Guys, let's see what's the most popular! Hit the 👍🏻 for BIKEPACKING or comment "touring" for TOURING! 😎 You can support these videos over on Patreon! I've had 1.4 million views on my touring videos in the last month, we're getting somewhere folks!! www.patreon.com/cyclingabout
Thumbs-up for backpacking! I have gotten into e-motors and batteries and converted a beach cruiser bike into an e-bike. It's good for rides less than 100km. It's nice to see a video of what frame and mounting requirements look like for bikes that can go out for several days (backpacking) and for weeks or months at a time (touring) so I know what to look for in future frame purchases.
My early 90s MTB was a Touringbike, a Mountainbike, a Gravelbike, an Adventurebike and a Commuter. We didn’t need labels then. It was just a good bike.
Love the honest, matter of fact style here. There’s a lot of crossover between bike types and as stated, the rider is responsible for choosing the setup for the intended purpose. The good news is there’s not a lot of bad choices availability if the rider works with the guidelines stated.
I have a Trek MTB that isn't designed for either but I have everything to set it up with road touring or bikepacking. It works perfect for both and for me it's all about the bags. Panniers don't do well on single tracks but longer road tours need much more capacity for a more comfortable trip. It's really about how much food and water you need to load also. Anyway, people overthink everything and get caught up in spending money. I just watched a great documentary made in Mexico showing trail and tour riders on cheap bikes out riding the foreign "professionals". 😆
Your honesty just shines through every video of yours that I watch! Thank you for your channel. India has tremendous scope for cycling, both for the sake of exercise & hobby as well as transportation, especially in the new generation, and we appreciate content like yours. Regards from India 🇮🇳
I converted a 1991 930 to touring back in 1998 and rode from Boulder, CO to San Francisco. It was perfect! I re-built the wheels, changed tires, expanded the gearing and upgraded lots of parts.....one of the funnest bike projects I've ever done! Hope you love yours.
I have a 930 converted to commuter. Did you change the fork to a touring fork also? They are awesome bikes, trutemper frames and made in USA. what happened to Trek . They made some awesome stuff in the 80' and 90s
My first touring bike (1974) was an old Cinelli frame from the 1960s. The pack frame broke in Morocco and was rebuilt using rebar. My bike pack was a Kelty back pack off its frame, folded over the rear wheel. My 'stove' was a wood fire - stainless spokes make for good brochettes. A kilo of dried camel hump got me across the Moroccan Sahara. Missing an oasis almost killed me. I rode all night, knowing I would die of thirst if the sun rose before I found water. I got a lot of puzzled looks in tiny villages in southern Algeria. One could tell that some people had never seen a bicycle up close.
The last time I rode a bike I was around 14, I'm now 33 and getting one again. I'm already a bushcrafter and Survivalist so I absolutely cannot wait to go on an extended bikepacking trip! I'm pretty poor so getting a new but budget steel frame mountain bike from Halfords and a pannier rack so I can just bungee my current backpack to the bike. Gonna be a wild ride learning all this stuff haha can't wait.
This is an excellent comparison between the two touring setups. My Genesis Longitude is fine for both ways of travel I guess. The only upgrade I am now thinking is getting a dynamo hub and some connected lights for it. It would be just safer on the road if I could keep the lights on all the time without worrying about their batteries.
me six. Actually, I am even more confused, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a touring or camping bike, I thought it was a MTB with lots of bags hanging on it. Such types, much wow.
A few years ago I was researching touring bikes and came across cyclingabout. Lots of good info (and now just found your TH-cam) Ended up a steel tourer that’s been my main bike for a few years (Kona Sutra). Keep up the great work - cheers
After working with bikes i grew to hate rear kickstands. They inevitably bend or destroy rear triangle. Center stand is better, and a double-swing-out is the best (as opposed to stiff two-legs) But even better is a stand from tent poles that supports your bike by the seat tube.
I absolutely love your videos! They are well organized by category, and slam full of information, and you don’t waste one minute of my time. Best channel for information on the internet, hands down!
Excactly..A well made Randonneur is a splendid construction, way better than the majority of these clumsy industrial monsters 🙈 A triple butted Koga Miyata Randonneur from '90 is still hardly made any better! Some people are shockingly ignorant... Safe travels and fair winds 🚲🚲🌄🍻
@@nicojar the parallel would be a bike bike pack. whats wrong with pack, pannier, saddlebag(s), , bed roll or bindle? do we really need new words? travoir is probably out of common use so I wont ask about it. just realize that if your trailer looses a wheel thats pretty much what you are left with .
The term is awkward. I've personally taken to calling them camping bikes instead. While you'd usually camp outdoors on longer tours(on or off road), calling it a camping bike emphasizes the typical off road use and configuration. At least in USA the connotation would be clear. It seems as the lines continue to blur, bikes may start to be categorized by the total weight rating vs a designated use.
Fantastic video. Having a friend who has travelled throughout Europe, South America and is currently touring through New Zealand. It has been fascinating being shown the various parts to his bike and as equally fascinating the types of luggage he uses.
Excellent video and I actually watched it twice. Although I understand and appreciate the concept of bikepacking by keeping it as light as possible so you can basically mountain bike with gear, I will probably always use panniers and racks although I have learned to lighten it up considerably over the years. They are so much simpler and will never limit where I can go.
@@Cyclingabout panniers are only an issue on heavy motorcycles offroad, bicycles are light enough that you can literally lift it over a narrow section if required.
I have a 700c gravel bike. The drive train offers great road performance, and all the mounts keep some light bike packing open as an option. The road oriented drive train limits my bike packing options, and pretty much eliminates serious touring. My bike is perfect for my needs, but I'm glad to learn about other forms of cycling. Thank you for all this information.
By drivetrain you mean crankset? A year ago I mounted MTB crankset with converter, this year I "built" custom casette and I couldn't be happier (apart from the fact Shimano screwed up their job with compatibility). In total I have 27 gears (3x9) with 200% range on crankset and nice cadence from casette.
Agree with all you said, great job. I did the Rhine our from Andermatt in the Swiss Alps to Hook of Holland over 19 days 1500 km . I used a Giant Toughroad 1x set up with full paniers. The bike is advertised as more gravel but it worked perfectly for me. I can also lighten the load considerably for 2-4 day bikepacking with the Ortlieb seatpost bag and handlebar roll. Once again good job.
True. Any bike will do: every summer I do a two week bikepacking trip with my "normal" Bianchi endurance road bike through France and Spain starting from Switzerland. Roads are usually paved with the occasional light gravel - in the last years I learned the hard way what spares I have to take along....😜
Im still riding my Klien Performance with a sugino triple crank, suntour cyclone derailleurs and Brooks B17 saddle. Other than building spare/alternative wheelsets its been unchanged for decades.
I still use my Unicycle carrying my touring kit in plastic trash bags over my shoulders.. You an all your fancy state of the art stuff nonsense.. so stupid.
I have a 2019 Salsa Fargo Tiagra. Love this bike. I've done some shorter tours (200-300 km) on varying terrain but with a more traditional touring set up, ie, racks, panniers, bungee cords, etc. Works for me. Plan on doing extended touring with it. As I am getting older one drawback is it could have a little lower gearing.
I did tour starting from Sitka to San Francisco through Vancouver Island on a Surly Troll. It did everything with confidence, including single track. The Jones H-Bars are the most comfortable bars I have ever ridden.
I was not even aware of a difference between touring and bikepacking, lol. But since becaming a patron for your channel I am wathing every video and learning something new every time. Awesome.
I really enjoyed your video and I learned a lot as I started bicycle touring and bike packing nearly 40 years ago. One thing that was good about bike packing 40 years ago is that there were no rules against it. Some of the places I went are off limits to bicycles now. On the other hand I went some places that were entirely unsuitable for bikes. Yes, the bike packing bikes were shit as they were just mountain bikes with touring racks.
It is not true, that bikepacking bikes are mainly used for shorter trips. People use them for racing self-supported races across continents - this is becoming more and more popular - often riding more than 4-5000 km as one long timetrail. Like the Trans American Bike Race (US), Trans Continental Race (EUR) and Indian Pacific Wheel Race (AUS). Hardly no one would ever use a touring bike for these races. They are simply too heavy. I personally use a 1x titanium gravelbike with drops and triathlon bars - and it has a SON dynamo hub to charge bike computer and smartphone. After trying bikepacking and getting ultralight tent, sleeping bag etc., I do not think I would ever go back to the big panniers - even if just touring. I can have my entire sleeping arrangement in my front bag and it weighs only 1350 g - and less if I only bring a bivy bag. Clothes go on the rear bag. Spareparts, phone, extra powerbank, food, ultralight towel etc. in the frame bag. Dynamo hub charger in the toptube bag. More food in the food pouches on the handlebar.
Life long racer here. My racing bikes are light and responsive while my Miyata Six-Ten is a classic touring bike which I describe as "the Cadillac." Cadillacs aren't really racing cars ;)
Once upon a time sports tourer and lightweight tourer were categories/labels in the industry. The bike changes are often branding, labeling and marketing.
Expedition touring bikes appear to be one of the few remaining bike types where the 26er wheel lives on...smaller diameter (easier to fit into the bike box), lighter weight, sturdier wheel (shorter spokes, shorter distance between spokes), increased agility (somewhat offsets the long chainstays and wheelbase?), part / tire availability in less developed countries (where the 29er and 27.5er craze has not replaced it yet).
Excellent video. My Jamis Renegade Elite has the strength and all mounts necessary for minimalist bickpacking as I realized on my recent 825 mile bikepacking adventure from Key West, FL to South Carolina. The bike is rated for 25 lbs on the front and the same on the rear. I had 18 lbs on the rear and 12 lbs on the front of my carbon frame. I weigh 168 lbs. Performed like a champ!!
The family and I rode from Regensburg to Passau along the Danube on three very diffferent types of bikes with various handlebars, frames, and drive trains. Two used panniers and two used a basket mounted on a rack. Our first such trip, but everyone made it (100km Day one, 60 km day two) and are talking about similar trips in the future. Thanks for the inspiration to take the first trip!
Yes apparently you don't really have to be Touring to be Bike Packing. No one said you actually have to go very far or use anything from the bags. So I guess Bike Packing is for people that will not be Touring, just put some bags on the bike and ride around before they go back home.
@@plusbonus1165 Very close for sure. In my interpretation, bikepacking has a sportive background (people extend their sport into an "adventure"), while touring comes from the travel side (people do an adventure and happen to use sports equipment - a bike). The result is similar but IMHO not the same. Watch the excellent video above and you will learn the differences.
Interesting video - I guess I never even knew there was a distinction. To me it is all about the terrain and distance I guess. I tour on a vintage Trek road bike with updated wheels and drivetrain. But I guess I’m backpacking when I ride my Raleigh gravel bike for overnighters?
There's no difference..its camping, using a bike! Listening to all the bullsh*t just makes you open/more susceptible to all the marketing garbage out there!
I just put a backpack on with a sleeping bag A change of clothes A power charger Some odds and ends I’ve cycled across the USA 4 times India 2 times China Europe Australia I sleep at hotels in bad weather or I find an abandoned building In good weather I sleep on the side of the road or stay with couchsurfers
Another great video! Thanks! I really enjoy watching whatever you put out. It is well researched, thorough, and very respectful of the time and intelligence of your viewers! Congratulations and keep them coming. I will buy your book.
I love your videos man. So, so useful. Because of you and Yohan G. I have gotten into Bikepacking. This year I've done two long trails in UK. Thank you for the videos you are sharing with us.
Pretty much nails it. Very comprehensive and well explained as to the differences and similarities. I'm saving this YT link for all the times I see this question asked on the assorted cycling websites. Well Done !
I'm leaving on a bike tour in a couple of days riding a carbon road bike loaded with bikepacking gear. Total weight will be about 210 pounds (95 kg). The bike is 20 pounds (9 kg) and I am 155 pounds (70 kg). Gear is 35 pounds (16 kg). Distance is about 700 miles (1,125 km) and road surface is 100% asphalt. I've test ridden this setup about 225 miles and it has performed well. We'll see what happens on a real tour.
Last week I biked upstream the Danube from Vienna to Linz, Austria. I have a 2001 Cannondale F500 that I brought over here from the USA, and made for the occasion into a poor man's touring bike. I live here and it's my daily/weekly steed. Would be super curious to hear some basic talking points about such a decision. I have a Surly rack which I loaded up with at least 30 lbs and camped along the way. I'm not super fit, but managed 85, 75, and 50km per day, respectively over a 3-day period. I know that if I was going to do a proper tour I'd need to invest in some better gear, but I really (really) enjoyed doing it with my existing kit, and in my current Zeitgeist, a hobo travels with what he's got. That being said, I think the aluminum frame is overbuilt for flatland, and the drive train performed just fine. When I look at the bike, I see a shape that resembles modern day gravel bikes more than modern day mountain bikes. In the end, I concluded that the setup I had was actually not so bad for the task. Anywho... enjoying the videos, makes me want to keep putting miles on my bike.... best wishes aus Wien.
It's a cool older bike but I would've gotten rid of that suspension fork, it's less that ideal for road touring, especially since it's old. I did my South America tour in 2015 on a 1990 Specialized StumpJumper (Rigid steel fork) but upgraded all of the components, wheels and drivetrain to more modern ones. Geometry wise, those older bikes have decent touring geometry if you put on a tall stem. The issue with a lot of those older aluminum mtb frames is that they have no mounts compared to newer touring/bikepacking bikes.
@@2WheelsGood.01 Most Cannondales of the era had headshok , suspension you can lock out from the top of the steerer . Other half has one , its been her go to bike for going abroad. They are robust as the suspension is behind a boot and still going strong ( only maintenance is renewing air, o rings and some grease) Bikepacking has changed how people tour, and it’s getting like MTB with all the variations.
@@ronnie8446 after working as a mechanic at one of U.S's biggest Cannondale dealers, I would personally not tour on a suspension bike. It's totally doable, and it can be more comfortable, but I would never want to deal with suspension issues or maintenance, especially in non developed counties. My next touring build will be a rigid steel frame, 650b x 50mm wheels/tires, Rohloff hub.
Perhaps we have been lucky, it's been down the divide to Denver 2 trips to South Chile and Argentina and Kyrgyzstan on the dirt. I have a newer one the touring 26 with headshok a USA 🇺🇸 made one. 😁 Nice bike you are building up.
With a 2 x or 3 x I just need to drop the chain into the next lower front chainring to reach for the light gears. This is such a time saver. While a 1x needs to shift the chain up the entire cassette putting much more stress on the drivetrain especially fully loaded. I'll never part with my Shimano XT 2x12. I find the 22/36 front and 10/45 rear setup perfect for climbing steep mountains in the Alps.
As a beginner starting research on this massive field, I found your video very informative. In the future, it might also be a good idea to explain what the differences between a bikepacking and a touring bike are, in terms of what sorts of journeys they each would be used for.
This is the same story for myself, after 5years of staying home, playing video games and binging netflix. So I bought a bike, mainly because petrol was getting expensive and i wanted cheaper way to get around, i used my bike to get to work, and mind you my job starts at 1am and 10km round trip, it felt so great riding to work in the middle of the night on a country road, all to myself mostly. Ive seen so many shooting stars, watching the stars and planets move over my head every night the past 2 years Ive riden to work, the worst part is riding home in the 10am sun, so its become a race to get home fast.
That weight rating being a floor and not a ceiling gives me a lot more confidence in the DT wheels and building up right now. The rims I'm using have a rated capacity of 130 kg.
Best option: steel frame classic 26" mountain bike with 3x9 or 3x10 gear and classic panniers. Absolutely tested and reliable, easily replacing parts all over the world, frame easy to repair, geometry perfect both for road or offroad terrain, tires from 1" to 2.3", gear ready for 55 km/h or for the steepest offroad terrain... Classic panniers allow to fast access to anything, with no hundred narrow bags all over the bike...
Sorry to burst you bubble, I've been touring around north,central and south america on a 3x9 11-36 cassette Surly Troll for over 2.5 years now and I'm in Mexico now and I can tell you that 26" anything is absolutely obsolete! Dead! It has been a nightmare. I can find zero parts for it, anywhere. Definitely forget tires.Literally nothing anywhere. Traditional wisdom is gone out the window, China has flooded the market with 27.5/29" everything and that's what killed the 26" anything over the last 5+ years. Seriously ,everything I have for my bike I had to buy off Amazon and luckily had it within 4 days. I've spent days and more than a week looking for what was considered simple parts "easily" found :shifters,cassettes,chains,tires,disc rotors 160mm,BB,brake pads,etc...Nada! Super frustrating. I can't buy a new bike now but I will sell this 26" 3x9 Troll in a flash the first chance I get. You can get everything for it online still. Maybe in Europe too where people still ride 26" bikes. My friends who toured 10+ years ago are mind blown about this change. Good luck!
@@alwayslearning7672 Interesting comment. What's wrong with getting things off the internet? Another strategy is finding used parts locally. I see 26" wheels and tires all over the place in California - flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, bike co-ops, etc. Often in excellent condition. Same with components. Many shops and co-ops have parts bins. And there are people selling all these things on eBay. If you go with reliable components, and treat them well, there shouldn't be a lot of need for replacements. When something like a tire or chain looks like it will need replacing soon, you can order or replace it in advance.
My (admittedly limited) experience with a small-frame 26-er (vintage Gary Fisher Hoo Koo e Koo) was that it was difficult to fit the pannier bags far back enough that my heels wouldn't clip the pannier bags. On a multi-day tour, that would get a bit tiresome, as well as wearing out shoes and bags.
@@davidrowe8747 Some vintage mountain bikes had longer stays. Bikeforums.net has a touring forum (or sub-forum) that has threads, including a sticky, on mountain bike conversions (to touring bikes). Some 80s bikes had very long chainstays (Specialized Stumpjumpers, for one example - there were many others). Some were medium-long, but still long enough to avoid heal strike.
All this shows there is a lot of interesting ground in between the categories. Finding out where your sweet spot is is key. Carrying more weight is not a goal in itself, and adding unnecessary weight can be avoided. A relatively sturdy but not too heavy bike and relatively light packing, and doing without unnecessary stuff like a bike stand, gets me in the spot where i like to be: light enough to be fun and even do some off-roading when wanted, sturdy enough to pack what's necessary.
Have built a retro gravel bike from a 22 '' Reynolds 531 winter training frame . Tyre clearance for mudguards so have a 40 mm tyre up front and 30 mm on rear as less tyre clearance on wide rims with Pelissier hubs . Has modern dual pivot brakes ( yes over time they will take a hiding ) with Campag chain set and sealed bottom bracket with single 42 ring and 32 sprocket on freewheel . Large single lever on down tube with old Shimano 7 speed XT gear . Old school , different , individual and self build makes it ' My Bike ' not some multi million pound companies clone sold too the masses. Keep It Real Keep It Steel 🚲☺👍
On my road bike with no mounting holes for racks: Bike packing bags (800 km across 16 french alps, not much lugage) On my fitness bike with rack/-s: Panniers (2 x 600 km in pancake-flat country, a lot of luggage) ...Anything works... don't overthink it. Does your bike have racks? Then go for panniers
My in the works bikepacking kit uses my Trek Remedy enduro bike. Plan to mostly do shorter trips in the mountains with ultralight hiking gear. Want to try riding a hike I did a few years ago with a couple summits and alpine descents. Very excited to try riding scree with my tubeless downhill tires. Still need to make or purchase a frame bag to work around my rear shock but my triangle is big enough to make it worthwhile, have a sweet roll for the my tent, clothing and sleeping kit. Went for a jerrycan for admin use. Hopefully I can stash my food, camelbak, water purification and cook kit in the frame bag. Trying to avoid a saddlebag and backpack to keep my dropper post useful for comfort and downhill performance.
2 wheels carry our soul! It's a very nice video, I'm an KTM electric mountain bike rider, I live in the Netherlands, I'm still waiting for my new channel. Good luck with my love.
New to the channel and damn, great info! I've been looking for some good urban/touring bike info for some time. Seriously looking at a Koga touring bike. Main qualities I'm looking for is reliability, ease of maintenance, and packability i.e. flights and train rides. Belt drive and Internal hub gearing is so fascinating, wish I had more access to this technology in the US.
It's a long shot, but Maine Bike Works has Rohloff and Pinion gearbox belt demo bikes they let you thrash around on. Otherwise, look for a Co-Motion dealer as they also tend to have Rohloff/Pinion/Gates bikes on the floor.
Its funny. I rode in 1984/5 for 6 mos in Europe by myself and used a racing bike i got off a teenager. I fully loaded it up with 4 panniers and a handlebar bag. Lots of steep mtn roads on Crete and France. No issues. Came back and bought an actual touring bike. Hated how it felt. 😂
Hey yo bro i like your information , i'm from indonesia i don't really good at speak english but can you explain a bike from indonesia like Polygon / Unite Bike I need To Know If The Bike Really wort To Buy For Touring/backpaking and then the roadbike as well
My bike always hovers somewhere in between a true touring and a true bikepacking setup. Panniers, a frame bag and a handlebar harness are a great combo for my Ogre.
i have come to love using a trailer with a frame bag and while - you wont be going off-road really, specially in muddy conditions as i learned the hard way, you can handle gravel and single trails without issues. It's just so much more conevenient and the bike feels - subjectivly - better, compared to full backpacking or touring set-ups, while riding. it's as always: dont follow other peoples experience to the letter and go for a laid back "what ever floats your boat" approach.
I have a gravel bike which I initially set up for bike packing, but have since added front and rear racks and (gravel) panniers. I keep the weight of the front panniers to a minimum, as the carbon fork really isn't appropriate for this kind of load bearing.
The difference is that now they can sell you 2 bikes instead of one. Don’t forget that you also need a dedicated gravel bike, a dedicated road bike, and 3 types of mountain bikes (xc, trail, dh) and an electric cargo bike for grocery shopping, and 2 car garage to store them.
Certainly in the Uk there has been the distinction of fast touring or winter bike by traditional frame builders, likey a racing frame with slightly relaxed angles, clearances for mudguards and eyes for rear racks. but strictly for the road.
As someone who is tall 200cm and weights in at about 120 kg. I find that its also near impossible to find a bike that can handle my weight + 15 kg of gear and that fits my height!. What i wouldn't give to have been born 10-15 cm shorter. The most important parts of your gear also have to be longer, which takes up more space, which means heavier. Anyways great video .
Touring - tarmac and panniers. Long term setup, world tour like. Bikepacking - offroad and streamlined luggage. LIghtweight, think gravel. Short and brief rides. But tbh all of this is just a generalization, and people blur the line often. Manufacturers have an idea, practicers have many different ones. Ive seem touring setups be called bikepacking and vice versa. There's so many different types of bags and gear, with their pros and cons. Dont be limited by any external ideas, just do what ever you want.
I weigh a tad over 100 kgs @ 1,96 m, which means that I quite easily exceed the bike's max. load when using luggage for a one week camping trip. Therefore I have decided to use a single-track trailer that can take 32 kgs of load. Mine is the Topeak Journey TX. It's not cheap but it is very stable and well constructed. Furthermore you hardly notice it while riding except for steep climbs. I highly recommend it for heavier riders who intend to carry quite some stuff...
I have the exact same rig. But the Tout Terain Silkroad takes 180 kgs so there is a posibility though. I love the fact that the weight center of mass is low in the trailer and I agree - you don't notice the trailer until you start walking up a steep hill.
I use a Specialized Crosstrail for cycle touring using panniers and a handle bar mount for my tent and a couple of other items. The first time I rode it loaded, I found an issue where the front suspension fork starts twisting, it can if your not careful develop in to a very serious speed wobble. The other issue is the brakes (rim on this model) despite being well adjusted etc, could not stop the bike when going down a hill.
At rim brakes much depends on the brake pads. I can recommend Kool Stop dual compound brake pads, if you use V brakes, they wear down the rim very little, but offer a good brake performance.
Thanks Alee! I made my wife watch this and now she agrees that I definitely need a touring bike as well as my gravel bike and road bike. 😁😂 Trek 520 ordered!!
I don't like to see a bike with so many saddle bags or what you call bike packing. A bike is so cool to see with just a rider on it. But touring with the bike is an amazing feeling!😀
The comfort dropbars provide makes bikepacking bikes superior, in my opinion. However I'm not going anywhere very resolute, so I don't need the overbuilt feature, only comfort and a well balanced road-terrain capability.
Was touring 3 years ago and bonked at 11.30 am, so I sat on a low wall trying to recover. Suddenly, a bike packer passed up the road in front of my eyes and going like the clappers. That, I thought, is the difference between bike touring and bike packing.
Guys, let's see what's the most popular!
Hit the 👍🏻 for BIKEPACKING or comment "touring" for TOURING! 😎 You can support these videos over on Patreon! I've had 1.4 million views on my touring videos in the last month, we're getting somewhere folks!! www.patreon.com/cyclingabout
Thumbs-up for backpacking! I have gotten into e-motors and batteries and converted a beach cruiser bike into an e-bike. It's good for rides less than 100km. It's nice to see a video of what frame and mounting requirements look like for bikes that can go out for several days (backpacking) and for weeks or months at a time (touring) so I know what to look for in future frame purchases.
Touring, there's no such thing as over built when you are miles away from services.
Touring
uiuiii9i
Touring
My early 90s MTB was a Touringbike, a Mountainbike, a Gravelbike, an Adventurebike and a Commuter. We didn’t need labels then. It was just a good bike.
My BMX in the 90s was all around too
I am now more confused about the two categories than before :D
Me too
me three
me 4
Ah, that problem with TOO MUCH categories... and subcategories!
Yeah that's for sure. In this kind of situation I think if you do not know the difference, huge probability there is no difference for you.
Love the honest, matter of fact style here. There’s a lot of crossover between bike types and as stated, the rider is responsible for choosing the setup for the intended purpose. The good news is there’s not a lot of bad choices availability if the rider works with the guidelines stated.
I have a Trek MTB that isn't designed for either but I have everything to set it up with road touring or bikepacking. It works perfect for both and for me it's all about the bags. Panniers don't do well on single tracks but longer road tours need much more capacity for a more comfortable trip. It's really about how much food and water you need to load also. Anyway, people overthink everything and get caught up in spending money. I just watched a great documentary made in Mexico showing trail and tour riders on cheap bikes out riding the foreign "professionals". 😆
Your honesty just shines through every video of yours that I watch! Thank you for your channel. India has tremendous scope for cycling, both for the sake of exercise & hobby as well as transportation, especially in the new generation, and we appreciate content like yours. Regards from India 🇮🇳
50k views overnight on a touring bike video. What is going on in cycling land? Good work man!
Just pumping out some touring content and stoked people like it! 🙏🏼
Everyone wants to escape
bike sales exploded due to Covid. I got this recomended because watching road bike videos
Yep biking industry on greens during ds pandemic season
durianrider got his mindblown, a bike video where you dont need to expose your girlfriend ass to make views. WOW content matter. insane.
i have just converted a 1992 trek 930 singletrack to a touring bike with new wheels, tubus rack and a brooks saddle, i love it!!
Sounds awesome!
I love my 930s. Except I'm taking it the "retro mod" route and I'm planning a tubeless setup, 1x10 drivetrain, and dropper post
@@Cyclingabout it really is, its just awesome to build your own bike the way you want it without compromising
I converted a 1991 930 to touring back in 1998 and rode from Boulder, CO to San Francisco. It was perfect! I re-built the wheels, changed tires, expanded the gearing and upgraded lots of parts.....one of the funnest bike projects I've ever done! Hope you love yours.
I have a 930 converted to commuter. Did you change the fork to a touring fork also?
They are awesome bikes, trutemper frames and made in USA. what happened to Trek . They made some awesome stuff in the 80' and 90s
My first touring bike (1974) was an old Cinelli frame from the 1960s. The pack frame broke in Morocco and was rebuilt using rebar. My bike pack was a Kelty back pack off its frame, folded over the rear wheel. My 'stove' was a wood fire - stainless spokes make for good brochettes. A kilo of dried camel hump got me across the Moroccan Sahara. Missing an oasis almost killed me. I rode all night, knowing I would die of thirst if the sun rose before I found water. I got a lot of puzzled looks in tiny villages in southern Algeria. One could tell that some people had never seen a bicycle up close.
The last time I rode a bike I was around 14, I'm now 33 and getting one again. I'm already a bushcrafter and Survivalist so I absolutely cannot wait to go on an extended bikepacking trip! I'm pretty poor so getting a new but budget steel frame mountain bike from Halfords and a pannier rack so I can just bungee my current backpack to the bike. Gonna be a wild ride learning all this stuff haha can't wait.
This is an excellent comparison between the two touring setups. My Genesis Longitude is fine for both ways of travel I guess. The only upgrade I am now thinking is getting a dynamo hub and some connected lights for it. It would be just safer on the road if I could keep the lights on all the time without worrying about their batteries.
me six. Actually, I am even more confused, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a touring or camping bike, I thought it was a MTB with lots of bags hanging on it. Such types, much wow.
This video strikes to the point with with unequalled accuracy, only wish there were more people with your work ethic, keep up the ecellent reporting!
I agree! No long-winded introductions or building up. It gets to the point quickly.
I've learnt more in this 10 minute video than I have in reading hours of blogs and viewing other videos. Thank you !
Finally, a video that talks about the difference between bike touring and bikepacking and that sums it up. it's rare on youtube!
A few years ago I was researching touring bikes and came across cyclingabout. Lots of good info (and now just found your TH-cam) Ended up a steel tourer that’s been my main bike for a few years (Kona Sutra). Keep up the great work - cheers
Great bike choice :)
And now the “bike packing bike” can’t get off my head
Drink everytime he says "bike packing bikes"!
So annoying lol
The only difference is companies trying to differentiate the two to make more money....just get on your bike, add the gear to it and ride it....
After working with bikes i grew to hate rear kickstands.
They inevitably bend or destroy rear triangle.
Center stand is better, and a double-swing-out is the best (as opposed to stiff two-legs)
But even better is a stand from tent poles that supports your bike by the seat tube.
Great video.
My choice? "Credit Card" touring on a bikepacking bike through wine country in France!
OK to be sure, without a bike ok
Zen riding , keeping it simple ..
I absolutely love your videos! They are well organized by category, and slam full of information, and you don’t waste one minute of my time. Best channel for information on the internet, hands down!
Thank you so much!
No difference, the only difference is that they want you to buy two different ones.
True
Word
Thank you!
Well Mr. Smarty pants,how the hell else can I charge an extra $1,500 for a bar swap?
Don't exponse them with truth 😂😂😂😂
Touring! I have a 2012 Vivente World Randoneur. Solidly built. Really like it, and it performs well on tours.
Excactly..A well made Randonneur is a splendid construction, way better than the majority of these clumsy industrial monsters 🙈
A triple butted Koga Miyata Randonneur from '90 is still hardly made any better!
Some people are shockingly ignorant...
Safe travels and fair winds 🚲🚲🌄🍻
"Bikepacking bike" sounds strange. Like, a bike you use to pack another bike in.
Lmao
@@mnh1270 a backpack goes on your back and a bikepack goes...
@@waltinseattle Yet you don't say "a back backpack". That's his point.
@@nicojar the parallel would be a bike bike pack. whats wrong with pack, pannier, saddlebag(s), , bed roll or bindle? do we really need new words? travoir is probably out of common use so I wont ask about it. just realize that if your trailer looses a wheel thats pretty much what you are left with .
The term is awkward. I've personally taken to calling them camping bikes instead. While you'd usually camp outdoors on longer tours(on or off road), calling it a camping bike emphasizes the typical off road use and configuration. At least in USA the connotation would be clear. It seems as the lines continue to blur, bikes may start to be categorized by the total weight rating vs a designated use.
Fantastic video. Having a friend who has travelled throughout Europe, South America and is currently touring through New Zealand. It has been fascinating being shown the various parts to his bike and as equally fascinating the types of luggage he uses.
Excellent video and I actually watched it twice. Although I understand and appreciate the concept of bikepacking by keeping it as light as possible so you can basically mountain bike with gear, I will probably always use panniers and racks although I have learned to lighten it up considerably over the years. They are so much simpler and will never limit where I can go.
I don't really have problems with panniers, even off-road. Most trails are wide enough. 👍🏻
@@Cyclingabout panniers are only an issue on heavy motorcycles offroad, bicycles are light enough that you can literally lift it over a narrow section if required.
I have a 700c gravel bike. The drive train offers great road performance, and all the mounts keep some light bike packing open as an option. The road oriented drive train limits my bike packing options, and pretty much eliminates serious touring. My bike is perfect for my needs, but I'm glad to learn about other forms of cycling. Thank you for all this information.
By drivetrain you mean crankset? A year ago I mounted MTB crankset with converter, this year I "built" custom casette and I couldn't be happier (apart from the fact Shimano screwed up their job with compatibility). In total I have 27 gears (3x9) with 200% range on crankset and nice cadence from casette.
@@WanderABit I mean groupset - cranks and cassette included. I'm running a stock shimano 105 setup. Loving it.
@@HeatherSpoonheim You lost me with "loving it" and "it eliminates touring" :-) For a road bike it is understood but for gravel one...
Agree with all you said, great job. I did the Rhine our from Andermatt in the Swiss Alps to Hook of Holland over 19 days 1500 km . I used a Giant Toughroad 1x set up with full paniers. The bike is advertised as more gravel but it worked perfectly for me. I can also lighten the load considerably for 2-4 day bikepacking with the Ortlieb seatpost bag and handlebar roll. Once again good job.
True. Any bike will do: every summer I do a two week bikepacking trip with my "normal" Bianchi endurance road bike through France and Spain starting from Switzerland. Roads are usually paved with the occasional light gravel - in the last years I learned the hard way what spares I have to take along....😜
Im still riding my Klien Performance with a sugino triple crank, suntour cyclone derailleurs and Brooks B17 saddle. Other than building spare/alternative wheelsets its been unchanged for decades.
I still use my Unicycle carrying my touring kit in plastic trash bags over my shoulders.. You an all your fancy state of the art stuff nonsense.. so stupid.
@@reserva120 Cool unicycle setup bro! Only problem - you dont travel.
@@MetaJamm be careful of what you speak, in other words ,don't be stupid..
@@reserva120Dont worry boi, i can take that risk. And yes, you dont travel, and they do. Well done! Keep it up!
I have a 2019 Salsa Fargo Tiagra. Love this bike. I've done some shorter tours (200-300 km) on varying terrain but with a more traditional touring set up, ie, racks, panniers, bungee cords, etc. Works for me. Plan on doing extended touring with it. As I am getting older one drawback is it could have a little lower gearing.
I did tour starting from Sitka to San Francisco through Vancouver Island on a Surly Troll. It did everything with confidence, including single track. The Jones H-Bars are the most comfortable bars I have ever ridden.
I was not even aware of a difference between touring and bikepacking, lol. But since becaming a patron for your channel I am wathing every video and learning something new every time. Awesome.
Thanks for your support! It makes it possible for me to allocate more of my time towards these tech videos. 🙏🏼
I really enjoyed your video and I learned a lot as I started bicycle touring and bike packing nearly 40 years ago. One thing that was good about bike packing 40 years ago is that there were no rules against it. Some of the places I went are off limits to bicycles now. On the other hand I went some places that were entirely unsuitable for bikes. Yes, the bike packing bikes were shit as they were just mountain bikes with touring racks.
It is not true, that bikepacking bikes are mainly used for shorter trips. People use them for racing self-supported races across continents - this is becoming more and more popular - often riding more than 4-5000 km as one long timetrail. Like the Trans American Bike Race (US), Trans Continental Race (EUR) and Indian Pacific Wheel Race (AUS). Hardly no one would ever use a touring bike for these races. They are simply too heavy. I personally use a 1x titanium gravelbike with drops and triathlon bars - and it has a SON dynamo hub to charge bike computer and smartphone. After trying bikepacking and getting ultralight tent, sleeping bag etc., I do not think I would ever go back to the big panniers - even if just touring. I can have my entire sleeping arrangement in my front bag and it weighs only 1350 g - and less if I only bring a bivy bag. Clothes go on the rear bag. Spareparts, phone, extra powerbank, food, ultralight towel etc. in the frame bag. Dynamo hub charger in the toptube bag. More food in the food pouches on the handlebar.
Awosome video,thanks for your good informations and advice.You speak english very fluently.I use your videos to support my english learning.Thank you
If only I was 30 years younger, those bikes looks amazing...
The best time to start bike touring was 30 years ago. The second best time is now.
Get that touring bike with high handlebar posiotion plus low low gearing, and go...............!
Would be great to do it but, time passed has left its tolls and now bedridden 😢. I’ve still got my MTB which was bought in 1984……nice Saracen ..
Hmm ... don´t know what exactly you mean with "old", but i started such activities last year with 49 :-/
Very professional U-tube with lots of good info´s. Thanks.
Life long racer here. My racing bikes are light and responsive while my Miyata Six-Ten is a classic touring bike which I describe as "the Cadillac." Cadillacs aren't really racing cars ;)
I had a Miyata Professional for 14 years. 3 years of messenger work. Bike camping tours. It did everything.
I'd never even heard of bikepacking bikes but I watched this video and now want to get to know all about them. Fantastic.
Once upon a time sports tourer and lightweight tourer were categories/labels in the industry. The bike changes are often branding, labeling and marketing.
Expedition touring bikes appear to be one of the few remaining bike types where the 26er wheel lives on...smaller diameter (easier to fit into the bike box), lighter weight, sturdier wheel (shorter spokes, shorter distance between spokes), increased agility (somewhat offsets the long chainstays and wheelbase?), part / tire availability in less developed countries (where the 29er and 27.5er craze has not replaced it yet).
I imagine a 27/29 would roll a ton smoother tho. But more weight to be pedalled.
Nah, 26 is over.
Excellent video. My Jamis Renegade Elite has the strength and all mounts necessary for minimalist bickpacking as I realized on my recent 825 mile bikepacking adventure from Key West, FL to South Carolina. The bike is rated for 25 lbs on the front and the same on the rear. I had 18 lbs on the rear and 12 lbs on the front of my carbon frame. I weigh 168 lbs. Performed like a champ!!
The family and I rode from Regensburg to Passau along the Danube on three very diffferent types of bikes with various handlebars, frames, and drive trains. Two used panniers and two used a basket mounted on a rack. Our first such trip, but everyone made it (100km Day one, 60 km day two) and are talking about similar trips in the future. Thanks for the inspiration to take the first trip!
That's awesome, I'm stoked you had a good time!
you categorized all the mess in my head regarding this topic straightaway , thank you! it's clearer picture now
Glad it was helpful!
Until now, I thought bike packing and bike touring were the same thing... Something new every day :)
They should be the same tbh. There's no way someone goes bikepacking without rear paniers unless it's like a 1 nighter.
I watched the whole thing and still think they are !
Yes apparently you don't really have to be Touring to be Bike Packing. No one said you actually have to go very far or use anything from the bags. So I guess Bike Packing is for people that will not be Touring, just put some bags on the bike and ride around before they go back home.
@@FastBastar most people doing the tour dived don't use panniers and the quickest anyone has done that is 14 days
@@plusbonus1165 Very close for sure. In my interpretation, bikepacking has a sportive background (people extend their sport into an "adventure"), while touring comes from the travel side (people do an adventure and happen to use sports equipment - a bike). The result is similar but IMHO not the same. Watch the excellent video above and you will learn the differences.
Interesting video - I guess I never even knew there was a distinction. To me it is all about the terrain and distance I guess. I tour on a vintage Trek road bike with updated wheels and drivetrain. But I guess I’m backpacking when I ride my Raleigh gravel bike for overnighters?
There's no difference..its camping, using a bike! Listening to all the bullsh*t just makes you open/more susceptible to all the marketing garbage out there!
The difference is the marketing mainly. The rest is insignificant and down to preference, what kind of bags you like to carry with you.
Touring 👌🏻🚴🏻♂️🏴
I just put a backpack on with a sleeping bag
A change of clothes
A power charger
Some odds and ends
I’ve cycled across the USA 4 times
India 2 times
China
Europe
Australia
I sleep at hotels in bad weather or I find an abandoned building
In good weather I sleep on the side of the road or stay with couchsurfers
Another great video! Thanks! I really enjoy watching whatever you put out. It is well researched, thorough, and very respectful of the time and intelligence of your viewers! Congratulations and keep them coming. I will buy your book.
Much appreciated! I'm trying my best to bring the more technical side of bikes to the most people because touring is awesome. 😎
I love your videos man. So, so useful. Because of you and Yohan G. I have gotten into Bikepacking. This year I've done two long trails in UK. Thank you for the videos you are sharing with us.
That's great to hear! All the best!
I bikepack with a XC Hardtail, it’s perfect.
What bike? I'm considering converting an old Trek 4300
@@MediumHalf any modern XC Hardtail will work just finde. I would Think about a 2x in the Front to get more speed and a nice slim tires.
Pretty much nails it. Very comprehensive and well explained as to the differences and similarities. I'm saving this YT link for all the times I see this question asked on the assorted cycling websites. Well Done !
Awesome, thank you!
This was a very interesting, informative and entertaining video on this specialised subject, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm leaving on a bike tour in a couple of days riding a carbon road bike loaded with bikepacking gear. Total weight will be about 210 pounds (95 kg). The bike is 20 pounds (9 kg) and I am 155 pounds (70 kg). Gear is 35 pounds (16 kg). Distance is about 700 miles (1,125 km) and road surface is 100% asphalt. I've test ridden this setup about 225 miles and it has performed well. We'll see what happens on a real tour.
Last week I biked upstream the Danube from Vienna to Linz, Austria. I have a 2001 Cannondale F500 that I brought over here from the USA, and made for the occasion into a poor man's touring bike. I live here and it's my daily/weekly steed. Would be super curious to hear some basic talking points about such a decision. I have a Surly rack which I loaded up with at least 30 lbs and camped along the way. I'm not super fit, but managed 85, 75, and 50km per day, respectively over a 3-day period. I know that if I was going to do a proper tour I'd need to invest in some better gear, but I really (really) enjoyed doing it with my existing kit, and in my current Zeitgeist, a hobo travels with what he's got. That being said, I think the aluminum frame is overbuilt for flatland, and the drive train performed just fine. When I look at the bike, I see a shape that resembles modern day gravel bikes more than modern day mountain bikes. In the end, I concluded that the setup I had was actually not so bad for the task. Anywho... enjoying the videos, makes me want to keep putting miles on my bike.... best wishes aus Wien.
Stick with what you got it sounds just right for you.
It's a cool older bike but I would've gotten rid of that suspension fork, it's less that ideal for road touring, especially since it's old. I did my South America tour in 2015 on a 1990 Specialized StumpJumper (Rigid steel fork) but upgraded all of the components, wheels and drivetrain to more modern ones. Geometry wise, those older bikes have decent touring geometry if you put on a tall stem.
The issue with a lot of those older aluminum mtb frames is that they have no mounts compared to newer touring/bikepacking bikes.
@@2WheelsGood.01 Most Cannondales of the era had headshok , suspension you can lock out from the top of the steerer . Other half has one , its been her go to bike for going abroad. They are robust as the suspension is behind a boot and still going strong ( only maintenance is renewing air, o rings and some grease) Bikepacking has changed how people tour, and it’s getting like MTB with all the variations.
@@ronnie8446 after working as a mechanic at one of U.S's biggest Cannondale dealers, I would personally not tour on a suspension bike. It's totally doable, and it can be more comfortable, but I would never want to deal with suspension issues or maintenance, especially in non developed counties. My next touring build will be a rigid steel frame, 650b x 50mm wheels/tires, Rohloff hub.
Perhaps we have been lucky, it's been down the divide to Denver 2 trips to South Chile and Argentina and Kyrgyzstan on the dirt. I have a newer one the touring 26 with headshok a USA 🇺🇸 made one. 😁 Nice bike you are building up.
With a 2 x or 3 x I just need to drop the chain into the next lower front chainring to reach for the light gears. This is such a time saver. While a 1x needs to shift the chain up the entire cassette putting much more stress on the drivetrain especially fully loaded. I'll never part with my Shimano XT 2x12. I find the 22/36 front and 10/45 rear setup perfect for climbing steep mountains in the Alps.
As a beginner starting research on this massive field, I found your video very informative. In the future, it might also be a good idea to explain what the differences between a bikepacking and a touring bike are, in terms of what sorts of journeys they each would be used for.
You can use either bike for either use!
Many years on a Salsa Fargo now, still in love with this bike!
Another Excellent video! Clear, defined and straightforward. Thank you!
8:40
Thanks for that line
❤️
Fixie is my favourite
Excellent video, just the thing I was looking for
This is the same story for myself, after 5years of staying home, playing video games and binging netflix. So I bought a bike, mainly because petrol was getting expensive and i wanted cheaper way to get around, i used my bike to get to work, and mind you my job starts at 1am and 10km round trip, it felt so great riding to work in the middle of the night on a country road, all to myself mostly. Ive seen so many shooting stars, watching the stars and planets move over my head every night the past 2 years Ive riden to work, the worst part is riding home in the 10am sun, so its become a race to get home fast.
Thank you for the video,well researched and valuable points made.
That weight rating being a floor and not a ceiling gives me a lot more confidence in the DT wheels and building up right now. The rims I'm using have a rated capacity of 130 kg.
Best option: steel frame classic 26" mountain bike with 3x9 or 3x10 gear and classic panniers. Absolutely tested and reliable, easily replacing parts all over the world, frame easy to repair, geometry perfect both for road or offroad terrain, tires from 1" to 2.3", gear ready for 55 km/h or for the steepest offroad terrain... Classic panniers allow to fast access to anything, with no hundred narrow bags all over the bike...
Sorry to burst you bubble, I've been touring around north,central and south america on a 3x9 11-36 cassette Surly Troll for over 2.5 years now and I'm in Mexico now and I can tell you that 26" anything is absolutely obsolete! Dead!
It has been a nightmare.
I can find zero parts for it, anywhere.
Definitely forget tires.Literally nothing anywhere.
Traditional wisdom is gone out the window, China has flooded the market with 27.5/29" everything and that's what killed the 26" anything over the last 5+ years.
Seriously ,everything I have for my bike I had to buy off Amazon and luckily had it within 4 days.
I've spent days and more than a week looking for what was considered simple parts "easily" found :shifters,cassettes,chains,tires,disc rotors 160mm,BB,brake pads,etc...Nada! Super frustrating.
I can't buy a new bike now but I will sell this 26" 3x9 Troll in a flash the first chance I get. You can get everything for it online still. Maybe in Europe too where people still ride 26" bikes. My friends who toured 10+ years ago are mind blown about this change.
Good luck!
@@alwayslearning7672 Interesting comment. What's wrong with getting things off the internet?
Another strategy is finding used parts locally. I see 26" wheels and tires all over the place in California - flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, bike co-ops, etc. Often in excellent condition. Same with components. Many shops and co-ops have parts bins.
And there are people selling all these things on eBay.
If you go with reliable components, and treat them well, there shouldn't be a lot of need for replacements.
When something like a tire or chain looks like it will need replacing soon, you can order or replace it in advance.
My (admittedly limited) experience with a small-frame 26-er (vintage Gary Fisher Hoo Koo e Koo) was that it was difficult to fit the pannier bags far back enough that my heels wouldn't clip the pannier bags. On a multi-day tour, that would get a bit tiresome, as well as wearing out shoes and bags.
@@davidrowe8747 Some vintage mountain bikes had longer stays. Bikeforums.net has a touring forum (or sub-forum) that has threads, including a sticky, on mountain bike conversions (to touring bikes).
Some 80s bikes had very long chainstays (Specialized Stumpjumpers, for one example - there were many others). Some were medium-long, but still long enough to avoid heal strike.
All this shows there is a lot of interesting ground in between the categories. Finding out where your sweet spot is is key. Carrying more weight is not a goal in itself, and adding unnecessary weight can be avoided. A relatively sturdy but not too heavy bike and relatively light packing, and doing without unnecessary stuff like a bike stand, gets me in the spot where i like to be: light enough to be fun and even do some off-roading when wanted, sturdy enough to pack what's necessary.
That one topic I was asking for. ) Good job
My pleasure! This has been a very requested topic.
Have built a retro gravel bike from a 22 '' Reynolds 531 winter training frame . Tyre clearance for mudguards so have a 40 mm tyre up front and 30 mm on rear as less tyre clearance on wide rims with Pelissier hubs . Has modern dual pivot brakes ( yes over time they will take a hiding ) with Campag chain set and sealed bottom bracket with single 42 ring and 32 sprocket on freewheel . Large single lever on down tube with old Shimano 7 speed XT gear .
Old school , different , individual and self build makes it ' My Bike ' not some multi million pound companies clone sold too the masses. Keep It Real Keep It Steel 🚲☺👍
touring (as light as possible on a tandem)
On my road bike with no mounting holes for racks: Bike packing bags (800 km across 16 french alps, not much lugage)
On my fitness bike with rack/-s: Panniers (2 x 600 km in pancake-flat country, a lot of luggage)
...Anything works... don't overthink it.
Does your bike have racks? Then go for panniers
Experience in every sentence.
My in the works bikepacking kit uses my Trek Remedy enduro bike. Plan to mostly do shorter trips in the mountains with ultralight hiking gear. Want to try riding a hike I did a few years ago with a couple summits and alpine descents. Very excited to try riding scree with my tubeless downhill tires. Still need to make or purchase a frame bag to work around my rear shock but my triangle is big enough to make it worthwhile, have a sweet roll for the my tent, clothing and sleeping kit. Went for a jerrycan for admin use. Hopefully I can stash my food, camelbak, water purification and cook kit in the frame bag. Trying to avoid a saddlebag and backpack to keep my dropper post useful for comfort and downhill performance.
Seriously drool-worthy bikes you're showing off in the video.
(There are some seriously heated replies to this video --- relax guys)
@Toographictosayontelevision You think you're better than me???? Meet me outside. NOW!
so many types of bike ... bottom line is whatever makes you happy. nice content !!
Thank you, very knowledgeable videos. Awesome bikes as well, but very expensive.
2 wheels carry our soul! It's a very nice video, I'm an KTM electric mountain bike rider, I live in the Netherlands, I'm still waiting for my new channel. Good luck with my love.
New to the channel and damn, great info! I've been looking for some good urban/touring bike info for some time. Seriously looking at a Koga touring bike. Main qualities I'm looking for is reliability, ease of maintenance, and packability i.e. flights and train rides. Belt drive and Internal hub gearing is so fascinating, wish I had more access to this technology in the US.
It's a long shot, but Maine Bike Works has Rohloff and Pinion gearbox belt demo bikes they let you thrash around on. Otherwise, look for a Co-Motion dealer as they also tend to have Rohloff/Pinion/Gates bikes on the floor.
Its funny. I rode in 1984/5 for 6 mos in Europe by myself and used a racing bike i got off a teenager. I fully loaded it up with 4 panniers and a handlebar bag. Lots of steep mtn roads on Crete and France. No issues. Came back and bought an actual touring bike. Hated how it felt. 😂
Hey yo bro i like your information , i'm from indonesia i don't really good at speak english but can you explain a bike from indonesia like Polygon / Unite Bike I need To Know If The Bike Really wort To Buy For Touring/backpaking and then the roadbike as well
My bike always hovers somewhere in between a true touring and a true bikepacking setup. Panniers, a frame bag and a handlebar harness are a great combo for my Ogre.
The Ogre is definitely right in the middle of the bikepacking-touring spectrum.
6:52 the femtometer space between rear tire and seat tube makes me anxious.
I make a refreshing to my bike, i change the tire, the space on mine become like in picture.
Is it good or bad in your opinion?
@@GabrieLight Ride in mud? Bad damage. Ride in dust? Fine.
@@marcalvarez4890
👍👌
i have come to love using a trailer with a frame bag and while - you wont be going off-road really, specially in muddy conditions as i learned the hard way, you can handle gravel and single trails without issues. It's just so much more conevenient and the bike feels - subjectivly - better, compared to full backpacking or touring set-ups, while riding.
it's as always: dont follow other peoples experience to the letter and go for a laid back "what ever floats your boat" approach.
I have a gravel bike which I initially set up for bike packing, but have since added front and rear racks and (gravel) panniers. I keep the weight of the front panniers to a minimum, as the carbon fork really isn't appropriate for this kind of load bearing.
My touring bike is a Surly Big Dummy. Love my longtail! Enjoyed your video very much. Thanks!
The difference is that now they can sell you 2 bikes instead of one. Don’t forget that you also need a dedicated gravel bike, a dedicated road bike, and 3 types of mountain bikes (xc, trail, dh) and an electric cargo bike for grocery shopping, and 2 car garage to store them.
Hey! Q: what touring bike would you recommend for someone who uses his bike for work during the week and 2 to 5 day camping trips during vacation?
Great video and I need to stop dreaming and touring.
stop looking at me so arrogant XD That ferrari in the mud video was awesome!
Now I'm never gonna forgot it
Great video 👌✨
Certainly in the Uk there has been the distinction of fast touring or winter bike by traditional frame builders, likey a racing frame with slightly relaxed angles, clearances for mudguards and eyes for rear racks. but strictly for the road.
As someone who is tall 200cm and weights in at about 120 kg. I find that its also near impossible to find a bike that can handle my weight + 15 kg of gear and that fits my height!. What i wouldn't give to have been born 10-15 cm shorter. The most important parts of your gear also have to be longer, which takes up more space, which means heavier.
Anyways great video .
I like how you explain things about cycling. You really deserve more subs.
Many thanks!
Touring - tarmac and panniers. Long term setup, world tour like.
Bikepacking - offroad and streamlined luggage. LIghtweight, think gravel. Short and brief rides.
But tbh all of this is just a generalization, and people blur the line often. Manufacturers have an idea, practicers have many different ones. Ive seem touring setups be called bikepacking and vice versa.
There's so many different types of bags and gear, with their pros and cons. Dont be limited by any external ideas, just do what ever you want.
I weigh a tad over 100 kgs @ 1,96 m, which means that I quite easily exceed the bike's max. load when using luggage for a one week camping trip. Therefore I have decided to use a single-track trailer that can take 32 kgs of load. Mine is the Topeak Journey TX. It's not cheap but it is very stable and well constructed. Furthermore you hardly notice it while riding except for steep climbs. I highly recommend it for heavier riders who intend to carry quite some stuff...
I have the exact same rig. But the Tout Terain Silkroad takes 180 kgs so there is a posibility though. I love the fact that the weight center of mass is low in the trailer and I agree - you don't notice the trailer until you start walking up a steep hill.
I use a Specialized Crosstrail for cycle touring using panniers and a handle bar mount for my tent and a couple of other items. The first time I rode it loaded, I found an issue where the front suspension fork starts twisting, it can if your not careful develop in to a very serious speed wobble. The other issue is the brakes (rim on this model) despite being well adjusted etc, could not stop the bike when going down a hill.
At rim brakes much depends on the brake pads. I can recommend Kool Stop dual compound brake pads, if you use V brakes, they wear down the rim very little, but offer a good brake performance.
Thanks Alee! I made my wife watch this and now she agrees that I definitely need a touring bike as well as my gravel bike and road bike. 😁😂 Trek 520 ordered!!
Oo wow..😲
Thanks for giving me this idea.. 💡
I need to show this video to my wife as well...🤔
Wish me luck everyone...🙏😁
This Gravel shit hype is phantastic for the industry. 😂
I don't like to see a bike with so many saddle bags or what you call bike packing. A bike is so cool to see with just a rider on it. But touring with the bike is an amazing feeling!😀
The comfort dropbars provide makes bikepacking bikes superior, in my opinion. However I'm not going anywhere very resolute, so I don't need the overbuilt feature, only comfort and a well balanced road-terrain capability.
Was touring 3 years ago and bonked at 11.30 am, so I sat on a low wall trying to recover.
Suddenly, a bike packer passed up the road in front of my eyes and going like the clappers.
That, I thought, is the difference between bike touring and bike packing.