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• Monday, May 13, 2019
• Posted By Benton Hart

Days of traffic free bike paths, breathtaking scenery, and magnificent structures shrouded in antiquity - these are just some of the sights to behold as you join us on one of our North American or European tours. We supply the adventure but as our guest you must supply the right equipment starting with a good touring bike. A high-quality touring bike will maximize your comfort and safety as you take in all there is to see on one of our tours. But how do you choose just the right bike for long distance touring? Follow these important steps and prepare yourself for a once in a lifetime adventure.

• Know the different kinds of long distance touring bikes: The three basic types of bikes that are suitable for long distance biking are: Mountain bikes, Cyclocross or touring bikes and hybrid bicycles. Mountain bikes are extremely versatile as bikes go and provide maximum front suspension making for a smoother ride especially over rough terrain. However, they do tend to be less efficient over smoother roads. Touring bikes combine the ruggedness of mountain bikes with the speed and efficiency of a road bikes. However, they tend to be less comfortable than mountain bikes over uneven ground as they do not provide the same level of suspension.
• Consider your budget: Don't assume that you can't get a good touring bike if you have a limited budget. You will have to do some extra research and be creative when it comes to seeking out a good bike. A good second hand touring bike can generally be purchased for around $400.
• Consider how long you will be traveling: Since our tours vary in length, it is wise to ask us for details about our trips. We will be happy to answer any question you have about where you will be going, what you will be doing, how far you can expect to be traveling, etc. This will help you determine if you wish to take the trip at all and help you decide which accessories to bring.
• Ask experts: Well established bike shops will give you access to experts in the latest biking trends and technologies. Shop staff should be eager to offer you all the advice you need. That along with testing a few models will put you on the path to choosing the perfect touring bike.
• Choose comfort over speed: You will spend quite a bit more time on your touring bike than you would a conventional bike. Therefore, you should put comfort over all else. Try to see if the bike shop will let you rent the bike out for more than a day so that you can truly give it the acid test.