hours a day. The steeper, short-wheel–base geometry of a typical road racing bike is Kona Sutra highly responsive to a rider’s need to jostle in the pack and for an agile response to a high torque, high speed, rocking (literally and figuratively) sprint. A LTB is not opti- Touring Bike Buyer’s Guide mized for acceleration or lateral responsive- ness but for a naturally steady ride. One cautionary note is that the rider must look How do I find the loaded-touring bike that’s right for me? further ahead for potholes or cars to avoid, given the touring bike won’t change direc- by John Wider tion as quickly as a racing bike. As for specs, company websites et’s face it. How we use loaded-tour- loaded touring?” If the answer is “not very ing a new one by having a well-researched can be a great resource. But rather than ing bikes (LTBs) has evolved from often,” then the range of bikes that will data point — your current steed! But by all dwelling on technical minutia, get out there the 1970s, when you installed a rear fit your needs expands to include many means, riding a few light touring bikes will and try several bikes, including racing or rackL on your trusty 40-pound Schwinn mountain bikes, hybrids, commuting, and give you great insights on whether one will sport bikes (it can be a sub $1,000 model) (didn’t they all come with a rack anyway?) light touring bikes. This article is focused on work for you. If not, it gives you multiple for the sake of getting the feel for what you Frame geometry. Many writers go on Life on the road is about more than your and loaded it to the sky with baskets and “conventional” LTBs, but can still be used to data points to extrapolate from as to which do and don’t want in a LTB. Before I get too and on about geometry. I prefer to save my frame. bungee cords. Not to mention balance- select a multi-purpose work horse. Adventure LTB is worth purchasing. One of the first far down the road about what to look for long-windedness for other topics (as you’ll A frame is just one aspect of a bike, and defying backpacks designed for walking. Cyclist will cover non-standard diamond- questions you need to ask is “what is my in a good ride, let’s back up half a wheel soon read). The main consideration for those a bike also needs maintenance and repair. Now we consumers demand a wide array of frame bikes in the June issue, so I’ll put these budget?” Factory suited for fully- revolution and think about our future bike with big feet is to ensure there is clear- More of the former results in less of the specialized bikes. Good if you have $1,000 aside for now. But don’t get me wrong, my loaded touring can be had for roughly $1,000 from a designer’s point of view. ance from both the front wheel and both latter, but both should be factors in your or more to spend, bad if you’re on a tight wife and I owned a recumbent tandem for to $2,000, with very few offered below the sets of panniers. If you wish to research bicycle purchase decisions. If your brain is budget. While every imaginable type of years, so we have experienced the joy that a $1,000 mark. If you can’t afford that, a light 10 Designers = 200 Opinions further, head back to the archive for past race-dominated, rewash it and start fresh. bike exists (I could name seven without machine like this can bring. touring bike might be had for $500. If you’re Even most custom bikes will hit the road “Cyclesense” articles and buyer’s guides Rather than getting from Point A to Point diving into sub genres), the availability If you live within a day’s ride of a bicycle out for a custom hand-built touring bike, a with many voices having influenced their (adventurecycling.org/features/ B in the minimum amount of time, with of stock, factory-made bikes suitable for shop (arriving under your own power gives minimum of $3,500 can be spent before you designs, hopefully yours being one of them. buyersguide.cfm). You can also help out the mechanical breakdowns being a nuisance, loaded touring has shrunk. Yes, if you use a you street credibility), spend time talking can say “What have I gotten myself into?” Imagine for a moment that you were given researchers at the Bike Geometry Project your mindset should expand to embrace trailer, your selection greatly expands, with with anyone on the staff who has toured. a seat at the proverbial drawing board with (home.comcast.net/~pinnah/dirtbag-bikes/ the maximum enjoyment between A and B. a “light” touring model (not to be confused Stay away from department stores, sporting Design qualities of a good LTB nine renowned designers. Let’s walk through geometry-project.html) who are doing some You’ll be pleasantly surprised that you don’t with the bike being super light weight) good stores, or anywhere that carries only I’ve ridden many a mile on my 16-year-old some of the key design areas in order to interesting things in this regard. have to trade off much speed for peace of serving quite well. For we old fashion tour- one brand or that doesn’t have a full-service Trek carbon fiber Y-22 , and consider a variety of options. Remember, mind and panniers full of adventure. ists, who think panniers provide the ideal mechanic. Of the many things you take on while I’ve done light-duty touring on the San imagination is a wonderful thing, but cold This is as good a time as any to intro- system, except in some circumstances (for the road, the backup you’ll need from a well- Juan Hut System from Telluride to Moab, I hard logic is what will keep you on the move Online Extras: duce the concept of “borrowed” rides. which I’m sure to get passionate, logical regarded bike shop is invaluable. Not only wouldn’t recommend carbon fiber for any when far from civilization. Need more tips and inspiration for Even if you’re fortunate enough to find a arguments for trailers), I’ll concentrate on can they help you find the best touring bike fully-loaded touring beyond civilization (i.e. Frame size. A well-fitted $1,000 bike your tour? Michelle Cassel and Ryan touring bike that you can take for a pre- LTBs for this article. If you wish to weigh for you and ensure you’ve got all the proper bike shops and hospitals). Given this is the will serve you better than a misfitted McAfee of America ByCycle are purchase trial, borrowing a friend’s bike the pros-cons of trailers, you can dig into tools before sending you on your way, they extent of my mountain-bike–touring expo- $2,000 ride. Although most fit-kits seek contributing four online exclusives for a long day ride allows voices to speak Adventure Cyclist’s publications archive can serve as your remote road-side assistance sure, I’ll narrow our search to road bikes. the best race-oriented fitting, a mechanic this month to our blog. Read them on to your needs more directly than gather- Tuesdays in April via this quick link: (adventurecycling.org/library) to find pre- if you need a part shipped to (or near) an Much has been said in the past about well versed in the needs of a tourist ing touring experts in a room. Encompass adventurecycling.org/onlineextras. vious articles on this very topic. inevitable breakdown. frame dimensions and the importance of a should be able to optimize your fit for just as many aspects of your tour as possible. Assuming you already own an LTB, properly relaxed geometry to give the rider that purpose. A crude approximation is Mountains? Ride mountains. Rough roads So the primary challenge these days is to: you’ve already begun the process of find- the stability needed to cruise for many that your inseam should be two inches Frame material. The gang of 10 have (with construction you may get more than A: find an appropriate bike in stock longer than the height of the top tube weighed in. Steel, aluminum, titanium, and you bargained for)? Ride those too. (possible in some urban areas, if you look Tout Terrain for road bikes. Old-school thinking was carbon fiber, in that order. Steel is an afford- Wheels. These are the most failure prone diligently) that you can take out for at least one inch of clearance, but this measure- able material that if maintained properly is components of a heavily-loaded touring an hour and put through its paces. Panamericano ment has lately been sensibly increased. less likely to fail catastrophically without bike. When riding in most of the developed Or more likely… Straddling the top tube’s midpoint, pick warning when put under excessive stress, world, 700C or 26-inch wheels are the most B: find a few “light” touring bikes that up the bike as high as you can, with front such as hitting a large pothole. And, yes, it is easily replaceable. Replaceble? Plan for it fit you well so you can get an idea of what and rear wheels approximately the same also more serviceable abroad. Weight is a sec- and it is less likely to be needed. 36-spoke features and qualities you want to concen- height above the ground. Have someone ondary consideration given the need to sup- wheels (32 minimum) with three-cross lac- trate on before ordering an LTB, which, measure the height of the wheels. Even if port a heavy load. When considering weight, ing (each spoke crosses three other spokes) typically, you have to buy before ship- the average is three inches, go ahead and keep in mind that you should concentrate on provide maximum carrying capacity. Beefy ment, with a no-refund policy. Even if you try this small size just to see how if feels your load and your body. But going over- rims with a box construction also reduce can return it, it’s likely you’ll face a hefty compared with other bikes you’re trying board in any of these categories can get you your chances of a seriously warped wheel reshipping/restocking fee. out. Make sure the seat and handle bars into trouble. Loaded touring should allow after pothole diving. What am I giving up Before you begin looking for the perfect are adjustable with sufficient travel so that you to enjoy your surroundings, not shave with this slow-me-down package you ask? LTB (if there is such a thing), ask yourself you don’t have to excessively stretch to minutes off an eight-hour touring day and For touring, nothing at all. If you’re a track- “how much am I going to use the bike for grasp all hand positions on the handlebars. miss the beauty around you. racer, where acceleration is king, every extra ounce in the wheels slows you down Devinci Caribou Otherwise, you’re in for a not-so-nice sur- as much as two ounces elsewhere due to a prise when the tire pressure becomes too rotational property called moment of inertia. high and the tire too pliable. Fortunately For steady speeds while touring, accelera- for this author, the load wasn’t too heavy tion is minimal, so this property is not really when his tire blew, and surprise, he sur- SYNCRO 10 a factor. A final bit of good news is that the vived with only a small scar. MULTI-SPORT / CYCLING / VENTILATED BACKPANEL extra stiffness will give you better handling and energy transfer (less flexing) than an What about the creature comforts? expensive feather-light wheel. And make We handful of imaginary bike design- sure the wheels you buy have all spokes ers could go on and on about things such ospreypacks.com SEE SYNCRO IN ACTION tensioned well and trued. Once the wheel is as drop handlebars giving your hands so true, if some spokes are tensioned too loosely many more pressure-relieving options than or too tightly, insist on a replacement wheel almost any other handlebar configuration. at no extra charge. Your life depends on it, so But alas, we’ve spent so much time talk- depend on your shop to make it right. ing about things critical to a safe journey, Tires. As for where the rubber meets that you’ll have to scour other articles in the road, tires should have the same beefy Adventure Cyclist to pull out comfort-relat- qualities as the wheels they go on. Seat weight should not enter into the equation. Many prefer the tried-and-true cantilever ed tips. But hey, if you read this magazine, stays, rims, and brakes that accommo- Beefier tires not only save you money and type. While I’ve only ridden a few days you’ll know the biggest challenge to get- date wide tires are the primary consid- give you superior handling quality, they with disc brakes, I was instantly drawn ting (and staying) on the road is getting the eration. How wide? It depends on what are less prone to flats. And keep a close eye to their superior stopping power. Many fundamentals right. So get out there and surfaces you’ll be riding and, you guessed on the rear tire. It wears faster and is often people will speak about the pros and cons, do what it takes to make the right purchase it, your personal preferences. Here we’ll covered from sight by fenders and gear. with the most apparent drawback being so you can finally hit the open road! focus on 700C tires, since 26-inch wheels When it comes to velocity change, most susceptibility to damage, though these are best kept for trails. While light touring people gravitate toward acceleration. Given brakes are getting to be nearly bullet-proof John Wider is a 53-year-old spacecraft engineer living on smooth roads, you can get away with how much momentum has to be brought to these days. No matter what kind of rim in the Los Angeles area, which he claims is more bike friendly than most people think, especially paths near the 25-millimeter tires. Tackling rough roads a stop, the the focus should be on decelera- brakes you use, if you’re descending steep beaches. He has owned almost every kind of bike there with big loads? 35 millimeters should be tion. So how do you best stop your big rig? mountains, you should stop periodically is, racking up over 80,000 miles, with most of those on PHOTO CREDIT / Ben Knight your minimum. As with wheels, saving With highly-leveraged, dependable brakes. to check how hot the rims have become. his 1996 Trek 520.

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12 ADVENTURE CYCLIST APRIL 2012 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG ADVENTURE CYCLIST APRIL 2012 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG 13 Reflecting on 20 years of touring memories TOURING BIKES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION $1399; frameset: $599); Tout Terrain Full-sus- Casseroll (complete: pension Panamericana We’ve tried to limit this table to true touring bikes and light tour- custom versions, with varying costs associated. No prices reflect $1199; frame/fork/front (€3890 and up); Grand ers only — not bikes that might make good touring bikes. Many shipping costs. rack: $599). salsacycles. Route (€2790 and up); of the bikes in this table come in several configurations, including com, 877-668-6223. Silkroad (€1990 and up). en.tout-terrain.de, +49 761 611 Bicycle Company ($11000 and up). Custom Innerlight Cycles Hand- Moots Vamoots (various Raleigh Bicycles Sojourn Santos Travelmaster 20551000. Handmade Touring model available for all models. crafted Touring H1 and 26” configurations: $3195 and ($1200) and the Port ($1549 to $3399); Trekking ($2275 and up). sixeleven cyfac.fr, +33 (0)2 47 24 H2 (Click on Options for price up). moots.com, 970-879- Townsend ($850): www. ($1639 to $3399), Trekking Trek 520 ($1,479.99). bicycleco.com, 540-929- 67 42. list). innerlightcycles.com/ 1676. raleighusa.com, 800-222- Comfort ($1999 to $3699), www.trekbikes.com, 800- 0611. hybrid.htm, 530-795-3454. 5527. Trekking Lite ($1749 to 879-8735. offers a line of Motobecane Gran Tour- $3599), and Travel Lite Ahearne Cycles Custom nine touring models from the Ira Ryan Cycles Touring ismo ($800). bikesdirect. Rando Cycles Basic ($3299). santosbikes.com, True North Cycles 26”, Touring model ($750 de- £599 Vantage to £1799 Ultra model (custom only: $2300 com/products/motobecane/ (€999), the Camper +31(0)252 426123. 700C, or 650B models posit). ahearnecycles.com, Galaxy. dawescycles.com. and up) iraryancycles.com/ gran_turismo.htm. (€1999), the Globe- from expedition to light 503-473-2102. bikes/tour, 503-810-2504. Trotter (€2999), the Tourer Expat; Ex- touring; many options Devinci Caribou 1 & 2 Mt. Airy Bicycles Carries (€1999), and the Voyager pat S; Expat SL (frame only available ($1500 and up). Bianchi Volpe ($1200). ($949 & $1549). devinci. offers three many hard-to-find and clas- (€3999): rando- cycles. $2095; $2795; $3595): truenorthcycles.com, 519- bianchiusa.com/bikes/road/ com, 888-338-4624. touring bikes with chromoly sic touring models. They fr (click on Liste des valor), sevencycles.com, 617-923- 585-0600. steel/volpe, 510-264-1001. frames including the classic have access to the remain- +33 01 43 41 18 10. Site 7774. Ellis Cycles Lugged Tour/ Aurora ($950,), the Aurora ing Koga Miyata touring in French. Vanilla Bicycles Touring Steel Randonneur ($3,400 and Elite ($1600), and cyclo- models. www.bike123.com, Soma Fabrications and Randonee models. Midlands ($3700 and up); up). elliscycles.com, 262- cross-inspired Bosanova 301-831-5151. Raleigh Bicycles Sojourn Heavy duty Saga Touring Wait time currently over 5 S&S coupled Travel versions 442-6639. ($1275). www.jamisbikes. ($1200) and the Port (frame and fork $500), years. www.vanillabicycles. ($3850 an up); Tourlite com, 800-222-0570. Naked Bicycles Hand- Townsend ($850): www. and the Tradesman Cargo com, 503-233-2453. ($3545 and up). bilenky. Fuji Touring model ($1119). crafted Grand Adventure raleighusa.com, 800-222- front loading frame ($699): com, 215-329-4744. fujibikes.com/bike/details/ Kona Sutra ($1499), a models Basic ($1595); 5527. somafab.com. Velosmith Jota ($A6360), touring5, 800-631-8474. steel tourer with mechanical Americano ($2495); Globe- Cyclotouriste ($A4650), Boocycles Boo T (bamboo disc brakes. konaworld.com, trotter ($2295; Stainless: Bikes Pan- Spectrum Steel and and Great Southern with integrated rear rack: Gilles Berthoud Highly- 360-366-0951. $3295); Deutsche (Rohloff: orama (£1249); Journey titanium custom touring ($A4650). Custom also. Call or email to get $3215 and up). boocycles. customizable 26-inch and $3995). Custom also avail- (£1149); and Voyage bikes ($2850 and up). Available in Australia only. com, 515-554-9226. 700C steel touring bikes Kross Trans Sander, Trans able. timetogetnaked.com, (£849). ridgeback.co.uk. spectrum-cycles.com, 610- velosmith.com.au, +61 BIKE FRIDAYSINCE 1992 our latest catalog (€1875 and up): www.gilles Arctica, Trans Pacific, and 250-285-3181. 398-1986. (0)3 6266 4582. 800-777-0258 // BikeFriday.com PROMO CODE: 1854 Bowen Bicycle Works berthoud.fr (English also), Trans Global (all models Custom Touring frame, fork, +33 03 85 51 46 51. 1519 PLN and up). kross.pl, Nashbar Double-butted Atlantis (frame, fork, and Steelman Cycles Steel Velotraum Konzept headset ($2195). bowen- 029 722 44 45. Aluminum Touring Frame headset $2000), Hunqapil- custom touring bikes (€1300 and up). velo- bicycles.com/TOURING. GT Peace Tour ($850). ($99-$199). nashbar.com, lar, a touring-trail bike (frame, ($2750 and up). steel- traum.de/system/velotraum- html#, 860-836-9765. gtbicycles.com/Peace-Tour, Littleford Custom 877-688-8600. fork and headset $1800); mancycles.com, 650-364- konzept, telefax: (07033) 800-843-2453. Bicycles Standard custom touring frames 3939. 81505. Site in German. Brodie Elan ($1649); Tourer ($3220); Classic by REI Safari ($3,500 and up). rivbike. Argus ($1299). brodiebikes. Gunnar Bikes Rock Tour, Tourer ($3990); Urban ($899), Randonee ($1199), com, 800-345-3918. Surly Long-Haul Trucker Waterford Cycles T-14 com/2012/bikes/speed.php, a 26-inch mountain bike Utility ($4725); Sport and light touring Verita (LHT frame: $469, bike and T-22 Adventure Cycle Spring is 604-325-2033. designed for loaded touring Tourer ($5025); Randon- (1199). rei.com/novara, 800- Roberts Cycles offers the $1275; Deluxe frame models (all bike custom and the Grand Tour, a tra- neur ($5150); Expedition 426-4840. Clubman (£995), Transcon- $849) and the 26” Troll built, check for pricing). Bruce Gordon Hand-built ditional 700C touring (both Rig ($5495). Many options tinental (£1050), Cumbria (frame: $430, bike: waterfordbikes.com, 262- 700C Rock ‘n Road Tour $1025 and up). gunnar available including frame Pake C’Mute frame ($260). (NA), Roughstuff (£1100), $1399). surlybikes.com, 534-4190. and Women’s Compact Tour 877-743-3191. in the and 26-inch Tour-Ex ($2999; bikes.com, 262-534-4190. sets. littlefordbicycles.com, pakebikes.com/product/ with racks $3349; frame 503-922-1934. F8EF09/C’Mute+Frame. (£995). robertscycles.com, Windsor Bicycles offers & fork $1600); and the Hewitt Cheviot (£425); Opus Touring; Legato, Largo +44 (0)20-8684 3370. Sycip 26” or 700C steel the steel touring bike, the factory-made BLT – Basic Cheviot SE (£625); Gram- LPY Cycles Touring Frame (PNA). opusbike.com/en/ Touring Roadster (produc- Tourist ($1,495): windsor Loaded Touring (fully loaded pian (£899). All models and fork (£350). www. bikes-5-road.html. Rodriguez Bicycles tion and custom models: bicycles.com. air. $1725; basic $750; frame frame & fork. Rohloff avail- lpycycles.com. Adventure ($1,899 and up); $1295 and up): sycip.com, & fork $500). bgcycles.com, able. hewittbikefitting.co.uk, offers the S&S-equipped ($2,699 707-542-6359. Note: The June issue of 707-762-5601. +44 01772 424773. Marioni Tourismo ultra-classic Clubman Coun- and up); the Willie Weir Adventure Cyclist will cov- ($875/$1000); Tourismo try ($2,695). britishbicycle. co-designed UTB (Ultimate Terry Bicycles Valkyrie er non-standard bicycles Co-Motion Cycles 700C idworx Bikes A variety of Extreme ($925/$1050). com, pashley.co.uk, +44 Touring Bike from $2,099); Tour (hand built by Wa- and will contain a table of Americano ($3845); trekking bikes with Rohloff marinoni.qc.ca/html/Touring. 01789 292 263. Custom models with Rohloff terford Precision $3500). tandems, recumbents, fold- Americano Rohloff with Gates hubs and Gates belt drives, html, 450-471-7133. ($3999 and up). rodcycle. terrybicycles.com, 800- ing bikes, and more. ($5200); 26-inch Pangea including the Easy Rohler, Pereira Cycles Touring and com, 206-527-4822. 289-8379. $(3845); Pangea Rohloff with Off Rohler, and Easy Mariposa Touring and Randonneuring Bikes (frame Gates ($5200); 29er Divide TiRohler ($3400 and up). Randonneur frame and fork & fork: $2700; complete Salsa Vaya TI complete Thorn Cycles Expedition ($3925); Cascadia ($3845). idworx-bikes.de, +49 228 (Custom only: $1950). bike: $3900). www.pereira- bike ($2999); TI frameset Nomad (£2099 and up); co-motion.com, 866-282- 184700. Site in German. mariposabicycles.com, 416- cycles.com, 503-333-5043. ($1999); Vaya 2 (complete: Raven (£1949 and up); 6336. 423-0456. $1699; Vaya 3 complete: Sherpa (£1330 and up). Peter Mooney Cycles/ ($1350); Vaya 2/3 frameset: Rohloff hubs and Gates Cyfac Replica ($2600 and Independence touring and Mitch Pryor Bicycles Belmont Wheelworks ($599); 29er Fargo (titanium drives available. All bikes up); RandoNerv ($2600 the Club Racer light-touring (map) Custom touring Touring and Randonneur complete: $3299; titanium can be completely outfitted. and up); Vintage ($3500 frame sets (steel $2295; frameset ($3000 and up). models ($2650 and up). frameset: $1999). Fargo 2 PDFs online loaded with and up); Integraal ($4800 titanium $4095). www. mapbicycles.com, 503-285- peter-mooney.com, 617- (complete: $1749; frameset information on all models. and up); Custom Horizon ifbikes.com, 603-292-5673. 0446. 489-3577. $599); Fargo 3 (complete: thorncycles.co.uk. www.co-motion.com

* PNA = price not available at press time 14 ADVENTURE CYCLIST APRIL 2012 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG ADVENTURE CYCLIST APRIL 2012 ADVENTURECYCLING.ORG 15