Touring bikes aren't strictly necessary for riding the country's scenic byways, but they can make your trip much more enjoyable. While your regular road or mountain bike can always get you there and back, touring bikes have plenty of room for panniers as well as a more comfortable riding angle that allows you to stay upright and enjoy the scenery.
Touring Bikes
Touring bikes are designed for the traveler: they're lightweight, durable and offer comfort and storage features intended to make a cross-country trek more enjoyable. According to Doug Donaldson in "Bicycling Magazine's Guide to Bike Touring," specialized touring bikes usually have at least three gears, with at least one easy low gear that helps you make uphill climbs or lets you relax on a day when you feel worn out. A touring bike's frame shape is usually a few degrees more slanted than a road bike, keeping you out of a faster but less sustainable aerodynamic crouch position.
Frame Sizing
Cycling expert Sheldon Brown notes that frame sizes almost always refer to the length of the seat tube in inches. The seat tube is the long vertical tube that connects the saddle with the bottom frame bracket. However, not all manufacturers measure from the same point, so don't rely on this number too heavily. One manufacturer's 27-inch frame may be the equivalent of another manufacturer's 25-inch frame. Most bike frames come in two-inch increments ranging from 19 to 27 inches.
Frame Selection
Your first reference point is stand-over clearance. When you straddle a touring bike, you should have at least one inch of clearance between the top tube and your crotch. Make sure you're wearing the same type of shoes you'll be in while on the road. In "The Essential Touring Cyclist," Richard Lovett suggests you test-ride both the frame that feels right as well as the next smallest and next largest sizes. Analyze the fit and feel of the bike -- make sure you're not reaching too far forward for the handlebars and that you can keep your elbows slightly bent. If you have to extend and lock your elbows, you'll feel every bump of the road in your hands and wrists.
Other Features
Donaldson suggests you pick a bike with a thick, steel-tubed frame. The thicker tubing helps support any added weight from the gear you'll be carrying; smaller conventional tubing in carbon fiber or aluminum isn't up to the job. You should also measure the wheelbase -- you're looking for a measurement of 40 to 42 inches, which gives you more room to pedal without hitting any rear saddlebags or gear storage. In terms of tires, you should split the difference between a road bike's 20 mm tires and a mountain bike's 50 mm tires. Donaldson suggests you aim for 35 mm -- thick enough to provide support on a bumpy road, but thin enough to provide speed on paved surfaces.
Member Comments