energizer Plus puncture-resistant tires.

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#4 Trek Allant+ 7

Best city touring e-bike

Price: $3,800

The Trek Allant+ 7 is no ordinary eBike – equipped with everything you need for city riding or bike touring, you can just charge it, start riding, and get anywhere you need to be. If you plan on touring on roads and light gravel roads, the Allant+ 7 e-bike will get you there and then some.

The 250W Bosch Performance CX mid-drive motor delivers huge power and combines with a 500 Wh battery that lasts up to around 80 miles. Y ou can pull your luggage easily on this bike as it comes with a sturdy rear rack.

Naturally, you’re going to need some serious stopping power on an ebike designed for touring long distances, which is why the Trek Allant+ 7 comes with hydraulic disc brakes. These brakes won’t let you down come rain or shine.

Trek has also included a reliable 9-speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain, fenders, and front and rear lights to round out the build.

Buy from Trek Bikes

#5 Quietkat – Ranger

Off-road touring bike with an integrated rack and huge power

MSRP: $3,499

The Ranger e-bike by Quietkat is a highly versatile bike built for long-haul adventuring off-road and everything you need for commuting.

Each of the components has been carefully selected to ensure a high-quality ride experience on harsh terrain along with comfort and power over long distances.

Aluminum 6061 Frame

QuietKat frames are built using 6061 aluminum alloy. Due to rigorous testing, this frame perfectly balances strength and stiffness with high-end durability while keeping costs down.

750W or 1000W Geared Hub Motor

This motor delivers tons of power and torque to make hill climbing and pulling a full payload seem easy. This type of motor is the best you can get before upgrading to mid-drive motors.

614Wh Battery

The Ranger uses a medium-size battery to deliver max ranges of around 48 miles on one charge. This battery could be a little bigger to support longer days spent touring. 

7-Speed Drivetrain

This bike has a reliable SRAM drivetrain which allows you to maximize your battery and get the longest range possible by having enough gear options for uphill and downhill riding. It also has fast and accurate shifting.

Tektro Mechanical Brakes

Riders of the Ranger can have trust in the powerful 203mm rotor mechanical disc brakes by renowned manufacturer Tektro. This system provides smooth braking with a very fast response time, rapid heat dissipation, and automatic motor power-off function upon braking. This significantly reduces braking distance.

Buy from Quietkat.com

#6 Benno – RemiDemi 10D Sport

Price: $3,699

The Benno RemiDemi 9D Sport is a cargo electric bike that would make a solid eTouring option for those who want to carry huge loads over diverse terrains. This is a quality bike throughout, from the Bosch Performance Sport motor to the 3.6″ fat tires.

Coming in at 65lbs, the Benno RemiDemi is by no means the lightest bike on the market but feels comfortable as a touring eBike. This sturdy build is necessary to support the huge payload capacity of 400lbs.

The aluminum frame uses a convenient step-thru design for easy mounting without sacrificing strength and rigidity. The shock-absorbent characteristics of the aluminum provide extra comfort and durability. 

The RemiDemi 9D Sport is capable on roads or off-road terrains with huge fat tires. These tires provide plenty of comfort, traction, and durability on any surface you encounter, including snow, sand, and mud. 

As a class 3 pedal-assist bike, the 250W Bosch Performance Sport motor is limited to a maximum speed of 28mph. This is supported by a 400Wh Bosch battery and a Shimano Sora 9-speed drivetrain. 

#7 Lectric ONE

PRICE: $1,999 – 2,199

The Lectric ONE isn’t officially an eTouring Bike, but it provides an affordable alternative with the capability to transform into a touring bike.

It’s supported by an aluminum alloy frame and powered by a 750W rear hub motor and a 500Wh or 672 Wh battery, making it ideal for medium to long-distance tours.

The Lectric ONE is impressive because it features a Pinion C1.6i smart shifting gearbox that changes gears automatically, as well as a Gates Carbon Belt drive. All of that for just $2,000.

This electric bike has a strong aluminum alloy frame. The frame comes in one size only that fits riders between 5’2” – 6’4” tall, though the handlebar position is adjustable, so you can easily find the right riding position.

Hydraulic disc brakes are another excellent addition to such a well-priced bike. They provide solid stopping power in any weather conditions, which is a necessity on an electric touring bike.

Buy on Lectricebikes.com

#8 Tern – GSD S10

Price: $5,399

The Tern GSD S10 is an electric bike built for hauling large cargo loads on long-distance rides across varied terrain. Loaded with a long rear rack, fenders, and lights, it’s perfect for adventures.

 Aluminum alloy frame and 70mm suspension fork

The solid frame is built from aluminum alloy, the perfect combination of strength, responsiveness, and comfort without adding extra costs. You also get a 70mm travel fork for smoothing out bumps on the road and light trails.

Shimano Deore 10-speed

Gearing consists of Shimano’s Deore drivetrain with a 10-speed cassette. This setup offers a wide range of gears, but with help from the Bosch Cargo Line 85Nm motor, you’ll hardly need them.

Magura MT5 Hydraulic discs

To complete the groupset, you also get Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes. These brakes will ensure you won’t have any trouble stopping even in wet weather.

Bosch 85Nm motor

The Bosch Cargo Line 85Nm motor is one of the most powerful you’ll find in the 250W category. It’s well-known for being tough and durable. With 85Nm of torque, it performs adequately on steep ascents and will power you along at up to 20mph on flats.

Buy from REI.com     Buy from TernBicycles.com

What defines an electric touring bicycle?

Long-distance electric bike = E-Touring Bike? – Not true. Long-distance eBikes are generally bicycled with an estimated range of 60mi and over. Touring bikes on the other hand are characterized by the accessibility to add racks and panniers to the bike. Therefore, a long-range electric bicycle can also be an electric road bike .

Technically, there is no specific set of conditions required to call a bicycle a touring bike. Although some manufacturers make touring-specific bikes, any bike that somebody chooses to tour on is, by default, a touring bike. However, there are certain features that you will commonly find on most touring bikes that make them comfortable and strong enough for long-distance riding.

For extra strength, many touring cyclists choose a steel frame with lots of mount points and a comfortable upright seating position. These are usually similar to road bike frames although some bikepacking bikes use MTB style frames. For steep hill climbs and strong stopping power on descents, touring bikes usually have a wide gear range and powerful disc brakes. Handlebars can either be dropped or straight but the more hand positions the better.

Other common extras include pannier racks, mudguards, lights, dynamos, and thick puncture-resistant tires.

Are gravel eBikes the same as e-touring bikes?

Gravel bikes are closely related to touring bikes but lack the comfort factor that one would expect from a touring bike.

Gravel vs. Cyclocross vs. Touring Bikes — Differences Explained

Are touring bikes good for commuting.

Many people use commuting bikes for touring and vice versa since they usually have many of the same qualities. If you already own a touring bike, it would make an ideal commuter since it’s strong, comfortable, and likely has the racks, mudguards, and lights. However, it wouldn’t make sense to buy a touring bike specifically for commuting as they are usually more expensive than regular commuter bikes.

EBike Classifications – Throttle vs Pedal-Assist

Electric bikes are classified into three classes

• Class 1 eBike – Pedal-assisted electric bikes. Motor limited up to 750W, speed to 20mph.
• Class 2 eBike – Electric bikes with a throttle. Motor power limited up to 750W, max assisted speed of 20mph.
• Class 3 eBike – Pedal-assisted, and optional throttle options available. Motor power limited to 750W, speed limited to 28mph.
• Class 4 eBike – An electric bike with pedals. Either the motor power is 750W or over, or the assisted speed exceeds 28mph.

Is it worth buying an eBike?

For many people with injured or weak knees, an eBike is the only option if they wish to keep cycling. In this sense, eBikes are certainly worth it for people who may not be able to continue cycling otherwise.

In recent years, eBikes have dropped in price drastically due to improvements in technology. Additionally, they now benefit from longer-life batteries, lighter frames, and stronger motors. For this reason, modern eBikes offer excellent value for money as they are long-lasting, durable, and affordable. 

Do electric bikes charge when you pedal?

No, despite a widespread belief that they do, electric bikes don’t actually charge while you pedal. The resistance required in the pedals to create enough charge would negate any additional benefit provided by the motor.

However, some electric bikes do have regenerative braking which uses continuous forward motion when braking to feed charge back into the battery. With this system, you could feed quite a lot of energy back into the battery if you were going down a long descent.

How long does the battery last on an electric bike?

The batteries on electric bikes vary greatly between models and the length they last depend on how hard and how frequently you pedal. Most batteries will take you between 40-60 miles (64-96 km) on a single charge – enough to last a whole day riding.

Batteries will need to be replaced after a few thousand cycles (recharges) depending on the type of battery. Lithium batteries are the best, with up to 1000 cycles, with nickel and lead batteries giving only half that or less.

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About the Author

Mark Hartley

2 thoughts on “ best electric touring bikes for your next adventure ”.

Trust me when I say that if you want to do extended rides on an ebike… touring, bike camping, weekenders, carrying enough gear to be comfortable, consecutive century rides, etc., you want more than 2, 3, or even 400W motors. The second thing you want is a Rohloff Speedhub so you can actually use all the gears with that additional power and not shred the gears and chain. Mid-drives love a nice clean straight chain line. For anyone that is going to carry panniers the racks (plural – a front rack is more important than the rear) need to be able to easily handle 40+ lbs. and be durable over years of riding. It’s not difficult to ride a eTouring setup with 80 to 150 lbs. of gear on the frame and another 80 to 100 lbs. in a trailer… at least when you have a “proper” motor (750 to 1000W). All the things that go into making a superior eTouring bike combine to make the best possible all-around daily commuter, grocery-getter, ride to get your Covid shot, take the pet to the vet ebike.

When you own an ebike you will find that you not only ride further but more often, even daily after you see how much you enjoy it. With that increased usage comes necessary maintainance, by a quality mech and by you. There is also a learning curve on getting the most out of the batteries and why a single large (2000+Wh) battery is better than 2 or even 3 smaller packs. You can buy a POS ebike on Amazon for $1K dollars but if you want to ride an ebike and not just own an ebike it’s best to remember that you get what you pay for.

The caveat here is “Best… to order online”, if you want to actually bike tour on an ebike not one of these bikes comes close.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ADgC6oyPM2gyrCq27

25 Jul 20 – Mowich Lake https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qkd2LGdKv https://photos.app.goo.gl/hRSTYZ8UjzdpuQ7n8

26 Jul 20 – Rain Forest trail https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvyDGe2W4q https://photos.app.goo.gl/WcoVAreB4TUdAiPF7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwwdaVg4Y5M https://prnt.sc/tsxt5p

Everyone stay safe.

Got a wild hair up my… about trekking across the US on an ebike. Doing a lot of research. In your opinion, if not any of these bikes, what ebike would you suggest? What do you ride?

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Really Big Bike Ride

Bicycle Touring Tips, Bike Life And Travel Advice From A Decade On The Road

The distilled wisdom of ten years of bike touring life, cycle touring tips and travel advice from hard-earned miles around the globe.

This article documents my bike touring tips from extensive bicycle travels around the world.

Whether you’re a veteran long-distance cyclist or a bicycle touring beginner , this blog post is here to provide you with invaluable bicycle touring tips, bike travel advice, and bicycle touring inspiration from a decade of bicycle trips.

From getting started as a cycle tourer to choosing the right gear. Overcoming fears and avoiding common mistakes, we’ve got you covered.

In particular, the bicycle touring tips we’ll cover include:

• Beginners Guide To Bicycle Touring
• Bike Set Up for Cycle Touring
• Unsolicited Bike Touring Advice
• Reasons To Go On A Bike Tour
• Who Goes Bicycle Touring
• Is Cycle Touring For You?

Bike Trips We’ve Tried and Loved

• Common Mistakes and Bikepacking Fails

What To Pack On A Bike Tour

• How To Travel With A Bicycle
• How To Budget For A Bike Trip
• Overcoming Fears (Just GO!)
• Inspirational Bicycle Touring Tips (Final Checklist)

But first things first – let’s dive into how to get started as a beginner in cycle touring.

Bicycle Touring Tips And Bike Touring Advice

Getting into cycle touring as a beginner.

Getting into cycle touring as a beginner can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. But fear not, because, with the right mindset and a few key tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a seasoned cycle tourer in no time!

Start by choosing the right bike for your adventure. Look for a sturdy, reliable bicycle that is comfortable to ride for long distances. Consider factors such as frame material, tire size, and gear options based on the terrain you plan to conquer.

I chose the Dawes Galaxy because we got a great deal from Spa Cycles . I chose steel because it’s tough yet flexible and easy to repair anywhere in the world with a basic fabricator. Also for our charity bike ride around Europe, we knew it would be the best type of touring bike.

Get fit on the bike

Next, it’s important to gradually build up your fitness level before tackling longer tours. Start with shorter rides close to home and gradually increase the distance over time.

This will not only help prepare your body but also allow you to test out different equipment and make any necessary adjustments along the way.

I commuted for years before I got near a heavy touring bike . I tested kit and found stuff I liked and got used to long hours in the saddle.

Remember, cycle touring is all about embracing the journey rather than reaching a specific destination. So take it slow, enjoy the scenery around you, and most importantly – have fun!

Our Bicycle Touring Tips For Bike Set Up

When it comes to bike touring, having the right set-up is essential for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Over our decade on the road, we’ve fine-tuned our bike set-up to meet our specific needs.

Our bikes are equipped with sturdy Tubus racks that allow us to carry all of our gear without compromising stability. We also use Ortlieb pannier bags that attach securely to these racks.

Front and rear panniers provide ample storage space for clothing, camping equipment, and other essentials.

Additionally, we have invested in comfortable bicycle touring saddles and double-wrapped bar tape to ensure long hours on the saddle don’t leave us sore or fatigued.

A well-thought-out bike set-up can make all the difference in your cycling adventure. So take the time to find what works best for you and your needs before hitting the open road!

About Cycle Tourers And Unsolicited Bike Touring Advice

Cycle tourers come in all shapes and sizes, from solo adventurers seeking solitude to couples sharing the journey. Some are experienced riders with years of bicycle touring under their belt. While others are newbies looking for a thrilling escape.

What unites them is their love for the open road and the freedom that comes with pedalling through picturesque landscapes.

You’ll meet bicycle tourists from all over the world. Each one with a unique story and reason for embarking on a two-wheeled adventure.

They share a common passion for exploration and a desire to experience life at a slower pace.

Bicycle Touring Tips From Around The World

Whether you’re cycling across continents or exploring your own backyard, being part of this vibrant community will open your eyes to new cultures, forge lifelong friendships, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Every bicycle touring tip you get is from a personal experience. In that context, my unsolicited bicycle touring advice is to make up your own mind.

Treat bike travel tips and cycle touring advice as a kind of recipe. Enjoy the useful, disregard the rest.

Reasons To Go On A Bike Tour?

Cycle touring offers a unique and exhilarating way to explore the world. Bicycle travel enables you to immerse yourself in nature, connect with local cultures, and experience a sense of freedom that is hard to find elsewhere.

One of the reasons why people choose to go on bike tours is for the feeling of adventure.

There’s something incredibly thrilling about embarking on a journey across vast landscapes, relying solely on your physical strength and determination. Plus, being able to cover long distances at your own pace allows you to truly appreciate the beauty of your surroundings.

Long-distance Bicycle Touring Is Fun

Another reason why bike touring is so appealing is its simplicity. With just your bicycle and some basic gear, you have everything you need for self-sufficient travel.

The minimalist ideals of bikepacking and bicycle touring make it easy to plan and organize your trip. Enabling you to focus on what really matters – enjoying the ride and connecting with both nature and yourself.

So if you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure then consider going on a bike tour. It’s an experience like no other!

Who Goes Cycle Touring?

Cycle touring is not limited to a specific group of people. It attracts adventurers of all ages and backgrounds, from solo travellers seeking self-discovery to couples looking for a unique bonding experience.

Young backpackers, retirees in search of new horizons, and even families with children are among those who embark on bike tours.

The beauty of cycle touring lies in its versatility. It appeals to both experienced cyclists and beginners who want to try something new.

With the right mindset and preparation, anyone can enjoy the freedom that comes with exploring the world on two wheels.

So whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or simply someone yearning for a slower pace of life, cycle touring welcomes you with open arms.

Is Cycle Touring for You?

Cycle touring is not for everyone, but it can be an incredible adventure for those who are up for the challenge. It requires a certain level of physical fitness and mental resilience. You’ll be spending long hours on the bike, pushing yourself to new limits.

If you enjoy being outdoors, exploring new places at your own pace, and immersing yourself in different cultures, then cycle touring might just be your thing.

Bikepacking and cycle touring offer a unique perspective of the world that you simply can’t get from any other mode of travel.

However, it’s important to consider factors like weather conditions, terrain difficulty, and personal comfort levels before embarking on a bike tour.

So if you’re willing to embrace uncertainty and step out of your comfort zone, then cycle touring could very well be the adventure of a lifetime!

Over the years, we have embarked on countless bike trips that have taken us to breathtaking destinations around the world.

From cycling through the rugged landscapes of the Pamir Mountains to pedalling along picturesque coastal roads in Morocco , each journey has left an indelible mark on our souls.

One particular trip that stands out is our adventure through the stunning countryside of Vietnam . The vibrant colours, bustling markets, and friendly locals made this a truly unforgettable experience.

Another favourite was our tour through Wainwright’s Coast to Coast , where we were captivated by rolling hills, ancient valleys, and mist-covered moors.

Why We Travel By Bike

These bike trips not only enabled us to explore new places but also provided a unique perspective on each destination. They allowed us to immerse ourselves in local culture and interact with people from all walks of life.

There’s nothing quite like feeling the wind against your face as you pedal along remote mountain trails or cycle past iconic landmarks

In short, these bike trips have brought us immense joy and fulfilment. They have taught us valuable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and embracing new experiences. It’s why we travel by bike !

If there’s one thing we can say for certain it’s this: if you’re looking for a thrilling way to discover the world while staying active and connected with nature – bicycle touring is worth considering!

Common Mistakes Bike Travelers Make

One common mistake that many bike travellers make is overpacking. It’s easy to get carried away and want to bring everything you think you might need. A heavy load can quickly become a burden on long rides.

I had to give away a laptop, a heavy-duty bike lock and 15 pairs of socks on my solo Hippe Trail by Bike trip. Instead, focus on packing the essentials and being prepared for different weather conditions.

Another mistake is not doing enough research about the route and terrain ahead of time. It’s important to have an idea of what kind of roads or trails you’ll be riding on.

A general understanding of any political unrest, armed conflicts, or national uprisings can inform your route planning. This will help you plan accordingly and avoid any unnecessary surprises during your journey.

By avoiding these common bikepacking mistakes , bike travellers can ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience on their tours.

So remember to pack light and do your homework before hitting the road!

What to pack on a bike tour can be a daunting task. This cycle touring and bikepacking kit list can ensure that you have everything you need without carrying unnecessary weight.

First and foremost, it’s important to have the essentials: spare inner tubes, a pump or CO2 inflator, tire levers, and basic tools for any potential repairs along the way.

Additionally, packing lightweight camping gear such as the best tent in the world or bivvy bag, a super lightweight sleeping bag , and cooking equipment is crucial for overnight stays.

Don’t forget to bring weather-appropriate clothing including rain gear and layers for varying temperatures.

Remember to prioritize items based on necessity rather than convenience to keep your load light and manageable throughout your journey.

What To Wear On A Bike Tour?

Cycle touring clothing.

When it comes to what to wear on a bike tour, comfort and functionality are key. Opt for moisture-wicking clothing that will keep you dry during long rides. Lightweight and breathable materials like merino wool or synthetic fabrics are ideal for regulating body temperature.

Layering is important, as weather conditions can change throughout the day. Start with a base layer that wicks away sweat, add a mid-layer for insulation, and top it off with a windproof and waterproof outer shell. Don’t forget to protect your extremities – invest in padded cycling shorts, gloves for grip and protection, sunglasses for eye protection from debris or UV rays, and sturdy cycling shoes with cleats for efficient pedalling.

Remember: pack light and practical!

Camping & Cooking Kit List

When embarking on a bike tour, having the right camping and cooking gear is essential. We’ve learned this through years of experience on the road.

Do you really need a stove and cookset?

While for ultra-long bicycle expeditions, a stove and camping cookset make for a useful companion, it may not be essential.

I barely used a stove on my solo multi-month bike trip. In Southeast Asia and India, it’s easy and preferable to eat at the side of the road. Dry foods, salami, nuts, seeds, fruits and jelly sweets are handy to carry as snacks.

However, in Central Asia, I used the stove at least daily to prepare an evening meal. Ingredients were hard to find but given the expansive distances from settlements, it was a bonus to have a hotel meal on the fly.

How To Fly With A Bicycle If You Have To

Ideally, you’ll leave from our front door fully loaded and ready to go. Cycle to a ferry port and you’ll access the next available landmass.

Alternatively, there are various options available. If you have to fly, a bike bag or box for air travel is handy. A cardboard box is best to protect your bike in transit. The see-through bags are liable to damage the bike in my experience. A new box can be found on the return leg.

Make sure all loose parts are removed or tightly secured. Remove the pedals, tuck the drop bars under the frame and remove the front wheel. Store the wheel next to the frame with a cable tie. Leave the bike in the lowest cog on the cassette. This leaves the derailleur compact for travel.

Don’t forget to pack essential tools and spare parts for any potential repairs that may arise during your journey.

Once abroad, it’s possible to put your bike on all kinds of transport. Huge trains in India, speedboats in Europe, and big trucks in Tajikistan.

How To Budget For A Bicycle Tour

When it comes to planning a bicycle tour, budgeting is an essential aspect that can greatly impact your experience. So how do you go about budgeting for a bike tour? Here are a couple of veteran bicycle touring tips to help you get started.

Consider your daily expenses such as accommodation, food, and transportation. Research the average costs in the countries or regions you’ll be visiting and factor them into your budget. Don’t forget to account for any visa fees or travel insurance costs as well.

In Asia, I travelled on $10 a day which at the time was about £6. Most of that was spent on food.

Think about one-time expenses like purchasing or renting gear and equipment. Determine what items are necessary for your trip and research their prices beforehand. It’s also worth considering any potential repairs or maintenance that may come up during the tour.

By carefully planning and estimating your expenses ahead of time, you can ensure that you have enough funds to fully enjoy your bicycle tour without breaking the bank.

Remember, every cyclist has different priorities when it comes to spending money on their journey – so find what works best for you!

Overcoming Fears: The Ultimate Bike Touring Advice

When embarking on a bicycle tour, it’s natural to have fears and doubts. Will I be able to handle the physical demands? What if something goes wrong?

But here’s the thing – fear is just an illusion that can hold you back from incredible experiences. Pushing through those fears is where growth happens.

Fear is just an illusion

One of our last thoughts before setting off on each tour is always gratitude for the opportunity to explore new places by bike.

It’s a reminder to savour every moment, even when faced with challenges or setbacks along the way. Embrace the unknown, push past your comfort zone, and trust in your abilities – you’ll come out stronger on the other side!

Inspirational Bicycle Touring Tips Before You Go

Bicycle touring is not just a hobby or a vacation; for some, it’s a way of life. It opens up new possibilities, pushes boundaries, and connects you with the world in ways that other forms of travel simply cannot match.

As we come to the end of this article, I hope that my experiences and bicycle touring tips have sparked your curiosity and ignited your wanderlust.

Here are some final words of bike travel advice to inspire and guide you on your cycle-touring adventures.

Bicycle Touring Tips Checklist

• Embrace the journey: The true beauty of bicycle touring lies in the unexpected moments, chance encounters, and serendipitous detours along the way. Be open to new experiences and embrace them wholeheartedly.
• Take it slow: Remember that cycle touring is not a race against time. It’s an opportunity to savour each moment at your own pace. Enjoy leisurely rides through picturesque landscapes, stop for coffee breaks in quaint villages, and take time to immerse yourself in local cultures.
• Connect with fellow cyclists: The cycling community is vast and supportive around the world. Whether online through cycle touring resources or on the road, reach out to other cyclists. Bike travel advice, camaraderie, or even potential travel companionship is possible.
• Stay flexible: Inevitably things won’t always go according to plan – weather conditions may change abruptly or unforeseen circumstances may arise – but adaptability is key when bicycle touring. Embrace these challenges as part of the adventure!
• Keep learning: There will always be more skills to acquire and knowledge to gain when it comes to bike travel – from basic maintenance skills like fixing a flat tire to navigating unfamiliar territories using maps or GPS devices .
• Take care of yourself: Remember self-care during long days in the saddle – stay hydrated, eat well-balanced meals, and give your body enough rest to prevent burnout and injury. Listen to your body and know when it’s time to take a break.
• Leave no trace: As responsible travellers, it’s important to leave the places we visit as we find them, if not better. Dispose of waste properly and respect local customs and cultures.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from our decade on the road, it’s that bicycle touring is as much about mindset as it is about physical stamina.

Cycle with a smile and the world will feed you noodles, get you drunk on xeo and offer you a bed for the night.

Magick happens on the road. Embrace it with an open heart and you’ll be grand.

The 10 Best Long-Distance Cycling Trails in the United States

Whether visiting a major city or bucolic countryside, traveling by bicycle is a convenient and romantic way to see more of a destination at your own pace. Although not as bike-friendly as European countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, the United States possesses a surprisingly extensive network of trails ripe for exploration. These 10 long-distance trails across the U.S. stand out for their natural beauty, access to historic sites, and options for beginners and seasoned cyclists alike. 

Washington Parks

This 314-mile trail gives riders an up-close look with Washington state’s diverse and remarkable landscapes. Beginning in Sedro-Woolley in the shadow of North Cascades National Park , the trail heads west to Anacortes to pick up a ferry to the San Juan Islands, known for its thriving orca population, lush scenery, and deserted roadways. After touring the archipelago, the route traces south along Whidbey island to pick up another ferry to the mainland at Port Townsend.  From here, the trail heads west to circle the high peaks and dense forest comprising Olympic National Park . Riders will climb more than 15,000 feet over the duration of the trail, so training and conditioning is recommended beforehand. Alternatively, focusing on one portion of the route, such as the calmer San Juan Islands, is doable for more casual cyclists. 

Utah Cliffs Loop

Southwestern Utah boasts extraordinary canyons and otherworldly rock formations. Beginning and ending in the town of St. George, cyclists can traverse sub-alpine forest and highlands for 288 miles round-trip to witness the region's dramatic landscapes up-close and personal. The main highlight for many is Zion National Park , known for its striking rocks, river canyon treks, and lush mesas. The trail takes in many lesser known sites with smaller crowds, such as Snow Canyon State Park, the Pine Valley Mountains, and Grafton (a ghost town used for western films). The total distance, high elevation, and less predictable weather conditions make this trail a fit for experienced cyclists only. 

Lewis & Clark Trail

Although the famous explorers traveled by boat, this trail follows a similar route from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest. Spanning 3,539 miles from Hartford, Illinois, to Seaside, Oregon, this trail is for the truly adventurous. Completing the entire route takes between two and three months for most riders. On its way through the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, the trail passes many natural wonders and historic sites, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center in Great Falls, Montana. Instead, cyclists can also choose a smaller portion, such as the Missouri River corridor between St. Louis and Kansas City, for a shorter multi-day trip. In its entirety, trail conditions fluctuate from dirt paths to paved trails, so a sturdy bike is recommended. 

Great Allegheny Passage

Covering 150 miles of former railway between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cumberland, Maryland, the Great Allegheny Passage is a popular route for its scenic journey along the Youghiogheny and Casselman Rivers and through small towns and forest. Numerous access points mean the trail is feasible for both casual rides and multi-day excursions. If you intend on riding the full route, be sure to spend a night in Ohiopyle for its quaint downtown and proximity to two Frank Lloyd Wright marvels: Kentuck Knob and Fallingwater . As riders approach the Maryland border, they will pass through the 3,294-foot-long Big Savage Tunnel and then cross the Mason-Dixon line. 

Ohio to Erie Trail

Spanning 326 miles across the Buckeye state from Cincinnati to Cleveland, the Ohio to Erie Trail is well-suited for casual rides and multi-day journeys alike. Portions of the trail follow abandoned railways, keeping cyclists safe from vehicle traffic and offering more scenic surroundings. Along the way, the trail meanders through farmland, historic villages, downtown Columbus, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park . History buffs will have a packed itinerary between the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and numerous heritages sites and museums in between. 

Denali Park Road

Although it is the shortest trail on the list at 92 miles, it is by far the most remote. Denali National Park occupies 6 million acres of mountainous wilderness between Anchorage and Fairbanks and serves as habitat for caribou, grizzlies, and other wildlife. Denali’s single park road is paved for the first 15 miles before changing to gravel. Vehicles are restricted to 15 mph along the latter portion, making it safe for cyclists. Riding between Denali’s six campgrounds is a great way to see more of the park than a bus tour offers. The first campsite is just a quarter-mile past the park entrance, with the farthest two being Igloo Creek at mile 35 and Wonder Lake at Mile 85. Buses are fitted with bike racks, so cyclists can plan for a one-way trip in and leisurely ride out.  

Florida Connector

In its entirety, this 519.5-mile trail crosses Florida’s interior twice. Starting from St. Augustine’s Atlantic shores, the path runs southwest across gently rolling terrain to Fort Myers and the Gulf of Mexico, from where it cuts back east to Fort Lauderdale. The trail is a mix of roadside bike lanes and separated trail. While some urban sections, such as Orlando, can be a bit hectic, the Florida Connector trail grants access to Florida’s less developed interior of swamps, farmland, and orange groves, too. Remote stretches between Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale have limited amenities, especially amid the Everglades and around Lake Okeechobee. However, this is where riders have the best chance of spotting birds, reptiles, armadillos, and alligators. Cycling conditions are best between December and March when temperatures aren’t sweltering and hurricanes are less of a risk. 

Erie Canalway Trail

This trail traces the Erie Canal for approximately 400 miles between Buffalo and Albany. The flat terrain and frequent entry points in cities, towns, and villages along the way make it ideal for all skill levels and day trips. From the trail, cyclists will pass many historic locks, bridges, and gates from the canal’s days as a commercial shipping route. There are also hundreds of access points and places to rent kayaks to break up the ride. A nonprofit organization, Parks & Trails New York, organizes an annual bike tour that attracts hundreds of riders to complete the trail in one week. The ride is divided in 40 and 60 mile increments, making it doable for less experienced riders, too. 

Texas Hill Country Loop

This circular trail runs 311 miles from downtown Austin and back. The Texan capital and its bohemian neighborhoods are quite bike-friendly, and the Texas Hill Country Loop lets visitors get out and experience the state’s rural charm and natural beauty. The spring sees a burst of wildflowers and bluebonnets across the rolling hills. Although summer can be steamy, there are frequent places to stop for a dip, namely McKinney Falls State Park, Guadalupe River, and Blanco State Park. Other highlights include the Lyndon B. Johnson Historic Site and Gruene Hall , Texas’s longest-operating dance hall. The loop features sections with separated trails in the urban and suburban areas, while the rural stretches follow quieter county roads. 

Kingdom Trails

Rather than a single route, Kingdom Trails is an extensive network of recreation trails that collectively span more than 100 miles in northern Vermont. The rugged interior is excellent for mountain-biking, but there are family-friendly and beginner trails too. Both the Darling Hill and Moose Haven Forest trails feature more gradual terrain. A lift at Burke Mountain makes it easy for riders to speed downhill without a strenuous two-wheel ascent. Riders must purchase a membership to access the private trail system, which goes towards maintenance and conservation efforts. For optimum conditions, plan your visit between early summer and fall. 

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How to travel by bicycle in Russia: ideas and suggestions

• April 15, 2021
• Last updated: April 19, 2021
• Adventure , Destinations , Outdoor , Russia

Home » Travel Blog » How to travel by bicycle in Russia: ideas and suggestions

Day trips in Russia

Newcomers can test their “strength” on a one-day trip – the roads should not be complicated and the distances should not be too long. For first-time riders, study the route carefully, taking into account not only the length of the road, but also the conditions: there should be no long climbs and no high mountain passes. The flatter the road, the better. Do not ride close to crowded and busy large traffic lanes, even if conditions permit.  Also, make sure carry your Russian invitation letter with your visa . 

Route: Levutov – Pavlovsky town

Distance: 65 km

From Reutov (metro station “Novokosino”) outside Moscow, via Saltykovsk, Zheleznodorozhny, Fedurnovo, then turn to Biserovo, to Staraya Kupavna, then to Elektrostal via Ivashevo, and finally to Pavlovsky Posad via Subbotino, the intercity electric train This is a good route for newcomers to the town of Pavlovsky Posad (Vokhna or Pavlovsky Posad station).

This route is good for beginners: the terrain remains almost unchanged throughout the route. It’s mainly asphalt, but it’s quiet, with a rural landscape and few cars. Also, there are many intercity train stations along the way – if you get tired, you can take the train back to Moscow.

For the uninitiated, there are plenty of suitable roads around Moscow. The entire Moscow region is dotted with railway lines, so it is not necessary to make a circular route. You can take an intercity train to one station and back from another. There are many convenient route options around most Russian cities. You can make your own route, or take the advice of experienced travelers and use an already prepared route map.

Two-day trips in Russia

If you can travel 60-70 km per day, it’s no problem and you’ll be able to ride for two days. First of all, you need to solve your overnight problem: will you stay in a hotel, borrow a private house or pitch your own tent? Be sure to take the weather into account and take extra things that will keep you warm or heated.

When choosing your route, add some “hills” on the way, but not too steep.

Keep an eye on your bike. Ideally, it should be carefully checked and tested two days before departure; if you don’t know much about bike parts, you should have a full “car check” at a good mechanic’s shop to remove all faults in time.

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Route: ride along Nizhny Novgorod and rest on the Volga

Distance: 140 km

This is a self-guided route with picturesque Volga forests, where you will have to pitch a tent on the road overnight. You don’t have to think about the schedule of electric trains or buses, even if you are delayed on the way, don’t worry.

From Nizhny Novgorod, you will pass through the town of Bor (you can cross the Volga by cable car). Next, head to Ivanovskoye. On the way, note the unique, interlocking bi-level railroad: it is no longer in use, but the original structure is still there. Then go in the direction of Yurasovo, where you will turn to Maloye Utkino, then to Beryozovka, to Vypolzovo, then to the Volga River, to Apraksino, passing through the hill fortress with its ancient earthen embankment. Hillfort, which retains its ancient earthen berm.

After that, follow Orlovo, Belkino, Yamnovo, Zavrazhnoye, Selishi. After passing through Zhukovka, you can go straight through the forest to the bank of the Volga River and find a place to pitch your tent.

The next day, go in the direction of Pumra, then through Vagankovo, Orekhovo, Markovo, turn left at Matveyevka, go to Vatoma, then through Put’kovo and back to the banks of the Volga, then to the town of Pol, and then to Nizhny Novgorod.

There are many suitable two-day rides in the Volga Valley, around the Voronezh region, around the cities along the Golden Ring and in the Crimean steppe.

Multi-day rides in Russia

Riding for several days in a row is a very serious matter and you need to be physically prepared. For the first time, choose a route that is not too difficult and not extreme, because riding a few days in a row is not at all the same as riding 100 km in a week. Please estimate that it is more comfortable to travel 70-80 km per day on the plains and with much less hills.

Check to see if there are any settlements along the way – it depends on whether you’ll be carrying a lot of food, or if you can buy all your food along the way. But whenever and wherever you go, make sure you have drinking water on you. Please do not forget to constantly replenish your supplies and have an emergency reserve – about 1.5 liters of water per person. 

Route: “Crimean coast: from Kerch to Alushta”

Distance: 270 km , 5-7 days

We have intentionally divided the trip on this route into several days, as it depends a lot on your fitness and desire to visit the sights – which will be seen on the way, and quite a lot of them. There will be some mountain passes – if you feel tired as you pass them, it is always possible to set up camp early and prepare for an overnight stay. Almost the entire road runs along the coastline. If you don’t want to pitch a tent, you can easily find a place to spend the night in the resort.

Get off the ferry to Kerch and head directly to the Feodossia steppe. Pass through the town of Ordzhonikidze and head to Koktebel. Be prepared for a long and tiring uphill climb. If you don’t want to tire yourself out that much, then sacrifice some of the scenic views and take a different route – along the Simferopol highway.

From Koktebeli there is a difficult mountain road leading to Sudak. The strongest will can cycle to the town of “Novyi Svit” in one day, while the rest of the people should go to the village of Morske and then to Alushta via Rybache and Malorichens’ke. From Alushta, you can take a bicycle and a trolleybus to Simferopol, from where you can return by plane or return to Kerch by bus or taxi.

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• Published: April 15, 2021

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Exploring Oregon by car, train, bus or bicycle

Apr 17, 2024 • 4 min read

Join locals on the trail on a bikepacking trip in Oregon © Sawaya Photography / Getty Images

Oregon is a big state with a lot of scenery, from towering forests that have stood for centuries to long stretches of windswept coastline offering head-turning views at every bend. While parts of the state – particularly cities and larger towns – are pedestrian-friendly, you’ll need a good transportation strategy to see the best of the state.

Here’s what you need to know before deciding how to get around Oregon .

Go by train to focus on the scenery

If you want to sit back and enjoy the view, or are simply looking for an eco-friendly alternative to driving, you can't beat seeing Orgeon by train. Amtrak runs two lines through the state: the Coast Starlight and the Amtrak Cascades . The former connects Seattle to  Los Angeles , cutting across Oregon along the way. This line calls at Portland , Salem, Albany, Eugene, Chemult (near Crater Lake ) and Klamath Falls before crossing into California . The Amtrak Cascades follows a similar trajectory from Portland, but only goes as far as Eugene, making it a great option for Willamette Valley sightseeing, but less than ideal if you want to cover the whole state. When it comes to checking out the scenery, the Coast Starlight has an advantage, as it features two levels of seating and an observation car with enormous windows.

Explore by car for maximum flexibility

Oregon is huge, and not all of it is connected by public transportation, especially once you get out of the larger cities. The best way to maximize your time here is by renting a car (or a van or RV) and exploring independently. If you come between October and May, be prepared for the possibility of snow when crossing higher-elevation areas, especially if you’re traveling east of Interstate 5 (I-5), the West Coast’s main north-to-south artery. Forest fires in the summer occasionally also cause road closures. For up-to-date information, consult the Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck tool .  

These road trips will take you to all the highlights in Oregon .

Travel like a local and go by bike

Oregonians love their bicycles, and if you’re an experienced cyclist who doesn’t mind traveling light, you can see a lot of the state on two wheels. Quite a few Oregon hotels offer bike storage (some will even let you take your bike into your room), and hiker/biker camping is offered in many of Oregon's state parks on a first-come, first-served basis. Plenty of designated Scenic Bikeways across the state have been mapped out to give cyclists of varying levels of experience a taste of Oregon's celebrated scenery.

Save money, but not time, by taking the bus

If you have plenty of time but a tight budget, get around Oregon by long-distance bus. Greyhound offers the most routes through the state, with service up and down I-5, to Central Oregon destinations such as Bend , and onwards to remote parts of Eastern Oregon. German long-distance bus company FlixBus , who acquired Greyhound in 2021, also takes travelers between major Oregon cities and beyond in their FlixBus-branded fleet.

9 things you need to know before you go to Oregon .

Accessible transportation in Oregon

Designated parking for travelers with disabilities is available throughout the state, and permits are available for people with limited mobility, visual disabilities and certain conditions that make it difficult to walk more than 200 feet (as well as for their designated drivers). Trains and long-distance buses also have accessible facilities, including wheelchair lifts, where needed. The Oregon Department of Transportation publishes an  accessibility travel guide for wheelchair users highlighting outdoor destinations with accessible trails and restrooms.  

Oregon transportation FAQs and things to consider

Is parking widely available in oregon  .

Yes, parking is widely available in Oregon and it’s often completely free. Larger cities, including Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend, Medford and Hood River have metered parking in some areas.

How do I pay for tolls in Oregon?

You don’t! While there have been pushes to start using a toll system in parts of Oregon, the state is currently toll-road-free. The only exception is on the Bridge of the Gods and the Hood River Bridge, both of which charge visitors to cross over the Columbia River from Oregon to the neighboring state of Washington (or vice versa).

Where are the major airports in Oregon located?  

Oregon's biggest airport is Portland International Airport (PDX), and this is where most visitors fly. Other commercial airports in the state include the Eugene Airport (EUG) and the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR).

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So You Want to Plan a Cycling Vacation?

There are more cyclists on the road than ever before. here’s what you need to know before you roll..

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The Biking Boom

As we cycled through a year of pandemic living, one silver lining emerged: the freedom two wheels provided..

Sure, we might’ve been stuck in a world without travel, but a bike could offer fresh air, social distancing, and much-needed endorphins to ward off the pandemic blues (some of them, anyway). Suddenly, it seemed, everyone was buying a bike. Bike sales increased 200 percent in just the first few months of the pandemic, with “anything under $600 . . . just flying out,” Outside reported in January 2021. (Even more than a year after the first shelter-in-place orders were initiated, bikes, and bike parts, are still in short supply.) As we begin to emerge from our collective cocoons, interest in taking those bikes on longer journeys is also spiking—outfitters we interviewed are reporting record increases in cycling trips (and hiking trips, natch), especially U.S.- based routes.

This boom comes on the heels of more than three decades of investment in rails-to-trails throughout the United States, which means there are more possibilities than ever for multiday trips, whether you want to tackle a short overnight or a months-long, cross-country trail. Wondering where to start? You don’t have to be a spandex-clad, Tour de France type to enjoy the freedom of the open road. Here, everything to know about planning a cycling trip, whether you want to plan your own or turn over the reins, whether you’re a first-timer who wants to crash in cushy hotels or an experienced bike-packer looking for a new challenge.

How to Prep

Photo by David Marcu/Unsplash

First step? Just get out there.

It’s easy to fall into a rabbit hole of route planning and gear buying when it comes to bike touring. One thing all the experts agree on? Don’t overthink it.

You want to be adequately prepared—see below—and have a general sense of what you might encounter along the way, but “just taking that first multiday trip or even really long one-day ride will open up so much opportunity,” says Ted King , a retired pro cyclist. “It is a fun adventure just waiting to happen and you’re going to learn so quickly. Just start doing it.”

How do I decide on the trip and route that are right for me?

First, decide if you want to plan your own trip or if you’d like to join a guided trip. (If you’re interested in the latter, check out our guide to the best cycling outfitters .) If you want to go your own way, consider your fitness and experience levels, as well as the season and amount of time you want to devote to the trip.

Never done a multiday ride before? Start super small. Book a hotel or an Airbnb in a destination 10 to 20 miles away, pack a small bag, and cycle to your overnight .

Interested in camping—and therefore carrying the necessary gear (also known also bike-packing)? Or would you prefer to pack a little lighter and stay in hotels, inns, and Airbnbs along the way? If you’re not a camper, or don’t want to deal with carrying so much gear, choose a route that passes through more civilization. The Eastern Seaboard is a great place for this—especially Maine and Vermont—given the density, you can’t throw a bike shoe without hitting a cute little town with all the amenities you need. Socially inclined cyclists can also check out Warmshowers , a community of touring cyclists who act as hosts to other touring cyclists.

Rest days are crucial when bike-touring.

Photo by Sunrise Hunter/Shutterstock

How many miles a day should I ride?

Daily mileage depends on many factors, including your fitness and experience levels, the terrain (are there mad hills, or is it relatively flat?), and how much weight you’re carrying. If you’re new to bike touring, even if you’re a fairly experienced cyclist, consider trips that average no more than 30 to 40 miles per day so as to preserve your most critical resource: your body.

And don’t forget to take rest days! This is vacation, after all. In addition to giving your body—especially your legs—a break, rest days offer time to explore your destination, rather than just pedal past it. Park yourself in a campsite or hotel for a day or two and explore the city or town or take shorter daily rides.

“Distance is not as important as the journey,” says Analise Cleopatra, a filmmaker and relatively new mountain biker who made a documentary of her first bike-packing trip in 2019. “You don’t need to compete—just make sure you’re with people who are on the same wavelength and, you know, explore!”

How do I get my bike there?

Getting wheels where they need to go boils down to three options.

RENTING A BIKE This works well for first-timers, those who aren’t picky about their bikes, and/or those who choose a route in a cycling center such as Colorado or Northern California where there are high-end bike shops with decent rentals. It’s easier, too (no need to break down, ship, and rebuild your bike) though it can be more expensive. Rates vary, but a road bike rental can run you anywhere from $300 to $600 (or more) for a week in popular cycling states like California, Colorado, and Vermont.

SHIPPING YOUR BIKE This is the most popular option, currently, among cyclists we interviewed. BikeFlights has become the go-to company for all bikes, including e-bikes. Rates vary widely based on box size, weight, distance, and shipping speed, but if you shipped your bike from San Francisco to New York City, for example, in one of BikeFlights’ medium boxes, which fit most road and gravel bikes, you’d likely pay $83, excluding protection. (The company recommends buying protection to cover the market value of your bike.) You can also ship through Overnight Bikes , ShipBikes , as well as directly through FedEx and UPS, though you will likely pay more booking directly through the latter two.

The main challenge? You need to plan for this as it can take up to six days to ship a bike cross-country , though BikeFlights recommends building in extra time in the COVID era. Plus, you need to have somewhere to ship it. The pros recommend shipping your wheels to a bike shop in your destination (make sure you call to let them know in advance) and paying them to build your bike for you. Expect to pay at least $50 for this service. You can also take your wheels to a local bike shop and have them disassemble and pack it—BikeFlights can pick up directly from the shop.

FLYING WITH YOUR BIKE Alaska and Delta are among the most bike-friendly airlines. Alaska waives the oversize baggage fee and allows bikes to be checked as standard baggage . Delta also counts bikes as standard baggage . Southwest and United, however, charge higher fees: Southwest charges a bike fee of $75 each way , while JetBlue charges $100 each way, and United charges a flat bike fee of $150 each way for domestic flights. Keep in mind that e-bikes, which are powered by lithium batteries, are prohibited on all airlines.

Photo by Coen van de Broek/Unsplash

How should I train?

It depends on the length and nature of your trip. If you’re doing a short trip (less than three days) through terrain that’s not hugely demanding, there’s no need to map out an arduous training plan, pretrip. In fact, if you’re cycling regularly—at least two or three days a week—and can ride for an hour or more, you’re ready for a low-mileage overnight trip. In addition to building endurance, the most important thing to do is “condition” your butt to prevent saddle sore.

If you’re ramping up for a multiweek or multimonth trip that doesn’t take place on extreme terrain—and have been riding your bike regularly—you can use your trip to train, says Dan Meyer, deputy editor for Adventure Cyclist magazine. For example, ride 10 to 20 miles the first day and see how you feel. Ride 30 miles the next day and 35 to 40 the following day. “That requires some planning ahead of time to make sure that you have facilities and campsites and hotels that are at those distances along the way, ” Meyer says, “but it helps you get in shape more, instead of trying to go 80 miles on the first day and wearing yourself out.” (If you’re tackling an intense trail or just want more structure, Adventure Cycling has put together a 12-week training program .)

The more critical part of preparation is to understand how your bike handles when you’re carrying gear.

“A lot of people get to the start of their big route—this bike trip they’ve been dreaming of doing for years and they start pedaling and they’re like, ‘Holy crap, I’ve never ridden my bike with all this weight on it before,’ ” Meyer says.

He recommends practicing packing your bike , to make sure you’re packing efficiently, that the weight is balanced, and you can get to essential things (maps, food, water, etc.) quickly. Once you’ve done that, “take it out for a quick little 5- to 10-mile ride and just get used to how it handles, because it will handle quite a bit differently,” he says.

Essential Gear

Photo by Skylines/Shutterstock

Bike camping gear

Big Agnes Tiger Wall Bikepacking Tent The Big Agnes Tiger Wall tent is designed for bike-packing. Weighing in at just under three pounds, it’s super lightweight yet still provides protection and warmth when you’re out in the elements. The tent also includes tent poles that are shorter (12 inches) than normal, which makes them easier to attach to your handlebars, frame, or elsewhere on your bike. The stuff sack includes straps that are technically designed to attach to your handlebar bag, though using the recommended setup can be a little cramped on narrower, designed-for-women handlebars—most women should be able to move the poles to their frame.

It also includes loops to hang wet clothes on the outer rainfly, a generous vestibule area, and lots of pockets so you don’t have to sleep on top of your bike bags. Lastly, Big Agnes uses an ecofriendly dye process to reduce the amount of water that goes into making these tents.

>>>Buy now: $450 (two people), backcountry.com ; $499 (three people), backcountry.com

Snow Peak LiteMax Stove You have to pack light while bike-packing, which is why the compact, 1.9 ounce, Snow Peak LiteMax Stove is one of the best options for your bike-camping kitchen kit. It’s tiny but mighty and will last for years. Pair with an MSR Alpine StowAway pot (the stove fits inside even the smallest pot), a good knife, fuel, and a spork to complete your kit.

>>>Buy now: $60, amazon.com

Cotopaxi’s Bataan is an affordable fanny pack option.

Photo courtesy of Cotopaxi

Bags and carrying

Outer Shell bags The bike-obsessed team behind Outer Shell makes a variety of high-quality bike bags—handmade in San Francisco—for all types of cycling adventures, whether you’re roughing it on a backcountry gravel ride or trying to cart a bottle of pinot noir back to your hotel room after a day of riding in Napa. Almost all of its bags are designed to expand for optimal versatility and are either waterproof or water resistant.

For shorter rides, or for those who are embarking on a supported ride and don’t need to carry a lot, the Stem Caddy ($60) is a great choice. It can comfortably fit your phone, wallet, and all your essentials, or an entire bottle of wine. For longer rides or if you just want more space, Outer Shell’s seatpacks ($145–$150) can fit just about everything you’d need for an overnight. They’re also a nice alternative to panniers, since they won’t create an imbalance and can fit on any bike, no bike rack required.

>>>Buy now: Stem caddy, ($60 outershell.com ); Seatpacks ($145-$150, outershell.com )

Fanny/hip bag Skip the backpack (it’ll make you sweat like crazy) and, instead, use a fanny/hip bag while you ride (all the cool kids are doing it). Outer Shell has an excellent waterproof and expandable one, but I also like the compact Axis bag by Mission Workshop ($130, missionworkshop.com ), which was made with cyclists in mind. Cotopaxi’s Bataan ($30, cotopaxi.com ) is another, more affordable option, packed with organizational features and made from fabric remnants.

>>>Buy now: Cotopaxi Battan, ($30 cotopaxi.com ); Axis bag ($130, missionworkshop.com )

Photo courtesy of Velocio

Bike shorts by Velocio Padded bike shorts are essential on any long bike ride, but bike bibs—which are essentially padded, bike short “overalls” that don’t cut into your waist the way regular shorts would—are extra comfortable. There are tons of great brands in the world of cycling clothing, but Velocio is an AFAR favorite. Not only does it excel at making high-quality bike clothes with simple-yet-stylish designs, but its bike bibs also come with one crucial, lady-friendly feature: Its patent- pending FlyFree design means their bike bibs are stretchy enough to pull down for a pee-break, without having to remove your jersey, helmet, glasses . . . basically getting naked.

>>>Buy now: Signature Bike Short, $229, velocio.cc

Other great brands to check out for bike shorts, jerseys, and jackets include Machines for Freedom (ladies only), Castelli , and Rapha .

A bike computer is an essential part of a bike-touring.

A bike computer is an essential part of a bike-touring kit.

Photo by fotoliza/Shutterstock

Tools and other bike essentials

Paceline Products Chamois Butt’r Her’ There’s no way around it: If you’re spending several long days in the saddle, you need to take care of your butt. A good bike seat and shorts are the foundation of butt-on-bike-comfort, but consider packing some chamois cream, which soothes chaffed or irritated skin, as well. We like Butt’r Her’, a non-greasy formula made from natural ingredients like aloe vera and shea butter and designed and pH-balanced with female cyclists in mind.

>>>Buy now: $18, rei.com

Wahoo Elemnt Bolt bike computer One word: reliable. The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt is GPS-powered and can display maps for directions along with helpful data like the gradient of the road and weather and wind conditions. It has all the features to connect to your heart monitor and power meter, and it can sync with tracking apps like Strava so you can monitor your performance as well.

>>>Buy now: $230, backcountry.com

Bike tools (and skills) You’ll want to carry some basic tools and know how to change a tire and how to adjust your brakes. Park Tool makes a great hex wrench set and offers detailed videos on everything from how to change a tire to how to adjust your shifting.

>>>Buy now: Park hex wrench set, $24, backcountry.com

Bike pump When it comes to portable bike pumps, cyclists were once limited to CO2 or hand pumps. A CO2 pump is small, fast, and compact, but single use. (It uses a cartridge attached to the head of a small nozzle to quickly inflate a tire.) Though reliable and reusable, hand pumps can be a 15-minute arm workout as your friends wait impatiently for you, and they’re not as compact. But what about a hand pump that can also use a CO2 cartridge, offering both speed and reliability? Well, it’s 2021 and that now exists with a few brands.

>>>Buy now: Silca Tattico Mini Pump ($65, competitivecyclist.com ); PDW Ninja pump ($35, ridepdw.com )

Bike lights Although you may not be doing much riding after dark, lights can help you see and be seen—whether it’s on a foggy morning or helping drivers spot you as you move in and out of shadows. For lights, you want 500+ lumens for front and 50–100 lumens in the rear. Different blink patterns are a plus as well to help drivers see you.

>>>Buy now: Vis 360 Pro Helmet light by Light & Motion ($130, lightandmotion.com , rei.com ); Vis 1000 Trooper handlebar light by Light & Motion ($90, lightandmotion.com , amazon.com )

Snacks! A lot of new cyclists forget: You have to eat to avoid “bonking,” (the sudden loss of energy that can occur following a long ride). Pack an RX bar or two, or even a plain ol’ banana, to keep your energy up for several hours on the road.

Products we write about are independently vetted and recommended by our editors. AFAR may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which helps support our independent publication.

U.S. Routes

Great Divide photo by Jacinta Creten/Adventure Cycling Association

There are thousands upon thousands of bike trails in the United States with more, it seems, being added each year.

One big route in the works: The Great American Rail-Trail , which when completed, will stretch 3,700 miles from coast to coast. This list is by no means extensive—but it is a place to begin. For a look at more U.S. long-distance routes, check out the interactive map from Adventure Cycling Association, the 45-year-old organization responsible for some of the country’s greatest routes.

The Olympic Discovery Trail , Washington 130 miles

Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is the stuff of legends: Just west of Seattle, the stretch of land (home to Olympic National Park) offers quaint seaside towns, ethereal rain forest, waterfalls, and at the far western edge, the wild Pacific Ocean. On the 130-mile Olympic Discovery Trail—half of which is a dedicated multiuse path—cyclists can see, smell, and hear it all. The route begins in Port Townsend at the northeastern tip of the peninsula and ends at the coastal town of La Push. Camp or stay in lodges and hotels along the way.

Natchez Trace Parkway , Mississippi and Tennessee 444 miles

This National Park Service–designated trail stretches from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi, roughly tracing a 10,000-year-old route originally used by Native Americans ( the path once connected the Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Natchez tribes ). Travelers will pass through forests and farmland, witnessing creeks and numerous historical markers along the way. While cyclists do share the road with cars, speeds are low and traffic is relatively light. The route is great for cyclists looking for relatively flat terrain and cozy inns, but there are also more than a dozen campgrounds along the route, for those who prefer the freedom of a tent.

The Underground Railroad , Alabama to Ontario, Canada 1,997 miles

Beginning in Mobile, Alabama, and ending in Owen Sound, Ontario, the Underground Railroad follows the eponymous route used by freedom seekers from the late 18th century until the Civil War. Cyclists can tackle sections of the route or the entire length . The route traces rivers, winds through sleepy towns, and passes by numerous historical markers and sites that honor Black Americans’ struggles for freedom.

The Great Divide , Canada to New Mexico 2,696 miles

Don’t be alarmed by the sheer mileage of this route, which traces the Continental Divide and takes place primarily on dirt or gravel roads and trails—a playground for mountain bikers. Most cyclists tackle sections of the Great Divide, with the 700-mile Montana section among the most popular. Expect solitude, wildlife, and epic runs through pristine forest. Although the trail does pass through small towns, it’s best for those who are interested in camping for at least part of the route.

The East Coast Greenway , Maine to Florida 3,000 miles

Once the entire 3,000-mile route is completed, you’ll be able to hike or bike on protected paths through 15 states and 450 cities and towns, which is the entire point: to connect the nation’s “most populated corridor.” Launched by the nonprofit East Coast Greenway Alliance in 1991, the corridor is 35 percent complete , with 1,000 miles of protected paths between Maine and Florida. The remainder of the trail is on-road (so yes, you could complete the entire route now ). Some campgrounds are available, but the route is best for those who want to crash in hotels, motels, or in homes via Warmshowers.

The Southern Tier , California to Florida 3,022 miles

Tour the entirety of the southern section of the United States—passing through such states as Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida—or just tackle a section of the fascinating route. The Southern Tier begins in San Diego, winding through desert and the Algodones Dunes Wilderness Area, and ends in the 400-year-old town of St. Augustine, Florida. Ideal for those who prefer motels and hotels to camping.

Guided Trips

Photos courtesy of Backroads and Lamar Sellers/Shutterstock

For those who want the thrill of the open road without the headache of planning their own trip—and hauling their own gear—here are some of AFAR’s favorite cycling outfitters.

Many of these companies now offer e-bikes, making cycling tours more accessible

BACKROADS Berkeley-based Backroads has been leading fantastic small-group hiking, cycling, and other adventure-oriented tours since 1979. Cycling trips take place on custom-built titanium bikes, lodging ranges from small luxury ships (imagine cycling beside and sailing down the Danube ) to five-star hotels, and the food is as finely crafted as the routes. This year, watch for new U.S.-based trips like a five-day cycling tour of the Hudson River Valley, as well as weekend or long weekend getaways in Aspen’s glacial valleys and Texas Hill Country .

ADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION Long known for its stellar long-distance routes, the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association , which began in 1976, is responsible for mapping out some of the country’s quintessential bike routes, including the 4,218-mile TransAmerica Trail . During the pandemic, the organization launched its Short Trips Initiative , a series of shorter guided trips in eight metropolitan areas, including Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Atlanta. Adventure Cycling expects to release route maps for self-guided versions of the tours in summer 2021.

VBT BICYCLING VACATIONS A two-time AFAR Travelers’ Awards winner , Vermont-based VBT Bicycling Vacations has crafted cycling trips for more than 50 years that include accommodations, luggage transfer, and most meals. It also offers self-guided trips. Pick from one of many New England–based tours or VBT’s national park tours, including a six-day Grand Teton and Yellowstone route .

WOMANTOURS Run by women and geared toward women, WomanTours has been leading cycling trips since 1995. Accommodations focus on smaller inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and in national parks, cabins and lodges. New U.S. routes include an eight-day tour of Alaska’s Inside Passage and a six-day tour of Oregon’s Roses, Rivers, and Rail Trails . Also new for 2021: a 25-day ride along section three (Kansas to Kentucky) of the cross-county TransAmerica route.

DUVINE With its focus on luxury and tapping into the local flavor of a destination, DuVine takes travelers into the heart of a place. The company’s trips range from those geared to avid cyclists looking for a new adventure to family-friendly to rides tailored to all ages. And, like many other outfitters, it offers several new domestic adventures, including a five-day art- and food-focused cycling tour of Santa Fe and Taos .

REI ADVENTURES Another AFAR Travelers’ Awards winner , REI Adventures recently discontinued its international trips to focus on building U.S.-based itineraries. No surprise, then, that the company will offer a bevy of national park trips with varied activities: rafting, kayaking, hiking, and yes, cycling. Cyclists, check out the new Joshua Tree weekend trip or a seven-day tour of Moab, Arches, and Grand Junction .

Notes From the Road

A little inspiration to hit the road, from those who have been there..

We spoke to variety of cyclists—from a relative newbie to people who make their living on two wheels—to share the wonders of exploring the world via your own power.

Photos by Alisa Geiser

Analise Cleopatra on the thrill of her first-ever bike-packing trip

“I’ve never done anything like that—I’d never even camped before that trip [along the Three Sisters, Three Rivers route in Oregon]. Just being out in the woods and open . . . you’re definitely at the mercy of the elements. But being there with Dej’uanae [Toliver], who I had known for a while, and Brooklyn [Bell, a pro mountain biker] who I had just met, definitely made a difference. I was anxious about ‘completing’ the ride, which is not something that I felt like I needed to do, but it felt like to some people the value of the ride was how far you could go. Later, I realized I’m not this person, I just want to bike and see these waterfalls and paint pictures and get to know these girls , you know? There’s so much elitism in the sport, but I think there’s definitely space for people who just want to explore and yes, challenge and push our bodies, but the point is not the pain.

“The terrain was very, very diverse the first couple of days. In the beginning, where we started near Caldera [Springs], it was very redwood-y with mulchy ground, but once we went past Suttle Lodge , it got really arid and there were a lot of dead trees. And then it got really lush around Big Lake. . . . Then it got very, very sandy. Once we got through the desert-like part, once we got to the Mackenzie River Trail it was so beautiful, just riverside the whole time. There were so many waterfalls. We [followed the Mackenzie River Trail] until we got to Oakridge and then there was a lot of climbing. That felt more hardcore: The last couple of days it was very rainy so it was pretty wet and muddy, which was fine—it was just a little cold and a little scary going downhill.

“[I have so much] gratitude for the opportunity to enter this world, because people don’t knowwhat they are missing out on. Hopefully the film inspires people who, like me, never would have gone camping by themselves. Find a buddy to go with and enter this world because it’s incredibly nourishing and healing just to be able to go out in nature to learn what your body is capable of and see the stars in their full capacity.”

Analise Cleopatra is a Florida-based filmmaker who made a documentary, Pedal Through, of her first-ever bike-packing trip in 2019 to inspire other newcomers to pick up a bike. Her next trip? The backroads of Georgia.

Photo by Mike Dicken/Adventure Cycling Association

Adventure Cycling Association’s Dan Meyer on the wildness of the Great Divide

“I’ve been dying to ride the entire Great Divide route for a while now, and I still hope to do it soon. A couple of years ago, I rode a [Montana] section of the Great Divide from Whitefish to Missoula. I did it by myself—it was a quick three-day thing. My now-wife and I had done a weekend loop north of Whitefish, and then she had to get back to work. She left me in Whitefish and I just rode myself back to Missoula. It was everything I was hoping for. It was gorgeous, it was quiet, there was nobody around. It’s just such beautiful terrain up there.

“You ride through a lot of dense forest on these rocky dirt roads—motorized vehicles are allowed but you don’t really see them for the most part. It’s just you spinning along, catching glimpses of wildlife. You get that nice, piney, fresh mountain air, you see a lot of alpine lakes and snow-covered peaks. I was going southbound and I did run into a few people riding northbound, but it was less than a handful. It’s the route for people who want to experience solitude in nature. There are other routes you can do where you’ll get to meet a lot of new people and have a lot of social interaction, but the Great Divide route, for the most part, is not going to be like that. It does pass through small towns and you’ll get to meet people in grocery stores and markets and campgrounds, but when you’re out on the road, it’s probably going to be just you, which I really enjoyed.”

Utah-based Dan Meyer, an avid mountain biker, is deputy editor of Adventure Cyclist magazine , published nine times a year as part of the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association.

Photos by Rolf_52/Shutterstock and courtesy of Pete Stetina

Pro cyclist Pete Stetina on the beauty of Sonoma County’s endless backroads

“Sonoma County has a pretty storied cycling history. This is a place that a lot of the pro teams would have their early season camps in the earlier days. It’s unique because there are so many little backroads that twist and turn and snake—for every main artery that a lot of people drive to commute, there are four or five alternative options.

“As a pro, when I am here training, preparing for the world’s biggest races, I can pick and choose any direction pretty much and always keep it fresh. There are hundreds of thousands of possibilities. I can hit those rolling pastureland Petaluma hills toward the south and hit the coast. In West County you’re talking Jurassic Park–size redwood trees and ferns and just deep woods, moist redwood forest groves and then [you’ll reach] the coast. Up north, you even start to get into Lake County and that’s more like a dry alpine feeling, almost a Colorado feeling, with a lot more pine trees. Then you have all the vineyards and you have a whole big mountain range called the Mayacamas that borders Sonoma and Napa County [and it has] a bunch of huge climbs.

“If you are an advanced enough rider, one quintessential rugged Sonoma County route is the West County Highlight. It’s a very hard ride that includes some very tough climbs, [but also] some amazing vistas, some rugged backroads. You’re gonna hit every microclimate you can think of in one four- to five-hour ride. I’m talking urban and then redwoods and then riverfront and then coastal and then redwoods again and then oak forest, all of that. If you’re passing through the vineyards, a lot of the time, you’ll smell the fermentation, you’re going to smell the grapes being crushed and a little bit of that alcoholic perfume in the air and then you’re going to get into the redwoods and that deep mossy moist air. The coast is real stinky in a good way. And then there are all these little eclectic artist communities that have bakeries and coffee shops.

“There’s not a lot of fake [in Sonoma County]. Everyone’s kind of content doing them and you’re doing you and we’re a part of this community together, which is really nice. It’s definitely the people and the extracurricular possibilities outside of cycling that have kept me there and kept me happy. It’s one of the easiest places in the world to do my job.”

Pete Stetina is a pro cyclist based in Sonoma County who switched to gravel and adventure racing in 2019. In March 2021, he partnered with the Sonoma-based Piazza Hospitality to offer cycling packages to hotel guests at Hotel Healdsburg , h2hotel , and Harmon Guest House that range from customized routes to the Pro Cycling Experience package , which includes a private, guided ride with Pete. For each package booking, the partnership will provide a bicycle, helmet, lock, and (when they’re happening again) a bike camp adventure to an at-risk kid through the B-Rad Foundation , a Sonoma-based nonprofit.

Photo by Felix Lipov/Shutterstock

Pro cyclist Ted King on Vermont’s picturesque 200-on-100 route

“I’m in Vermont and there’s a cool route called the 200-on-100 and that refers to the 200 miles that spans the length of Vermont, from Canada to Massachusetts, and the route is entirely on Route 100. A lot of people will do it in one day . That said, it would also make for a really nice two-day trip or stretch it out and make it a three-day trip.

“At the beginning, you are literally at the Canadian border and that portion of Vermont is called the Northeast Kingdom. It’s just out there, it is rural, it is rolling pastureland, you can see mountains in the distance. The route is entirely paved and sort of inadvertently becomes a tour of Vermont’s ski towns. You’re going to go through Stowe and you go by Sugarbush and Mad River and you go right by Killington, you go by Mount Snow. It’s a relatively rolling route. There are no real extended climbs, except two, but over the course of a 200-mile ride they are relatively spread out.

“Detour off the route and find an Airbnb or a restaurant or brewery, all the things Vermont is well known for. . . . You’ll go directly by Lassen’s Finest Liquids in the town of Waitsfield, Vermont. Among beer nerds, their stuff is extraordinary. They’re a cycling friendly brewery and brewhouse—they just came out with Single Sip, [which is] absolutely delicious, and their double IPA is called Sip of Sunshine. It’s relatively early in the ride, so you might not want to have too much of that. But as you’re dividing [the route] up into a multiday trip, it might work out perfectly.”

Ted King is a retired pro cyclist who loves Vermont’s ubiquitous gravel roads. So much so that in 2019, he launched Rooted Vermont , a two-course (pick between 45 and 85 miles) ride, which is taking place for the second year from July 30 to August 1, 2021.

Jessie Beck contributed to the reporting of this story.

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Iran missile and drone attack on Israel – what we know so far

Israel’s military has reported minor damage after Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles towards it late on Saturday

• Iran attack on Israel – live updates
• Full report: Iran launches drones and cruise missiles against Israel

Iran launched hundreds of drones as well as cruise missiles towards Israel , in the Islamic Republic’s first ever direct attack on the Jewish state, in response to the 1 April strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which killed a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards and eight other officers.

Benny Gantz, a member of the war cabinet, said that Israel will exact a price from Iran in response to its mass missile and drone attack when the time is right. His comments came ahead of a war cabinet meeting alongside Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

Tehran has warned it will strike again with greater force if Israel or the US retaliate for the Iranian strike on Israel by more 300 drones and missiles on Saturday night. The air raids , the Islamic Republic’s first ever direct attack on the Israeli state, brought a years-long shadow war into the open and threatened to draw the region into a broader conflagration as Israel said it was considering its response.

However, the attack, mostly launched from inside Iran, caused only modest damage in Israel as most were shot down with the help of the US, Britain and Jordan. An air force base in southern Israel was hit, but continued to operate as normal and a seven-year-old child was seriously hurt by shrapnel. There were no other reports of serious damage. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said that 99% of the launches had been intercepted.

Most of the Iranian drones flying over Syria’s airspace during Tehran’s strikes overnight were downed by Israeli and US jets before reaching their targets in Israel, two western intelligence sources told Reuters .

The UN security council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday at the request of Israel’s ambassador to the UN, the council’s president said in a statement.

Iran informed Turkey in advance of its planned operation against Israel, a Turkish diplomatic source has told Reuters . The source also said that the US conveyed to Iran via Ankara that its operation must be “within certain limits”. These reports come after Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian , said in a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran that Iran had informed the US that its attacks against Israel will be “limited” and for self-defence only.

John Kirby, the White House’s top national security spokesperson, told ABC’s This Week programme on Sunday that the US will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war with Iran. “We don’t seek escalated tensions in the region. We don’t seek a wider conflict,” Kirby said. News outlet Axios reported that Joe Biden , the US president, had told Netanyahu that he would oppose an Israeli counterattack against Iran and that the prime minister should “take the win”.

UK Royal Air Force fighter jets and refuelling aircraft were also involved in Israel’s defence, taking off from bases in Cyprus. Their role, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, was to fill in for the US air force in the sorties against Islamic State normally carried out over Iraq and north-eastern Syria, but also to intercept Iranian drones if they came into the UK area of operations.

World leaders have condemned Iran’s attack, with regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Egypt calling for restraint. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said: “I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”

Jordan’s prime minister, Bisher Khasawneh , warned that any escalation in the region would lead to “dangerous paths”, joining a chorus of condemnation from world leaders to the attack. Other countries including the UK, Spain, the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and China, have called for restraint amid fears of a regional escalation of conflict across the Middle East. Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned the ambassadors of the UK , France , and Germany to question what it referred to as their “irresponsible stance” regarding Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, the semi-official Iranian Labour news agency reported .

Major airlines across the Middle East, including Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways , announced they would resume some of their operations in the region after cancelling or rerouting some flights in response to Iran’s attack on Israel. Israel said it had reopened its airspace as of 7:30am local time on Sunday morning, with Beirut airport also reopening this morning. Several Iranian airports, including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International, however, have cancelled flights until Monday.

• Middle East and north Africa
• US military

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See how the reverse distance goes.

Philadelphia — Elektrostal distance, route on the map

• Route on the map

Distance by plane

Flight time, direction of movement, difference in time, interesting facts.

• What to see?

The cost of travel

Distance by car.

Distance between Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, United States and Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation by car is — km , or miles. To travel this distance by car, you need minute, or h.

Route on the map, driving directions

Car route Philadelphia — Elektrostal was created automatically. The road on the map is shown as a blue line. By moving the markers, you can create a new route through the points you need.

If you decide to take a trip Philadelphia Elektrostal by plane, then you have to fly the distance — 7676 km or 4759 miles. It is marked on the map with a gray line (between two points in a straight line).

Estimated flight time Philadelphia Elektrostal by plane at cruising speed 750 km / h will be — 10 h. and 14 min.

United States, Philadelphia — right-hand traffic. Russian Federation, Elektrostal — right-hand traffic.

Philadelphia and Elektrostal are in different time zones. The time difference is 7 hours (UTC -4 America/New_York, UTC +3 Europe/Moscow).

Information on alternative ways to get to your destination.

The length of this distance is about 19.2% of the total length of the equator.

The percentage of the population is clearly shown in the graph:

Philadelphia — 1,453,268, Elektrostal — 144,389 residents (less by 1,308,879).

Calculate the cost of the trip yourself using the fuel consumption calculator, changing the data in the table.

Calculate the cost of other distances from the starting point — Philadelphia.

Elektrostal, Russian Federation, what to see?