Commuting and touring bikes are combined in this
article
because they serve a similar human powered utilitarian purpose. These
useful bicycles
are the workhorses of the sport. Speed and looks are less important than
functionality, durability, and reliability. Commuting bicycles and touring bikes carry groceries
and laptop computers or camping gear and travel clothes. They have to be
reliable and adaptable in even the worst weather. The weight of the
commuter or touring
bicycle is secondary to these issues. Most importantly, on a bicycle tour
or daily commute the cyclist must be comfortable and not have mechanical
problems. Both of these types of cycles are difficult to find used or for
sale new but hopefully this guide will help.
I have spent 30+ years riding, racing, commuting, and
traveling by bicycle. During my recent years as a recreational bike tourist I have
researched what makes a good touring bicycle. The start of
your once-in-a-lifetime dream trip or the middle of the Bolivian wilderness is
no place to discover that a wrong bike or part was chosen months earlier. It
is always a long walk when pushing your loaded rig.
Traveling by
bicycle is not yet a mainstream sport in the USA and Canada so it's not easy to
get good answers to touring questions in local cycle shops. Instead bits and
pieces have to be gathered from other touring cyclists and far flung corners of
the internet. I believe that experience is still the best teacher and I
sit in this classroom everyday as I bicycle tour around the world.
The majority of touring bikes purchased off the
showroom floor may appear to be less expensive but after some time in the saddle
it is always necessary to replace parts and upgrade components. Because of
this, stock bikes often end up costing more than if they were custom built from
the start. I have concluded that most stock bicycles will always have
costly shortcomings and never satisfy individual needs.
The only way to build a personal dream touring
bike is buy a favorite frameset and hand pick every component that goes on it or
upgrade and modify a current bike. Of course, all of the choices involved
in building the ultimate touring bike are confusing which is why I have created
this technical portion of my web site. I don't claim to have all of the
answers. I do not want to suggest that my personal
opinion is fact. I really dislike it when others claim that their
preferences are best for everyone. On the equipment pages listed below, I
have written a general informative overview for each topic, presented options widely accepted in the bicycle touring community, and then explained my
personal feelings, preferences and experiences. Everyone likes something
different in their touring bike and I hope these pages help your decision making
process.
I believe for this website to be useful to
readers, it is not enough to lay out all the option. I also want to point readers to
specific online stores where each component can be purchased at low prices.
Most of the online retailers I recommend pay me a small commission for sales they
receive through the links on my website. This commission is not passed
on to the buyer. Shopping through my links helps maintain these web pages
and continue my around the world bicycle tour. If you find this information useful or at least entertaining, please use either
the specific product links or general store gateway links to make your
purchases.
I currently have a few
sponsors.
I personally use their gear and have no problem recommending them.
I hope you find the information here helpful and always welcome your feedback.
Trying to repair a mysterious clicking sound originally
thought to be the bottom bracket. My bike broke in
the worst place; a remote village in the central Mexican Mountains.
It turned out to be a poorly made bottom bracket shell / frame that gave
the bottom bracket enough room to creak as I pedaled.
Working on failing rim on a three day climb in the Andes Mountains in
southern Ecuador. Notice that there is a large cliff on the side
of the road and no shoulder for me to safely work on my bike.
Riding in the rain without fenders can make for a very
wet ride. Honduras was a very wet country for us. It is
difficult or impossible to find good quality fenders in the USA.
Standing on a loaded touring bike puts a lot of stress on the
frame and causes a lot of flexing of the rear triangle. My Chrome-Moly steel
frame set flexed so much that it actually shifted gears.
Custom Touring Bicycle Advice and Bike Tour Gear Tips and Buyer's
Guide
Panniers or
Bike BagsCheap will not keep your gear dry and real cheap will fall off
your bike every time you hit a bump. This is not just a luggage issue;
it's a big safety concern.
Handlebars, Grips and Padded Bar
TapeUpright mountain
bike
style with bar ends or road drops with multiple aerodynamic hand positions. Are you comfortable?
MapsMaps designed
specifically for bicycle touring are a cyclist's dream come true. Adventure
Cycling bike maps thoroughly cover the best bike routes North America has to
offer.
HeadsetsCan you ride no handed?
Maybe you have pitted bearings.
Pedals: The connection between the human engine and
the machine.
Bicycle
Touring Lighting SystemsBike lights are
usually designed for commuters and night time training rides. But what about the
special needs of people touring by bicycle?Are you ready for those long dark tunnels?
Bike ComputerMy
never-ending quest for the unbreakable bike computer.
Portable Solar PanelsHow to charge
your cell phone and other electronics when you are traveling in
places with no electricity.
KickstandsYour
loaded touring rig can not stand up by itself.
Fenders or
Mud Guards"What is that smell? I
hope that was just water we rode through."
Commuting and touring bikes are combined in this
article
because they serve a similar human powered utilitarian purpose. These
useful bicycles
are the workhorses of the sport. Speed and looks are less important than
functionality, durability, and reliability. Commuting bicycles and touring bikes carry groceries
and laptop computers or camping gear and travel clothes. They have to be
reliable and adaptable in even the worst weather. The weight of the
commuter or touring
bicycle is secondary to these issues. Most importantly, on a bicycle tour
or daily commute the cyclist must be comfortable and not have mechanical
problems. Both of these types of cycles are difficult to find used or for
sale new but hopefully this guide will help.
