What should be a bicycle for tourism. Ideal bike for touring and travel

Imagine climbing a hill for a whole day - or longer - on the same bike you ride on Sundays in the neighborhood and commute to work every day. That's the beauty of touring bikes. You just need to pick up speed - and a touring bike (in the common people "touring") will fulfill any of your whims, for which a bicycle is only possible in principle.

4 types of trips for which a touring bike is suitable:

Tourism

This is understandable, because this is the key word in its name. However, it's worth saying that if you want to ride every day and even camp overnight, a touring bike is the best and traditional bike for this purpose.

For a traditional tour, you would need a certain amount of comfort to change into something suitable for the weather or to go to a cafe during your trip, as well as a tent and other camping equipment.

The handles and frames of the touring bike are designed for a full load. You can attach panniers and a rack to a racing bike, but you'll almost certainly only make things worse. the backpack will hang too much over the rear wheel and the frame may sag under the weight. The extended back of the touring bike avoids this.

Overcoming the distance

While driving, it doesn't rain as often as you might think, however, you may experience discomfort on wet roads, even when it's not raining,but the advantage of a touring bike is that it has mudguards and fenders thatwell protected from splashes flying from under the wheels.

WITH The hard question is how to carry things more conveniently, and if you don't like to lug a 20-kilogram backpack on your shoulders, then you need baskets. In a touring bike, the feathers are specially elongated and you will not hit your heels on things and backpacks on your trunk, and the bike will not wag much from side to side.

shopping

Want to stock up on groceries for a few days? Pretty inconvenient to handle one backpack. A cargo bike would do, but where do you store it in a tiny city apartment? And again, a touring bike can come to the rescue if you attach a special backpack to its trunk or, as cyclists also call it, “pants”. This backpack will be able to hold a week's supply for a single person or a couple of days' supplies for a family. You can refuse shopping in megamarkets - but new opportunities are opening up for buying fresh fruits and vegetables in the market.

Everyday trips

A touring bike has a number of advantages over race-style bikes for circuits, although it is slightly slower on flat roads and on grades.

For beginners, even the fact of driving and enjoying the surrounding landscapes along the way is a joy. On next step there is a new feeling of riding pleasure on wider, lower pressure wheels than racing bikes, as well as the comfort of touring bike mudguards, especially if you've been soaking wet before.

Throw some essentials in the basket and you can have a picnic in a quiet, secluded place instead of overpaying for lunch at a cafe.

What is a touring bike?

So what exactly are the details that shape a touring bike's performance and versatility? Let's consider.

Load bearing capacity

Many characteristics of a touring bike mean that it can carry a lot of luggage. This means that at least a rear rack will be present in any touring bike, but it is better that there is also a front rack.

Body position while driving

A touring bike usually has a more upright seating position than most road bikes, because touring rides are more about exploring the surroundings, enjoying the scenery and smelling the flowers, rather than winding up miles at high speed. So you can go around the city. Sitting upright while keeping your hands on the brake means you can see at any moment if the driver of the car does something stupid and react in time.

Due to the fact that you will be sitting more upright, you may need a wider seat, because. rear load is higher. That's why Brooks leather seats are popular with backpackers: they're wide and of good quality.

Touring bike frames can be made from any material. Titanium is revered among touring cyclists for its strength and durability. Inexpensive touring bikes have frames made of aluminum, which have the rigidity necessary for loading luggage. And you can also meet steel frames quite often.

Whatever material the frame is made of, it will be stronger than in racing bikes. strength and durability are more important than weight.

In terms of geometry, the touring bike frame has a shorter top tube allowing for a more upright position, a lesser angle for stable handlebar control, and the ability to accommodate longer stays. The latter allow you to move the trunk mounts further from the heels of the cyclist.

A touring bike has plenty of attachment points for accessories. Fenders and racks are a must, and there's often room under the down tube for another bottle of water.

Tires

If you're looking for full load capability and a comfortable ride, wide tires are the way to go for your touring bike. The minimum you'll find is 32mm, but the new generation also comes with 45mm for muddy riding.

To drive on poor quality roads, tires must have a deep tread pattern. The puncture protection system in the form of special gels pumped into the chamber or under the tire will not interfere either.

brakes

Touring bikes always have either cantilever or disc brakes. Caliper brakes are almost never used, tk. they don't have the necessary girth for wide tires and fenders.

Disc brakes are becoming more and more common. the opportunities available to manufacturers are expanding. They are definitely suitable for touring bikes as they are separated from the rims and therefore the braking force is stronger and the rim will last longer.

Touring wheels

Forget about weight, touring bike wheels need to be strong. A large number of spokes (36 per wheel) as well as wide rims became standard. Many users of such bicycles end up buying wheels assembled specifically for them.

The trend towards wider rims over the past couple of years has improved features for touring bike riders - wheels are getting stronger and stiffer.

Transfer mechanism

Touring bike gearing: A combination of a mountain bike rear derailleur and a hybrid chain system.
When you carry a lot of luggage, you need to drive in low gear. Touring low gear is usually 1:1, and some still use triple chainring.

Touring bikes often contain components mountain bikes and hybrids to use as many gears as touring bikes need. Gearing systems can be 48/38/28 triple chainrings and 11-36 wide rear cassettes.

Not so long ago, touring bikes were made only to order. Nothing has been commercially produced that is strong and reliable enough, with low enough gears, wide tire clearances, steering options and such excellent hub compatibility as Rohloff. No one would have thought to buy a whole bike a decade ago...

But luckily it's 2016 and there are so many truly great opportunities to choose from touring bikes!

Team Trek has been producing the 520 since 1983, and since the 2000s they have been focusing on the touring specification. In 2004 Surly began to create some of the best, mass-produced frame options: LHT (Long Haul Trucker). LHT frames are solid, have a spoke holder and use long (460mm) lower rear forks. Slowly but surely, other manufacturers are adopting and improving the advantages of LHT, but this process is not fast.

The following bikes - the best representatives class of modern touring bikes. All of them are made of steel (which means they are less likely to be dented), are inexpensive and can be easily modified. They all also have a wide range of gears, down to low enough to get you up the highest mountain.

Many of them have cable brakes, which have already proven their reliability on even the longest journeys. Most have gear shift control mechanisms, and this, you see, is incredibly convenient!

Let's move on to the list of the most beautiful and affordable models of touring bikes.

Surly has long set the standard in the world of touring bikes. Its geometry is close to perfect and it is the only bike on this list that is available with 66cm wheels. It comes with an ultra-wide gear range and reliable technical specifications. The price of such a miracle- almost 100,000 rubles.

It was launched a few years ago, but it already has one of the best bike frames on the market: it's the only one on the list that fits hubs. Rohloff. The lowest gear might not seem that low at first glance, but the crankset smooths that out nicely. Prices on AWOL start from 90,000 rubles.

is gradually becoming a super-affordable steel touring bike. Now it comes in bulletproof material, with cable brakes and great frame geometry. Issue price- more than 100,000 rubles.

Every year steel frame is being modified. This bike has come a long way since it was first introduced to the market 10 years ago and the latest models are close to the ideal touring bike.

In the 2016 modification, the tip of the front fork feather was increased, the length of the lower rear forks was increased, and the level of the lower bracket was changed. Kona comes with the best saddle - Brooks B17 and wheel guards. Buy possible for 100,000 rubles.

Masi only recently introduced their first touring bike, but this is just something! It has low gears, a special shift mechanism and cable brakes. One of the best things about a bike is its price. It will cost about 60,000 rubles. Perhaps, - the favorite of this list in terms of price and quality.

Salsa literally just unveiled their very first touring bike. The coolest thing is that there are two frame options - one optimized for straight handlebars and the other for slanted handlebars. This bike is great for hubs Rohloff, has an ultra-wide gear range and cable brakes. Price- more than 110,000 rubles.

For a long time I was going to write a technical post about the device of my bike, on which in 2014 I made. And now I suggest that you familiarize yourself in more detail with my "long-range" iron horse. I warn you right away, there will be a lot of spare parts, incomprehensible names. Therefore, for those who are not fond of this velotheme, reading may seem incomprehensible and boring)

Side view - without luggage bags.

Without bags from different angles

Bags separately.

All bags on the bike.

I must say right away that the "photo shoot" of the bike was carried out in conditions, in an environment not native to true purpose this bike. Just because the beautiful views of nature)

Perhaps these pictures can be perceived as a photo of a road bike in the mountains on a dirt road). However, looking ahead a little, I’ll say that when creating a bicycle (and it was assembled almost from scratch from hotel parts), its characteristics included the property of satisfactory cross-country ability on dirt, slightly sandy roads and on a dense grassy surface, read on a hard, dry, even field with low grass.

Let's start in order, with a little background.

My first big long-distance bike ride was made in 2011 on the route Kirov - Tver region, the festival "Invasion". I covered 1100 km in a week, it felt like it was then at the limit of my physical capabilities. At that time I had only one bike, an ordinary mountain bike (MTB), which I equipped with two trunks, front and rear. This is how he looked.

It was a regular low cost GT Outpost with an "oak" elastomer non-locking front fork (only rebound was adjustable). Of the small "tourist" (then in my opinion) improvements were wide pedals, tramplers and horns on the steering wheel. Later, I realized that if there were no horns, then everything would be much worse and could generally end with my retirement due to numbness and vibration in my hands. Those who are in the subject know that the GT is called a "hard stool". The reason for this is a rigid knot, the so-called double triangle in the area of \u200b\u200bthe articulation of the top tube of the frame, the seat tube and the upper stays of the rear fork. Well, the material is aluminum, a metal that is very rigid in its properties. In addition to the horns, I was saved by the fact that the native tires of this bike had a very narrow strip in the middle, with a stretch they could be called semi-slicks, which, with increased pressure in the wheels, gave an excellent roll on the asphalt, but, unfortunately, increased the transmission of vibrations to the arms and back .

On the 6th day of the trip, I had a serious breakdown - the rear derailleur jammed and bent and the cock broke (the intermediary part between the frame and the rear derailleur). As a result, 150 km from the finish line, I ended up in the middle of nowhere, in a village, where I was able to partially repair (I had a spare rooster, but I couldn’t straighten the switch 100%), losing a lot of time, and as a result, I had to get to the festival by car, agreed with the locals in the neighboring village.

This breakdown occurred in the rain, on a forest sandy road uphill. Sand was thrown on the rollers and the switch jammed at the moment when I actively screwed up the mountain, as a result, one of my efforts was applied to it and the switch turned with a chain and broke off with a rooster.

Broken rooster.

Nevertheless, this small success inspired me so much that the next summer I decided to also go somewhere far away, for example, to the south. On the sea. Because before that, oddly enough, I had never been to the sea. Then it happened that there was a big music festival in the Crimea "Neighboring World", where my musician friends from St. Petersburg - the group "Torba-on-Krucha" were planning to perform. and so everything coincided that the decision to ride a bike to the south was finally and irrevocably taken.

After the first 1000 km bike ride, I thought and analyzed a lot. Then I "smoked" a lot of bike forums in the thematic sections "cycling tourism", read Internet articles about touring bikes. Basically, it was the largest domestic cycling forum forum.velomania.ru. I tried to understand what factors affect how to reduce energy costs and increase the speed of movement and pedaling efficiency. Simply put, how to get tired less and drive further. As it turned out, there were a lot of these factors and I decided to collect and optimize them all. Was no exception and physical training including. I tried to train for endurance in long bike rides as often and regularly as possible, for the first time then, in winter, I bought studded tires and decided not to interrupt the cycling season, because before that I felt that I had to “roll in” in the spring for about a month in the original form.

After digesting information from all sources, I realized that the bike that I need, in finished form, some model presented on the world market simply does not exist. And I began to gnaw at the Internet granite of science, how this bike can be assembled from separate component parts.

And so, in May 2012, the result of drawing all this knowledge of mine was a new bike, created specifically for long-distance travel, the so-called touring bike in global terminology. Its main difference is the steel frame from a special alloy "chromium-molybdenum" (incolloquially "chromol")and the same chromoly simple fork - without shock absorbers. The unique property of a chromoly frame is that it "breathes" as it were. Like a spring that absorbs small bumps, it does not allow harmful vibrations of the roadway to reach the hands and back of the cyclist. My first feeling when I rode this new bike of mine was that I had moved from a Zhiguli to a limousine.

Despite the fact that the front fork, according to the canons of asphalt (namely, this is the style I "profess") of cycling tourism, should be rigid (rigid, from the English rigid - rigid, motionless), this does not affect the comfort of riding on smooth asphalt, on the contrary, it is rigid the fork increases the free rolling of the bicycle and saves the strength of the cyclist. In addition, its weight is 2-3 times less than the suspension fork.

I also reviewed the nuances associated with the transmission and came to the conclusion that it is necessary to use a planetary bushing that is protected from the effects of the external environment and extends the life of the chain. Of the relatively inexpensive ones, there was only one option with a sufficient number of speeds - Shimano Alfine 11 (SG-S700).

Video showing Shimano Alfine planetary hubs:

The front hub was installed special - a dynamo hub - a generator for generating electricity while driving. The fact is that an important component of my bike trips is online reporting in the form of tweets and posts on Instagram, as well as the work of sports and tourism applications that record the track that I ride in real time (such as Aerobia, Strava, GPSLivetracks and etc.). And the smartphone in the Internet mode "lives" for a maximum of 3-4 hours, which naturally did not suit me. I decided that it should be constantly powered by a generator - stabilizer - buffer battery system (so that the power does not stop during a short stop). After searching and comparing, my choice fell on Schmidts Original Nabendynamo Classic . Subsequently, I retrofitted this bicycle electrical system with the same German set of stabilizer and buffer battery E-WERK by Busch & Müller. This is a very common system among cyclists around the world.

Treadle pedals have also been swept aside in favor of SPD clipless pedals (a standard developed by Shimano). Well, in addition, the concept of placing and securing luggage was revised. The choice was made in favor of separate waterproof bags produced by the German company Ortlieb. The relatively low-volume Classic Sport-Packer rear bags were chosen to take the load off the rear of the bike. One of the negatives about the experience of riding a bike with a huge rear backpack "bike pants" was the feeling of clumsiness and instability. Separate small bags with their installation as low as possible made it possible to shift the center of mass of the bike down, which made the whole structure more stable and pleasant to handle.
Also Special attention was given to what the hands of a cyclist hold on to - the steering wheel, since it was necessary to spend 10 hours in the saddle every day, and according to estimates, the journey to the sea should have taken 3 weeks. The so-called H-bar, which is relatively popular with world cyclists, was chosen, since its design resembles the letter H.

I ordered a Titec steering wheel.

To which I added large (more than in the previous bike ride) horns SQ lab 445 Comfort. And also installed anatomical gripsProcraft iGRIP Lenkergriffe Comfort

I must say that I made purchases of bicycle components on various Internet sites, including orders from the USA, England, Germany, China, but about 50% of the parts were purchased in a popular German online store bike-components.com

Also, a fairly well-known resource among cyclists was also used -chainreactioncycles.com (colloquially "chain"). There I ordered components for wheels - rims and tires. Rims should be both light and strong, tires should also be light, wear-resistant and anti-puncture, and have a road-highway tread pattern, with minimal rolling resistance. In addition, they had to withstand up to 5 atmospheres, since in order to give a special rolling with a touring bike loaded with luggage, the tire pressure must be very high. Naturally, the combination of all these properties refers to expensive models. As a result, thanks to the advice of experienced cyclists, the choice of what to assemble wheels from fell on the Schwalbe Marathon Dureme 26 x 2.0 (in this moment production of this particular model is discontinued) and rimsSun Ringle Rhyno Lite XL - Pinned Rim

The total amount spent on the bike and body kit was about 70 tr., which, at the exchange rate of 2012 (euro = 40 rubles), was approximately 1,750 euros.

As a result, the outlines of the completed bicycle in full gear took on this form.

As a result of all the events, my bike trip in the summer of 2012 took place along the route Kirov - Kerch. The journey of 2500 km took 21 days. And then, even before Anapa, I wound up about 300 in the Kuban. The new bike justified itself by 100%.

On the Sea of Azov, somewhere between Mariupol and Melitopol.

Also in the summer of 2013, I repeated the route of 2011 Kirov - "Invasion", this time "Invasion-2013". (with minor additions, for example, with a ride to the All-Russian Bicycle Festival "Uglichskaya Versta"), but on this new bike. The difference in feeling was amazing.

In preparation for the 6000 km bike ride in 2014, already in 2013, I began to seriously take care of the physical component. As the saying goes, "hard to learn, easy to fight." I started to take part in brevet marathons of the Kirov-Chepetsk cycling club "Velosotnya". Starting with 100 km, then I went through several 200 km marathons. And, finally, the distance of 300 km obeyed me.

According to the experience of the Kirov-Kerch run, he noted several points regarding landing on descents, namely, there was not enough aerodynamic low landing, which is possible only with a road steering wheel - a "ram". Without it, I had to bend over and rest my elbows on the horns in a perverted form. Also, when driving at night along the highway at a relatively high speed, it was very annoying that the bicycle headlight blinded oncoming cars and I had to lower it “to the floor” at every turn and then again direct it onto the road.

The result of the modification was an updated bike, which I was preparing for the Vyatka-Gibraltar bike ride. First, I changed the On One frame to a similar chrome Chaka Pele frame, but bigger. I chose it thanks to the topic that Velopiter created on the forum Rama ordered on the site Gigabike.de through an intermediary delivery company, since this online bike shop did not send parcels to Russia (at least in 2012)

Secondly, it was installed a little lateranother steering wheel - carbon road,on the second, lower takeaway. And made a system of duplication of disc brakes. A sunbed was also placed on top, on which there were also brake handles ("pistols"), but leading to a separate system - v-brake. All this is done in order to further diversify the number of positions when riding - and this idea has fully justified itself, I almost got rid of the feeling of stiff arms and back that haunted me on previous long bike rides.

On the lounger are fixed: a bicycle computer, a gps-navigator and two headlights. As I already wrote, driving in the dark with oncoming cars was inconvenient and I actually created a "far-near" light switching system using two bicycle headlights. The lower one, Magicshine MJ808 (900 lumens), I sent down, this is my "dipped beam", which did not blind oncoming drivers. And the high beam was provided by the Niteye B-20 headlight (1200 lumens), which was controlled from a remote switch on the steering wheel under the thumb of the right hand.

I attached a heart rate monitor to the left side of the handlebar, because I wanted to keep statistics on the average and maximum heart rate for all 50 days of the bike ride.
The small wide-view mirror (lower) did not last long. Its fastening at the end of the steering wheel affected the fact that when the bike was accidentally leaned against something by the wheel, the mirror constantly got off and in the end the flimsy plastic swivel hinge could not stand it, and the mirror fell off somewhere else at the beginning of the journey for the first 500 km.

The wide saddle BBB BSD-23 BodyShape, quite elastic and rigid, but at the same time wide and with a slot in the middle, fully justified itself even in the Kirov-Kerch bike ride. And I didn't want to change it. Many seasoned cyclists will probably exclaim: "But what about Brooks !!!?") Well, like that, I didn’t grow together with him, with Brooks). In addition to the rear light built into the trunk Tourit Shine , which worked from a dynamo sleeve, a wide five-diode flashlight was also installed Sigma Tailguard.

Rear view of the trunk. A bit not sharp)

Front dynamo. Two wires are clearly visible, which can be easily disconnected if necessary to remove the wheel.

Rear 11 speed planetary hub Alfine 11, aka SG-S700. Made in Japan. The Avid BB7 disc brakes are also clearly visible.

Shimano XTR cranks put it all together necessary qualities- stiffness, strength and lightness. The carriage assembly used an "inner cartridge" system. Its plus for tourism is that the industrial bearings are located inside the bottom bracket tube in the cartridge and are more reliably protected from rain and dirt than systems with external bearings (the so-called systems with an integrated hollow axle). In addition, cartridge carriages can reduce the Q-factor - the transverse distance between the feet when pedaling, which has a beneficial effect on the well-being of the legs, knee joints throughout a long journey.

I used a Dura Ace BB-7700 track bottom bracket.
Truvativ's 32-tooth, single-speed, four-arm steel sprocket required a clever spider adapter.

Shimano SPD M-540 Clipless Pedals

Ortlieb luggage bags have a secure, well-thought-out way of attaching to the trunk. They can be installed and removed in a couple of seconds.

For example, here is a video explaining the principle of the device for attaching bags of this company.

This is really more convenient than tying a bike backpack with ribbons. In addition, bike backpacks are wet and require additional rain covers on top, which hold water back for a while, but moisture still penetrates. And waterproof bags like Ortlieb are absolutely airtight. Currently, I heard that there are analogues of such bags.

And here is a close-up of the same electrical equipment that I mentioned above - Bush and Muller E-werk stabilizer and buffer battery. Thanks to them, I had a stable power supply for my smartphone from the dynamo hub.

Mounting point for two rudders - two stems. The lower KCNC Fly Ride stem is designed for 31.8mm road handlebars, while the upper stem of the KCNC Fly Ride is designed for 25.4mm MTB handlebars.

The duplication of the drive of disc brakes was done using a system of cross-top levers, additional brake levers that are used in cyclocross bikes.

Finally, I will say a few words, why for my first long-distance bike wheel size was chosen to be 26 inches rather than 28 as is commonly done on touring bikes. I decided this for several reasons:

1) 26 wheels are lighter than 28x, which generally reduces the weight of the entire bike (not much, 500 grams, but still)

2) The 26th wheel at the same speed spins faster than the 28th, respectively, at low speeds (for example, in long climbs on mountain serpentines), the 26th wheel generates a little more electricity.

3) A bicycle with 26 wheels is more compact when packed, which is a plus in air and railway transportation.

4) Cameras at 26 are usually more common in the Russian outback. (Although someone will reasonably notice that you can pull 26 on a 28 wheel, well, this is also an option). In addition, rims, tires and knitting needles in some regions both in Russia and abroad) are also found more often in provincial stores at 26.

5) 26 wheels give a little more space in the bike structure, like the distance from the top of the front wheel (or fender) to the front bag, or space for the pump behind the seat tube.

Although, for the future, I am absolutely not averse to trying 28th wheels. Still, there is a completely logical confirmed fact that 28 wheels have more roll and are less susceptible to road irregularities.

And I also want to try a frame of elongated geometry (with an increased base). So there's more to come.

Well, this concludes the review of the bike and the history of its creation. If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will answer as soon as possible.

I travel a lot and the question I hear all the time is almost the same: what should be a hiking bike? Having ridden many kilometers on various bikes, I made a selection of parameters that you need to pay attention to when purchasing a bike for travel. If you already have a bike and you don't want to change it, then just look at the individual components, it is possible that just by making a small upgrade, you will significantly improve your results.

So, a bike for a bike trip should be, first of all, reliable. This is his main, if not the only indicator. I'll start with types, and then I'll move on to components, since they are almost completely universal.

Touring bike frame

It must be durable. The ideal option is the classic "diamond". It is desirable to have holes for mounting the trunk on the upper rear feathers, but this is not a mandatory parameter, since there are trunks for which this is not important, for example, topeak, as well as any contact trunk.

Transmission for tourism

The switch should be as reliable as possible, but you should not overpay. For example, it does not make sense to buy a Deore LX level switch for tourism. Among cyclists, it is considered the most optimal Deore in terms of price / quality ratio in the Shimano line, and the X5 derailleur. The number of gears depends on your preferences, it is worth having a reserve in a bike trip, but here 2x10 or 3x8-10 does not play a big role. I can't even say which is better, because if the switches are set up and looked after, then everything will work. But with the number of rear stars, everything is not so simple. Considering that the width rear hub standard, the number of stars per drum increases by reducing the width of the metal, which cannot but affect their wear resistance. Even for the most expensive models, this figure is growing disproportionately. In my opinion, 3x8 or 3x9 are the most optimal ratios for cycling.

Brakes for cycling

If you don't know what kind of bicycle brakes- check out. We immediately discard the V-brake, although they are used by beginner cyclists, over time everyone comes to disks. Disc are divided into two types: mechanics and hydraulics. Here I do not undertake to answer, because on this topic there are simply endless "holivars" among the adherents of one or another system. I will give only dry facts. Hydraulics: big weight, the possibility of system overheating at long work, high modulation when braking, low braking force, poor field repairability, does not require constant adjustment, requires careful handling during wheel removal and transportation, and special tools are often needed for repairs. Mechanics: lighter weight, field maintainable, low modulation, braking force depends on the force on the handle, constant adjustment required, unpretentious during transportation. My personal choice is mechanics.

Carriage for cycling

It must be on a cartridge with industrial bearings. Any axis will do, but octalink is better, it is more reliable. The use of hollowtech is quite controversial, because it is less protected from dirt, but many still use it due to increased torsional rigidity.

Fork. Its question remains open, but for hikes of many categories of difficulty, except for the highest ones, a good spring-elastomer fork is also suitable, but oil is better, of course. The main thing to care for her is to regularly clean and lubricate. The stroke length can be completely different, but it is not recommended to set more than 100 millimeters and 40-60 for a hybrid.

Cycling pedals

"Contacts" or "stompers"? The question is your preferences, I started, like everyone else, with “toptalok”, but now I switched to “contacts”. Practice has shown that for difficult hikes with a lot of off-road and dirt, or difficult mountainous terrain, double-sided contact pedals Not the best choice. If you prefer to use "contacts", then I advise you to look at combo pedals for hiking, such as the SHIMANO M324 SPD Pedal. If your choice is "toptalki", then everything is simple - an aluminum platform with good grip and a large area, and industrial bearings.

Wheels for cycling

More precisely, a wheelset is a rim, spokes, bushing. Reliability is important here, so the rims are double, and the most perfect option– . Spokes DT Swiss Champion or similar, non-stretch. The bushing is on industrial bearings, the company is not so important, but you should pay attention to the protection against dirt and the resource, but the weight is not so important.

Tires for cycling

Everything is simple here - reliability is above all. You can sacrifice a high thread count, but it's not worth risking weight loss for a folding tire or skinwall tipe. That's why gumwall tipe, double compound, low TPI and steel bead. The protector should be chosen for each hike depending on the conditions, but among the budget all-rounders for a hike, I can mention the Small Block, Kenda Slant Six or Kenda Karma.

Steering wheel for tourism

The wider it is, the less effort is needed to turn the wheel. The material can be anything, but I would avoid carbon. If it is so important to dampen the absorption of small vibrations, then it is better to choose steel or titanium, depending on financial capabilities.

Touring bike saddle

It should not be the hardest, but not the softest either. We have already written about. Among cyclists, it is generally accepted that the saddle should be harder, and the diaper should be softer. Balance and comfort are important, you should not rush to extremes: an all-carbon or wide walking shoe is not the best choice.

Results

What can you save money on and what can't? You can't skimp on the desire to travel. A good example of this is a friend of mine who has ridden over 2,000 miles across Europe on one of Trek's most affordable mountain bikes with disc brakes. But seriously, for Europe, with their developed cycling structure, such a bike is quite good, but for Russia ... Therefore, we return to savings. Rear wheel, where the bulk of the weight falls, it is better to put a quality one, but the front one can be left stock, the main thing is that the rim is double. Brakes - disc, but which ones, the choice is yours. The carriage and pedals are on the slip, the frame is chrome-molybdenum or aluminum. Such an assembly will allow you to start learning the basics of cycling, and then, with experience, you will come to your own "custom" - after all, alas, stock touring bikes are not produced.

Thank you for attention,
Alexey Evdokimov

For those who have read to the end of the video bonus!

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Tourism activities open up the opportunity to communicate with friends, improve health, and be alone with nature. Hiking in terms of benefits is ahead of exhausting classes in the halls. The first thing a traveler gets is the loss of extra pounds. After all, he has to go a lot over rough terrain, and this is a considerable expenditure of calories. Normalization of weight proper nutrition, increase resistance to stress, Fresh air, and to this, the development of muscles: ascents to elevations and descents into ravines develop endurance and physical strength- "usefulness" of tourism.

Hiking can compete with cycling: a person rushes towards the wind, leaving behind kilometer after kilometer - an occupation that is not only fascinating and educational, but also good for health. Riding a tourist bike has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, develops muscles, makes the lungs work, due to which the blood is saturated with oxygen and carried by the bloodstream throughout the body. Cycling is shown to people suffering varicose veins veins who want to lose weight, with vision problems and with a diagnosis of "vegetovascular dystonia". Pedaling a bicycle and breathing in the fresh air, the tourist enjoys the changing landscapes, gets an indescribable feeling, strengthens nervous system and health, increases stress resistance and fights depression.

All you need for cycling is desire, like-minded people and a touring bike.

If you haven’t purchased a bike yet, rent it to experience the benefits of riding it:

safety for the environment;
improved health due to evenly distributed physical activity;
receiving aesthetic pleasure;
the attraction of outdoor recreation;
low costs for the purchase of equipment, the main attribute of which is a touring bike.

Why is it important to have your own touring bike

As mentioned, the "iron horse" can be rented. But, in this case, you cannot be completely sure of the reliability of the bike, and this is the main component of a good rest for cycling tourism.

What to look for when choosing a touring bike

On the one hand, this is easy to do, because there are a lot of models of tourist bikes on the market. But it’s difficult on the other hand (for the same reason): within the store, several models of bicycles are presented in the same price category. One thing can be said with confidence - a high-quality touring bike cannot cost a little, since this vehicle is supposed to ride on urban roads, country roads, off-road, etc.

So, for a tourist bike are important: a reliable frame and strong wheels, with a small weight of the bike itself. Weight is important, since a fully equipped tourist transports: a sleeping bag, provisions, a tent, a first aid kit, removable items, etc.

Technical parameters

For a touring bike, the following parameters are important:

durable frame made of aluminum or steel. It is desirable that this be a one-piece design that does not have additional cushioning. It will be easy to operate, not expensive and relatively light;
high-quality parts, the reliability of which is high, and the maintenance is simple;
straight steering wheel. This design is considered optimal by cyclists;
triple crank system with high gear for moving on flat terrain and low gear for climbs;
the most suitable wheel size is 26 inches;
it is recommended to choose a larger number of spokes in order to maintain parity in high-speed mode;
the possibility of understaffing with additional accessories;
the wheel base is preferably elongated with a low center of gravity. This will increase maneuverability; the ability to carry additional cargo, as well as the bike itself in different types transport: metro, plane, train;
comfortable saddle. Without it, it is difficult to make long trips.

Let's get acquainted with the popular models

Tourist bikes of the Russian brand STELS

Tourist bikes of the Russian brand STELS are especially popular among fans of this sport. The brand produces products, taking into account the actual operating conditions and the wishes of consumers. Parts are supplied by Holland to Russian factories where bicycles are assembled.

All products manufactured under the STELS brand are subjected to rigorous testing at the factories. Then the testing of tourist vehicles is carried out. The changing trends of the modern bicycle market are closely watched by company designers and experienced engineers who make bikes a reality. Original appearance of this touring bike is combined with reliability.

Of the models of this company, two bikes are again favorite: Stels 700C Cross 150 Gent and Stels 700C Cross 130 Gent. Both of them lie in almost the same price range. The difference is 50-80 dollars.

However, touring bikes differ significantly in design:

the frames of the two models are made of the same material - aluminum alloy;
the first model has Tektro Novela disc front and rear brakes, the second has Tektro V-Brake rim brakes, which are inferior in terms of reliability in adverse weather;
Shimano attachments belong to the same class;
the diameter of the wheels is the same and equal to 28 inches, and the coating is different: the first has Kenda, the second has Chaoyang;
the Cross 130 has fewer speeds - 21, while the Cross 150 has 24.

The quality of other parts of tourist bikes is said to be similar. Therefore, given the reasonable cost (250-500 US dollars), tourists can easily make a choice.

About CUBE Nature Pro touring bikes

These bikes are in second place in popularity. The German company began to produce them back in 1992. Since that time, she has become a leading player in the bicycle market. It is worth saying that there are separate franchises in Taiwan, but both painting and assembly of touring bikes are carried out exclusively in Germany. These touring bikes show the best combination of quality and price when compared with other manufacturers. And here again, like the STELS transport, two models are the most popular - Cube Nature Pro and Cube LTD CLS Pro.

Touring bikes have almost the same comfort in road and off-road conditions, during acceleration and when driving in high-speed mode, when climbing.

The differences between touring bikes are as follows:

the second model is somewhat cheaper - its cost is 950-120 dollars, in contrast to the 1300-1500 dollars that must be paid for the first;
the frames of the models are made of aluminum alloy, but the first one has an anti-shock double section;
the weight of the frame of the first model in comparison with the competitive one is 8% less;
Cube Nature Pro has 3 more speeds than Cube LTD CLS Pro, which has 27 speeds.

Otherwise, the parameters of the components purchased from the best bicycle manufacturers are identical. The price of this company's touring bikes is higher than the previously discussed vehicles, but by choosing them, you get reliability and guaranteed German quality.

BMW Touring Bike Review

The bike model is the best for traveling if you prefer a comfortable ride over money. But, you will have to pay up to $ 2,000, which makes many think about the advisability of such an acquisition. The touring bike has perfect shifting (out of 27), as well as a frame that differs in shape from the classic one. It is made by hydroforming with powder spraying. When traveling on it, there will be no problems with the chassis. The touring bike performs well at top speed when descending, which is possible thanks to the wheels of Rodi, Airline Plus.

A simple walk, like a multi-day ride, is equally comfortable for cyclists. And this is thanks to ergonomic handles and a comfortable saddle.

Specifications

handlebar - 580 mm MTB Lowriser X-TAS-Y AL 2014 DB;
75mm travel, Suntour NCX-D 26";
Shimano Deore V-Brake - brakes;
wheel size and brand: 19-559, Airline Plus, Rodi;
Schwalbe City Plus 47-559 Reflex - tires;
27 gears, Shimano Deore - transmission;
included in the kit: trunk, pump, protective fenders.

After weighing all the pros and cons, they buy the model and do not regret it, because the quality is worth it.

Other touring models

In addition to those considered, other models of bikes are supplied to the domestic market for traveling along long and short routes. These are the products of companies: Smart, Head, Giant, Bulls. Touring bikes of the listed companies have advantages that you need to consider when buying a particular vehicle.

Depending on the region of residence, the pricing policy changes. Therefore, before you go shopping, it is recommended to study the market.

Video: Bicycle for tourism