| Bicycle touring is a fun, and unique way to travel and | | | | mountain bikes, the Shimano Deore line is a good |
| explore your world. You can tour on just about any | | | | component group, while road bike riders may want |
| bike but a dedicated touring rig will make your trip | | | | to consider the Shimano 105 line or better. In all |
| much more enjoyable than riding on some old clunker | | | | cases, a triple chain ring up front will ensure smooth |
| you just pulled out of the garage. There are a | | | | spinning up big hills while fully loaded with touring gear. |
| variety of factors to consider when choosing a | | | | In addition to getting the proper style of bike you |
| touring bike, including the type of bike (mountain vs. | | | | want to pick the right frame construction to get the |
| road), riding position, components, frame | | | | most out of your tour. While bikes made from a |
| construction, and wheel size. The list of options for a | | | | variety of materials can all provide a good touring |
| touring rig is virtually endless and the final decision | | | | experience, the most common frame material for |
| comes down to preference and budget. | | | | touring bikes is steel. Steel offers some important |
| The first thing to consider is what style of bike to | | | | advantages over other frame materials. The |
| get. You can tour on just about any kind of bike | | | | increased flexibility of steel makes it comfortable |
| from mountain bikes to road bikes. Some people | | | | over long days, its strength make it better for |
| have even completed cross country tours on single | | | | carrying the heavy loads associated with touring. |
| speed "fixie" style track bikes. The most common | | | | Because it is a common material, it is also easy to |
| types of bike for touring are steel road bikes and | | | | get repaired should it fail - nearly any welding shop |
| mountain bikes. If most of your tour will be on paved | | | | can repair a steel frame whereas you may need to |
| roads then you will probably want to go with a road | | | | find a specialty shop if your aluminum or titanium |
| bike, if you plan to ride mostly on trails, and dirt of | | | | frame breaks - and if you break a carbon fiber frame |
| gravel roads, the added durability of a mountain bike | | | | - well, you'll just be off to the bike shop to buy a |
| will help you get the most out of your tour. | | | | new rig. |
| Riding Position is another big consideration when | | | | Many bicycle tourists have concerns about wheel size |
| buying a touring bicycle. For longer rides you will want | | | | on their rigs. The most common size for modern bike |
| an upright position to keep the weight off of your | | | | wheels these days is 26 inches for mountain bikes |
| hands and wrists and to help keep your back from | | | | and 700cm for road bikes. Each size is available in a |
| getting sore. Drop bars off multiple hand position | | | | variety of widths as well. When putting together a |
| options and can be fitted to mountain bike as well as | | | | touring rig, try to get a 26 inch wheel. Your tires and |
| road bikes to create a multifaceted touring rig. Bike | | | | tubes are the one part of the bike that will wear out |
| with a slightly longer frame will also help smooth out | | | | most often and even in America and Europe there |
| the road and make long days in the saddle more | | | | are places where a 26 inch tire will be readily available |
| enjoyable. | | | | but asking for a "700 x 32c" will just get you strange |
| Touring bikes tend to be ridden many more miles | | | | looks from the person behind the counter. Get a |
| than the average recreational bike. Since a touring rig | | | | medium width tire - unless you are going way off |
| is used for transportation rather than a spin around a | | | | road and need something beefier - and get a tread |
| loop trail, the bike tends to be ridden more miles | | | | pattern that will match the style of riding you will be |
| each day and more days in a row than normal | | | | doing. Smoother tread for road touring and |
| recreational bikes. It is important that you have the | | | | something with a bit more bite for trail rides. |
| best components your can afford to avoid the | | | | There are dozens of options when choosing a touring |
| downtime and expense of broken gear. Whether you | | | | bike, the and the 'right' gear will depend on the type |
| are going with a mountain bike or a road bike for | | | | of rider you are, what kind of touring you will be |
| your touring rig, make sure that you get at least mid | | | | doing, and personal preference. The best way to find |
| range components and shoot for top tear | | | | the right bike is to go to your local bike shop and try |
| component groups if you have the budget. For | | | | a few out. |