Touring Bike – Buying Guide
Want to find out what is the best touring bike for you? Read more here!
> What is a Touring Bike?
> Things to Consider – FAQ
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What Is a Touring Bike Used For?
Whether you are a woman or a man, a touring bike is the perfect choice if you want to be super versatile on the road and don't want to have a special bike for every type of terrain. The touring bike covers an enormous range of uses by combining almost the speed of a road bike with the stability more familiar from mountain bikes. These characteristics make the trekking bike a sporty, robust and comfortable all-rounder that is just as suitable for the daily shopping trip around the corner as it is for long rides on roads, paved forest paths and gravel tracks.
What Are the Features of a Touring Bike?
Modern, fully-equipped touring bikes are immediately recognisable by their 28-inch wheels with narrow tires for loose terrain. They also usually have a rigid aluminium or steel frame, mudguards, fixed lights and often a luggage rack – a combination that is unbeatable for everyday use and touring. Find out more about what you need to consider when buying a touring bicycle.
The Luggage Rack – No Load Is Too Heavy
A luggage rack allows you to carry heavy loads directly on your bike. You can attach bags to the carriers, which are mounted above the rear wheel and sometimes also at the front, or transport goods weighing up to 30 kg.
Fenders – Your Personal Dirt Protection
To keep you ridingall year round, even in bad weather, your touring bike has fixed mudguards. The mudguards enclose the wheels so well that even in a downpour hardly any water will splash upwards. This keeps you, your luggage and your passengers dry.
28-Inch Wheels – Easy Handling on and off the Tarmac
Most trekking bikes come with 28-inch wheels and tires. The large wheels ensure that your energy is transferred better, which means you can maintain your speed more easily. To match this, the tires are narrow and have a negative tread pattern that allows them to perform well on off-road terrain.
The Specific Frame – Sportiness x Comfort
The rigid frame of a touring bike combines sporty frame geometry with a comfortable riding position. Despite the more upright riding position, the bikes convert your power directly into propulsion. Slim tube sets in durable aluminium or steel keep the bike weight between 12 and 15 kilograms.
Hub Dynamo & Led Bike Lights – Turn Night into Day
Always there and always bright – that's what modern LED light systems for touring bikes offer you. Conventional trekking bikes are powered by a powerful dynamo integrated into the front wheel. And built-in memories in the lamps ensure that all the lights stay on even when the bike is stationary or moving slowly.
The Brakes – Disc Brakes or Classic Rim Brakes?
Progress does not stop with touring bikes, so it is not surprising that many top-of-the-range models are equipped with powerful disc brakes. This braking power is also necessary because, for example, a lot of luggage accumulates quickly when travelling by bike. Some models are also available with rim brakes, as these are cheaper and easier to maintain yourself after intensive use.
The Shifting Parts – Arrive Relaxed
In order to be able to ride uphill under your own power, a gear shift is indispensable for touring bikes. The number and gradation of the gears are optimised for a wide range of uses. The gear is shifted by a lever on the handlebar.
Suspension and Comfort
Despite their uncomplicated basic design, even touring bikes must offer a high level of riding comfort. This is usually achieved with ergonomically designed saddles and grips and, on some bikes, an optimised suspension fork.
Buying Guide – What to Look For in a Touring Bike
Our tips will help you make the right choice. We start by explaining the differences between men's and women's touring bikes. Then we'll ask you what type of bike you're looking for and look at the details, from wheels and frame to the gears.
A Women’s or Men’s Touring Bike?
You don't have to stick strictly to a manufacturer's gender specifications. For example, if you're taking your child often in a child seat, a women's touring bike is more practical.
In theory, men can also buy a women's model. And some women prefer a men's trekking bike. Whatever you choose, it all comes down to comfort!
The most popular women's touring bike is the practical trapezoid frame with a lower top tube and half-high step-through.
The Right Wheel Dimensions and Matching Tires
Nothing is more important to the dynamics and handling of a touring bike than the size of the wheels and the tires mounted on them.
For both, men's and women's trekking bikes, 28-inch wheels are the dominant size. These wheels roll well on rough surfaces and offer plenty of grip and reliable traction. While men usually ride well with 28" wheels, 27.5" (650B) or 26" wheels are also possible when choosing the right bike for women due to their smaller average height.
The choice of tires has a big influence on the rolling and cornering characteristics and therefore the overall riding experience. A standard trekking tire is between 38 and 45 millimeters wide and has good rolling characteristics and high puncture resistance. Depending on body weight and load, the recommended tire pressure is between 3.5 and 4.5 bar.
Sports or Touring Cyclist: Which Touring Bike Is the Right One?
With the right model, you can ride in the fast lane with your luggage or go for a leisurely ride. Find out which model suits you best.
More sporty bikes have the saddle and handlebars at about the same height. This gives you a more forward-leaning position, which reduces drag and improves power transmission. Commuter bags or panniers can still be fitted using a luggage rack or lowrider.
Touring models have a longer rear triangle for greater stability and smoothness. The lower position of the saddle in relation to the handlebars allows a relaxed, upright posture. Matching panniers and baskets make every day a pleasure and shopping at rush hour a breeze.
Derailleur or Hub Gears?
The right gear system also depends on your personal preferences and where you ride. The more mountainous the terrain, the greater the range of gears
Touring bikes with derailleur gears usually have three chainrings at the front and ten sprockets at the rear (30 gears). The advantage of this type of gear system is that it offers a very wide range and allows you to maintain it yourself.
Hub gears, on the other hand, usually have eight or eleven gears. They are slightly heavier than derailleur gears, but require very little maintenance and are very easy to use. Combined with a belt drive, they are also almost silent!
Aluminium or Steel Frame?
The two most common frame materials for touring bikes are aluminium and steel. They are strong, easy to maintain and can easily withstand the rigours of everyday use.
A modern aluminium touring bike is light, stiff and powerful. The comfort of a steel bike is usually achieved with a suspension fork or seatpost.
A steel touring bike, on the other hand, may be a little heavier, but it offers special aesthetics, outstanding durability and a comfortable, lively ride.
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