This Trek CrossRip 3 has been my adventure companion for years and taught me that you don't need three different bikes when you have one that can do it all. I used it to zip through city traffic on my way to work, but its true character comes out when you load up the bags and head toward the unknown. The aluminum frame is solid but very light, just over 9.5 kg, and the carbon fork really makes a difference when the asphalt ends and the gravel begins, absorbing shocks that you would feel entirely in your arms on other bikes.

I set it up to be the ultimate travel machine: it has mounts practica...