Embarking on a bike tour is an incredible way to see the world, challenge yourself, and experience freedom on two wheels. You might be thinking you can just grab any old bike from your garage and hit the road. While technically possible – as demonstrated by adventurers like Ed Pratt unicycling around the world or Tom Allen touring Armenia on a vintage mountain bike – choosing the right bike touring bike is crucial for comfort, enjoyment, and the overall success of your trip.
The most important factor for any extended bike tour is comfort. If you’re not comfortable in the saddle, your journey will quickly become a chore rather than a pleasure. Beyond comfort, logistical considerations come into play. You’ll want a bike that’s reliable and easily repairable, ideally with parts that are globally accessible, especially for long-term expeditions venturing into remote areas.
Personal preferences and specific needs will always be a factor in your decision. However, this article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the key considerations and choose the best bike touring bike for your unique adventure.
We’ll explore the essential features of touring bikes and delve into the critical factors to consider before making your purchase. We’ll also share insights into the choices we made when selecting our own Bike Touring Bikes for a multi-year, multi-country expedition, providing real-world context to aid your decision-making process. For a detailed breakdown, you can also explore our complete bike setup here.
In this article:
Our Bike Touring Bikes: Prioritizing Functionality and Comfort
When we set out to choose bikes for our round-the-world cycle tour, our priorities were clear: functionality and comfort reigned supreme. Budget wasn’t the primary concern; we were prepared to invest in bikes that were durable, reliable, and built to a high specification.
Our planned journey was ambitious – a fully loaded tour across over 30 countries spanning two years. The bikes needed to withstand significant mileage and carry all our gear. Therefore, we opted for brand-new, custom-built bikes using top-quality components.
Sharing this context is important because our choices were driven by specific needs. Your objectives might differ significantly, especially if budget is a constraint or if you’re planning a shorter tour. Understanding your own non-negotiables is the first step in selecting the right bike touring bike. If you’re still unsure, the following sections will guide you through the key considerations.
Essential Features of Traditional Bike Touring Bikes
Before diving into specific considerations, let’s examine the defining characteristics of traditional bike touring bikes. These features are designed to enhance comfort, stability, and durability for long-distance, loaded riding:
- Steel Frame: Renowned for its inherent comfort and durability. Steel frames offer a degree of flex that absorbs road vibrations, resulting in a smoother ride, particularly important over long distances. Steel is also highly durable and repairable, crucial for remote touring.
- Frame Geometry: Touring bikes typically feature a longer wheelbase and extended chainstays. This geometry promotes more stable steering and improved balance when carrying heavy loads. The design also encourages a more upright riding position, reducing strain on your back and neck for enhanced comfort on long days in the saddle.
- Wide Gear Ratio: Essential for tackling varied terrain, especially when carrying luggage. A wide gear range, with low gears, allows you to efficiently climb steep hills even with a fully loaded bike.
- Reliable Brakes: Powerful and dependable brakes are paramount for safety, especially when descending hills with a bike laden with 30kg or more of gear.
- Wide Tires: Wider tires contribute significantly to ride comfort by providing cushioning and improved traction on various road surfaces. They also reduce the risk of pinch flats, a common concern when touring on rougher roads.
Steel frame touring bikes ready for a long adventure, photographed in Thailand.
Seven Key Considerations Before Buying Bike Touring Bikes
Choosing the right bike touring bike involves careful consideration of several factors. Let’s explore seven crucial aspects to guide your decision, outlining your options, their pros and cons, and offering insights based on our own experiences.
1. The Type of Bike Touring You Plan To Do
Different styles of bike touring demand different bike characteristics. Defining your touring style upfront will help you narrow down your bike choices and ensure you select a bike best suited to your intended adventures. For instance, if you plan to travel light and stay in hotels, a less robust and potentially more affordable frame might suffice.
Let’s examine various touring types and their implications for bike selection:
Long-Term, Loaded Bike Touring
This style involves carrying all your essential gear – tent, cooking equipment, clothing, tools, and more – on your bike. This is the approach we typically undertake.
Bike Considerations: A robust steel frame is highly recommended to handle the weight and stresses of long-distance, loaded touring. Steel’s comfort-enhancing properties are also a significant advantage. A wide gear ratio is essential for climbing hills with a heavy load. Durability and reliability are paramount for self-supported, long-term expeditions.
Credit Card Touring
Credit card touring emphasizes traveling light and fast, typically staying in hotels or guesthouses, relying on restaurants for meals, and having the flexibility to address mechanical issues with professional assistance if needed. This style is similar to our cycle tour across the Outer Hebrides.
Bike Considerations: A lighter, less heavily built frame can be suitable as the bike will endure less stress. You might save money on the frame since ultimate durability isn’t as critical as in loaded touring. Focus can shift towards lighter components and potentially a more performance-oriented geometry for faster riding.
Predominantly On-Road Touring
If your tours primarily involve paved roads, including quieter backroads, well-maintained cycle paths, and some stretches alongside car traffic, you’ll be dealing with relatively predictable surfaces.
Bike Considerations: A sleek and aesthetically pleasing bike might be a higher priority. You can be less concerned about mud clearance and robust mudguards as muddy conditions will be less frequent. Thinner tires can be used to reduce rolling resistance and enhance speed on paved surfaces.
Off-Road Bike Touring
Off-road touring takes you onto gravel roads, dirt tracks, trails, and potentially more technical terrain. Expect variable surfaces, including mud, loose gravel, and uneven paths.
Bike Considerations: A highly durable frame is essential to withstand the demands of varied and often rough surfaces. Wider tires with good tread are necessary for traction and comfort. Ample tire clearance is crucial to prevent mud buildup, especially between tires and mudguards. As I learned on the Gordezi Pass in Georgia, inadequate mud clearance can lead to frequent stops to clear mud!
