Bicycles

Questions tagged [touring]

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Touring usually means very long multi-day (or multi-week) rides carrying a lot of gear (camping, cooking, clothes, etc) on the bike. Can also apply to unloaded/creditcard touring involving using hotels/motels instead of camping.

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18
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5answers
3k views

Best E-reader for a touring bike?

OK, folks, since today is April 1st and April 1st is pretty much the start of the cycling season here in Tropical Southern Minnesota, I figure it's the ideal day to ask this question: What is the ...
2
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1answer
56 views

DT Swiss Revolution spokes for touring?

I’m building a set of bikes for my wife and I. Both are Surly Bridge Club frames, and we’ll initially be running WTB KOM Tough i40 rims with 2.8in Schwalbe tires. I purchased some DT Swiss ...
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2answers
138 views

Are Deore trekking / MTB groupsets compatible with cyclocross frames for touring conversion?

I have a pre-disc-brake vintage 10 speed cyclocross bike that has already seen me through some tours, however, I find the compact chainring is sometimes not geared low enough. I'm also growing ...
10
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3answers
2k views

Touring with kids - tag along and kids trailer behind same bike

I am wondering if anyone has experience of pulling tag-along and then kids trailer? Would that be possible to tag a kids trailer to a 20 inch tag along?
3
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3answers
158 views

Bike spare parts in South America

I'll soon start a rather long trip from Ushuaia in southern Argentina to Alaska in the north of North America. As I'm from Europe (France), I don't really know what to expect about spare parts for my ...
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1answer
65 views

UK - Help me find my ideal bike [closed]

My employer's cycle to work scheme (Cycle Solutions) allows a max spend of £1k for a bicycle. Ideally I want a bicycle that fits the following criteria: Drop bars Frame with eyelets (I can transfer ...
0
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1answer
134 views

Have I forgotten anything?

Doing a London - Brighton run on Saturday morning, so far in the backpack I will have : Spare inner tubes, Jet pump, Multi tool kit, Tyre levers, Gel bars, Fluids, Cash & Card incase, Am I going ...
1
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3answers
473 views

Trek Domane panniers

I have a 2018 Domane SL5. I would love to get into bike touring and I love this bike. It is very comfy to ride and I can imagine that it would be great for the distances I'm planning to cover on my ...
2
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2answers
137 views

Is “touring bike” a common term in the USA?

Just researching some bikes online and, being from the UK, I cannot find any bikes on US websites called 'touring bikes', as we'd commonly call them in the UK. By this, I mean bikes which come with ...
7
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2answers
711 views

Good way to stop electrolyte tabs from turning into powder?

I carry electrolyte tabs on multi-day bike rides, especially in hot weather. I use a container like this (though not necessarily this brand — the picture is just for illustration): What I find is ...
0
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4answers
199 views

50km for someone who has no experience cycling long distance [duplicate]

I'm considering cycling along a sand dune which is 50km. The bike path is mainly flat. The longest I've riden on a bike is probably less than 1 hour. I do occasionally cycle within the city but it's ...
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0answers
44 views

Riding Loveland Pass, Colorado

I'll soon be attempting Loveland Pass west of Denver unsupported and would like to hear of any experiences and/or recommendations from others who have done it or another high mountain pass in the ...
13
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6answers
4k views

What explains 9 speed cassettes price differences?

I have a pretty heavy bike I use to travel long distances with a lot of luggage. It has a mix of XT, deore and other Shimano equipment. I bought it second hand so I don't really know the details. I ...
8
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9answers
6k views

Is it possible to do 50 km distance without any previous training?

I'm considering to do a 50-55 km distance on a mixed surface. Mostly asphalt and gravel, maybe even a little bit of sand. Haven't done any training or exercise, basically been sitting at home all day, ...
5
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4answers
145 views

Multi-city bike rental in Europe (NL, BE)

I'm considering a bike trip in Europe, primarily the Netherlands, over a week or two. But I'd rather rent a bike (in fact, two) than bring mine all the way from Australia. Are there any options for '...
8
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2answers
363 views

How to ensure security of panniers when touring

I'm planning a cycle tour carrying baggage in panniers on the bike. For at least some of the trip, I'll be alone, and when I need to go into shops/cafes/toilets, I can lock up the bike, but the ...
1
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2answers
305 views

Hose Clamp Salsa Watter Bottle Cage to Rigid Fork with No Sliding (Gravel)

Last year, I used some plastic clamps I bought from a LBS to mount two stainless steel Salsa water bottle cages to my rigid fork as shown in this picture: Unfortunately, the plastic clamps wouldn't ...
10
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13answers
3k views

Touring vs race bike [closed]

I am Fabrizio, completely new in this forum full of experts, considering myself somebody who wants to take his very first steps at biking on the roads. I started to live in the Netherlands since 2 ...
1
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3answers
213 views

Bottom bracket replacement

I have an old '89 Trek Singletrack 950 with the original Shimano Mountain LX group bottom bracket. I'd like to replace the bottom bracket with something new. Can anyone help me determine what will fit ...
15
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6answers
4k views

Is it possible to construct an overnight shelter using a bike as the upright?

Next year I might find myself needing a lightweight touring/camping shelter, suitable for overnight stops at camspites and at the roadside. One option is a single-hoop bivvy tent (example) but many ...
2
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2answers
432 views

Purpose of fork with single bidon mount and no eyelets?

I saw a fork that had a single bidon mount on each blade, midway down, and no eyelets on the dropouts. I don't understand the use of this. I was under the impression that any front rack would need an ...
0
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3answers
500 views

New bike for commuting and touring

I went downstairs earlier to get ready for an afternoon ride on the cheap bike I picked up a few months ago as I wasn't certain if I would keep the cycling up and found to my dismay that, once again, ...
2
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1answer
98 views

E-bike rims: can I use them on my touring bike?

I am touring with my MTB, now for 4 months. I have been using really good Pacenti 29er rims, but just 2 days ago I cracked the rear one. I am carrying a lot of weight and Pacenti (after I contacted ...
0
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1answer
115 views

Riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles

I am planning a San Francisco - Los Ángeles bike trip next spring. Is it better to do LA to SF or SF to LA? Thanks, regards from Mexico City
1
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1answer
132 views

Is a Surly front rack compatible with tubus mount for eyeless forks?

I am looking at the Surly front rack and was wondering if it's compatible with this Tubus mount. If it's not I'll have to go for the Tara but I was keen on having a platform on my front rack. Any ...
0
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1answer
177 views

CrossRip 3 carbon fork for front panniers

I was considering to deploy TREK's CrossRip 3 for light touring (1-2 weeks, rear and front panniers, 25 kg total at max). All looks very good but my only concern, at the moment, is its carbon fork. ...
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4answers
488 views

Cycle touring. First chain failure. Thoughts on cause?

Was pedalling up steep hill on gravel road. No gear change. Just seemed to go mid push. Was very steep and out of saddle....had to push the remainder of way! 🙈
11
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4answers
1k views

How to decelerate during long downhill rides and avoid brake glazing

I mostly ride touristic style, and its not uncommon descents of few hundred meters or even 1000 meters (vertically, usually average gradient is around 5-10%). What's the best technique to brake to ...
0
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1answer
157 views

Trek 520 model changes during years

What are main changes in Trek 520 during the years? I have possibility to buy new Trek 520 year 2015 for 1000 Eur and year 2018 for 1300 Eur. Is there right place to safe some money? What are ...
2
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1answer
183 views

Mating Brifters and MTB drive train and disc brakes - Marriage or Divorce

Looking to buy a Salsa-Cutthroat equipped with SRAM Rival brifters; a 1X drive train (11-42t rear cassette RAM Rival long cage deraileur); SRAM GX 1000 crankset; and SRAM Rival Hydraulic Disc Brakes. ...
3
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4answers
102 views

Bormio (Italy) to Annecy (France) multiday bike tour

I'm planning a cycle tour from Bormio (Italy) to Annecy (France), estimating about 80km / day. Has anybody done this? Any recommendation for routes, preferably taking in cols / passes along the way.
2
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3answers
564 views

How much does a front wheel last with disc brakes vs calipers?

I've read that the calipers end up "eating" the rim. How many km in the city or touring (with a normal use of the brakes) does it take to destroy a rim? Is it something to worry about? Considering ...
3
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2answers
158 views

Touring on meal replacements (Soylent or alternatives). Anyone tried? Thoughts, impressions?

Has anyone tried going on a bicycle tour fueled by meal replacements like Soylent or alternatives? Can you carry more food like this, could it give you more range, or open up areas of the map that ...
0
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2answers
218 views

Hi! Im looking to ID a rebuilt touring bike with serial number

Just bouncing around the net looking for answers and I found this site. Hoping there are some die-hard bike historians among you :) I bought this from a fellow who rebuilds and repairs bikes. He says ...
7
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5answers
881 views

Should I change my Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre?

I'm here trying to decide if I should get a new Schwalbe Marathon Plus for my touring bike. I've just finished a 6000km tour in Australia, riding on paved roads with a heavy load. Here's the looks of ...
3
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4answers
3k views

How much should a long distance touring bike weigh?

I'm planning in the far future to do a long ride of around 3000km (~1864mi). As I just have a single speed, I've been looking at what is in the market "designed" for that purpose in the price range ...
2
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1answer
2k views

Minimal Low-Rider Touring Front Rack Recommendations

We're in need of a good, reliable low-rider front rack for long distance touring. I've come across a good number of heavy-duty front racks with low rider rails like this from blackburn (source: ...
1
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1answer
94 views

Buy or rent a bike in Europe for 2 week backpacking trip

My wife, daughter and I will be traveling to Germany, Switzerland, Amsterdam and a few other areas in late July of 2018. We will be traveling with what we can carry on our backs. I'm looking for ...
2
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1answer
88 views

Front rack symmetry - spacers and handling

The combination of disc brakes and full mudguards on my tourer means I'll need to space the left lowrider rack at least 30mm from the fork. On the right I'll only need 5--10mm. Should I space them ...
1
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1answer
184 views

touring weight distribution

I have a cross bike with two back ortliebs, a 6 liter top tube bag https://www.rei.com/product/877045/revelate-designs-tangle-bike-frame-bag-large Frame bag (the long one below toptube) and a ...
4
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1answer
287 views

What is the longest off-road portion of the East Coast Greenway as of 2018?

The East Coast Greenway nominally stretches from Maine to Florida. But a lot of it has yet to be built. That means a lot of the route is actually still on-road cycling. What is the current longest ...
2
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2answers
92 views

Finding other riders for a cross country tour for charity

I'm in the early stages of planning a long distance bike tour, and I am looking for people to ride with across/around the country during the summer months. If you have suggestions on how to find ...
1
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1answer
257 views

Getting a Brompton on and off a plane without going broke

After the damage done to my Brompton by StarPeru, and from the information in my previous question, I now have a Chubby. It protects the bike better than the B-bag, and my carry-on goes in it between ...
3
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1answer
737 views

Ways to protect suspension from wear

I'm looking at getting front suspension for my bike for long (several months +) off-road tours (think Great Divide). I was thinking about whether it would prevent requiring maintenance/servicing to ...
2
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2answers
2k views

Cyclocross bike as a touring bike

I am planning to get a new bike specifically for touring purposes. Though there are special one out there (like TREK 920), I was wondering if anyone has experience of using cyclocross bike for this ...
1
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1answer
753 views

Outboard bearing bottoms bracket (hollowtech II) - assessment of wear and lateral play, lifespans & when to replace?

I have a road-version hollowtech II bottom bracket (shimano 105 model - BB-R60). over the last couple of days i noticed a very slight clicking feeling as i pedalled. removing the crankset i find ...
5
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3answers
5k views

Charging eBike Battery with Solar

I need some advice / info on solar charging an eBike battery. We have two RadRovers from Rad Power Bikes. They are powered with a Panasonic Dolphin 48V, 11.6Ah Lithium-Ion battery https://www....
3
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1answer
2k views

measuring a spoke that's already in a wheel

i have a wheel, and i want a spare spoke to take touring. (it's a front wheel with a disc rotor, i have one for the rotor side but have lost the one i had for the non rotor side) is it possible ...
9
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1answer
759 views

Can someone help identify my vintage bike frame?

I don't know a lot about bikes and bought this frame about 5 years ago in Montreal. It was repainted and looks like an old touring frame. It is very light steel, very low (close to the ground), doesn'...
4
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1answer
388 views

Rear pannier bags on touring mountain bike

Why people are not using rear pannier bags on MTB for touring? Most of reports and photos I see have a saddle bag and the rest of luggage seems to go to the front of the bike. I have done touring ...

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