Bicycle Vacations

How to Choose a Good Bicycle for Bike Touring

Comparing city bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bicycles

Here a simple summary comparing 3 different type of bikes (road, off-road and tourism), explaining what type of accessories and requirements use to stay safe and enjoy riding.

Not all bicycles are the same!

It is true that all bicycles are moving in the same way, namely with the strength of legs, but the first thing to do before buying a bicycle is to ask:

• What type of Bike?
• How equipping?
• Is it adaptable, even with the possibility of transformation, to different uses?

1 - Mountain Bike

a) The mountain bike

As minimum requirements, it should have:

• Chassis, wheels, handlebars, saddle and robust but light accessories;
• With quick-release wheels;
• Wide from off-road tires;
• Cantilever brakes;
• Comfortable commands (on the handlebars);
• Rigid saddle;

b) Accessories

Other material that should not miss is a bag containing:

• No. 1 air chamber;
• The pump;
• Levers to disassemble the tire;
• A rag (not to abandon around!);
• A wire brake;
• Some keys;
• A good flashlight with attack on the handlebars (when it is expected to return with dark);

In addition to Your own security we recommend the use of a good helmet.

c) Use of mountain bikes for other activities

The mountain bike, as described above, can only be transported in the place where you want to use it.

To bike in roads, for security, You must add:

• Light signals front and rear;
• Reflectors on the pedals;
• A buzzer;
• Mudguards;
• Carter.

The transformation of mountain biking is not always convenient. If you want to use it for a real mountain biking on rugged paths, adding lights, fenders, luggage racks, housings, etc.. involves a weight gain, annoying vibrations, cracks, etc..

The mud also can creep between carter and chain, or wheel and mudguard slowing down or stopping the movement.

2 - Road Bicycle

a) Main features:

• Sturdy frame;
• Handlebar allowing a erected riding position;
• Carter and fenders;
• Signal lights on front and rear (required);
• Reflectors on the pedals (required);
• Rear rack (and earlier);
• A good hopper.

b) Accessories

For greater security You can increase its visibility with:

• Pallet with reflectors;
• Reflectors on the wheels.
• The special shopping bags;
• The seat for the child;
• The trash front (or back).

c) Using the road bike for other activities.

The classic city bike normally is used for daily trips and is not equipped with change. Hardly can turn to other activities.

You can use for short cycling excursions, bearing in mind a number of drawbacks.

d) Other recommendations

Before choosing a bike make regular saddle and handlebar tests to set them in the best position.

When you buy a seat for children, be sure to buy one rigid, giving strong support to the backbone of the child. Also having the safety straps to avoid introducing feet in the spokes of the wheels in motion is a good feature.

3 A bicycle for Tourism

a) Key Features

More and more people need bike excursions outside the city, requiring at least forty kilometers, where there might be some climb.

The most suitable bike will have the following characteristics;

• Relatively lightweight and sturdy (depends on building materials);
• Quick release wheel;
• Saddle, hard or just barely spring;
• The cantilever brakes;
• At least six changes rear and two front;
• Lighting very visible (possibly with halogen lamps);
• Good grasshopper.

b) Essential accessories

• The pump;
• Carry bottle
• The tube stock and tools for small repairs;

c) Using the tourism bikes for other activities

This type of bike is easily converted to make it suitable for hiking or more challenging travel.

You can add:

• Sturdy luggage racks front and rear;
• Bags front and rear;
• Little bag front on the handlebars with special compartment for the topographic map;
• A second hopper located on rear forks to increase stability.