A touring bike is your best ally for a cycling travel. Touring bikes are unique. Although they may look like other types of bikes, they differ in many ways. Yes, when it comes to bike touring, there are many different bikes available for you to buy. But one type that has been around for a very long time is the touring bike and that will never let you down is a touring bike. But what is exactly a touring bike? In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about gravel touring bikes and adventure touring bikes, the history of touring bikes, and why you might want to buy one.
What is a touring bike?
A simple definition of a touring bike
A touring bike is designed to travel long distances and carry heavy loads. These bikes are built to be sturdy and reliable and comfortable for extended periods in the saddle. It is incredibly popular with people who like to holiday on bikes or take incredibly long bike rides across countries or even continents.
Some amazing adventures have been done on touring bikes, such as Göran Kropp's adventure. He left Stockholm in October 1995 and cycled 13,000 kilometers to Everest Base Camp with 238 lbs of gear and then climbed to the top.
The history of touring bikes
Touring bikes have been around for a very long time. In the late 19th century, the safety bicycle was created. It did not have the dangers of the penny farthing (High cycle) and came with lots of technology making longer distances much easier.
This new bike design with a rear chain drive, brakes, and gearing allowed people to travel further, faster, and much more comfortably. In the 1950s, sales post-war increased dramatically when they started designing bikes with more mounting points to carry more luggage.
The golden age of touring bikes was from the 1970s to the 1980s. Bike touring became very popular, and companies started to make them with more advanced technology, from better brakes to stronger frames.
In modern times, touring bikes can have hydraulic brakes, electronic gearing, dynamo chargers, aerodynamic racks, and even internal hub gearing that only needs servicing every 10,000 km. The touring bike has come a very long way.
What makes a touring bike?
The characteristics of a touring bike
What is a touring bike for cycling? Touring bikes generally look quite similar to road bikes, but they have some subtle differences that you will notice. They are unique in their own right. To best explain what a touring bike is, let's discuss its characteristics.
What gear must fit on a touring bike?
When it comes to packing out a touring bike you have a lot of different options. For the rear, you have pannier systems, which hold two large bags on a rack with space for a top bag. On the front, you have a front rack, which again can fit large panniers.
You can use a frame bag and a top tube bag for the frame. You also have the option of a small bag on the bottom of the downtube. You can also use various bikepacking bags and even fork bags that attach to the side of the front forks.
The right touring bike will come with enough mounts to get creative and store everything that you will need. The bag setup will be unique to you and your trip. Over time, you might find that your bike uses multiple bag setups.
Different types of touring bikes
Know you know what is a touring bike, it is important to understand there are several different types of touring bikes on the market. Here is what you can expect.
There are many types of bike touring
Traditional touring bike
Firstly, we have traditional touring bikes. These are used for paved roads and come equipped with drop handlebars. They have small to medium width of tires and often are equipped with fenders too. They are perfect for long trips using cycle paths and roads.
Adventure touring bike
The adventure touring bike is designed to have more ability compared to traditional touring bikes. They have wider tires, disc brakes, and often a more durable frame and fork. They are much better on mixed terrain, such as trails and gravel roads. Often known as a gravel touring bike. You can also read our article on what is a gravel bike.
Expedition touring bike
Expedition touring bikes are made to be incredibly tough and handle some very challenging conditions. They are what you would use going out to remote areas and are often equipped with mountain bike gearing and even suspension forks.
E-touring bikes
You even get e-touring bikes. We often get asked, "What is the best e-touring bike?" One of the most popular seems to be the Trek Powerfly. This can cover good mileage, comes with a rack preinstalled, and looks fantastic. It is a great electric gravel touring bike, or some consider it an electric adventure touring bike.
The rest
There are also some other unique types you are going to find available, such as recumbent touring bikes, tandem touring bikes, and even lightweight sports touring bikes. You will find a lot great touring bikes on our website.
So, is a touring bike for you?
Touring bikes are a great way to go on a cycling adventure while carrying everything you need to stay comfortable and explore anywhere you wish. If you want to learn more about bike touring and bikepacking there are some amazing articles on our website. And if you want to invest in a touring bike, take a look at buycycle or read our article "Where to buy a bike?".