What Exactly Is a Bike Tour?

Mountain riding and bikepacking are both elements of bike travel. For days, weeks, or even months at a time, it often involves mostly traveling on paved roads with sporadic excursions onto gravel or dirt.

How Should I Choose a Bike for a Bike Tour?

Numerous motorcycles can be used for touring. The majority of decent bikes, with the exception of road racing bikes, which put durability and comfort second to weight reduction and quick handling, may be adjusted for touring even though some bikes are created specifically for the purpose.

A appropriate bike needs to have low gears for climbing hills. The addition of racks and other accessories is also advantageous.

Important Touring Bike Features

Frame Mechanics

Bikes designed specifically for cycle touring are constructed to be cozy and stable even when pulling a heavy load. To do this, most touring bikes have longer wheelbases than road bikes. The ability to steer and maintain stability while carrying weight is improved with longer wheelbases.

Frame Materials

Chromoly steel is the material of choice for bike tourers due to its durability and smooth ride quality. Steel can absorb road vibrations, making for a less jarring ride than other materials. Steel is typically preferred by bike tourists due to its durability, particularly when covering long distances by bicycle in remote areas.

Wheels

When choosing touring bike wheels, keep the following in mind.

The number of spokes: Generally speaking, wheels with more spokes are stronger, so opting for wheels with at least 32 spokes is a good rule of thumb. When picking wheel size, always keep the terrain in mind.

Tires

When selecting tires for touring bikes, keep the following things in mind:

Damage Resistance

Many bike tourists use tires that have built-in puncture resistance.

Tread

A small amount of tread enhances grip on a variety of road surfaces. Unless you are riding on mud and dirt, you won't need a lot of knobs, but riders frequently prefer a straightforward traction pattern to slick road tires.

Size

The size of the tires should also be taken into account. When riding on paved surfaces, many bike tourists choose tires that are at least 35mm wide.

Gearing

Regarding touring bike equipment, keep in mind the following. Select simple gears over complex ones. Make sure your parts are durable and dependable. Simpler gearing is frequently preferred.

Brakes

When embarking on a long-distance tour while carrying 30 or 40 pounds on a bike, it's critical to consider how you'll slow down and halt when necessary. The two most popular types of brakes are disc brakes and rim brakes.

Bike touring adventure types

Loop

An adventure involving bike packing or touring that begins and ends in the same location can be extended (like the Trans-Uganda Route) or brief (like this 112-mile, 3-day loop in Arizona).

Point-to-Point

It refers to routes where transportation is needed to go to or from the start, middle, or end. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Path is one of the most famous sections of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Path, the longest off-road route in the world.

Assisted Tour

Because biking and cycling vacations are becoming more and more popular, a quick google search will typically turn up a ton of options for guided bike tours in the area you're interested in.

Overnighter

It is not necessary for bikepacking or bike touring trips to be longer to be fun. To connect two paths in a remote area, either bring a tent and food supplies, or pack lightly and arrange to stay the night at a cabin, Airbnb, or lodge.

Expedition

One of the best ways to discover a new place's natural beauty and a different culture is to explore it on a bike.

Bike Touring VS Bikepacking

Although they are frequently used interchangeably, the terms "bike packing" and "bike touring" have slightly different connotations. Most people mean traveling to or about a site on roads when they refer to "bike touring." Bike touring, which can be helped by adventure travel organizations or completed on the rider's own, is typically characterized by long distances and prolonged time travel.

On the other hand, "bikepacking" describes an off-road journey. A bike that can provide more traction and comfort in bad weather is required for bikepacking trips because they frequently involve singletrack or doubletrack paths that lead further into the woods. In contrast to a bike tour, persons who go on a bike packing holiday typically travel for less time.

Conclusion

Bike touring can range from a small, weekend trip nearby to a lengthy, multi-month trek that covers thousands of miles. There is no one-size-fits-all bike, as you will learn if you take the time to look into what people use for bike touring.