The best touring bikes are designed to be loaded up for comfortable long-distance riding, but they're also a robust, reliable option for local riding with a load or just for 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:commuting.
They're built strong, often with a steel frame and fork and𓄧 have reliable wheels with plenty ꦚof spokes for strength, as well as a wide gear range, which may be via a triple chainset with a smaller range of "speeds" in the cassette or hub gear. Expect an upright ride position and comfortable touchpoints.
Luggage is normally carried in panniers and bags attached to a rear rack, often supplemented by a front rack, as well as a bar bag. 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Mudguards are also normal, making riding more comfortable in all weathers, while multiple 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:bottle cages mean that you can keep hydrated even when you're far from𓆉 a ཧtap.
Below, you'll find our pick of the best touring bikes and below that is our꧋ buyer's guide to how to choose the best touring bike for you.
This Genesis touring bike option comes fully loaded, with front and rear racks, lights and a bottle cage, while its 35mm wide tyres give a comfortable ride. There's a Shimano Tiagra triple chainset, which gives a total of thirty gear ratios, which head b💙elow 1:1 for loaded climbing.
Another steel-framed tourer with many of the extras you'll need already there. The Kon🐭a Sutra has a high ride position and is equipped with a Brooks leatherꦉ saddle for a retro touring vibe, although the disc brakes and wide gear range keep it up to date.
Yet another steel-framed option with ⛎front and rear racks and an upright ride, the Salsa Marrakesh has 3x9-speed gearing and mechanical disc brakes. Its 42mm Teravail tyres should provide comfort and grip wherever you travel.
Another long-haul steel model, the Disc Trucker has a very upright ride position thanks to iജts riser stem and yet more rise to its bars. A triple chainset that goes as low as a 26x34t ratio helps with long rides over steep roads.
With 42mm WTB Resolute tyres, the Marin Four Corners is a bike that can handle poor road conditions. The steel frame and fork are robust, while the triple chainset, nine-🅷speed gearing and mechanical disc brakes should prove reliabl𒅌e.
The Giant Toughroad takes a slightly different tack from most touring bikes, with flat bars, an alloy frame and carbon fork. Its 50mm wide t♛yres aꦓnd very wide gear range equip it for off-road adventures.
T🔴he Genesis Tour De Fer is a great optꦛion in this category. It's a top all-round bike, featuring a solid steel frame, durable tyres, disc brakes and all the practicalities such as three bottle cages, front and rear racks, mudguards and dynamo-powered lights.
Simply put, this is a bike ready for whatever you need to do straight away, whether it's commuting, leisure riding or toಞuring.♑ The bike offers an easy, calm ride, and is comfortable enough to get on and go right away.
35mm Schwalbe Marathon tyres come as standard, with their puncture-proof reputation. The Shimano Tiagra triple groupset♏ gives you plenty of range including a sub-1:1 ratio to haul your loaded bike up the hills. You might need that range, with the extra features adding significan🅠tly to the bike's weight though.
(Image credit: Surly)
2. Surly Disc Trucker
A steel touring bike for the purists
Reasons to buy
+
650b wheels on smaller frame sizes
+
Easy to maintain
+
Durable components
Reasons to avoid
-
Relatively low end spec
Another do-anything bike, the Disc Trucker features a sturdy and good-looking steel frame and fork. It is, however, more suited to road riding than exploring gravel and mud, though it's not to say that you can't tackle gravel tracks with it. The rise to the bars, paired with a long head tube gives a comfoཧrtable all-day ride position.
Mounts for three bottles, a pump, and mudguards add to the practicality, while the tyre clearance will let you get some meaty rubber in there. Surly quotes 2.1" tyre clearance𒉰 on 650b wheels and the smaller frame sizes come specced with this wheel size for better toe clearance.
A Shimano Alivio MTB tri𝕴ple groupset with Sora road shifters provides steady and reliable 9-speed shifting, although it's quite a low end spec. Like the Genesis and the Trek, the Disc Trucker relies on TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes for reliable, low-maintenance stopping power.
(Image credit: Giant)
3. Giant Toughroad SLR 1
A flat bar touring bike for multiday adventures
Reasons to buy
+
Front and rear racks included
+
Durable Shimano Deore components
Reasons to avoid
-
Flat bars equal fewer hand positions
-
Slightly over geared for heavy load lugging
What do you get when you combine a mountain b🦋ike, a touring bike and a gravel bike? No, this isn't the start of one of your dad's jokes, you get the impressively capable Toughroad SLR 1. More suited to the offroad than any of the bikes we've looked at so far, Giant calls it a do-it-all bike capable of commuting, but make no mistake, it's built primarily for dirt and gravel.
There's no suspension fork, but the giant 50mm tyres are a dead giveaway. An 11-42 MTB cassette on the back will also help with tackling the steep stuff, although there's not the absolute range of the triple chainsets on the bikes above. Pannier racks front and back and three bottle cage mounting points mean you can pile on whatev🅷er you need to take with you.
There are plenty of modern features on the bike, including thru-axles, hydraulic brakes, and tubeless tyres. A reliable Giant wheelset and Shimano Deore groupset round off this bike. You might find the lack of variation in hand position with the flat bar config🔯uration gets tiring on longer rides though.
(Image credit: Kona)
4. Kona Sutra
Simple, durable performance in a retro guise
Reasons to buy
+
Front rack included
+
Looks great
+
Wide gear range
Reasons to avoid
-
Fiddly brake maintenance
The first thing to strike you about the Sutra is its retro features; the Brooks leath♔er saddle and steel frame give a different look to many of the bikes we've look🦋ed at. Disc brakes and thru-axles remind you that this is a thoroughly modern bike, though.
It's another 😼bike for touring and commuting on the road and on some gravel/dirt surfaces. Mudguards and front and rear pannier racks are included, while there are other bosses for more additions if needed.
The 10-speed Shimano GRX gravel groupset with Tiagra shifters gives plenty of range, although not as🌸 much as a triple like that specified on the Trek, while the hybrid hydraulic/cable-operated brakes should give a bit more stopping power than the TRP Spyre cable brakes specced elsewhere, they are more of a faff to maintain though. It's a classy-looking bike that can work well anywhere.
(Image credit: Salsa)
5. Salsa Marrakesh
A bulletproof entry into the world of cycle touring
Reasons to buy
+
Durable wheels
+
Swappable geometry
+
Simple, yet stunning frame design
+
Tubeless ready
Reasons to avoid
-
Low spec groupset
A great-looking steel frame is the first thing to catch the eye on this bike, while the fat 42mm tyres give a signal as to its intentions. It's as comfortable off-road as on, whether you're touring, commuting or just riding f𒀰or fun.
As with the bikes above, front and rear racks are included, though if you want to add mudguards, be warned that the wide tyres will need to go on a diet – down to a 40mm 🔥maximum.
It's a solid entry into the touring selection, even if it is a bit on the weighty side, however, though not so much that you'll be struggling under the weight. Components include a Sh🐷imano Alivio groupset with Microshift shifters as well as TRP Spyre-C disc brakes and wheels and tyres ready to be set up tubeless.
(Image credit: Marin)
6. Marin Four Corners
Great for the worst roads and more
Reasons to buy
+
Lots of clearance for 700c or 650b wheels
+
Mounts on fork blades for extra luggage
Reasons to avoid
-
High and short reach frame may not suit everyone
The Marin Four Corners is part tourer, part gravel bike. It's got the clearance for really wide tyres on 650b wheels (which is the stock💜 wheel size specced on smaller-sized frames), but you can also set it up fo🌳r a more traditional touring configuration with 700c wheels.
The steel frame is bombproof while the long head tube gives an upright ride position so you've got plenty of visibility all around. There are mounts for a rack, mudguards and to lash extra kit to the fork legs, so you can load up to head into the unknown. It's a bike more geared to gravel than the road, unlike the more traditional t🦹ourers like the Kona and the Genesis.
(Image credit: Trek)
7. Trek 520
A great touring bike for the long haul - if you can find it
Reasons to buy
+
Bombproof frame
+
Front and rear rack included
Reasons to avoid
-
Not available in many markets, including US and UK
Marketed as a bike for long-haul travel, the Trek 520 is the longest-running bike in Trek's stable, alꦫthough its days look to be numbered. The 520 is no 💛longer sold in the UK or US, but international buyers in some countries still have a choice of two specs on Trek's site, including the Sora/Alivio option above.
Like the Genesis, the Trek 520 comes with front and rear racks, although you'll have to add mudguards for all-weather use. Small updates include mec💛💞hanical disc brakes with a thru-axle alloy fork, while the 9-speed Shimano Sora gearing provides massive range from its triple chainset, albeit with quite large jumps across the 11-36 tooth cassette.
It's also nice to see tubeless-ready wheels specced (although not the tyres), so yo𓂃u can set up tubeless, which should up dependability on long rides.
How to choose the best touring bike for you
Whether you're looking for a practical way to get to work, want that extra durability so that♔ your bike will stand the test of time or want to travel to far-flung corn🌼ers of the earth with nothing but a tent and a change of clothes, a touring bike a great addition to your stable of steeds.
You can still get around quickly – whether you're hitting the roads, gravel paths or other rough terrain – but plenty of space for mudguards and raꦦcks, as well as a more relaxed position, make a touring bike a better all-round option than a road bike, a hybrid or aꦺ mountain bike.
The relaxed geometry and more upright riding position are also handy for commuting, and the best touring bikes are often built with durable, easy-to-maintain components so they can be fixed when hundreds of miles away from a bike shop. This lends itself to fewer mechanicals and lower running costs. Steel frames also have a far better chance of being repaired all over the world c🦩ompared to aluminium or carbon fibre if you're on 💖a big trip.
What types of touring bike are there?
Touring bikes can range anywhere from predominantly road-going bikes with horizontal top 🐬tubes and 700c tyr♔es, to rugged mountain bikes with knobbly mountain bike tyres.
What the best touring bikes tend to share, however, is a durable design, comfortable geometry and the ability to carry luggage. Some opt for 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:bikepacking bags, which usually consist of frame bags and over🍰sized saddle bags, whereas others opt for the traditional rack and pannier bag method of carrying luggage.
As wi🥂th any bike purchase, consider the riding you plan to do with the bike. For those looking to travel far and wide, a bike with more luggage-carrying capacity will be preferred. For those who are looking to travel off-road, look for a bike that can handle the rough stuff. Live in the mountains? Look for♈ a wide gear range.
What's different about touring bike geometry?
Touring bike frames feature a 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:relaxed geometry, with a taller head tube and shorter top tube for a comfortable and more upright riding position compared to a racing road bike. In addition to this, they feature a longer wheelbase, which keeps the bike stable even when loaded with heavy luggage. Since they're designed to be cycled over long distances, they're equally designed to stay comfortable ജfor as ꦏlong as possible.
If you're a geometry nerd you may notice the trail is a little lower than you'd expect for a relaxed ride, but this is often done to counteract the slowing effect on the steering of a he꧑avy front load to avoid the bike feeling like a barge when laden.
Which gearing should a touring bike have?
Gearing-wise, what you should pick really depends on what type of riding you'll be doing. If you're taking on hills regularly, then you'll want a cassette with larger sprockets on the back. Some touring bikes offer a triple chainset 📖too, with easier gearing on offer compared to a double chainset. The addition of extra gear combinations into the mix will add an extra component to maintain, so those on flatter terrain might prefer a single chainring at tඣhe front.
The majority of touring bikes offer standard external gear systems – the chainset, chain and cassette we're all used to. Some do have internal gearing though, with an enclosed rear gearbox which requires a lot less maintenance and is less prone to damage but is heavier and will cost you more. Belt drives are also available – this is a multi-tooth belt instead of a chain, so no regular cleaning or lubrication is required. Hub gears like the Rohloff system 💧are favoured by riders taking on huge worldwide t🐈ours for their durability.
Should I look for rim brakes or disc brakes?
As with much of the cycling world, rim brakes and disc brakes are both available, with rim brakes found more often on lower-end bikes. Rim brakes feature two pads grabbing onto the wheel rims to stop the bike, while disc brakes grip onto a se🐽parate rotor on the wheels instead.
Disc brakes f♐eature better and more consistent braking perfor💞mance, which is useful for a heavily laden bike, and are better in wet weather, though. Both adjustment and maintenance are far easier with rim brakes, however, with an Allen key and some new pads all you really need.
Rim brakes will wear down your rim eventually, prompting a rim swap and wheel rebuild or a new wheel.ꦍ Whereas that's not an issue with disc brakes, and there's more leeway to keep riding with a buckled disc brake wheel or 🗹a broken spoke.
Hydraulic disc brakes are generally maintenance-free in operation, however, if you snag yಌour brake hose on a tree in the middle of the Atlas Mountains, there's little chance of r𒆙epair unless you packed a bleed kit and spare hose.
What should I look for in touring bike contact points?
Saddles are an important factor, being the main point of contact with your body. Padded saddles may look more comfortable but looks can be deceiving, with thinner padding usually better for you once you've gotten used to it after a few rides. Saddles s꧋hould support your sit bones, and additional padding can move the pressure elsewhere and rub more, making things more uncomfortable over time.
If you're planning a long trip and already have a saddle that you like, it may be worth swapping out the saddle that comes with the bike, i⛦f you're not sure how comfort𝓰able it will be for the long haul.
On a multi-day trip, 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:handlebars need to be comfortable as well. Some bars have a slight rearward sweep, which can feel more natur🎶al when riding on the tops. A shallow drop is likely to be more comfortable to use as well.
On the other hand, 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:flat pedals may make it difficult to keep your feet well-positioned for longer rides. They will allow you to use standard shoes, which are easier to walk inꦏ, but unless the soles are relatively stiff, your pedalling will be less efficien♈t and you may get foot ache after a long day riding without adequate support.
澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Gravel bike pedals are a good option, as they still let you clip in for more efficient riding, but the cleats are recessed on the sole of the shoes and so can be walked in much more easily. You'll need 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:gravel shoes to go with them that acc🎉ept two-bolt cleats. These will have soles designed fo🐠r efficient pedalling and foot support, but most are not too stiff to walk in comfortably.
Paul has been on two wheels since he was in his teens and he's spent much of the time since writing about bikes and the associated tech. He's a road cyclist at heart but his adventurous curiosity means Paul has been riding gravel since well before it was cool, adapting his cyclo-cross bike to ride all-day off-road epics and putting road kit to the ultima🐭te test along the way. Paul has contributed to Cyclingnews' tech coverage for a few years, helping to maintain the freshness of our buying guides and deals content, as well as writing a number of our voucher code pages.
