You can’t think of yourself as a real cyclist until you go on a bike trip. Day trips, multi-day trips, or even a weekend bike ride have many advantages over other activities. Neither a car nor a bus tour can give you the same vibrant experience as a cycling trip. It will allow you to take a fresh look at things that you have never noticed while traveling by car. You won’t regret choosing a tourism bike and you’ll get a lot of great experiences. Only on a bike will you feel truly free to ride whenever and wherever you want. This is the best way to truly relax and unwind.
Before you go on a multi-day hike, you should make sure you choose the right bicycle. Not every bike will allow you to ride a hundred kilometers without breakage and with comfort, which primarily depends on the right choice of saddle. There is nothing worse than feeling the pain of not being able to ride a bike all day long. For a hike you need to buy a tourist bike, which would provide almost vertical landing and has a special tourist geometry.
Choosing the best tourism bike
If you are going on a long hike, you probably want your bike to break down as little as possible. And if it breaks down, it can be easily repaired. Also, a tourist bike should have a simple design, do not contain expensive components and have a frame that can be easily repaired almost anywhere. The best way to meet these requirements is with a steel frame.
The best bikes for tourism have been selected for their versatility, their ability to withstand many kilometers of riding with a complete set of tourist equipment and which do not require frequent maintenance. All bikes without exception allow the installation of trailers and bicycles. In this rating there are models of the most different price ranges – from the best tourist bikes to more accessible options. Unlike other types of bikes, tourism bikes do not vary greatly in price.
As in the case of any other bike, before buying a tourist bike, be sure to adjust the bike for yourself and test. If you make a mistake about the size of your bicycle for tourism, it doesn’t matter how good it is on the whole.
The best tourism bike: Surly Long Haul Trucker
Surly took first place in this ranking with its workhorse, the time-tested Long Haul Trucker. As the name suggests, it can easily travel half the country. Surly bikes are capable of riding a full set of equipment for several thousand kilometers. Indeed, the best tourist bike is the one on which you can make any trip without breakage and with comfort – whether it be within the city, country or around the world.
Surly is available in nine frame sizes and two wheel sizes – 26″ and 700cc. There are two pairs of mounting holes on the fork and many holes for mounting the trunk. It’s unlikely you’ll ever have a problem with this reliable bike, but when you’re away from home, it’s nice to know that a steel frame is much easier to repair than a frame made of any other material. The quality components and reliability of this bike will give you confidence during a long hike.
Score: 5 / 5.
Tourist bike Trek 520
The Trek 520 is a classic steel tourist bike. Like most tourist-oriented bikes, it has a low profile that makes it easier to keep your bike in balance, especially when it is fully loaded. The Trek 520 comes complete with a rear rack, so you just need to load it and go. Thanks to the quality of the Shimano transmission, gears change quickly and clearly, which is especially important during long journeys. Trek has been improving the design of this bike for many years and it deserves to be named one of the most comfortable bikes for tourism. Although it is one of the most expensive bikes in the ranking, if you have enough money to buy it, it will not disappoint you.
Score: 4.75 / 5.
Novara Randonee steel bicycle for tourism
The Randonee is another great tourist bike with a steel frame. The 30-speed transmission has several very low gears, which make it much easier to overcome the climbs on the bike. During a multi-day hike, this bike provides the same level of comfort as a regular city bike. The robust steel frame is very strong and can withstand heavy loads. Given the price of Novara Randonee and the high quality components, although not the best, it is a very good choice. The bike can be fitted with a trunk and wings. It’s also a great option for city trips or short rides with friends on the weekends.
Score: 4.5 / 5.
Fuji road tourism bike
The model is designed for thrifty cyclists who want to buy a good tourist bike at a reasonable price. When riding a fully loaded bike, the excellent characteristics of the steel frame, which is reliable and durable, are well demonstrated. Tourist bike Fuji is equipped with medium level components Shimano, which provide reliable gear shifting, which is very important during long trips. You don’t have to spend your money on the rear rack as it comes with your bike. Load your luggage and go camping!
Score: 4,25 / 5.
Novara Safari tourism bike
In terms of price, Novara Safari’s quality is close to that of Randonee, although slightly heavier than the other models in this rating. As it is also equipped with a steel frame, you should enjoy its reliability and smoothness. Safari is equipped with a mustache steering wheel. It provides a variety of hand positions, which is very important for long journeys. The Shimano’s quality components are not of the highest standard. Still they are reliable enough to be perfectly suited to an inexpensive touring bike. For a beginner Novara Safari can be a good first tourist bike.
Score: 4 / 5.