What is the best bicycle for long-distance touring?

May 8, 2024 8 min

What is the best bicycle for long-distance touring?

Looking for the best bicycle for long-distance touring? Bicycle adventures show you a fantastic destination and give you amazing memories along the way. With many different bikes, what is the best bicycle for long-distance touring? This article will tell you what to look for in a long-distance bike, what options are available, and where you might want to ride for an excellent tour.

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What is important on a long-distance bike tour

When it comes to a long-distance bike tour, there is a lot you need to consider. The first is that the bike you plan to use has the right characteristics for the task. A touring bike can come as a logical first choice. It is a good one, but not the only one. Here is what we recommend you look for in the best bicycle for long-distance touring.

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We also have a dedicated article about what a touring bike is.

The best bicycle for long-distance touring

The best bicycle for long-distance touring must be

Comfortable
Reliable
Durable
Capable of carrying a large load
Able to ride on multiple surfaces
Easy to fix on the road

Comfortable

For bike touring, the first thing to look for is comfort. If you find the bike uncomfortable, it is going to make the riding miserable and the whole trip. A comfortable bike will have upright geometry, a good saddle, be properly fitted to you, and wide tires to take the vibrations out of the road.

Reliable

Next, we have reliability. If you are planning a long-distance tour, you will need to take a bike that will continue to work well no matter the miles you are doing or the gear you are carrying. This will mean having good gearing, brakes, wheels, and tires, and it helps when the bike is easy to work on.

Durable

Another big factor that many long-distance cyclists overlook is durability. You need a bike with components that can take a lot of knocks and still work. Using materials such as steel goes a very long way for durability, and unlike carbon, the frames can be repaired easily.

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Capable of carrying a large load

Then we have a large carrying capacity. You need a bike with not just the ability to have a high capacity weight limit of up and above around 130 kilograms, but it also needs to have mounting points for bags and panniers.

Able to ride on multiple surfaces

Finally, the ability to ride on multiple surfaces is not essential, but it does make a bike for touring much more versatile. This means you do not just have to be on the roads. You can be on trails and much more.

Easy to fix on the road

Depending on your destination, you will not necessarily have bike stores to help you repair your bike. All parts must be accessible and easy to change. For example, avoid cables running through the frame.

best bicycle for long-distance touring — You need a reliable, strong and yet not too heavy bike

What are the options on the market?

When it comes to long-distance touring, a bike doesn’t always have to be a touring bike. There are many options, such as gravel bikes and mountain bikes. Below, you will find some of the different types of bikes that are amazing for touring, why they are good, and some recommendations.

Bike Type	Description	Recommended
Touring Bike	A touring bike ticks all the boxes when it comes to a long-distance bicycle. It’s comfortable, strong, durable, and with many having pannier racks, an ideal solution. These years ago were incredibly popular but very few companies these days make a specialist touring bike in modern days. A touring bike might just be the best bicycle for long distance touring in india.	Thorn Nomad Santos TravelMaster Salsa Marrakesh Fuji Touring
Gravel Bike	A gravel bike is another great option you can use for a long-distance tour. They are built with a lot of strength, have a relaxed geometry and wider tires for comfort, and often come with all the mounting points for extra bags and even racks.	Ritchey Outback Giant Revolt Trek Touring Surly Straggler
MTB Bike	Another great option for touring, especially off-road, is a mountain bike. Most people touring choose a hardtail over full suspension. They have the ability to be very comfortable, carry loads, and are just great for being very reliable. A MTB could be the best bicycle for long distance touring in Africa.	Trek 1120 Kona Unit X Salsa Blackthorn Niner ROS 9

People use a few other types of bikes for touring, such as road bikes, hybrid bikes, tandem bikes, and even fat bikes. There are no rules about what bikes you can use or how you should use them for long-distance cycling. If it works for you, then ride away. - Alice Huot @ buycycle

We also have a guide to help you choose a bike for bikepacking including our top 5 best gravel bikes for bikepacking.

Choosing the best bicycle for long-distance touring: where do you plan to ride?

Want some fantastic places you can go bike touring that will open you up to the world in a way you might have never thought about? To inspire you, here are some of the best touring bike routes in the world!

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If you plan a long-distance cycling trip, have a look at our bike touring gear list and our bikepacking gear list to not forget anything.

best long distance bike — Will you cycle in a remote area?

The Great Divide mountain bike route

Based in the USA and Canada, the Great Divide mountain bike route is 4345 kilometers long and stretches from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. It takes you into remote wilderness and shows stunning mountain scenery. While it is a classic route to start bikepacking, it is undeniably demanding.

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The North Sea Cycle Route

best bike long-distance touring — The North Sea cycling route

The North Sea Cycle Route is 6000 kilometers long and circles the North Sea, passing through eight countries, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and England. It offers coastal landscapes, cities full of history, and many cultural attractions.

The Munda Biddi Trail

The Munda Biddi Trail, which spans 1600 kilometers, offers amazing off-road cycling in Western Australia. It goes from Mundaring to Albany, through forest parks and reserves, and is full of amazing wildlife. Read our guide on where to sleep while bikepacking to avoid bad encounters!

The Friendship Highway

If 765 kilometers between Nepal and Tibet is the adventure you are looking for, then look no further than the Friendship Highway. High mountain passes and views like no other place, it’s the adventure of a lifetime.