world tour 2023 bikes

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WorldTour team bikes 2023: Everything you need to know

The bikes that will be used by the best riders in the business during the year ahead

Words: Rachel Jary

We’ve all started to get our heads around the snazzy new jerseys for WorldTour teams in 2023, but what about the bikes they’ll be riding? The start of a new year often sees changes in sponsors and kit suppliers, meaning riders might have to get used to new groupsets, shoes, frames, clothing and even nutrition throughout the off-season. In 2023, many of the WorldTour team bikes remain the same, but there are a few key changes to brand partnerships that it is worth keeping an eye on if you want to remain up to date with the fastest kit in the game. 

One of the biggest changes for 2023 is team Jumbo-Visma’s decision to move from Shimano to SRAM components, meaning that riders will have to get used to an entirely new shifting system for the year ahead. We’ve already seen the likes of Wout van Aert use SRAM on the cyclo-cross field with great success, though, so we don’t see it being a huge issue for the riders who likely will have had time to get used to the new set-up on training camps well before the start of 2023. UAE Team Emirates is also changing groupsets, moving away from tradition as they have chosen Shimano over Campagnolo for the 2023 season.

When it comes to bikes, only two teams are changing frame suppliers out of the men’s WorldTour teams, with Arkéa-Samsic switching to Bianchi from Canyon and Cofidis moving to Look bikes instead of De Rosa. On the women’s side, Israel-Premier Tech Roland’s switch from Look to Factor bikes is the only change we’ll see.

There are also a number of rumours swirling around about potential new releases for 2023, with some SRAM sponsored teams spotted riding prototype shifters on training camps which could indicate an upgrade to the brand’s premium road groupset coming soon. Lorena Wiebes of Team SD Worx was seen using unrecognised handlebars aboard her Specialized Tarmac SL7 which might be a sign of new road bike coming from the American brand, while Cofidis have shared images of their riders using a Look bike which doesn’t yet seem to be released to the general public. 

So, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for any changes as the season progresses, but as things stand, here’s everything you need to know about each WorldTour team's bikes and kit for the 2023 season.

AG2R Citroën Team

BMC Teammachine SLR01, BMC Timemachine (TT)

While French team AG2R Citroën have kept the same kit for 2023, their bikes have seen some upgrades. In 2023, riders such as Greg van Avermaet and Andrea Vendrame will race on the BMC Teammachine SLR01 LTD made with a Premium TCC race-engineered carbon frame. It is said to be aerodynamic and light, excellent for climbing mountains but also suitable for fast flat stages, the kind of versatility required of a bike which will be used in Grand Tours. It has been created using BMC’s proprietary ACE technology which aims to optimise bikes by calculating frame cross sections, carbon layups and geometry based on performance values. BMC says that thousands of virtual prototypes are created until the perfect bike is achieved. BMC’s Teammachine SLR01 LTD also has fully integrated cable routing to further help with aerodynamic efficiency and is dressed with a Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed groupset and Campagnolo wheels. 

Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record 

Wheels: Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO

Astana Qazaqstan Team

Wilier Zero SLR and Filante SLR, Wilier Turbine (TT)

Astana Qazaqstan will be aboard the Wilier Zero SLR for most of their races in 2023. While we do occasionally see them aboard the Filante SLR, the Zero is more of an all-rounder and used for the majority of the team’s racing. For 2023, both the Zero SLR and Filante SLR have been given a nice upgrade to their aesthetics, covered in what is described as a ‘chrome-plated graphite’ to create a stunning blue pattern on the frames. The Filante sees a lighter blue colour fade into silver on the rear of the frame, while the SLR fades into a darker blue colour instead. Aside from the snazzy new paint jobs, the bikes underneath are the same as Astana used in 2022. The Filante has wide fork legs and rounded tube cut-offs to minimise drag, while the Wilier Zero SLR places more of a focus on achieving a light overall weight while maintaining a high stiffness-to-weight ratio.

Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace

Wheels: Corima

Bahrain-Victorious

Merida Reacto 6000, Merida Scultura, Merida Warp (TT)

Matej Mohorič claimed that he had "broken cycling" when he won Milan-San Remo using a dropper post abroad is Merida Scultura bike last year, and it seems like Bahrain Victorious will stick to the winning recipe in 2023, with the team switching between Merida Reacto and Merida Scultura race bikes throughout the season. The Reacto is an aero road bike which is aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag as much as possible, while the Scultura is more of a classic, all-round race bike which Merida says strikes a balance between being lightweight and aero. While we can expect to see most of the riders on the Reacto during the Classics, they may reach for the Scultura as they head into the mountains in Grand Tours. The team also plans to stick to the newest Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed groupset with a power meter, alongside Vision Metron wheels in various depths depending on conditions. In a recent press conference at the team’s training camp when asked a question about his bike set-up for 2023, Mohorič himself replied: “I will still use the Merida Reacto bike but some minor details might change. That's all I can say for now. I guess we will see at the races the exact setup that we are going to use for next year.” Who knows what the Slovenian has got up his sleeve…

Wheels: Vision

Bora-Hansgrohe

Specialized Tarmac SL7, Specialized S-Works Shiv (TT)

Specialized is a brand which appears committed to an all-around race bike with aero properties which are not as pronounced as some of the other brands. Bora-Hansgrohe generally races solely on the SL7 throughout the year, given it is touted as a bike which can perform on a variety of terrain. For 2023, the team’s SL7 bike is painted in a black and green colourway with pops of red on the inside of the forks. Once again, they will use a Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed groupset and a mix of Roval Rapide and Roval Alpinist wheels, with the former used as a more aerodynamic race wheel and the latter for when the road starts to head uphill. As it stands, Bora-Hansgrohe will stick to their Giro d’Italia winning bike for 2023, although rumours have been swirling about the possible release of a new Specialized SL8 coming in 2023 after Team SD Worx’s Lorena Wiebes was seen using unrecognised aero handlebars on a recent team training camp. We’ll keep our eyes peeled…

Wheels: Roval

At the end of 2022, it was confirmed that Team Cofidis were moving away from De Rosa and returning to French brand Look, a company they are already familiar with after using as a bike partner from 2009-2014. At present, Look offers the lightweight 785 Huez RS or the 795 Blade RS aero bike, but images on the Cofidis Instagram page show riders using a new model of Look bike which appears to merge both previous options to create an all-round race bike with fully integrated cabling. 2023 also sees the team move from Campagnolo to Shimano and it seems like all team bikes will be equipped with an SRM Origin 9 crank-based power meter. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before Look releases all the juicy details of that snazzy new bike on which riders have been zooming around the roads of Spain.

EF Education-EasyPost and EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4, SystemSix and SuperSlice (TT)

Although it is not yet released to the general public, the bike shown in recent images on both the men’s and women’s WorldTour team’s Instagram pages appears to be a brand new Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4. This new model looks more aerodynamic than the previous iteration with a reduced frontal area and it also seems to have a wider tyre clearance. It also appears that the new SuperSix Evo 4 has an internal routing system which is compatible with both integrated and non-integrated cockpits which should give more options for riders when searching for their perfect fit. The bike also features a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, FSA K-Force chainset, a 4iii power meter and Vision wheels. As usual, Cannondale have treated us to a cool silver and pink paint job, with Olympic champion Richard Carapaz getting special treatment with some gold detailing to his race bike.

Groupama-FDJ and FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope

Lapierre Xelius SL3, Lapierre Aircode DRS, Lapierre Aerostorm DRS (TT)

French brand Lapierre sponsors both the men’s Groupama-FDJ and women’s FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope WorldTour teams again in 2023 and gives both teams a couple of bike options. The team most commonly uses the Xelius model which is an all-round race bike that was updated last year, featuring an improved carbon lay-up. It has the French brand's 3D Tubular design where the seatstays attach to the top tube rather than the seat tube in an effort to improve comfort. The Lapierre Aircode DRS is a bike designed for sprinters and flat races, while the Xelius is primarily a climbing bike. While the men’s team bike is a plain black colour, the model for the women’s team is a striking blue and red colourway. Danish national champion Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig also has a stunning custom red and white bike to match her 2023 jersey.

Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace 

Wheels: Shimano

Ineos Grenadiers

Pinarello Dogma F, Bolide (TT)

British team Ineos Grenadiers continue their long standing relationship with Italian brand Pinarello into 2023 as they will race on the Pinarello Dogma F for the upcoming season. This is said to be a lightweight and aero all-rounder with Pinarello’s distinctive wavy-tube design philosophy. This is a bike that has already won some prestigious races and likely will continue to be at the forefront of pro cycling year on year. Ineos also use Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed groupset and Shimano wheels for the majority of their road races, however, they have been known to use Princeton Carbonworks wheels and Aerocoach wheels for time trials and the occasional road race. While the bike underneath is the same as year’s previous, the Ineos Grenadiers’ Dogma for 2023 does feature a fresh new paint job with orange diamond patterning to match the team’s striking new jersey.

Wheels: Shimano (also use Princeton Carbonworks & Aerocoach)

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty

Cube Litening C:68X, Aerium C:68

Belgian WorldTour team Intermarché-Circus-Wanty sticks to all the same equipment partners for 2023 as it had last season. Riders will race aboard Cube’s aero road bike, Litening C:68X, which Cube says aims to “go fast as efficiently as possible”. The frame features deep fork legs, head tube and down tube and was ridden by Biniam Girmay to his historic victory in Gent-Wevelgem last year. It also has its own integrated handlebar/stem to reduce the frontal area and Cube says it features a lighter and stiffer carbon than in the previous iteration. The bike has wheels from German brand Newmen and the team also will ride a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset in the upcoming season. 

Wheels: Newmen

Jumbo-Visma

Cervélo S5, R5, P5 (TT)

Both Jumbo-Visma men’s and women’s WorldTour teams will once again race into 2023 on Cervélo bikes. The brand debuted the new aero S5 model at the 2022 Tour de France where it was ridden to numerous stage wins by Wout van Aert and it took Jonas Vingegaard part-way to overall victory (he used the more climbing-focused R5 for the mountainous stages.) Although they will be on the same models of bike, Jumbo-Visma will have to get used to some big changes in 2023 as they move from Shimano groupsets to SRAM. They will use a Sram Red eTap groupset so riders will have to get their heads around a different shifting system. The team has also switched to Nimbl shoes this year and Oakley sunglasses which will also require some bedding in before the season properly begins.

Groupset: SRAM

Wheels: Reserve

Movistar Team

Image: Cxcling Creative Agency/Movistar Team

Canyon Aeroad CFR, Ultimate CFR, Speedmax CFR (TT)

After a stellar season – especially for the women’s WorldTour squad who took the overall victory with Annemiek van Vleuten at the Tour de France Femmes – Movistar will stick to Canyon for 2023. The Aeroad will be used for flatter, sprint or Classics races, while the Ultimate is likely to be reserved for hillier days. Van Vleuten, for example, rode the Ultimate for the sprint stages of the Tour this year before switching the Ultimate for the final two mountainous stages. Movistar will also be using a SRAM wireless Red eTap AXS groupset which we expect to see some changes to in 2023 – the team has already been spotting riding on some prototype SRAM shifters on Instagram. Zipp wheels, Fizik saddles and Garmin computers complete Movistar’s set-up for the 2023 season

Wheels: Zipp

Soudal-Quick Step

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7, Specialized S-Works Shiv TT

Like Bora-Hansgrohe, Soudal - Quick-Step will use their winning combination of Specialized and Shimano again for 2023. As far as we know, the team will use the very same set-up this year that Remco Evenepoel rode to Vuelta a España victory and a world championship title last year, aside from those sneaky rumours about the potential launch of a new Tarmac SL8. Most of the team will ride bikes in a standard blue and black paint job, while Evenepoel has been given special treatment with a world champion’s bike painted in a white base colour with the rainbow stripes on the rear of the frame – perhaps to remind anyone on his wheel who they are following up the road… 

Team Arkéa Samsic

Image: Thomas Maheux

Bianchi Oltre RC, Specialissima, Aquila (TT)

One of the few teams to change bike sponsor this year, Team Arkéa Samsic’s move up to the WorldTour means a move to Bianchi bikes for 2023. Riders will have a choice between the eye-catching Bianchi Oltre – an aero road bike which turned heads when it was released earlier this year thanks to its aggressive geometry and unique handlebar system – and the Specialissima which is Bianchi’s flagship climbing bike. The Italian brand claims that both models are versatile enough to be used on both flat and hilly terrain, so it will be interesting to see what Team Arkéa Samsic opts for most frequently in 2023. Alongside the newest Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed groupset, Arkéa will also use Shimano wheels when out on the road and Vision wheels for time trials.

Wheels: Shimano and Vision

Scott Addict RC, Foil RC, Plasma (TT)

Both the men’s and women’s Team DSM squads will race Scott bikes again in 2023. The recently-released Scott Foil – as ridden by the likes of Lorena Wiebes and Romain Bardet in the 2023 Tours de France – will be the team’s bike of choice for flat races and the Classics while the Addict is likely to be picked for races in the mountains. A video on the team’s Instagram revealed a stunning glitter blue paint job for the 2023 bikes which will undoubtedly stand out in the peloton. As one of the few teams sponsored by componentry giant Shimano (most other teams buy the groupsets for usage) the bikes will also be equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets and wheels for the season ahead. Scott’s Plasma time trial bike will be used for races against the clock – said to be one of the most aerodynamic machines on the market.

Team Jayco Alula

Liv Langma, Envie, Avow (TT)

Despite a new name for 2023, both the men’s and women’s sides of Team Jayco Alula will remain on Giant/Liv bikes for the upcoming year. The men’s team will have a choice between the more aero focussed Giant Propel or the lightweight TCR model depending on a race’s parcours. The women’s WorldTour team will use Giant’s range of female-specific Liv models, choosing between the Langma and Envie. The Envie is an aero road bike, while the Langma is Liv’s answer to the Giant TCR (more of an all-round, lighter option.) Both teams will use Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed groupset and Cadex wheels (Giant’s in-house wheel and components brand.) The women’s team bike features a blue and purple paint job to match with their kit, while the men’s has a navy and light blue patterning as seen on their 2023 team jersey.

Groupset: Shimano

Wheels: Cadex

Trek-Segafredo

Trek Madone, Emonda, Domane, Speed Concept (TT)

After the big release of Trek’s radical Madone race bike at the Tour de France last year, which turned heads due to its hole in the seat tube and was said to be much more aerodynamic than the previous iteration, Trek-Segafredo will race on the same bikes in 2023. For races like Paris-Roubaix, the team will likely choose the compliant and comfortable Domane model, while the Emonda is reserved for the highest mountains as the lightest bike in the Trek line-up. The 2023 paint jobs are simple but striking, with the men’s team riding on bright red bikes and the women's squad on bikes with a baby blue base colour. Again, both teams will use SRAM components and Bontrager wheels (Trek’s own wheel brand.)

Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS

Wheels: Bontrager

UAE Team Emirates and UAE Team ADQ

Image: UAE Team ADQ

Colnago V4Rs, TT1 (TT)

Big changes came for UAE Team Emirates and UAE Team ADQ last year when Colnago released its new V4Rs which it said had the goal to refine aerodynamics, stiffness, weight, comfort and strength. Both the men’s and women’s UAE squads will be riding the same bike in 2023 and they will also both use a 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace groupset – a change from last year when both teams used Campagnolo on their bikes. Enve wheels are the hoops of choice for the UAE teams after they did numerous tests last year at the Milan Polytechnic wind tunnel with the aim of finding the fastest wheels and Enve was the brand that came out on top. The women’s team bike is painted in a plain black colour with yellow, pink and blue on the fork and handlebars to match the kit, while the men’s bike is black with red accents. The team also will move from SRM headsets to Wahoo computers for next year.

Wheels: Enve

Alpecin-Deceuninck

Canyon Aeroad CFR, Ultimate CFR, Speedmax (TT)

Despite their move up to the WorldTour for the first time in 2023, Alpecin-Deceuninck, the team of multi-discipline superstar Mathieu van der Poel, will stick to the same bikes for the upcoming season. They will choose between the Canyon Aeroad and Ultimate depending on if the race is flat or hilly, and they will be aboard the Speedmax time trial bike too. Once again, the team will use Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets and wheels with Vittoria tyres, Sella Italia saddles and Wahoo head units. 

Canyon//SRAM Racing

Kasia Niewiadoma at the 2022 Women's Tour, 2023 team bike photos have not yet been released by Canyon//SRAM (Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix)

As Canyon and SRAM both still remain as headline sponsors for the Women’s WorldTour team Canyon//SRAM Racing, the team will stick to the same bikes for 2023. Like Alpecin-Deceuninck, they will have a choice of two bikes (Aeroad or Ultimate) for road races depending on the terrain and will use a Speedmax time trial bike. With Magnus Bäckstedt joining the team as lead sports director next year, Canyon//SRAM will hope to have a bigger impact on the races with the likes of Tour de France Femmes hopeful Kasia Niewiadoma in 2023.

Fenix-Deceuninck

Awaiting pictures

New to the WorldTour for 2023, Fenix-Deceuninck will race on Canyon bikes this year, similarly to the Alpecin-Deceuninck men’s squad. For the majority of races, we can expect the team to use the Aeroad model, but the new Canyon Ultimate will be the choice for some of the climbers in the squad. Made up of a number of cyclo-cross riders who swap to skinny tyres for the road season as well as some specific road riders (including some exciting young up and coming talent), this is a team which we can expect to see at the forefront of many more races in the upcoming season.

Human Powered Health

Felt AR Aero Road, FR Race, IA (TT)

Women’s WorldTour team Human Powered Health will race on Felt bikes again for 2023. The AR model will be the choice for the sprinters in the squad – namely former British champion Alice Barnes who joins the team for this season – while the FR race is a more traditional, round-tube race bike that could be used on a variety of terrain. The team’s bikes will be dressed with SRAM Red eTap AXS groupsets and Vision wheels, while Selle Italia saddles and Wahoo head units finish off the look for Human Powered Health who will also sport bright orange and purple jerseys for 2023.

Israel Premier Tech Roland

Factor Ostro, One, Hanzo (TT)

With the team’s 2023 name change from Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad to Israel Premier Tech Roland, they take on many of the same sponsors as the Israel Premier Tech men’s team (which has been relegated to ProTeam level for 2023). This means a move from Look bikes to Factor bikes, where they will have a choice of the Factor One, a bike more tailored towards going fast on the flat and the Factor Ostro, a bike solely designed to rip it up on the flatlands. The bikes will all be equipped with the new Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed groupset and Black Inc wheels, while Jinga make the team’s clothing and Hammerhead are the headunits of choice.

Wheels: Black Inc

Liv Racing TeqFind

Langma, Envie, Avow (TT)

Similarly to the women’s arm of Team Jayco Alula, Liv Racing TeqFind –unsurprisingly given their title sponsor – will use Liv bikes in 2023. With the experienced Spanish talent of Mavi García joining the squad for the upcoming season, the team will hope they are able to secure more results and become more present at the front of WorldTour races in the year ahead. As a climber, Liv’s Langma will likely be the bike of choice for García and those who will support her in the mountains, but it’s possible that we’ll see riders on the Langma model for the faster, Classics races. The team will use a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset and Cadex wheels.

Team SD Worx

Specialized Tarmac SL7, S-Works Shiv (TT)

Number one ranked Women’s WorldTour team, SD Worx, will race on Specialized Tarmac SL7 bikes again for 2023. The key change for 2023 will be the team’s usage of Roval wheels rather than Zipp wheels as they used last year – we expect they will switch between the Rapide and Alpinist models throughout the year depending on the type of terrain they are racing on. The 2023 bikes come in a stunning black, pink and purple colour fade to match the team kit, and we will certainly see a lot of these colours at the front of the peloton next year. With the signing of prolific sprinter Lorena Wiebes for 2023, SD Worx will be stronger than ever and looking to increase their win tally even further.

Groupset: SRAM

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

Dare MA-AFO, Dare VSRu, Dare TSRf (TT)

During their second season in the women’s WorldTour, Uno-X Pro Cycling Team will race on Dare bikes again in 2023. With their team increasing to 16 riders for 2023, including former world champion Amalie Dideriksen, this is a squad which will be hoping to make themselves seen more often at the front of the peloton. The colorways of their Dare bikes should definitely help this, they are painted in a striking red colour with vivid white decals. The bikes have a Shimano Dura-Ace groupset at DT Swiss wheels, as well as Garmin computers. Uno-X’s team kit will be made by Bio Racer again in 2023.

Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc 12 Speed

Wheels: DT Swiss

Cover image by Chris Auld

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• World Tour 2023
• The World Tour Collection | 2023 | Bikes & Framesets

The World Tour Collection | Bikes & Framesets

Featuring Super Bikes and Framesets raced in the World Tour. You’ve found the best bikes on earth.

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• Hydraulic Disc 6
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Pinarello Dogma F TorayCa T1100 1K Dream Carbon frame Pinarello Dogma F Onda Fork with ForkFlap Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed electronic groupset and hydraulic disc brakes MOST finishing kit

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• The Dogma F blends years of Grand Tour winning experience, refined design, the highest-quality materials and unquestionable style
• The Dogma F perfectly balances handling, responsiveness, comfort and aerodynamics, all while dropping weight
• Truly versatile, the Dogma F can climb, descend and sprint with equal flair, making it the ideal choice for any rider or parcours
• Comprising TorayCa T1100 1K Carbon with Nanoalloy Technology within an asymmetric design, the frameset grants an extreme stiffness to weight ratio
• The frame weight is 9% lighter than the Dogma F12, while being 12% stiffer
• 16% lighter, the Onda fork still stringently adheres to safety standards
• The distinctive shape of the Onda fork delivers precise steering, stability and vibration damping
• The fork is specifically designed for disc braking from both structural and aerodynamic standpoints
• New Flatback frameset tube profiles and fork flaps reduce aerodynamic drag by 4.8% compared to the Dogma F12
• TiCR internal cable routing neatly organises brake hoses and electronic gear wires to keep them out of the wind
• Ultralight headset bearings further shave weight
• A new seatpost profile lowers drag, while its titanium saddle rail cradle is super-light
• The Race frameset geometry allows a powerful but comfortable riding position
• The frameset-to-tyre clearance is roomy enough for plush 28mm wide tyres
• UCI approved

• S-Works Tarmac SL8 FACT 12r Carbon Frame for Ultimate Performance
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Groupset with Dual-Sided Power Meter
• Roval Rapide CLX II Wheels for Speed and Control
• Aero-Inspired Design with Innovative Speed Sniffer Nose Cone

• A pro-level bike refined to be a ‘lightweight climber” that also descends with unmatched prowess
• The carbon frame is 16% lighter than its predecessor without sacrificing bottom bracket stiffness
• Claimed weight for the frame in a size 56cm is just 703 grams
• The sophisticated carbon layup of the frame offers an optimal bottom bracket to head tube stiffness ratio
• The perfect bottom bracket to head tube stiffness ratio results in a responsive but markedly more compliant ride
• The fork weighs just 329 grams, retains lateral stiffness but reduces longitudinal stiffness to donate extra comfort
• Using Cervelo’s tried and tested race geometry, handling composure and reactivity are assured
• Fully internally routed brake hoses reduce drag by 25 grams and give a clean aesthetic
• Huge tyre clearance permits the use of up to 34mm wide rubber
• Lightweight, wind tunnel honed carbon Reserve wheels with DT Swiss 240 hubs are nimble uphill and fast in the valleys
• A Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 Di2 12-speed gear configuration changes flawlessly via its semi-wireless electronic format
• Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 hydraulic disc brakes stop with control and power in all conditions
• The carbon handlebar and stem are light, stiff and neatly channel the brake hoses
• The full carbon seatpost is 20 grams lighter that previously and is tuned for extra in-the-saddle comfort

• Pinarello Dogma F TorayCa T1100 1K Dream Carbon frame
• Pinarello Dogma F Onda Fork with ForkFlap
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed electronic groupset and hydraulic disc brakes
• Fulcrum SPEED Lite C40 carbon wheelset and Pirelli P ZERO Race tyres
• MOST finishing kit

Series 0 Carbon, low-drag SuperSix EVO frameset - our lightest, most advanced carbon construction ever Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon Seatpost - light and fast

A frame that's made using our 800 Series OCLV Carbon IsoFlow technology helps the seat mast flex for a more comfortable ride while also improving frame aerodynamics and shaving weight An ergonomic and aerodynamic cockpit puts you in a faster, more comfortable, position for power

Frame weighs only 685 grams, 15% lighter than Tarmac SL7.

Introduces the Speed Sniffer – a new nose cone for reduced drag.

Narrow, aero seat post complies with UCI regulations, enhancing airflow. Innovative design minimizes turbulence, ensuring victory with every pedal stroke.

• LAB71 SuperSix EVO Series 0 carbon frame 
• LAB71 SuperSix EVO Ultralight carbon fork
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 2x12-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes
• Hollowgram R-SL 50 Wheelset and Continental Grand Prix 5000 25mm tyres
• SystemBar R-One handlebar by MOMODesign

• SRAM RED eTap AXS 12-speed wireless groupset and hydraulic disc brakes
• Vision Metron 45 SL Carbon tubeless-ready wheels

Efficient Climbing: Specialissima excels on steep gradients with a new threshold at just 6.2%. Time Savings: Riders save seconds, with 8.7 seconds off a 10 km climb at 6% with 200 watts. Optimal Weight: Strategic material redistribution maintains aerodynamics without added weight. Stylish Design: Lightweight paint scheme with iridescent finishes and a modern CK16 interpretation.

• Cervelo S5 All-Carbon TrueAero frame and S5 All-Carbon fork with external head tube nose section
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9250 12-speed electronic groupset
• Shimano Dura-Ace 9270 hydraulic disc brakes
• Reserve 63/52mm carbon wheelset with Zipp ZR1 hubs and Vittoria Corsa TLR G tubeless-ready tyres

SRAM Force AXS Powermeter Dub crankset SRAM Force AXS components OQUO Road Performance RP35 LTD Carbon wheels

Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 Powermeter crankset Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 components OQUO Road Performance RP35 LTD Carbon wheels

Tyre clearance for 25-35mm tyres and optimised for 27-31mm tyres

Designed for modern racing Harnesses ENVE's expertise for an aerodynamic advantage that increases with speed Offers the durability, stiffness and compliance modern racers need Builds upon the natural strengths of carbon fibre

• Bianchi Oltre RS carbon frame
• Bianchi Oltre RS carbon fork with Air Deflector
• SRAM RED eTap AXS wireless 12-speed electronic groupset and hydraulic disc brakes
• Tubeless-ready Reparto Corse SBG Carbon 50/65mm wheelset
• Integrated power meter

• Trek 800 Series OCLV Carbon frame with IsoSpeed, mudguard mounts and internal storage
• Trek Domane SLR carbon fork with mudguard mounts
• 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic groupset
• Shimano Dura-Ace hydraulic disc brakes
• Tubeless-ready Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 OCLV Carbon wheels with 32c Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tyres
• Clearance for 38c tyres without mudguards, 35c with mudguards

• Bianchi Oltre Pro carbon frame and fork with CV System and Air Deflector
• Bianchi Integrated Aero handlebar
• Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed electronic groupset
• Tubeless-ready Reparto Corse Carbon 50mm wheelset

CeramicSpeed SLT headset Electronic groupset compatible only Designed for disc brakes Fully internal cable routing 32mm tyre clearance

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2023 WorldTour Bike Guide - What Are The Pros Riding This Year? | Cycling Weekly

The 2023 world tour season is upon us, but what bikes are the professionals riding? We've pulled together the entire list of what every world tour team is riding this year. It seems as though most cycling teams will be riding similar bikes as to what what did last year however, there are some exceptions to the rule with a handful of teams riding brand new and unreleased bikes.

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All the 2023 kits: EF Education-EasyPost share latest collaboration with Rapha

American WorldTour team become latest to release their new 2023 kit, here's the rest

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Teams have begun to share their kit designs for the 2023 season through the off season. There are just a few days until we make it to the new year, but there are still a lot of jerseys to be uncovered. 

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, the artist formerly known as Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert, released its new jersey on Christmas Day, which is surely the best present any of us receieved. The highly anticipated EF Education-EasyPost and EF Education-Tibco-SVB jersey was released in January, and for the first-time ever, Rapha has produced identical eye-catching jerseys for both the men and women. Human Powered Health released its kits for both women and men on Boxing Boxing Day, or the 27 December to the rest of us. Same colours, but a bit different.

In the run up to the big day, Lotto-Dstny, Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers all released their kits, with some continuation and other startling changes.

Lotto's kit reflects the team's new sponsors, with blue and orange given pride of place; Jumbo continue with its tried-and-tested yellow and black colours, while Ineos Grenadiers went wild and changed to red and orange.

Astana-Qazaqstan's jersey is barely changed, with the now familiar light blue fading into navy down the chest.

With new sponsors Soudal coming aboard, Soudal Quick-Step have a bit more red on their kit than before, while Israel-Premier Tech's kit is not dissimilar to the one they wore at the Tour de France last year. UAE Team ADQ, meanwhile, stick with largely the same colour scheme of violet, orange and red, but in a new configuration.

Groupama-FDJ’s new jersey sees the team completely overhaul their previous colours, with their new jersey featuring multiple shades of dark blue instead of their previous mainly all-white design. The jersey also features an eye-catching zip in the colours of the French national team. 

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Bora-Hansgrohe have shared their new Le Col kit which has largely retained last year's design in which Jai Hindley rode to victory in the Giro d'Italia. 

Bahrain Victorious’ new kit is largely similar to the previous design manufactured by Alé, but with flashes of black added to the main body and light blue and a zig zagged design on the rear.

UAE Team Emirates has switched kit suppliers for the new season, with Italian brand Pissei taking over from their previous kit provider Gobik. 

The team’s new kit provider will be making their debut on the WorldTour, but the Tuscany-based company has worked on a design that follows a similar pattern to the UAE kit of previous years. 

Meanwhile, Trek-Segafredo has released new kit designs for both its men’s and women’s teams, with both sharing a similar design. Santini will continue as the team’s kit provider for another season. 

In terms of other women's squads, UAE Team ADQ and AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step have provided fresh designs, while Jumbo-Visma and Lotto-Dstny will have the same kits for both their men and women.

We will continue to share new designs as they come in. 

EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST

British cycling brand Rapha has continued its partnership with EF Education-EasyPost for a fifth consecutive season. Rapha have released images of new EF Education signing Richard Carapaz on training rides in the teams new kit which as always, is an eye catching bright pink. A press release from Rapha said the team will debut their new kit on training rides ahead of the fast-approaching Tour down Under, the first WorldTour race of the season. 

Once again, the kit is based on Rapha's Pro Team range, with the cutting edge technology that you would expect from Rapha's elite range. The jersey is once again dominated by the teams iconic pink, although this year's design features panels of varying shades as a nod to the team's past present and future. 

Now in its second year partnering with the women's team, EF Education-Tibco-SVB, Rapha  has produced for the first time ever an identical jersey for the women's team, which will be differentiated from the men's only by sponsor logos. Both teams will race in black bib shorts with the sponsors logos printed in white. The logos on both jerseys are printed in black. For the past two-seasons, Rapha have produced another limited edition kit for the team for the Giro d'Italia in order to avoid a clash with the hallowed Maglia Rosa, or pink jersey, at the Italian Grand Tour which is worn by the race leader. It's highly likely we can expect similar from the partnership later this season.

UAE TEAM EMIRATES

Two time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar , along with new signing Adam Yates, will have a choice of kit depending on the weather next year. 

Pissei will be providing the team with different designs, depending on the weather, with ultralight and breathable fabrics available to the squad in hotter weather.The other design has thermal qualities for when the temperature drops and the cold starts to bite, as it did when Pogačar rode away from his rivals at the 2022 Tirreno-Adriatico in the snow.

Pissei’s first offering as kit provider is very similar to the UAE Team Emirates design of previous season, with a mainly white jersey with flashes of red and black. The logo of Emirates is still clearly visible in a red band, with the UAE, Whoosh and Colnago logos also being prominently displayed.

The sleeves are predominantly black, similar to the design of 2017 and 18, with a large black section on the rear of the jersey on its middle pocket. The hashtag #WeAreUAE is also present in the middle.  

Pissei have also included a motto on the inner collar, “Race with Heart”. 

TREK-SEGAFREDO

The kit produced by Italian giant Santini for Trek-Segafredo is smart and sleek for both men’s and women’s teams and features an eye-catching design on the back of both jerseys.

Both jerseys have a mainly white base, with Trek emblazoned in a red band across the men’s, and in navy for the women’s. The two jerseys share a Trek logo in black down the side of each. They also share a similar pinstripe design on the sleeves, with the men’s being red and the women’s a light, duck-egg blue shade. 

The two jerseys both have a prominent Segafredo logo on the front panelling, with the logos of sponsors SRAM, Bontrager and of course, Santini, all clearly visible in the top corners. 

But it's the back of both jerseys is what really stands out. A new design has been incorporated into both jerseys, using dark blue as the main colour in a pattern consisting of checkerboard and striped blocks.  

In the men’s, red is the second colour to link together with the red Trek band that also features on the rear. For the women, light blue continues as a secondary colour in order to blend together with the navy Trek logo that features on the shoulders of their jersey. 

The shorts for both men and women will stay dark blue, with a red band at the base for the men's, and a light blue line for the women. 

GROUPAMA-FDJ

Groupama-FDJ’s new kit is full to the brim with different shades of dark blue, as well as a nod to their country with the French flag being prominent down the front of the jersey in the zip. 

The front of the jersey is made up of blue panelling, with the Groupama logo present in a dark navy band across the top of the torso and the FDJ logo printed in white on a more royal blue background. Beneath the FDJ logo is another dark navy band which is a very similar colour to the jersey of the French national football team. 

One of the jersey sleeves is the royal blue shade with the other being navy. The back of the jersey features the bands of colour that match with the front, with the Groupama logo backed by the navy shade and the FDJ logo the royal blue. 

The new shorts are the same navy that features in the jersey, with the Groupama logo emblazoned on the thigh and the Alé logo prominent on the upper hip. 

Groupama-FDJ shared a video on Twitter which shows off the new kit in all its glory.

Vous y êtes presque. https://t.co/N3LWyBEuQj December 9, 2022

BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS

The likes of Fred Wright, Matej Mohorič and Mikel Landa will be appearing in a kit next season which is largely unchanged from the design that has brought the team so much success.

Touches of black have been added to the traditional red and yellow of the team’s jersey, with the jersey featuring a zig-zag style stripe design in the team's colours on the rear. 

The jerseys produced by Alé are part of the PR-S collection, which the brand dedicates to teams and professional cyclists. The collection is designed to be light, breathable and fast. 

Bahrain Victorious will keep the same black shorts for next season, with a flash of light blue around the base of the thigh. 

Astana-Qazaqstan

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, the saying goes, although it is a bit of a shame that Astana Qazaqstan have stuck with the same kit for the second year in a row. That's why we're using last year's team picture above, because it's exactly the same.

In fact, it's pretty much the same Giordana kit as 2021 too, with just a change in sponsors on the front. Which is all good and sustainable, but what if I want a bit of Kazakh excitement in my life?

Well, I suppose at least you don't have to think too hard about Astana next year, because they are almost exactly the same. Without Miguel Ángel López , though.

👕 Our 2023 kit captured during the official photoshooting in Altea.Indeed, we kept the same design with just some small changes, but we love 😍 it!#AstanaQazaqstanTeam 📷 @SprintCycling pic.twitter.com/nOa2VaY6VS December 15, 2022

Soudal Quick-Step

One thing that you do absolutely have to get your head around is the new Quick-Step, which are now sponsored by Soudal, becoming Soudal Quick-Step. That means a revolution in design to cram Soudal and its customary red bar on the front of the jersey, ending up with this slightly messy looking kit.

There's an  exciting trailer for the new kit  starring Yves Lampaert, and it can already be purchased for €89.95 on Quick-Step's website.

Castelli's second kit for the Belgian super-team is largely blue, with a white bit blasted out of the middle to make way for SOUDAL and its customary red bar. I can already picture Fabio Jakobsen and Julian Alaphilippe winning in it.

Israel-Premier Tech

No longer a WorldTour team, Israel-Premier Tech have turned once again to stycle.design, otherwise known as Stijn Dossche, who designed their Tour de France kit last summer.

It's a mix of hues, with blue, white, pink and purple all in there. 

The jersey is made by its new kit supplier EKOÏ, and is designed to standout in the peloton with its "abstract blue, pink, and orange design of the jersey complimented by simple navy bib shorts which allow the jersey to shine".

Kjell Carlström, the team's general manager, said: "When it came to designing our 2023 kit, we wanted to do something a little different. Our Racing For Change kit at the Tour de France was a huge success and, in our opinion, one of the best kits in the peloton in recent years. 

"So we figured, why not do something a bit different all season long. Blue and white, the Israeli colors, are at the core of our identity. But, as we saw in 2022, there was a lot of blue and white in the peloton. So, we wanted to add some additional color into the mix and create a fresh and modern look that stands out on the bike. 

"Particularly on the back of the jersey, where we have replaced the team logo with the monogram of our star and P from Premier Tech so that we can be easily spotted on television. That’s our aim for 2023: stand out in the peloton when it comes to our kit design and the way we race."

The newly named Women's WorldTour team Israel-Premier Tech Roland have a similar, but not completely identical design.

A post shared by Israel – Premier Tech Roland (@israelpremiertechroland) A photo posted by on

UAE Team ADQ

UAE Team ADQ might share a name, a bike, a name, and a sponsor with the men's UAE Team Emirates, but its jersey is radically different. Also made by Pissei, the  kit is similar to last year, but subtly different.

It has light blue and red that fade into one another, vaguely similar to the Israeli teams above. Maybe its a Middle East thing.

Lotto-Dstny

Lotto-Dstny has changed quite a lot for the 2023 season, with new sponsor Dstny bringing its light blue and orange on board.

With Soudal leaving, the red bar and white middle no longer is required on the front of Lotto's kit, with a light blue lower half coming in its place. That's about it in terms of changes, with the light blue helmets continuing.

The team might no longer be in the WorldTour, but it will still be recognisable at races across the season.

The shorts remain black.

“The launch of this new outfit means that all eyes are now fully on the upcoming season,” Yana Seel, the chief business officer at Lotto-Dstny said in the press release. “We will have been riding in Vermarc Sport kit for more than half of the team’s existence. This says a lot about the quality of the equipment, the mutual trust and the shared love for the sport.”

Ineos Grenadiers

Ineos Grenadiers  will race in red, orange and navy in 2023, with the team deviating from their previous navy jersey.

It is a departure from the team's previous colours, with navy not present as the main colour on the kit; that honour is instead given to a vibrant orange and red, which is perhaps more redolent of Bahrain Victorious.

Only once since the team's inception in 2010 has their main kit been something other than navy or black - 2018's white kit - and so it might take some time for viewers and fans to adjust.

The team are using Ineos' "brigade red" colour, according to the press material. It is the second year that Belgian firm Bioracer has made the team's kit.

The front of the jersey is red, with orange, red, and navy sleeves. The orange featured on the right arm is apparently "safety orange", which is also a colour used by the Ineos Britannia America's Cup team, which is also sponsored by  Jim Ratcliffe , Ineos' owner.

Rod Ellingworth, the team's deputy principal, said in a statement: "The team is shifting up a gear with our 2023 jersey. We’re excited by the evolution of the design and hope our fans love this new look as much as we do. The shift to Ineos' brigade red reflects the way we plan to race - with passion, grit and determination.

“The introduction of the distinctive orange colour is also important. It will increase the visibility of our riders during racing, as the orange kit they wear does whilst they are training, helping to keep them safe on the road and supporting them in all conditions. Bioracer has really risen to the challenge with our 2023 jersey and we’re looking forward to racing in this ‘Visibly Fast’ kit.”

Jumbo-Visma

Jumbo-Visma's new kit is very similar to the old kit. It still is mainly yellow - shock - and has the black band with the sponsors across the middle.

The "roots to rise" jersey will be worn by both the men's and women's team, with only a small change in sponsors between the two.

The difference comes with the rainbow highlight either side of the black band, and the new sponsors, which are Bet City, SRAM and Lease a Bike for the men, and Elfi, and the same latter two for the women.

The kit has been designed to mark ten years of the Dutch team, which began as Blanco Pro Cycling Team in 2013 after the demise of Rabobank - the finance sponsors pulled out due to the prevalence of doping in cycling.

The team was then known as Belkin, before it became LottoNL-Jumbo, and then finally Jumbo-Visma.

"With this jersey, we pay tribute to what we have achieved together over the past ten years, and it is a starting point for further growth over the next ten years”, general manager Richard Plugge said in a statement. 

"We built the team from the ground up to where we are today, with the Tour de France victory last summer being the absolute highlight. By wearing this jersey, we pay tribute to our history, but at the same time, we look forward to the future."

"We have had some wonderful moments in recent years. Think of winning our first grand tour with Primoz Roglic in 2019, the monumental victories, last year's Tour de France, the results of culture carriers like Robert Gesink and Steven Kruijswijk, and the development of talents like Olav Kooij."

“We pioneered new territory a few years ago with the launch of our training and women's teams. We started from scratch and completely redesigned the team. “We now have a solid foundation and will build on the future of the team and Dutch and international cycling."

As a result of it being a 10 year anniversary kit, anyone who buys the jersey before 6 January will received 10 artworks on cards which remember the team's greatest moments, from Lars Boom winning over the cobbles at the Tour de France in 2014 to Jonas Vingegaard winning the Tour de France last year.

AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step

AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step is quite a mouthful of a team, but it is the formalisation of the connection between the all-conquering Quick-Step men's team at the AG Insurance-NXTG women's team, which will be joining the Women's WorldTour next year.

As a result, the team's kit is quite redolent of their Soudal Quick-Step brothers, with the white band across the middle; in fact, it might be exactly the same aside from the different lead sponsors.

Among the riders donning this in 2023 will be Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who has left SD Worx to be with the new WWT team, and Lotta Henttala, who spent 2022 without a squad.

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty

Last year Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert went for simplicity with coloured sleeves and a plain white front. Now they have changed its name to Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, there has been an explosion of colour on the front of the kit.

The Nalini kit looks a bit like someone has taken a plain white jersey and thrown fluorescent yellow and navy blue paint at it. With 18 sponsors across the kit, it is a heady mix of the old and the new.

One that will stand out in 2023.

Human Powered Health

For its second year as Human Powered Health, the American squad formerly known as Rally has kept the orange and purple that made it stand out in the men's and women's pelotons last year, but made everything a little bit bolder.

The press release for the kit says: "The jersey’s vibrant gradient is refreshed, incorporating rich dark blue and purple hues. The team’s striking bolt symbol is more significant than ever on the front and back of the jersey, and a subtle geometric pattern enhances closer views."

One to watch out for in the Women's WorldTour and the men's ProTour in 2023.

“Our design team has created a kit that is informed by the core principles of our Human Powered Health brand and movement,” the managing director of Circuit Sport, Charles Aaron, said. “It’s about maximizing human performance in the right ways. That means a holistic, whole body and mind approach to performance.” 

These “core principles” that inform Human Powered Health – movement, fuel, recovery and mindset – are reflected in the kit’s rich colour scheme. 

“The warmth and energy of movement and fuel are represented on one end of the gradient,” Human Powered Health’s chief creative officer Sam Wiebe said in the statement, “and on the cooler end of the spectrum are recovery and mindset. We want these cooler colors on our kit to remind people that performance isn’t just about consuming and burning energy. A calmness of mind and body is a critical factor.”

BORA-HANSGROHE

Bora-Hansgrohe have kept a similar design to last year's jersey for their 2023 kit, which will be manufactured by Le Col once more. 

Australian Jai Hindley won the Giro d'Italia for the team last year and as the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". 

With that in mind, the jersey features the same Bora-Hansgrohe colours of green, black and red, with black panelling making up the left side of the jersey torso and green on the right. 

The logos of sponsors Bora and Hansgrohe occupy the same position on the jersey in large font across the chest, along with other positions on the shoulders. Fellow sponsors logos, Le Col and Specialized, are on display at the top of the front of the jersey too.

Le Col also say that the teams 2023 jersey features a "subtle adjustment" to the design which brought them so much success last year.

Strategically placed tripping panels have been added to the jersey, along with seam layout work. Both additions are in order to increase and smooth the airflow, while also minimising drag to further increase rider efficiency when travelling at speed. 

Bora-Hansgrohe's new shorts are black once more, with the teams other colours visible in coloured panelling at the base of each thigh. White socks will complete their look for the upcoming season. 

Hindley said that he hoped the team could build on Le Col's Grand Tour winning reputation in their new kit in 2023. 

“Winning the Giro earlier this year was a career highlight for me, with the Le Col kit definitely helping along the way," he said. "It’s really exciting to be testing out the new kit for next year’s season and hopefully continue to build on its Grand Tour winning reputation.”

Spanish team Movistar have flipped their kit design on its head for the upcoming season for both their men’s and women’s teams. 

The team have largely been known for their dark blue colours for many years, and that’s still the case this year with the jersey largely being made up of a shade of dark blue which fades out into a lighter shade at the base of the sleeves and towards the waist. 

However, they have opted to lose the horizontal light blue lines across the jersey and chosen the colour fade instead. Another change to the jersey is the sponsors logos are all now white instead of light blue with the large M in its usual positioning in the centre. 

Spanish brand Gobik are manufacturing the team's kit this year after their agreement with La Passione came to an end. To pair with the jersey the team will be racing in dark navy blue shorts with a slightly lighter navy band at the base of each thigh. 

Current World champion Annemiek van Vleuten has gone for a timeless, classic look with her new rainbow jersey, with small rainbow bands appearing on her shorts too. 

Various national champions in the team, including Liane Lippert and Vinicius Rangel Costa, have gone for similar jersey designs to Van Vleuten, with their nations colours proudly on display.  

Cofidis will be appearing on the road in a stylish new kit designed by Decathlon’s cycling brand Van Rysel this season. 

Even though the kit contains the same colours and same sponsors, it’s a stepforward on last year's design and will certainly see Cofidis sporting one of the most eye-catching designs in 2023. 

The red and white colour blocks, which have been a key component of the French squad’s kit for many years, are largely retained. Although the red now stretches up to the neckline instead of finishing half way up the front of the jersey. 

Instead of just a straight ahead red, Van Rysel have added in a tie-dyed pattern across the jersey with the sponsors appearing in white over the top.

The team's sponsors are largely the same as last seasons, although the Look logo has replaced the logo of De Rosa now that Cofidis have changed bike sponsors for the year ahead. 

To go with the new jersey the team are sticking with black shorts once more which are essentially identical to last year’s design. 

JAYCO AlUIa 

The team formerly known as BikeExchange-Jayco have a shiny new Alé kit to go with their name change to Jayco AIUIa for the upcoming season. 

The men’s jersey features various light blue tones to correspond with bike sponsor Giant, with the shoulders largely white apart from the flashes of light blue in various sponsors logos. Jayco’s logo is prominently displayed in large font at the top of the jersey in a sky blue colour, with Giant in the same shade down both sleeves. The AIUla logo sits just underneath Jayco as well as on the side panels. 

The women’s team have a largely similar jersey to the men, but with a darker shade of blue which is verging on purple. The women will ride Liv bikes this season, and the logo of the brand is in the same place as the Giant logo on the men’s jersey down on each sleeve. 

Norwegian team Uno-X Pro Cycling are keeping their kit exactly the same as last seasons, with no changes whatsoever. 

According to the team, this decision is for sustainable purposes and the need to reduce consumption. The team shared the news of their decision on Twitter , with a picture of new signing Alexander Kristoff wearing last season's kit. 

“Our 2023 design. No changes from last season. We need to reduce our consumption. Keeping the design allows us to cut our overall clothing order for 2023,” the team wrote. “Not to mention our fans which will recognise us from day one in the upcoming season.”

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Adam is Cycling Weekly ’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.

What if that was Mattéo Vercher's one and only opportunity to win a stage in the Tour de France?

By Chris Marshall-Bell Published 18 July 24

The Dutch team are hoping to replicate their successes of the past two years to take the battle for the yellow jersey into the final weekend.

The Slovenian is on course to become the first man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to complete the Giro-Tour double

By Chris Marshall-Bell Published 15 July 24

UAE Team Emirates's superstar now has a lead to Jonas Vingegaard that might be insurmountable

By Chris Marshall-Bell Published 14 July 24

The rider's union also threatens to take legal action against the spectator for the potato or maize-based incident

By Adam Becket Published 14 July 24

The UAE Team Emirates rider is almost two minutes ahead of his big rival, Jonas Vingegaard, but five important GC stages still loom

By Adam Becket Published 13 July 24

Spanish climber Juan Ayuso returned positive test result, but was initially cleared to continue

By Tom Thewlis Last updated 12 July 24

The talented Slovenian might just be the best rider in the world, but he is not hirsute

By Adam Becket Published 9 July 24

"Maybe Jonas didn’t have them today," Evenepoel calls for more aggressive riding from two-time champion after enthralling stage on the gravel around Troyes

By Tom Thewlis Published 7 July 24

GC riders expecting chaotic stage on Sunday, with potential for time losses

By Tom Davidson Published 6 July 24

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Look bikes return to UCI World Tour in 2023: How many races will Team Cofidis win aboard this 795 Blade RS?

French UCI World Tour team Cofidis has confirmed that it will be using Look bikes and Corima wheels from the 2023 season onwards in a multi-year deal that sees the team move away from De Rosa.

Unless Look launches new bikes in the New Years, the team's riders will have the choice of the lightweight 785 Huez RS or the 795 Blade RS aero bike. Let's take a closer 'Look' at the latter...

Cofidis has had a busy autumn, with many new signings. The team now has some serious firepower in the form of Ion Izagirre, Bryan Coquard, Guillaume Martin and Davide Cimolai. The 100% French partnership also includes Cofidis' women's and Para-cycling teams.

This isn't the first time that Cofidis has used Look bikes. The team rode them from 2009 until 2014 before switching to Orbea, and later De Rosa. (Daniel Navarro's 2014 Look 695 can be seen above.)

Even though this is by no means the first time that Look bikes have been in the World Tour peloton, they have been absent for the last few years. It was in fact in 1985 that a Look bicycle took it's first World Tour victory via Greg Lemond at the Tour de France.

Since it was last in the World Tour peloton, the French brand has released plenty of new models, one of them being this range-topping aero bike: the latest 795 Blade RS. We think it's quite the looker!

Look says this is a bike "all about performance" with a high modulus carbon frame incorporating all of the LOOK know-how, "to offer you optimum stiffness with no compromise on comfort."

Like many of the recent  best aero road bikes , the 795 Blade RS has an integrated cockpit which channels the brake hoses under the stem and through the headset.

> One bike to rule them all: why lightweight aero bikes are now THE essential race weapon

Despite its aero credentials, the frame has a very competitive weight of 1kg, a full 300g lighter than the previous generation. Look says this was made possible by using higher modulus fibres to reduce the tube thickness, and by extension, their weight. 

The frame has space for up to 30c tyres and features this unique seat stay design with no bridge to deliver "maximum efficiency" and rear compliance. 

Look has used its new EPS (Extended Polystyrene) technology to create the carbon frame, which is apparently more costly than the traditional process and is only used for the brand's highest-performance bike models.

Look explains that rather than having one single mould for each frame size, this method requires two: one for the outer shape of the frame and one for the inner.

The EPS process consists of draping the layer of carbon fibre fabric over a hard polystyrene form, which is then removed. The high-tech moulding process is said to avoid any folds, porosities and areas of weakness in the carbon.

We've already mentioned that Cofidis is no stranger to using Look equipment. As well as previously using them as a bike partner, the team has been using Look pedals since 2010, specifically the Look Keo Blade Ti.

Cédric Vasseur, General Manager of Team Cofidis said: "As the UCI World Tour team, we are more concerned than ever with the level of performance of all the components of our bike and we want to offer the ultimate quality to all of our riders. We are also proud to ride on 100% French high-tech products."

> Review: Look Keo Blade Carbon Pedals

Cofidis, like in 2022, will use Corima wheels (Part of the Look cycling group) and will have the choice between the MCC DX, WS Black DX, and WS TT DX wheelsets. Corima wheels also have a rich history in the World Tour peloton; in fact, they have racked up four  Grand Tours and a road race Olympic title in the last decade.

Two teams will be using Corima wheels in 2023: Cofidis and Astana Premier-tech.

> 10 best road bike and gravel bike wheels 2022 — reduce bike weight or get aero gains with new hoops

The MCC DX wheels are available in both 32mm and 47mm depths and feature a nearly full carbon fibre construction with this unique 12-spoke pattern both front and rear. Weights start as low as 1,295g, which is sure to help in the mountains.

> 10 top tips for cyclists to get faster up hills

Federico Musi, CEO of Look and Corima, said: “Look and Team Cofidis are proud to announce a long-term partnership which will allow the riders of the UCI World Tour team to benefit from the full range of LOOK bikes, pedals and CORIMA wheels. We are also particularly excited to contribute to diversifying and expanding the community of riders by supporting the professional women’s team as well as the development of the para-cycling team.

"Promoting ‘Made In France’, French knowhow, and LOOK’s heritage of excellence alongside a team as prestigious and historic as Cofidis is a real honour".

What's your favourite bike in the World Tour peloton, and does this Look 795 Blade RS compete? Let us know in the comments section below...

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Jamie has been riding bikes since a tender age but really caught the bug for racing and reviewing whilst  studying towards a master's in Mechanical engineering  at Swansea University. Having graduated, he decided he really quite liked working with bikes and is now a full-time addition to the road.cc team. When not writing about tech news or working on the Youtube channel, you can still find him racing local crits trying to cling on to his cat 2 licence...and missing every break going...

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That 695 from 2014 is the business!

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le modèle français trek madone 2021 #honhonhon

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Tour de France stage 17 Live – A rare day for the breakaway

The road ahead - 10 storylines to follow in the men's WorldTour in 2023

Pogačar versus Vingegaard, Bernal's return and Evenepoel's year in the rainbow jersey

The calendar has flipped into 2023 and the new men’s WorldTour season is just days away, with the campaign getting underway at the Tour Down Under on January 17. Not all rosters are yet complete – Mark Cavendish’s destination is still to be confirmed – but some of the likely themes of the new season are already apparent.

In preparation for the 2023 season, Cyclingnews looks at some of the key storylines to follow in the men’s WorldTour.

Pogačar looks to reclaim the crown from Vinegegaard

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) enjoyed another season of almost casual dominance in 2022, as he racked up 16 wins across all terrains, including a victory for the ages at Strade Bianche in March and the third Monument of his young career at Il Lombardia. For the first time, however, Pogačar met his match at the Tour de France , where Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) overpowered him on the Col du Granon and Hautacam to divest him of the title.

As ever, Pogačar ought to shine across the calendar in 2023, but regaining his Tour de France crown will be the obvious centrepiece of his campaign. Before Vingegaard’s victory last July, for instance, there had been whispers that Pogačar would make his Giro d’Italia debut in 2023, but any such thoughts were banished once the Slovenian surrendered the yellow jersey.

Pogačar’s 2023 campaign will be all about winning it back, but Vingegaard will not be an easy out. The Dane had already matched Pogačar blow for blow through the second half of the 2021 Tour before getting the better of him last July, and his Jumbo-Visma team’s strength in depth is startling. UAE Team Emirates have brought in some reinforcements for 2023 with the arrival of Adam Yates, but ultimately, Pogačar will have to win the head-to-head battle against Vingegaard. Expect a race of attrition on a Tour route that visits five different mountain ranges, starting with the Pyrenees in the opening week.

Round two for Evenepoel and Roglič at the Giro d’Italia

Vingegaard is not the only threat to Pogačar’s pre-eminence in the contemporary peloton. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), after all, won the Vélo d’Or after a remarkable 2022 season that saw him win the Vuelta a España , the Road World Championships and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, though the Belgian has postponed his Tour debut for another season, preferring to bring his rainbow jersey to the Giro d’Italia .

The near 70km of time trialling on the route was enough to persuade Evenepoel, but although he will be the favourite to carry the maglia rosa to Rome, he will not lack for competition, with the Giro set to attract arguably its deepest field since Chris Froome, Tom Dumoulin, Simon Yates and Thibaut Pinot jousted for the spoils in 2018.

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The most obvious challenger is P rimož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), the man who pushed Evenepoel closest at the Vuelta until his race was ended by a crash. With Vingegaard installed as Jumbo-Visma’s leader at the Tour, Roglič has been persuaded to return to the Giro, where he placed third overall in 2019. The time trial-heavy route will be to his liking, while he can expect ample local support when the race scales Monte Lussari on the Italo-Slovenian border on the final weekend.

Indeed, an Evenepoel-Roglič duel seems the most likely scenario, though Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) have also confirmed their participation in what could prove to be the race of the season.

Evenepoel being Evenepoel, of course, he will be making news across the calendar, starting with his debut at the Vuelta a San Juan. Of particular interest in the early season, will be his potential head-to-head with Pogačar at the UAE Tour, while he has signalled his intention to defend his world title in Glasgow in August.

Van Aert and Van der Poel resume their never-ending duel

Together with Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grandiers), Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) have illuminated the cyclocross circuit over the Christmas period – a foretaste, perhaps, of what is to come on the cobbles in March and April. Before that, of course, Van Aert and Van der Poel have the minor matter of disputing a cyclocross world title in Hoogerheide next month. But it is their potential duel on the cobbles that most whets the appetite, not least because circumstances limited their head-to-head contests in 2022.

Van der Poel was absent for Van Aert’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 Harelbeke wins as he nursed a nagging back injury. Van Aert, meanwhile, wasn’t around for Van der Poel’s second Tour of Flanders victory after he contracted COVID-19 in the build-up to the race. They both later raced a breathless edition of Paris-Roubaix , though it was hard to shake off the sense that neither man was on top of his game that afternoon.

By the Tour de France, meanwhile, Van der Poel was struggling for form, while a skirmish at the World Championships never materialised either, with the Dutchman abandoning early after his arrest on (subsequently quashed) assault charges the previous night.

The never-ending Van der Poel versus Van Aert contest has already resumed in recent weeks , and it should colour much of the Spring to boot. Jumbo-Visma have added Dylan van Baarle to a redoubtable squad that already includes Christophe Laporte, yet Van der Poel’s Alpecin-Deceuninck team – now in the WorldTour – continues to punch above its weight.

Van Aert and Van der Poel won’t have it all their own way, of course. Pidcock will hope to be in the mix at the head of a young and promising Ineos Classics team, Pogacar has also pencilled in a return to the Tour of Flanders, while Soudal-QuickStep will surely improve on last year’s troubled Flemish campaign. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert), such an assured winner of Gent-Wevelgem last year, is also set to ride a full Classics campaign for the first time, and he won’t be daunted by the Ronde, while Hour Record holder Filippo Ganna (Ineos) is targeting Paris-Roubaix.

Egan Bernal’s long road back

When the news first broke a little under a year ago, it wasn’t clear if Egan Bernal would ever ride a bike again. The Colombian’s horrific training crash on January 24 left him with fractured vertebrae, a fractured right femur, a fractured right patella, chest trauma, a punctured lung and several fractured ribs. For all the determination apparent in the social media messages Bernal posted from his hospital bed, it seemed difficult to imagine that he would ever pin on a number again.

And yet, by August, Bernal was back in the peloton at the Tour of Denmark, and he would clock up a dozen racing days before undergoing additional knee surgery at season’s end. During the winter, Bernal confirmed his intention to ride the Tour in 2023, and he takes the first steps towards that appointment when he lines out at the Vuelta a San Juan this month. Logic says that Bernal should not be able to compete with Pogacar and Vingegaard in July, but then the 25-year-old already defied expectations with his rapid return to racing last year. One would be ill-advised to write him off.

Even before his accident, Bernal was already among the most compelling figures in the sport. Few riders of such talent admit so readily and publicly to their vulnerability, as Bernal did when he spoke of the existential crisis that followed his 2019 Tour victory: “I’d won the Tour at 22 and I didn’t know what to do with my life. It was like – what now?” However it plays out, Bernal’s journey towards the Tour will be worth following closely.

Julian Alaphilippe looks for revenge

Soudal-QuickStep manager Patrick Lefevere is not much given to subtlety. His team may increasingly be built around Evenepoel, but he still demands bang for his buck from all the team’s galacticos . Two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe had a maddening 2022, with crashes and illness blighting him at every turn, but his manager focused on the bottom line when he spoke with La Dernière Heure over the winter. “Julian has a salary of a champion, but he needs to confirm that he is still a champion,” Lefevere said. “I want him to bounce back.”

Alaphilippe wants the same thing, of course, and he is set to take on a particularly busy Spring schedule, with both the cobbled Classics and the Ardennes on the menu. His return to the Flemish races, in particular, is of particular interest, as QuickStep, so long the standard in late March and early April, were a shadow of their former selves in his absence last Spring.

At his best, like at the Imola and Leuven World Championships, Alaphilippe can travel to places few others can follow and, even amid the ordeals of 2022, he still produced some flickers of inspiration. A thought to sustain him as 2023 begins.

August World Championships changes complexion of season

The UCI’s first multi-disciplinary World Championships in Glasgow sees the road race shift to a novel – and one-off – early August date. The men’s road race takes place on August 6, just two weeks after the end of the Tour de France, which makes for a significant alteration to the configuration of the season.

The most obvious change is that the Worlds will surely favour riders coming out of the Tour on form, much like recent editions of the Olympic Games. Pogačar, for instance, has already spoken of his interest in targeting the Glasgow Worlds, while Van Aert has, for now at least, ruled out chasing the green jersey in order to spare himself for a tilt at the rainbow bands a fortnight later.

The August Worlds also leaves something of a gap in the latter part of the year. Since the UCI’s last major calendar reform in 1995, the Vuelta a España has doubled for some as a preparation race for the Worlds, while newer additions like the GP de Québec and Montréal were almost akin to dress rehearsals for the main event. It seems unlikely, mind, that the change in Worlds date will dilute the fields in Canada or Spain in any meaningful way. As last season’s fraught WorldTour relegation battle demonstrated, every WorldTour point counts. In 2023, there is no such thing as a preparation race.

Ayuso and the next generation take flight

Pogačar is still eligible for the best young rider competition at the 2023 Tour, where a fourth white jersey would see him surpass the record he shares with Jan Ullrich and Andy Schleck, but the next generation has already made its mark at the highest level, a trend that seems destined to continue in the new season. Cycling, as Pogačar and Evenepoel began suggesting in 2019, is increasingly a young man’s game.

Among those young men in a hurry is Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates companion Juan Ayuso, who was still a few days shy of his 20th birthday when he placed third overall at last year’s Vuelta. The Spaniard will return to the race with realistic designs on overall victory in 2023 – though one wonders if his ability will yet see him drafted into the Tour team alongside Pogačar.

Ayuso’s near contemporary Carlos Rodriguez, seventh at the Vuelta, has singled himself out as an Ineos Grand Tour leader in waiting, as has new arrival Thymen Arensman, a relative veteran at 23. Other emerging talents to watch include Magnus Sheffield (Ineos), fast man Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Soudal) and Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bora-Hansgrohe), who so impressed in winning last year’s Tour de l’Avenir. The future comes around increasingly quickly these days. Expect the Belgian to make significant strides in 2023.

Hindley and Vine take on new challenges

Jai Hindley ’s victory at the 2022 Giro confirmed what his break-out display in the same race two years earlier had already suggested. The Australian and his Bora-Hansgrohe squad raced smartly throughout the Giro, picking and choosing their moments to strike. In outlasting Richard Carapaz to claim the maglia rosa on the Marmolada on the penultimate day, Hindley proved that his powers of endurance are among the most redoubtable in the entire peloton.

In 2023, Hindley will eschew the Giro in favour of making his Tour de France debut. With just 22km of time trialling on the menu in July, he could hardly have hoped for a more amenable route. Pogačar and Vingegaard were in a race of their own last year, but Hindley is among the select cohort of riders looking to break up their duopoly. It will be fascinating to see just how far he can go.

Hindley’s compatriot Jay Vine , meanwhile, is also broadening his horizons in 2022, swapping Alpecin-Deceuninck for UAE Team Emirates. He is pencilled in for a Giro d’Italia debut and, after his sparkling mountaintop victories at last year’s Vuelta, he will be the man to watch when the road climbs in Italy. Vine insists that he has designs only on stage wins and the mountains jersey, but his relative inexperience at this level suggests there is ample margin for improvement – and no obvious ceiling on his future GC ambitions beyond 2023. 

Tom Pidcock’s abundance of choice

The era of specialisation may be over, but riders of Tom Pidcock ’s dexterity still have to make difficult choices. The reigning cyclocross world champion confirmed this weekend that he will not defend his title in Hoogerheide next month, preferring instead to prepare carefully for a Classics campaign that will see him tackle Strade Bianche, the Tour of Flanders and the Ardennes Classics.

A recurring illness limited Pidcock last Spring, even if he still placed third in an especially high-octane edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen. If he gets a clear run this time around, just about anything is possible between Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège .

Pidcock will then turn his attention towards the Tour de France, but it’s not yet clear in which guise. With Thomas riding the Giro and Bernal’s form uncertain, Pidcock – 16th overall on his debut last July – is a potential GC leader for Ineos, even if the man himself is unsure whether this is necessarily the year. “One day I want to try and win the Tour,” Pidcock told Cyclingnews in October. “Whether I'm good enough next year, I don't know.” Either way, it will be one of the stories of the season.

Cavendish and the sprinters take aim at the Tour

Last year’s Tour marked something of a modern nadir for the fastmen, with just four stages being decided by bunch sprints. Despite the succession of mountain ranges on this year’s route, the lie of the land looks rather more amenable this time around, with Mark Cavendish reckoning there to be “seven or eight” opportunities for riders like himself in July.

The pure sprinter may feel increasingly like an endangered species in modern cycling, but several teams have already pencilled their fast men in for selection in July, with Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-Alula), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) all set to ride. Fabio Jakobsen, arguably the man with the most rapid turn of pace in the bunch, will surely be on hand for Soudal-QuickStep, while Arnaud Démare will hope to persuade Groupama-FDJ to give him another tilt at the race.

Most early intrigue, meanwhile, will focus on Cavendish’s own path to the Tour. The Manxman has yet to announce his 2023 team, but he has been in talks with Astana-Qazaqstan in recent weeks, with the move expected to be confirmed shortly. The 37-year-old already jointly holds the record for Tour stage wins (34), but his desire to surpass Eddy Merckx and claim the mark as his own appears obvious. 

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Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation , published by Gill Books.

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Look Bikes return to World Tour peloton in 2023

During the 2023 season, Cofidis will be switching back to Look bikes for their men's and women's road teams. Look also supplied the bikes to the team bikes between 2009 and 2014.

"We are excited to give our riders the opportunity to ride Look bikes for the next few years," said Cofidis general manager Cédric Vasseur. "Look has become, over the seasons, one of the most emblematic brands on the market and this new partnership is an additional step in the development of our Cofidis team towards the search for Performance."

Tourmalet stages "makes me excited" defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten says on Tour de France Femmes

He continues, "As the UCI WorldTour team, we are more concerned than ever with the level of performance of all the components of our bike, and we want to offer the ultimate quality to all of our riders. We are also proud to ride on 100% French high-tech products."

Road racing has been associated with Look for a long time, backed by quality and history. Look frames have been used in over 100 Grand Tour stage wins."We are convinced that the Cofidis-Look agreement will provide our UCI WorldTour Team, Women Team and Handisport Team with the best range of products in all areas of cycling , including road, track and gravel. We are delighted to open a new chapter with Look bikes from 2023 by continuing our quest for victories at the highest level,” concluded Vasseur.

"A good Remco can do well on every kind of course" - Lefevere maintains mystery surrounding Evenepoel's 2023 calendar

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Fri 19 Jul 2024

Sat 20 Jul 2024

Tour Tested, Real World Approved: ENVE Melee Long-Term Review

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The ENVE Melee is the brand’s mass-produced road race frame, and it won its first Tour de France stage last weeken d.  WorldTour professionals demand maximum power transfer, minimum weight, and the least aerodynamic drag.

So it was a total surprise when I unboxed the frame and discovered it had threaded fender mounts, wide tire clearance, and shockingly low-profile tubes. What? Why would ENVE do that? After only a few rides, I knew.

The ENVE Melee didn’t ride like it was laser-focused on winning races. It felt like ENVE instilled some fun and daily usability into the bike’s DNA. This became clearer as the months and miles tallied up as the ENVE Melee did duty as my long-term mule for testing wheels and other components for over a year.

In short: The ENVE Melee possesses the data-driven and performance-oriented attributes WorldTour competitors require. But it had the additional endearing ability to deliver a fun and surprisingly practical ride. The Melee delivered a tantalizing mixture of speed, comfort, and usability that belies its Tour de France stage-winning pedigree. If you want to go fast but don’t want the negatives that come with a full-aero race bike, the ENVE Melee delivers.

ENVE Melee Chassis

• Frame material ENVE M.O.D. carbon
• Fork ENVE M.O.D. carbon, five different rakes
• Bottom bracket T47 inboard bearing
• Sizes 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm
• Seat post ENVE Aero
• Integration Full internal cable and hose routing
• Great combination of aero, light weight, and compliance
• More practical than other race bikes with fender mounts and 35c tire clearance
• Good road surface feedback
• Lively feel to rider inputs
• Muted paint and graphics for those who like more bling

The GearJunkie ENVE Melee Test Mule

Unboxing the Frameset

ENVE launched the Melee in the summer of 2022, surprisingly deviating from its Made in Ogden, Utah, story. The brand has long held this distinction with its premium carbon wheels and Custom Road frame.

ENVE mass produces the Melee frame in Asia and, at the time, only offered a single color: Damascus silver. It seemed like a very distant cousin to the Custom Road frames, with each customer’s desired geometry and paint scheme.

My first clues to the Melee’s deviation from the single-mindedness of pure performance were the threaded fender mounts and clearance for 35c tires. I wondered if the pros on the Team TotalEnergies Cycling scoffed at the fender mounts when they received their bikes.

These frame features were “un-race-like” to me, leaving me wondering what ENVE’s target was. The Melee is also compatible with both electronic and mechanical groupsets, the latter becoming less common in high-end road frames.

ENVE offers what it calls a “chassis” for an MSRP of $5,500 . Instead of selling the frame, fork, headset, and possibly the seat post and axles as the frameset, ENVE goes one step further since it has been manufacturing carbon wheels (for almost 20 years) and components.

An ENVE chassis also includes an ENVE Aero stem and a choice of handlebar. The frame is fully integrated for internal hose, cable, or wire routing. A few retailers offer only the frame, fork, axles, and headset for an MSRP of $4,500 .

Since its launch, ENVE has added two more color schemes: Aegean Blue and ENVE Black. All ENVE Melee frames have almost no visible branding and, from a distance, seemed almost generic to me.

Outfitting the ENVE Melee

I chose to outfit the Melee with as many ENVE products as possible. The brand is best known for premium wheelsets, and I chose its self-proclaimed most versatile model.

The SES 3.4 straddles the middle ground between aerodynamic efficiency, weight, and vertical compliance. It was a logical choice for the Melee’s large tire clearance and fender mounts.

I chose the WorldTour-proven Shimano Dura-Ace groupset. Again, this seemed prudent, given the Melee’s premium stature and chassis MSRP of $5,500. Chris King contributed a T47 ThreadFit bottom bracket. I was fortunate to acquire a 4iiii Precision 3+ Pro dual-sided power meter to help me continue improving my left-right balance following multiple knee surgeries.

I rounded out the build with ENVE SES Road Tires in 700 x 29, ENVE Handlebar Tape , an ENVE Adjustable Computer Mount , and a pair of ENVE Water Bottle Cages . Although I ran through several saddles, I settled on the Selle Italia SLR Bo ost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow .

To add a little bling and help the bike stand out in images, I added a Stikrd graphics kit for both the frame and the wheels in a stunning holographic color scheme.

This pro-level build would retail around $12,000-13,000 without the power meter. Yes, this is so much money, but it’s on par with other pro-level road race bikes. As described, with Shimano Dura-Ace pedals, the test bike in size 56cm weighs a verified 16.9 pounds.

But Is It Aero?

Road race bikes are all about aerodynamics. At the world level, it’s necessary, given the competition and extremely narrow margins that separate the victor from the also-rans. Despite having truncated tube shapes, ENVE claims that the Melee possesses aerodynamic efficiency worthy of races like the Tour de France.

ENVE is no stranger to aerodynamic optimization due to its 17 years of work with aero wheels and related patents . The brand states that it balanced aerodynamic efficiency and weight on the Melee and formed tube shapes to complement its SES wheels.

Also, ENVE used “normal cyclist” speeds of 20 and 30 mph for wind tunnel testing. Bicycles are often touted to be aerodynamically superior at speeds only capable by the elite.

Surprisingly, ENVE admits that the mass-produced Melee is faster than the built-in-the-USA Custom Road frame. The monocoque construction allows narrower tube widths and refined shapes compared to the lug-and-tube build of the Custom Road.

ENVE’s wind tunnel testing shows that the Melee saves a handful of watts at -15 to +15 degrees of yaw angle at both 20 and 30 mph. The largest difference is 5 W at +5 degrees of yaw at 30 mph.

As stated, ENVE designed the frame tube shapes to complement its SES line of wheels. Per the brand, the bike can be prioritized for these different attributes by matching it with the appropriate wheel. Riders should choose the SES 2.3 wheels for climbing, 3.4 (as tested here) for all-road versatility, 4.5 for a road race, and 6.7 for a triathlon or sprint lead-out.

WorldTour teams absolutely have to prioritize aerodynamics. For this year’s Tour de France, the TotalEnergies team thought the Melee’s aerodynamics were on par. At the time of writing, the team was awarded at least one stage win from a breakaway (where aerodynamics matter more).

ENVE Melee Ride Impressions

Damping Characteristics

Response to road surfaces.

The shallow-ish frame tubes gave me the sense that the Melee wouldn’t ride as harshly as full-aero race bikes, which was true. On chip seal roads common in rural Central Texas, the frame combined with the “non-full-aero” ENVE SES 3.4 wheels felt quite luxurious compared to other aero road race bikes I was testing simultaneously.

Admittedly, on smooth, flat roads in calm conditions in Austin, the Melee felt perceptibly slower than dedicated aero bikes with tall frame tube profiles and matching deep-section aero wheels.

Many race bikes with deep frame tubes and wheels feel “dead” on surfaces like chip seal. But then they feel harsh when the tires hit a square edge. It’s like hearing muffled music, and then suddenly the volume is full blast whenever the drummer hits a cymbal.

The dead feeling makes it hard to discern grip when the pavement is short of perfect or wet. And the harshness makes me stiffen up to prepare for the hits, ultimately costing me energy and detracting from enjoyment.

The Melee transferred enough road feeling for me to remain confident cornering and descending when gravel or other issues affected traction. At the same time, it blunted just enough of the impacts with edges to keep me relaxed (along with the SES 3.4 wheels and ENVE tires). This balance was a hugely significant factor in my enjoyment of the bike.

Response to Rider Inputs

This same dead feeling can happen on dedicated aero road race bikes when accelerating, standing on the pedals, and other maneuvers that require applying body English. The deep frame tubes and rims may be efficient regarding airflow and transfer of pedaling power, but they also respond in a way that detracts from the information coming back to me from the bike in response to these efforts.

The Melee had quick enough rebound to feel lively when standing on the pedals and felt responsive to other inputs, which I appreciate coming from ferrous bike frames. It walked the line between feeling unresponsive and being inefficient or “loose.” Again, this hard-to-describe characteristic greatly influenced the amount of fun I had on the Melee.

Frame Geometry Effects

The geometry delivered a sharp and crisp cornering feel while still being stable on fast descents on less-than-ideal road surfaces. It also wasn’t as twitchy in crosswinds as other race bikes (albeit partially due to the shallower frame tubes and wheels). I would feel super-confident on the bike in a tight pack in a criterium, but I wouldn’t want the steering up front to be any more aggressive.

The rear triangle was tight enough to deliver a direct-to-rear-wheel-connected feeling when climbing or sprinting. However, the frame proportions gave the Melee a correctly balanced feel between the front and rear tires. The front tire felt very planted without deliberately adding load, which I sometimes do on slacker or longer road bikes.

ENVE uses five different fork rakes to ensure that handling characteristics remain consistent across all seven frame sizes (from 47cm to 60cm).

Component Package Performance

Shimano Dura-Ace

There isn’t much to say about the Shimano Dura-Ace groupset that graced the ENVE Melee other than “bravo.” No road groupset I’ve tested rivals Dura-Ace in every component performance metric.

Shifting was quick, consistent, and telepathic. I never had to “pre-shift” at the base of a climb or winding up for a sprint. I hit the corresponding Di2 shifter button without thinking, and the chain hopped up and down the cogs or chainrings without worry every time.

Even if I shifted under full load at a low cadence, the Dura-Ace executed the shift without complaints. SRAM electronic drivetrains are also amazing, but Shimano edges SRAM eTap Red AXS out for shifting speed, smoothness, and reliability.

For me, braking on road bikes doesn’t get any better than Shimano Dura-Ace. From initial bite to progression in braking power to full-panic halts, the Dura-Ace calipers and Ice Technologies Freeza rotors delivered the stopping power and control that I desire from every brake set.

I feel that Shimano has a significant advantage over SRAM Red eTap AXS in braking. (I have not tested the newest version of SRAM Red AXS, which was just released, or Campagnolo road groupsets.)

The only fault I can point out on the Dura-Ace groupset based on personal preference is the Di2 shift button configuration. I much prefer the single-shift levers of SRAM electronic drivetrains and the logic. The right lever shifts up, the left lever shifts down, and both levers simultaneously shift the front derailleur.

Although Dura-Ace is highly customizable, you eventually have to use the smaller of the two shift buttons on each brake hood. Regardless of conditions, they just didn’t deliver the secure feeling of the larger SRAM levers. I would have been golden if Shimano allowed the double-tap function to shift the front derailleur.

ENVE SES 3.4 Wheelset

As per ENVE, I found the SES 3.4 a good choice for all-around road riding that may include bouts of tame gravel or dirt roads. This is common in the area where I live and ride most. The middle ground of aerodynamics, weight, and stiffness didn’t leave me wanting more from any of these attributes.

If I had changed to a more aerodynamic wheelset, I would have suffered much more on the gravel roads. And being a heavier road cyclist, I appreciated the lighter weight (sub-1,400 g per set) on the steep and punchy climbs.

If I lived in the city and didn’t have to ever ride on anything but well-maintained tarmac, I would choose taller profile wheels like the ENVE SES 4.5 to take advantage of the aerodynamics. And the riders on ENVE-sponsored teams, like multiple-time winner UAE Emirates, seem to be on the same track. They have been sporting (and winning) on the SES 4.5 wheelset, even on climbing stages.

However, as a “normal” road cyclist, unless the roads were super smooth, I felt the greater vertical compliance of the SES 3.4 perfectly matched the compliance of the Melee frame to deliver a much more enjoyable ride.

Conclusions on the ENVE Melee Road Bike

Ultimately, this road race bike was more fun than any other I’ve ridden for quite a while. It’s not a full-aero or pure climbing bike. So, I got the best of both worlds. The Melee was still aerodynamically efficient and lightweight. And the way the frame responded to road surfaces and my body’s inputs put a smile on my face.

I didn’t get beat up. I still felt fast on the flats and climbs. And the feedback from the bike kept me in tune with available traction. The Melee made me appreciate that ENVE didn’t go all-out “race.” But then again, it just won a stage in the Tour de France.

It was also super-practical for a road race bike. I could have shod 35c tires on it and tackled many of my local gravel bike loops. I have acquired fenders to put on it for this winter.

Now that I think about it, maybe the Melee is the first bike with fender mounts to ever win a Tour de France stage. And, as a long-term test mule, I can hang almost every groupset on the frame.

The best way I can say it is this. If I had to choose one road race bike as my personal bike, then the ENVE Melee would be it. It’s a do-it-all road bike for those who still need speed. And so it is. I only own one road bike, and this is it.

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Seiji Ishii is an Editor at Large at the AllGear network and the Climbing, Cycling, Fitness, Travel, and Powersports editor at GearJunkie.

He has been writing about cycling, climbing, outdoor endeavors, motorsports, and the gear and training for those pursuits for 20+ years.

Before AllGear, Ishii was a freelance contributor to print and web publications related to his interests and professional experiences. He continues to pursue climbing and cycling objectives seriously.

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Top Touring Motorcycles in 2023

Comfort, modern tech, and convenience is king on these long haulers.

What’s The Best Touring Bike? (2024 Edition)

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Touring bike buying advice is a popular topic, so I update this post regularly to keep the details current. If you find any out-of-date information, consider leaving a comment to let me know. Thanks!

Choosing a new touring bike can be pretty stressful for a newcomer to cycle touring – especially when you start looking at the price tags. 

So it’s no surprise the most common question I’ve been asked in 18 years of running this blog is some version of the following:

“Help! What’s the best touring bike for my upcoming cycle tour?”

It’s a perfectly understandable question to ask, because there are a lot of options out there – but answering it calls for a bit of context .

Your choice of touring bike should be mainly informed not by online reviews or paid-for content by sponsored bloggers, but by the kind of tour you’re planning, your unique physiology , your riding preferences as a touring cyclist, and – an oft-forgotten factor – what bikes are geographically available to you.

So the “best touring bike” for a young Brit planning a low-budget tour in Europe would be totally different to the “best touring bike” for an experienced American planning a once-in-a-lifetime, multi-year adventure from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego.

Similarly, the best bike for a rider measuring 5 feet (152cm) tall, who also has reduced neck mobility, would be different to the best bike for a fitness enthusiast trying to win a bikepacking race like the Tour Divide.

And if you ask fellow cycle tourers on forums like Reddit what they think is the best touring bike, the answers will inevitably reflect what’s worked best for them , not what’ll work best for you.

(Yes, I am a fellow cycle tourer, but I’m not just going to tell you what touring bike I ride, any more than I’m going to tell you what colour pants I’m wearing!)

Simply put, there are diverse answers to the question of what is the “best touring bike”.

Luckily, touring bicycles are a mature product with decades of heritage. And despite the the confusion created by the rise of bikepacking as an industry buzz-word , there are still plenty of good commercial touring bikes on the market today. These are bikes that have been designed to meet the needs of a broad range of touring cyclists, and are readily available through local bike shops and dealership networks around the world.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the best of them. The list below showcases some of the most time-proven touring bikes being made and sold in 2024, across the full spectrum of budgets, as well as a few lesser-known models to demonstrate what touring bikes for riders with specialist requirements might look like.

Perhaps you’ll find your perfect touring bike here. Perhaps you’ll realise you’re looking for something else altogether. Or perhaps you’ll find something more interesting to read among everything else I’ve written about cycle touring and bikepacking.

This is not an exhaustive list of every single touring bike on the market.

I’m a veteran bicycle traveller with 18 years of real-world experience, and my goal is to help you make the right choice , not to churn out AI-written spam to get on the front page of Google and generate affiliate commission.

My hope is to give you a taste of the diversity of touring bikes available today, rather than overwhelming you with unexplained jargon and things to click on. The journey of buying a new touring bike is not a short one. Reading this post will just be the beginning!

The list of touring bikes below is arranged in ascending price order. I’ve mentioned the worldwide availability of each bike, roughly speaking, and the manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP, aka: RRP or list price) in £/€/$ as applicable.

Cube Touring

Decathlon riverside touring 520, fuji touring ltd/disc ltd, ridgeback expedition, ridgeback panorama, surly disc trucker, oxford bike works expedition.

• More rider-recommended touring bikes
• Bonus: The secret to actually choosing the right touring bike

(Many good touring bikes previously on this list have been discontinued, including the Adventure Flat White, Dawes Galaxy, Revolution Country Traveller, and Surly Long Haul Trucker, to name just a few. That’s life!)

Summary: Feature-rich flat-bar trekking bike Availability: Worldwide List Price: £800 / €730 / US$760 / CA$1,090

The entry-level touring bike from the major German bike maker Cube is the affordable and simply-named Cube Touring . The basic model in this extensive range is currently one of the cheapest off-the-peg touring bikes on the market, and is widely distributed across Europe and North America.

If you’re used to the appearance of British or American designed tourers, you’ll notice some big differences, such as the flat handlebars and adjustable stem, the resulting upright riding posture, and the front suspension fork, as well as other details like a kickstand, a hub dynamo, and LED lights as standard. These are all fairly typical features of touring bikes from German and Dutch makers, where utility and comfort takes precedence.

To cater for a diverse customer base, the Cube Touring range comes in several frame variations and sizes, including the classic diamond frame (5 sizes), women’s specific with a sloping top-tube (3 sizes) and a step-through frame for riders with impaired mobility (3 sizes), all in a choice of two colour schemes.

The ‘semi-integrated’ rear rack, which is held in position by the mudguard/fender, is unorthodox, and the seat stays and front fork don’t have standard mounting points, complicating any modifications to the bike’s luggage-carrying capabilities. Riders looking for an entry-level touring bike that can be upgraded in the future may also decide to pass on the Cube Touring for these reasons.

The rest of the specification is impressive at this price. The entry-level Shimano V‑brakes and drivetrain components are sensible. As with any bike, you’ll want to fit your own preferred saddle, but the inclusion of ergonomic grips, lights, fenders and a kick-stand makes the Touring more or less ready to hit the road right out of the box.

All that said, the bike’s strongest selling point is the price. The recent disappearance of several popular entry-level touring bikes has left a gap at this end of the market – one that the Cube Touring happily fills.

• Check out the full Cube Touring range on the Cube website .
• Find your local dealer in Cube’s online directories of stockists in the UK and Europe , the USA , and Canada .
• Don’t buy this bike online. Support your local bike shop ( UK list )!

Summary: Good value forward-thinking light tourer Availability: UK, Europe, Australia List Price: £800 / €800 / AUD1,800

There’s no denying the success of Decathlon ’s no-frills approach to designing, manufacturing and selling sports and outdoor gear. The Riverside Touring 520 is the entry-level model among Decathlon’s touring bikes, and for many riders will be a welcome addition to the sparse options at this lower-budget end of the market.

The Riverside Touring 520 is based on an aluminium frame, whose geometry sits somewhere between the old-school rigid mountain bike and today’s trendy gravel/hybrid rides. The frameset sports a big range of mounting points for more or less any luggage configuration you might imagine, including a front lowrider or fork cages, a traditional rear carrier rack should the semi-integrated stock rack not be to your tastes, and no less than five bottle cages.

The riding position of the Riverside Touring leans towards relaxed and upright, with the sloping top-tube helping with mounting and dismounting, and flat bars with so-called ergonomic grips and bar-ends atop a stack of head-tube spacers, all pointing to a bike designed with the casual or newcomer rider in mind. Comfortably wide 1.75″ tyres will be equally content on asphalt and gravel at the 700C (28″) wheel diameter.

Looking at component choice, Decathlon have specified a 1×11 drivetrain (ie: a single front chainring driving an 11-sprocket rear cassette); unusual on a tourer where riders tend to benefit from a wide and fine-grained range of gear ratios. The hydraulic disc brakes are also an unorthodox choice for a touring bike. 

Both will annoy traditionalists, especially with the reduced choice of gear ratios and the near-impossibility of repairing hydraulics on the roadside. But a quick scan of the many customer reviews of this bike suggest that these concerns are academic. In the regions of the world this bike is likely to be used, spares and repairs for this bike will be abundant. And if you want to take it further afield, you can always fit cable disc brakes and/or a regular drivetrain.

Certainly one of this bike’s great strengths is how widely available it is for test-riding, Decathlon having hundreds of locations across the UK, Europe, Australia, and increasingly further afield, including Turkey, India, China, and the list goes on . Indeed, I can easily imagine a first-time tourer with a reasonable gear budget walking out of the store with not just the bike but a full set of luggage and maybe some camping gear too.

There are only four frame size options, however. Taken together with the wheel size, this may prevent those with short body lengths from finding a good match with the Riverside Touring 520.

In summary, while Decathlon have leaned pretty far into the crossover between classic touring and the gravel bike trend, there’s little to find fault with at this price – and there’s considerably more scope for upgrades here than other entry-level touring bikes in this list.

• Buy the Riverside Touring 520 in the UK from Decathlon .
• The bike is also available from Decathlon branches across Europe , Australia , and beyond .

Summary: Sporty steel-framed light road tourers Availability: UK/Europe/USA List Price: €1,000/1,500

Japanese manufacturer Fuji’s entry-level touring bikes are the Fuji Touring LTD and Disc LTD . The cheaper Touring LTD is the flat-bar model with rim brakes, while the Touring Disc LTD features drop bars and cable-actuated disc brakes with integrated shifter/brake levers. 

They’re both built on a Reynolds 520 cromoly steel frameset, with classic touring geometry and all the usual mounting points. Both bikes feature 36-spoke 700C wheels on Shimano hubs, and mudguards/fenders and a reasonably solid rear rack as standard, but no front rack or lowrider (you can of course add one later).

The Touring LTD has a Shimano Alivio V‑brakes and a 3×9‑speed chainset from the midrange of Shimano’s mountain-bike series of components, while the Touring Disc LTD has a 3×9‑speed Shimano Sora chainset with slightly higher gear ratios, making it more oriented towards lighter-weight road rides, as well as the ubiquitous TRP Spyre cable-actuated disc brakes found on so many touring bikes. For the extra money, the Disc LTD has a generator (dynamo) hub built into the front wheel which is already hooked up to the integrated front headlight – a nice touch.

The Fuji Touring LTD and Disc LTD come in no fewer than seven frame sizes, allowing precise fitting and fewer compromises for short or tall riders.

In summary, both models represent high ambitions in a good-value package aimed at a rider who wants a classic, no-fuss steel-framed touring bike, with the Disc being the sportier and more road-oriented of the two.

• Find a list of global dealers on the official Fuji website .

Summary: Beefy yet comfortable long-haul all-rounder Availability: UK List Price: £1,350

Launched in 2014, tweaked in the years since and now thoroughly tested on longer trips, the Ridgeback Expedition  is a strong contender for best value expedition touring bike on the market.

The current model shares design principles with many more expensive touring bikes designed specifically for worldwide expeditions beyond the developed world: wide-range 3×9‑speed mountain bike gearing, chunky 26-inch wheels, and a comfortable upright riding position. Unusually for a British tourer, it comes with flat bars and bar-end grips for a variety of hand positions. Cable disc brakes are now fitted as standard (the first incarnation had drop bars and V‑brakes).

The Ridgeback-branded integrated grips and bar-ends are modelled on the very popular but expensive Ergon range. The latest version of the Ridgeback Expedition also sees a brazed-on kickstand mounting plate added to the non-drive-side chainstay (though not an actual kickstand).

In many ways, as well as being excellent value for money, the Ridgeback Expedition is one of the most full-featured off-the-peg bikes in this list for extremely demanding trips where comfort and durability over time are paramount. Upgrade the rear rack, add a front lowrider and your favourite saddle, and you’ll be ready for the most remote of the planet’s backroads.

• Read my full review of the legacy 2014 Ridgeback Expedition here , and check the comments for feedback from long-haul riders.
• Like the rest of Ridgeback’s range, the Expedition should be available from any authorised Ridgeback dealer .

Summary: Classic British fully loaded drop-bar tourer Availability: UK List Price: £1,600

The Ridgeback Panorama  is a British-designed, Reynolds 725 cromoly-framed, disc brake-equipped, classic touring bike with a durable selection of 3×9sp drivetrain components from both road- and mountain-biking ranges. 

Its road-oriented frameset is prime for being built up into a fully-loaded, long-haul, asphalt touring machine. Both a front lowrider and a rear rack are fitted as standard – Tubus lookalikes, not the genuine articles, but still a welcome addition for fully-loaded riders who are just getting started.

Potential weak points on the Panorama include the integrated shifters/brake levers, which break away from the principle of separating possible points of failure (although you could theoretically swap them out for bar-end or even downtube shifters). The wheelset components are also nothing to write home about; get the spokes re-tensioned before taking this bike on a long-haul tour.

In spite of these question marks, the Panorama has been around for a long time and is very much tried and tested:  read Tim & Laura’s detailed guest review of the Panorama after a 6,000-mile road test , after which they completed their round-the-world trip on the same bikes.

• The Ridgeback Panorama is available from these authorised UK dealers .

Summary: Customisable road/gravel adventure bike Availability: Worldwide List Price: £1,600 / US$2,050 / CA$2,800

Back in 2012, when the jury was still out on disc brakes as a reliable choice for long-distance touring, Surly produced a disc-specific version of their legendary Long Haul Trucker touring bike, cunningly naming it the Disc Trucker . It has since evolved into one of the most versatile and tried-and-tested touring/adventure bikes on the planet.

The Disc Trucker platform had a major update in 2020, about which more detail on the Surly blog. Wheel diameter now complements frame size, ie: bigger wheels suit taller riders and the vice-versa, for a total of eleven frame/wheel size combinations. If, having tried all the Disc Truckers for size, you still can’t find a good fit, you should probably visit a bespoke framebuilder.

The frame geometry is tight and nimble, with integrated gear/brake levers adding to the sporty vibe. This lack of mechanical separation won’t please everyone, but will certainly please riders looking for a performance boost over the uncompromising solidity often seen in the expedition bike niche.

Similarly to the Kona Sutra (see below), the latest Disc Trucker has bolt-through axles, clearance for fatter tyres, and versatility improvements such as multiple fork mounts for fenders, cages or lowriders, to match the kind of wilder, mixed-terrain rides for which the Disc Trucker is increasingly used.

As ever with Surly, racks and mudguards remain excluded, the intention being for you to fit your own according to your needs.

The garish fluoro-yellow paint option of the current Disc Trucker won’t be for everyone, but Surly tell us that it’s also available in hi-viz black.

• Click here to read my full review of the legacy 2014 Disc Trucker .
• To find a place to test-ride one, start with Surly’s global dealer locator .

Summary: Adaptable, performance-oriented road/gravel tourer Availability: Worldwide List Price: $2,100 / £1,900

Canada-based bike manufacturer Kona have long inhabited the left-of-centre in cycling. The Sutra range, too, is progressively-minded, being one of the first mainstream touring bikes to switch to disc brakes back in the early 2010s.

Since then, Kona have adopted the stiffer and stronger bolt-through axle standard (another first amongst bikes in this list), and tightened up the frame geometry to produce a nimble and sporty cyclocross-inspired steel frameset which remains a touring bike at its core.

In 2022, Kona diversified the platform into several models, including the LTD and SE. The standard Sutra went in a more lightweight direction than in previous years, switching to a road drivetrain and cable-actuated hydraulic disc brakes. Today, this performance-oriented version of the Sutra remains Kona’s ‘modern take on the classic touring bike’ (in their own words), with a Shimano GRX 2×10-speed road-bike gearing, drop bars with integrated shifter/brake levers, mixed-terrain Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tyres, and a Brooks B17 saddle and Brooks bar-tape as standard. This all points to the blend of on-road and off-road use increasingly preferred by riders going on shorter, wilder adventures.

The 2024 Sutra’s luggage-carrying capabilities are diverse and adaptable. For those wanting to use the bike as a fully-loaded world tourer, standard rack mounts are provided on the seatstays and rear dropouts, suitable for fitting any standard pannier rack (perhaps a Tubus Cargo or Logo to match the Tara front low-rider already fitted). For those wanting to stay nimble, frame and fork mounts exist for more or less any combination of bolt-on cages and harnesses.

The Kona Sutra comes in six fine-grained frame sizes. This year’s paint colour is Satin Midnight with bronze gloss decals, in case you were wondering.

• I’ve been riding a Kona Sutra myself since 2012 and I love it.  Read my original long-term review of the legacy model here .
• The Kona website has a handy  list of worldwide dealers so you can find a place to test-ride the Sutra.

Summary: Bespoke, round-the-world expedition bike Availability: UK & Worldwide List Price: from £2,789

Originally a one-off “ultimate expedition bike” built to my exact specification, Oxford Bike Works have been refining and custom-building bespoke Expedition s to order since 2015 from their workshop in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. Many have now circled the globe. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

As standard, each bike features a hand-built Reynolds 525 cromoly steel frame, a choice of 26″ or 700C hand-built wheels, top-end Tubus racks, rim or disc brake options, Microshift thumbshifters, and tons of other expedition-specific touches.

From a baseline specification, each bike is custom-built to the rider’s exact needs and preferences after an in-person consultation and fitting session at their workshop. While most of their customers are from the UK, they will also ship finished bikes elsewhere in the world in special cases.

Oxford Bike Works have now moved all frame production to the UK, both minimising their carbon footprint and allowing even more individual tailoring – especially attractive for riders with diverse physiologies who may find that the commercial bikes in this list don’t cater well for their needs.

• Check out the full specifications of the Oxford Bike Works Expedition .
• Read my 10,000-word epic, How To Build The Ultimate Round-The-World Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures) , which details every design decision that went into this bike.
• Don’t buy this bike online (you can’t anyway). Support your local bike shop ( UK list )!

Yet More Rider-Recommended Touring Bikes

This is not an exhaustive list, because if it was we’d be here all day. But the following bikes have also been recommended by readers of this blog over the years since I first published this post. All have also proven themselves capable touring bikes over time and miles:

• Bombtrack Arise Tour (Germany & Worldwide)
• Cinelli HoBootleg (Italy & Worldwide)
• Fahrradmanufaktur TX-800 (Germany)
• Genesis Tour De Fer (UK)
• KHS TR 101 (USA)
• Temple Cycles Adventure Disc 3
• Trek 520 Disc (USA & Worldwide)
• Vivente World Randonneur (Australia)

…and you’ll find even more options in my massive list of heavy-duty expedition touring bikes available worldwide .

Remember: don’t buy a touring bike online. Support your local bike shop ( UK list ) and have your bike chosen, fitted and customised by an expert whose job depends on getting it just right, just for you!

Bonus : The Secret To Actually Choosing The Right Touring Bike

Finally, I’m going to tell you a secret. 

It’s something other cycle touring bloggers won’t tell you, because they’d prefer you to click on their affilliate links, buy a bike online, and earn them commission.

If you’re having trouble choosing between the touring bikes listed above, the reason is probably because – on paper – they are basically all the same .

They all cost several hundred pounds/dollars/euros. Most of them have steel touring-specific frames, wide gearing, relaxed riding positions, a pannier rack and extra mounts, and drivetrains from the middle of Shimano’s mountain-bike or road-bike ranges. They’re all built primarily for paved roads, but could handle a dirt track or gravel road if need be. They all have two wheels, handlebars, and a saddle.

So how should you choose between them?

The answer is actually very simple.

Visit a touring bike specialist ( UK list ) and take a few bikes for a test ride. 

In doing so, you will discover that the “best touring bike” is the one that’s available in your area and has been set up for you by a touring bike specialist who’s taken the time to understand your needs.

I’ve written a longer post about what to do when you get to this stage of the touring bike buying process, when you’ve got a shortlist of bikes you found online but you’re struggling to choose between them .

And if what I’ve shared with you here still isn’t enough, you can check out even more deep-dive posts about detailed aspects of touring bike choice, including

• three critical questions you should ask at the start of the touring bike buying process ,
• a discussion about what exactly defines a touring bike ,
• my take on what’s really going on when you can’t decide between two bikes ,
• a hugely in-depth article on how to custom-build your own expedition bike ,
• a summary of the debate over disc brakes versus rim brakes ,

and more on my absolutely massive advice and planning page .

Because of all the things you’ll buy for a cycle tour, the bike is the one purchase you really can’t afford to get wrong.

Bogged down in research for your next big bicycle adventure?

I wrote a whole book to help with that. How To Hit The Road is designed to be read at your leisure, making planning a bike tour simple and achievable, no matter the length, duration or budget. Available globally as an ebook or paperback.

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Also relevant to this post:

• How To Custom Build The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures)
• The Best Cheap (Sub-£1,000) Touring Bikes for Low-Budget Adventures
• Surly Disc Trucker Touring Bike: Legacy Review & Detailed Photos

Comments ( skip to respond )

329 responses to “what’s the best touring bike (2024 edition)”.

This is my version of the best long distance self contained tour bike. Tout Terrain Panamericana with a 1000W BBSHD turing a Rohloff Speedhub. I’ve been riding her for nine years now and have 49K miles on the frame. 

Jack of all trades – https://photos.app.goo.gl/ADgC6oyPM2gyrCq27

Full suspension mid-drive ebike and trailer evolution ‑https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP8vs7T5hLpNjSBX8

SunCapture 300W Solar Panel: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rFim5rPsajmDt8NJ6

https://youtu.be/WwwdaVg4Y5M

Hi there, thank you for the article. I have touring riverside 520 – thinking about putting a suspension stem and seatpost – which one do you recommend?

I have honestly never heard of a suspension stem, but there are plenty of suspension seatposts that have been tried and tested ( here’s a good round-up ). The Cane Creek Thudbuster is a classic example.

Appreciate the help, thanks from a new biker

Happy to help!

i am from Sri Lanka and my dream is to find a great road touring bike size 52. we don’t find Road touring in Sri Lanka and cant import as well due to heavy taxes. i know there are some great brands , i like the Genesis and the Kona as well and the Trek 520, if you can recommend one based on your experience please write to me [email protected]

Wow. An actual person. Writing. Pen to paper. This is just O so refreshing! Thank you!!! (At 76 years of age-and an English major to boot, circa 1970–I get so tired of the shit being published today. Gawd–I have to guess at what some stupid software program is ATTEMPTING to say!)

You’re welcome. It’s fast becoming my unique selling point!

I can’t find a Kona Sutra SE anywhere, I think they’re discontinued, so if anyone knows where I can find one let me know.

Yes, you’re right – it looks like Kona have simplified things for their 2024 range, and the plain Sutra is now their classic touring bike once again (as it was for years before the SE was introduced). It looks like you’ll need to add your own rear rack for fully loaded touring, but all the frame fittings appear to be there. I’ll update this post shortly with the new model. Thanks for highlighting it!

My wife’s bike is a basic 2000 Kona Hahana. Persuaded the dealer to sell only frame headset seatpin bars. . Built up better wheels etc tubus racks. Tierra del Fuego to Quito plus many more trips. Still going strong 20 years later. My lovely lightweight Univega bought as a frame lasted until 2013 .The frame broke in Albania survived for 60 km held together with nylon cord and cone spanners. Got it welded by local blacksmith. Now have Surly Troll. Ok .….but will have to go back to Square taper bottom bracket. Wife’s old square tapers have done about 30000 miles. Progress or fashion? Charlie and Bethan

All I can do is repeat the old saying that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Anyone got their hands on a Decathalon Riverside Touring 900? Looks like good all round value, but rarely in stock on their website! Would love to hear some real world feedback on this bike…

I second that – real world stories appreciated!

Hi Tom, I recently cycled from Amsterdam to Genoa covering 2500km in total. I flew into Amster with the bike boxed up. I took with me a carbon frame Ridley Kanzo Adventure, it has all the mounting points and relatively relaxed geometry. I road over every type of terrain and the bike didn’t let me down. What I liked with this bike was that I could arrive at my destination in the evening, remove my pannier bags and then have a light weight roadie feeling for exploring whatever region I had made camp in. The bike also had great performance in the hills. Another plus was that when flying and the bike is boxed up, it’s relatively light weight to transport. This meant that at the start and end of my tour getting the bike boxed up from campsite to train to airport was not such a struggle.

Thanks, Kerry. I really like this approach and I’m heartened to hear carbon frames are now being built to take light luggage loads. Thanks again for sharing!

The 30 year old touring bike you already own becomes the second best, as the next one you buy must necessarily be even better.

I’ve recently gone from a Claud Butler Majestic to a Crossmaxx 28″ Pinion. Naturally, I’m absolutely certain, it’s the best touring bike I could possibly have bought (given my criteria and priorities).

First, let me make this perfectly clear, I’m not a seasoned tourer, so much of what I will say is strictly coming from an amateur. I had to look for a new touring bike after my 85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe got hit by a hit-and-run driver and bent the fork beyond repair, but that bike worked great for my needs.

I could not buy a touring bike from anyone in my city of 350,000 people because no one carries them, the only shop that could have ordered me the Trek 520 but there were some things about the bike I didn’t like, plus it was expensive and with lower end parts, much how I felt the Surly Trucker was, having no choice I had to turn to the internet. in 2019 I compared the Kona Sutra SE, Surly Trucker, Fuji Touring, Masi Giramondo 700c, and one other I can’t recall the name. After much debate, I narrowed it down to either the Kona or the Masi, and ended up with the Masi because of the price of $1,450 at the time, the Kona would have cost me $1,950, but in 2019 they didn’t have some of the stuff they now have on that bike so to make it work I had to make some changes which would have cost me even more; the Masi had the best gear ratios for climbing steep grades with a loaded bike of any bike I saw, and at the time Masi was using 180mm rotors on the front and 160 on the rear and I liked the idea of the bigger rotor on the front, Masi has since reduced the front rotor size to 160.

I did make some changes to the Masi, put on RedShift Shockstop suspension stem and seat post, a change I would have done to any other touring bike I would have bought, now I feel like I’m riding in a Cadillac. The stock Kenda Drumlin tires are junk and heavy, I replaced those with Schwalbe Amotion 38c tires; and the WTB saddle was also junk, so replaced it with a Brooks C17; I ended up not liking the front Tubus Tara rack and replaced it with a Blackburn Bootlegger rack which works better for my needs. 

I think the Masi Giramondo 700c is a very worthy touring bike that a person should at least look at, especially if on the lower budget end of things.

Thanks for this detailed contribution – it’s always good to hear about rider experiences with touring bikes other than those listed here. For other readers’ reference, here’s a link to the California based manufacturer webpage for the Masi Giramondo .

About to begin a year of touring with Breezer Radar Expert. A review of it here https://cycletraveloverload.com/breezer-radar-expert-review-best-budget-gravel-bike/ (not me) I changed the tires to Schwalbe G‑One Overland Evo 28″ 50–622 for this purpose 😉

I’m considering the Priority 600, as my new touring bike and wondering if anyone has any history of using one or opinions of this bike? Thx

For reference, here’s a link to the Priority 600 . I have no personal experience of this bike, but I have published my own detailed thoughts on internal gearing systems such as the Pinion gearbox in the context of cycle touring here (most of the same logic applies to belt drive).

I am a multi day ultra cyclist, so tend to go minimalist. However, I have done big touring rides in the past on my trusty 1993 Cannondale T1000 (my 21st birthday present). I think that a Daws Super Galaxy or Cannondale, still make excellent budget touring bikes. I have been racing and touring on a Niner RTL Steel, which is makes an excellent touring bike, with great touring geomtry and lots of mounts for racks — I use a 1x 46t Shinano GRX groupset with an 11–50 cassette. Gravel bikes can may great touring bikes

Happy you’re reinforcing the mantra that the best touring bike might be the one you already have – even if it’s 30 years old! As for gravel bikes, many of them would certainly make good tourers – just not sure I’d advise anyone to buy a gravel bike for touring if touring-specific bikes are also available.

I think I have been riding the “Best” touring bike for the last 7 years. — https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP8vs7T5hLpNjSBX8

What an absolute beast! Something with that much detailed customisation can hardly fail to serve its rider’s needs best.

Yes HP and Tom, I would like to know about the Marrakesh too!

Interestingly enough, I still can’t find any long-term rider reviews of the Marrakesh. There are, however, plenty of spam reviews which combine manufacturer specifications and stock photos with meaningless filler like “combining Alivio Trekking derailleurs with the Shimano Sora shifters, you won’t have any problem slowing down or torquing up the bike when needed” (yep, actual quote). As a rule, bikes only get on this list when a consensus emerges from the community of people who’ve used them on tour. I just wish I could find more decent trip reports from people riding this one!

Great list, but where’s the Salsa Marrakech?!

I’ve done a few tours on it and can vouch for it’s quality. She’s an absolute beast and rides like a dream! Packed with touring features and has really well worked out geometry.

PS I don’t work for Salsa.

PPS love the blog mate. Did a 6500km+ around Asia a few years ago and your blog was really reaaally useful. ???

Thanks for the comment! The Marrakech was launched in 2015, which in cycle touring circles makes it a newcomer 😉 but you are correct that enough time has gone by now to see real-world results, so I’ll consider it for the next update. Thanks again!

I am looking to buy either Fuji disc touring LTD 2021( priced at 1336 euros) or Trek 520 2021( priced at 1600 euros) . I am really confused , as I don’t understand even though both have very similar specs, why is the trek 520 priced at 250 euros higher? Is trek somehow supposed to be better for some reason that I cannot comprehend or is it price cause of the brand “trek”?

Hi Badri. Prices may differ for many reasons, including import taxes, exchange rates, retailer profit margins, and of course simple pricing decisions by the manufacturer. But my main advice still remains this: if you can’t choose between two bikes on paper, it’s time to visit your local bike shop and take both for a test ride!

Hi I’m from newzealand and touring bikes well decent ones aren’t that easy to come by at the moment because of covid .but I found a Kona sutra the guy had only done about 100 km on it decided he wasn’t going to cycle so sold it and I happen to be at the right place at the right time.great bike to ride and I’m looking forward to my first tour on it in one months time Peter

Unlikely you monitor this anymore, but I’ve been comparing my 80s road bike to modern touring bikes (Croix de Fer and Kona Sutra) and the geometries look the same. Am I missing something or are modern specialist tourers actually very similar to old-school road racers?

Hey Hugh. Actually I make a point of replying to every comment, and I update this post monthly 🙂

Long ago I inherited a hand-built road bike from my grandfather. It was the first bike I’d owned that wasn’t a mountain bike and I was amazed at how fast and light it was, despite being a steel frame. It was a bit on the small side for me, but you’re right that the geometry was quite close to a classic road tourer. The biggest differences you’ll probably find are in the weight (heavier-gauge tubing designed for carrying luggage) and the wheelbase proportional to frame size, although the trend today seems to be for more compact and sporty designs. But the short version is yes, there are certainly a lot of similarities!

Sorry to burst some people’s bubbles.But I want to save you the hassle and frustration. I’ve been touring around north,central and south america,now in Turkey & the Balkans for the last 4.5 years on a 3x9 ‚11–36 cassette Surly Troll 26″ and I can tell you that 26″ anything is absolutely obsolete!! DEAD!! It has been a total nightmare! I can find zero parts for it, anywhere. Definitely forget tires. Impossible! Literally nothing anywhere. Traditional wisdom is gone out the window, China has flooded the market with 27.5/29″ and all the components for these sizes and that’s what killed the 26″ over the last 5+ years. Seriously , almost everything I have for my bike I had to buy off Amazon and getting lucky once or twice when a mechanic spent days looking for parts for me. I’ve spent days and more than 2 weeks stuck in cities looking for what was considered simple parts found “easily”! :9 speed shifters,cassettes,chains,26″ 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 or throw it straight into a river. It’s a shame because it’s a great bike. You can almost still get things for it online, but I think soon these parts will be plased out soon. Due to Covid the shipping is taking weeks and many parts are out of stock now too. I thought that being in Europe people still ride 26″ bikes I might find parts,but no.I’ve been once again stuck Tirana for more than 2 weeks just for a cassette and chain and have to take inferior parts now. If I had a 27’5 or 29″ and 10/11 speed I would have more options. My friends who toured 5–10 + years ago can’t believe this change. All 26″ inch bike frame builders out there need to know this.The market has changed, traditionalists be warned. Good luck!

Hello Ian and thanks for your comment. You certainly sound frustrated! For balance, and for the benefit of my other readers, I’d like to add a few observations:

1. 26″ is a wheel size, not a cassette sprocket count, chain width, shifter indexing system, disc rotor size, etc. It affects rim, spoke, tyre and tube availability. 2. You’re right that the industry is currently swamped with trendy new wheel sizes like 27.5 and 29. But most existing bicycles in the world have 26-inch wheels. These bicycles will always need spare parts and are unlikely to disappear overnight. 3. As for “literally nothing anywhere”, I just walked into my local supermarket and found an aisle of brand new bicycles, all adult sizes of which had 26-inch wheels, and a rack of spare tyres right next to them. I’ve said this before: it’s not just specialist bike shops that sell bikes. This is critical to remember when looking for 26-inch wheel parts in far-flung lands.

That’s all I wanted to add. I hope you get things sorted in Tirana. And I hope you’ll share with us the location of the river you throw your Surly Troll into!

Im fairly sure the Surly Long Haul Trucker promotion pictures are of frames with a different wheel size they are designed for. The picture here looks like a 60cm frame for 700c wheels but fitted with 26″ wheels. This is the same for the picture here as it is on their website, which looks like a 58cm frame for 262 wheels with 700c wheels in place. I own a Surly LHT and theyre great bikes but the frame sizeing can be a bit confusing and the promotional pictures dont help.

I would respectfully disagree, based on the fact that the brake shoes are visibly aligned correctly with the rims. If the wrong sized wheels were fitted to the frame, this wouldn’t be possible. In the past, all sizes of LHT frames have been available for both 700C and 26″ wheels, so I’d guess we’re looking at one of the larger frame sizes for 26″ wheels with the correct wheels indeed fitted. The proportions do look weird at a glance, but it is in fact how these bikes were sold. FWIW the sizing scheme of the Truckers has changed now, so wheel size better complements frame size throughout the range, as mentioned in the latest update to the post above.

Hello Tom — I have a Koga Miyata Globe Traveler which I bought in 2005 from a dealer in Lexington, KY — Pedal The Planet. (Ironically, in 1985, I did a world tour on a Miyata bicycle.) I bicycled the Lewis and Clark Trail that summer, St. Louis to Astoria, OR. 10 years later in 2015 I began a charity ride of the perimeter of the U.S. for Habitat For Humanity and Save The Children (website: usperimeterride.org) and concluded that 12,000 journey in 2017. I’ve been very happy with my Koga Miyata all these years. I’m 71 now, and don’t know if I have any expedition type tours left in me … but I keep thinking. Just wondering your thoughts on the current Koga bikes. I’ve seen a couple of comments here regarding Koga bikes — some positive and couple not (the one regarding the cracked frame). I think that there are no longer any Koga dealers in North America. Am I correct in thinking that? I believe there used to be one in Toronto, and a dealer out in Santa Barbara, CA, that handled parts. Pedal The Planet where I bought my Koga Miyata is no longer in operation. Thank you for all your info on your website!

Aaaand Long Haul Trucker is gone as well. Seems like Surly are phasing out some of the touring bikes.

Same source — LHT FAQ, third answer I think.

That’s tragic – although on closer inspection it does say “for the time being”…

Sadly, Surly will discontinue the Troll model in 2021.

Hi Lukas! Do you happen to have a source for this? I’ve checked the Surly website and social media channels and haven’t found any mention. I just want to be sure that my readers are getting accurate information. Cheers!

Someone asked the question on Surly’s website in Thorn section — Q&A. They asked whether Thorn will be renewed for 2021 and someone from the staff said that they will no longer offer this model. 

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll

FAQ section, should still be the first question asked. 

I was planning to build a tourer on Troll frame and I guess now I should buy it before it’s gone.

I wrote ‘Thorn’ by mistake, should be Troll (I also consider Thorn for my build and must’ve been thinking about it.)

Thanks for the reference, Lukas, that’s very useful. I guess it reflects the diminishing popularity of the 26-inch platform, at least for new bikes (and thus for profit margins).

In the premium category I’d add one of the IDWorx bikes such as the All Rohler or oPinion BLT. I visited their HQ last week and Gerrit and his team are amazing. They won ‘bike of the year 2020’ award for their BLT off-road touring bike. https://www.idworx-bikes.de/

I had the Off Rohler in this list since visiting their stall at Eurobike 2014 – it almost wins the ‘most expensive off-the-peg touring bike in the world’ award! I’m keen to see what they’ve created since then. Thank you for the link and the suggestion!

They arent’ cheap that’s for sure. I tried to trade in my wife for a titanium bike, but they only take euros.

Once they start to explain the engineering behind each component you can understand why they arrive at those prices. Also it’s a 4th gernation family of bike builders, they hand build the bikes, their staff are properly-paid, they have sunk lots of money into R&D and make many bespoke components. The attention to detail is astonishing. I spent nearly a day at their HQ with the attention of the owner, his wife, two dogs and their chief engineer. (He did his Masters theisis on Pinion gearboxes). We rode in the German countryside and tested a score of bikes. The customer service is out of this world. If you can afford it, I’d would recommend IDWorx.

Hi Tom, thanks for your help! Now im planning a big tour for a few years in Africa and America, now i have an Avaghon 26 series with Rohloff and Magura but im thinking to change with a 29″ wheels( im 1,81 cm tall ). What do you think about Surly ECR? Thnaks, Fabio.

I have never ridden the ECR so I can’t speak from experience, but I know it’s a well respected frameset. Your height suggests a 29er would be more comfortable in the long run. For planning a big tour you might want to check out my list of expedition touring bikes – this will also help you see quickly which framesets are Rohloff-compatible. Hope that helps!

I think I have “the best” touring bike available… judge for yourselves. Full suspension mid-drive eTouring bike and trailer evolution. https://photos.app.goo.gl/wP8vs7T5hLpNjSBX8

Hey Tom. Love this website. Is this still current? I can’t find a stockist that has the Flat White. Even Adventure’s own website doesn’t seem to link to it. Or am I missing something obvious? Thanks

It’s still listed at https://www.adventureoutdoor.co/bike/flat-white — I’ll be updating this article this month and will see if I can find any current stockists.

A look at secondhand market worth it as I picked up Thorn Mercury Rohloff for £1200 (pretty much the price of the hub alone) also have a rohloff on my ti 29er and it has been on 2 other mtb before that ……. pretty much fit and forget.

Hi Tom I am preparing for a number of long term trips in the near future and researched bicycles heavily (including use of your excellent website) and settled on the Ridgeback Expedition. However I have now made three attempts to buy one at cycle shops in a variety of towns and no-one seems able to sell me one! I decided to contact the compnay directly, but no phone number and they say that they take two weeks to answer e‑mails. So I would suggest that customer service might be a factor in choosing the bike to buy (these are not cheap acquisitions after all) and any company that cant even manage to communicate with customers at the point of purchase isn’t likely to have ana dequate after sales customer support! Not sure what to do now, but it definitely will not be a Ridgeback anything Dave

Local bike shops don’t tend to sell a wide variety of bikes here in the UK, they make there money from servicing bikes and selling components so it’s not really a surprise you can’t find a bike shop that sells them. A quick google search has just shown several reputable online retailers that supply the ridgeback expedition and will provide you with any customer support you might require after purchase.

Hope this helps

Thx for the info. About same specs as my modded Moonrun. I use SKF bracket spindle but have cheaper headset but works fine for years now. For carrying stuff I use strongest on market today and that is the rear rack made by Thorn. Fitted with M6 steel bolts I can come a way with most everything I throw at it. I had the frame professionally modified by Marten from M‑gineering after which it was powder coated.

Hello, Thanks for this nice article. Why is the TX-800 striked-through in the list ?

You don’t have the Surly Ogre(700c) or Troll(26″) on your list. I got the Ogre because it was suggested over the LHT or disc version because they are a little more rugged. I went from the US to Panama on an Ogre and never had a problem with it beyond needing new tires, I went with the Ogre because I had a really nice set of 700c rims. NEVER EVER go to Latin America with anything but 26″. I read a few blogs on crazyguyonabike.com and with off road touring the LHT(or disc version) needs welding.

Hello Tom. I cycled Armenia three years ago in a short tour and met an old french man Thierri, walking all the way from france to there. one month after getting home he came to me in Tehran and stayed for few days. in his Photoes, i saw you. i knew you in advance beacause of your movie. The intention of writing for you is that we’ve been in contact for one year or so but suddenly i lost him and i Thought you might remember him and have any news of him. I really hope he is doing well and being healthy. thanks sorry for misspeling

best wishes Saied

Yes, he’s safe and well and back living in France. A true legend and inspiration!

I’m currently cycling in Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. 2000km via the coast, in some pretty demanding scenarios. I’m riding the Cinelli HoBootleg 2018 Touring Bike which has been as tough and reliable as I had hoped it would be. I’m 1000km in of the 2000km and think it’s been a great bike. Intrigued it wasn’t listed in the line up.

Should it be? I think so yet if there is a reason for not rating or listing can you let me know? Recognise you cannot list all Touring Bikes yet it does have a great name in many other review pages.

Anyway — I rate the Cinelli!

One other thing, I think the Trek 920 should be listed. The bikes you have reviewed are very traditional and the Trek 920 certainly makes the available options a little more spicy. Touring bikes are surely headed in the Trek 920 direction wouldn’t you say? D

Tom, what do you think about Verso Tour Gitane? I’m from Argentina, and here there aren’t so many good bikes, and I can buy one Gitane, but I’ve never heard about this model. Thank you

I also haven’t heard about this one. On paper it looks like a pretty decent European-style ‘trekking bike’ – the adjustable stem and the Magura hydraulic rim brakes remind me of some better known German and Dutch models. The drivetrain choices are close to what we use for the Oxford Bike Works Expedition. I’d take a careful look at the rear rack, which doesn’t look too sturdy from the photos, and consider upgrading the tyres if you’re going on a long trip.

This bike has a lot of critical components made from aluminium: the frame, forks and rear rack. The front rack would appear to be the chromoly Tubus Ergo. Going on your previous comments about aluminium Tom you could rule this bike out for some types of touring, for example, where a frame, fork or rack break would cause a major disruption.

Thank you for post. Lot of good reading. However i am bit lost in a choice now. Do you think you can shine a bit light to it ? 

I just now finished 300km testing tour on my road bike Coyotee Route 66. I changed a lot of things in a bike like butterfly handlebars, wheels, saddle, etc etc… 

I was riding in UK from Birmingham to Warrington. But after i come back i had a pain all over my body. And i started to think about a choice all over again… 

Now In 3 days i should start trip about 4000km from UK to Portugal. Do you recommend to buy a new bike this short before? 

I explored variety of options of bikes but seems more or less simmilar. I am concern if i will go for normal touring bike riding will be bit boring. Where Surrly Troll seems bit more fun. I was also thinking about hardtail mountain bike with fork suspension. But this seem as quite slow and tiring on road. And also what you think about newer types as using cargo bike (YUBA), hybrid bike should i think about it ? And also if you have any experience with using electic bikes. With a range above 100miles seems as interesting. Go for it or not ?

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Thanks for the article, i plan to travel from Texas to the bottom of South America next year. I was planning on buying a bike there. Do you know much about American bikes and what would be good for that trip, i’m Over 6 ft and about 95kg now. I’m in china now so i don’t think buying one here would be good but, i’m open

The Surly LHT or Disc Trucker is the classic American tourer and widely available. For your height/weight I’d go for a 700c model in L or XL frame size.

Thanks for this great review. I travel now for last 5 years with a Koga World traveller bike. Very happy with it. Please include in your evaluation next time!

Bought a Koga World traveller three years ago, have been very happy with it. BUT, this summer while on a trip in Scotland I saw a nasty crack on the welding. Tried to identify a Koga dealer, and all those mentioned on their website no longer do Koga. I contacted the customer service via their website form and it took them a week to get back basically telling me to contact the seller. I bought the bike in France, so that wasn’t going to help me much! So I went to the nearest reputable dealer in Pitlochry, they confirmed my worry that the bike was too dangerous to use so bought a cheap, but very good Giant mtb, and continued the holiday. Picked the broken Koga bike up on the way back to France and went to the seller.

The bike has been sitting in the seller’s workshop for THREE WEEKS as they wait for KOGA to instruct them on how to proceed (they are no longer a Koga dealer). The frame comes with a lifetime warranty, but a warranty doesn’t fix a bike. The seller has sent photos, and sent more photos at Koga’s request, but still no instructions. They have contacted the nearest Koga dealer in France and no answer from them either. I even went to the nearest dealer in Germany to see if they could help and they refused.

I have emailed, tweeted, tried calling, but nothing seems to get them to react now.

So my advice would be to stay away from Koga unless you are ok with paying a lot of money with no assurance that you will get any form of support if you have a problem on the road.

This sounds like a terrible story and I’m sorry to hear about it. It does seem unusual that one of the most reputable high-end touring bikes would develop such a fault in the first place, however. I’d be interested to hear what solution eventually arises – I would have thought a crack in a weld under warranty would point to a brand new replacement frame.

Tom I have a dawes titanium (not disks) and I was thinking of upgrading the wheels and brakes for longer audaxes. Do you have any suggestions.

thanks David

If I were you, I’d pay a visit to my nearest professional wheelbuilder.

New Trek 1120 is a whole new dimension. Gearing up now for a Canadian ride.

Having been the proud owener of several Koga bikes for around the world trips unfortunately, since 2016 the quality has been declining. For the amount of money it cost, it is simply not worth it. For 2000 € (which the price of a Koga bike) you can get a lot of bicycle elsewhere.

Hi Tom! Thanks for an interesting article! I’m dreaming of bike adventures, both longer trips and weekend trips and try to find a new bike that can make those dreams come true. Mostly, though, I’ll use the new bike for my everyday commute in Sweden. I’ve been watching the Verenti substance tiara/sora — seems like decent components and good value which I’m pretty sure will fill my commuting needs. But how do you think it would do for longer adventures? I’m mostly concerned about weight, geometry and key component durability. I would be very grateful of a brief opinion! http://www.wiggle.se/verenti-substance-tiagra-adventure-road-2017/

Hi all, Great article — many thanks. Very useful while choosing a bike to undertake a cycle across USA in 2018 (I’ve never had a touring bike before). I chose Trek 520 (Disc brake variety) in the end which I’m really happy with. Good value at £1,000 versus other bikes available, comes with pedals and rear pannier rack and very swish gear changers. Reviews on Trek website largely very positive as well. I went for because I’m quite tall (193cm/6foot4) so was struggling to find a big enough frame in any touring bikes. Surly do large frames but are more expensive (~£1500) and no extras like pannier rack. In the end the 60cm Trek frame firs me very well — we checked standover length and top tube length and because of the geometry of the bike it actually matches some other manufacturers who produce larger frames (eg 62cm). Feel free to contact me on [email protected] if you have any questions or thinking of buying the bike, I’d be happy to help.

Ollie, London

If it is a choice between a smaller and a larger frame, my preference is for the smaller frame because a) provided the steerer hasn’t been cut yet, it is almost always possible to achieve a good fit by putting on a longer stem and raising the seatpost (swapping for a longer one if necessary) b) bigger frames are harder to pack for travel c) it can feel more manoeuvrable

Punish the thing, make the bike work for you, and don’t be limited by the bike or its stuff. Bikes get stolen, plans go squiify and so what if we decide to take the really cruddy road upppp that turns into gravel then kind of goat track then.. and you land up pushing and doing singletrack downhill to .. mud and gravel and finally .. So, my bike came out of a skip, a rusty 2012 Scott Speedster S30. Thrown out! Square section BB, road rims and tyres (I know.. but a good spoke key makes life simple). wide range 9x2 gears. But it takes racks.. The boom in road cycling means 700c and road bike bits are much easier than they were a decade ago — even in Yemen and Iran. Total build cost of my bike: £100 including panniers. Bits and pieces off gumtree, pinkbike, etc. If it get bent, hah. If it gets nicked, hah. The no-compromise bits: ‘fit’ / setup, the saddle, my most comfy/worn SPD shoes, tubeless with goop.

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing this!

Hey this is great stuff! However, do you have recommendations for bikes in the US? ‑j

Sure – many of the bikes in this article are from U.S. manufacturers, Surly and Kona being the obvious two. Also check out REI’s range of tourers under the Co-op Cycles brand.

Hi Tom, love your site. I need to thank you not only for an informative site in general, but also for helping me make a decision on a touring bike. Until recently I lived in Darwin, Australia. It’s reasonably isolated and the choice of bike brands is severely limited. Thus, test riding anything decent is out of the question. My wife was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to work in France for 6 months so I saw this a a great chance to purchase the bike of my dreams. Armed with advice from your site (and others) I narrowed it down to two bikes — the VSF TX-400 with Shimano drive train, and the Rose Activa Pro 2. As there wasn’t a Rose dealer where we were living in France, the TX-400 was the winner. That was August last year and I haven’t had even a twinge of regret. I love it. Keep up the great work mate. I look forward to following your adventures (and Charlie’s) for many years to come. Cheers, Derek.

I am surprised that Ridgeback is still fitting aluminium racks to its high-end touring bikes when most other brands fit cro-moly. Aluminium whilst okay for components such as wheel rims, handlebars, and seatposts, is too fragile for heavily loaded racks with thin small diameter tubes and suffers too easily from metal fatigue.

I am surprised that serious riders will still accept an add-on rack of any kind steel or not. Every connection is a weak link. Tout-Terrain, Panamericana. http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/panamericana/ — not interested in the pinion gearing but you can’t beat the frame.

Hi Tom and readers, Does anyone out there have any experience with or notion of what to do with the following problem? (saddle soreness — chafing). My girlfriend has a typical german woman’s uprightish trekking bike by bulls, and we did just one two week tour on it last summer. She’d never toured before. She found her “intim Bereich” (intimate area) got rubbed a lot by the saddle (wasn’t an issue with short local trips previously), so I ended up buying and trying a new saddle, then a series of the best rated woman’s saddles out there, and all of them did the same rubbing thing. Biking shorts and a gel pad didn’t help fully or much. She thought being more upright helped the rubbing, by taking pressure off the front of the saddle and putting it more on the sitz bones, so I got some big curvy bar ends and cranked them way back, so she can sit totally upright. I even added a nice suspension seatpost. But somehow the pain won’t go away. I’m really at a loss about what to do. I wonder if a new frame would help at all. Anyone find a saddle that really helps with sensitive bottoms? I’m leaning towards getting her a recumbent, but can’t really afford it, and she doesn’t tour with me a lot. I ride a bacchetta giro 20 myself and highly recommend it for touring! Thanks for any advice!

hi Jeff and all, dr. jim parker from cruzbike has compiled some very revealing facts regarding health issues cyclists commonly are facing, i.e. genital numbness & e.d. besides the usual (wrist,back & neck). i do suffer from groin pains riding on my dawes upride racing bike within 30–45 min.

hence for my upcoming uk & european (& car replacement) tour i am opting for an “atl-falter” from radnabel in tuebingen, germany. atl stands for “all tags lieger”(recumbent for everyday-all year/tasks); falter stands for folding. they are not well known outside of central europe, have been handbuild for nearly 30 years and are highly regarded for being — safe (long wheel base, low center of gravity), nimble (sharp turning circle), quick (ergonomic design & pushing against the backrest/very good uphills), comfortable (no neck, groin or wrist pain, full suspension), good load carrying capability [70kg total], “protecting” (see: allwetterverkleidung/foldable fairing/poncho), well engineered and sound workmanship. although dieter baumann (builder) speaks english, the webside is in german only. the atl-falter with rohloff, full chain cover, rear rack, pannier holders, twoleg stand weighs 17–18 kg (chrmo steel). 

you get an better idea about radnabels atl’s watching these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgX6zIViBY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBEvBX_S4o

they have proved themselves also on long distance tours germany to china. happy cycling or as we say in bavaria: “frohes radln” regards reinhard

Ok, my thing about touring bikes, what about the weight?! Most tourers are just too heavy, 17Kg+ steel monsters. “They have to be, for the reliability”…well the only frames I’ve had break were a steel and an Al frame. Maybe you’ll say “blasphemy” but my trekking bike of choice is a modified carbon fibre Simplon “Nanolight” K3. My aim has been the lightest bike but still fit for a tour of up to a month on road. This thing has been faultless for 9 years of mainly mountain tours (and daily commuting). The essentials, for me, are: good hub dynamo lighting, hydraulic Rim brakes (discs are, expletive, Primadonnas), brooks saddle, bike rack, mudguards, oh and lightness. Everything is carbon or titanium, except the wheels, saddle and handlebar. it’s expensive but still less than people spend on fancy packages for their car. Final tour weight is around 9.1Kg. I even made my own bike bags out of lightweight cuben fibre. Yes the bike could be seen as excessively focussed on weight, but nowadays trekking bikes could be a lot lighter than they are, we would have many more people on bikes, heavy bikes stop people biking. J Jones.

I have noticed that all these touring bikes have no suspension in the front wheel. I am curious, why? Does a front suspension affect the performance of these long bike trips?

For most tours it’s simply not necessary. A suspension fork adds complication, meaning more to go wrong. Forks without lockout introduce inefficiency. Finally, most forks are incompatible with lowriders (front racks).

Bikepacking (i.e. lightweight offroad touring) is a different story, but still a small niche.

Is there an easy solution to fitting a front light to my Ridgeback Voyage with a bar bag in situ? I do not want an extending arm attached to the drops with the light above the bag. I was wondering if one can purchase a bracket to bolt onto the mudguard retaining bolt on top of the front forks immediately below the headset. This would have to be offset to clear the cantilever cables. Any thoughts Anthony

A bracket on the fork crown is a common (old-fashioned) solution. Some bar-bags also have a mounting bracket accessory for a light (the Carradice one comes to mind). Or you can wear a headtorch!

Thanks Tom for your reply, I have had lots of comments and thoughts from others on the Cycling UK forum too. As is often the case as soon as one starts looking into things there are loads of solutions available. I have learnt a lot just by looking at the various websites sugggested by people. I have now purchased a good light that will fit on the fork itself and and allow to be positioned pointing down to cover the road in front. Not a dissimilar situation from the old ‘ever ready ‘lamps that we had on our bikes back when I was a child in the 50s and 60s. Though this is a USB rechargeable smaller model. I think this will do the job. So thank you again for your thoughts and I will soon start to read your book on my kindle which arrived today. I look forward to that.

Great site Tom and full of excellent stuff and info. Keep it up.

Kind regards Anthony Brewer

Hi Tom and all, Has anyone any experience of the cantilever brakes designed specifically for tandems and tourers by a company in Seattle USA called Rodriguez bikes., R&E Cycles. They call the design ‘The Big Squeeze’. I looked into this as I am not sure in my mind yet whether my Shimano cantis will work on my Ridgeback Voyage as well as I want on a heavy laden bike on very steep descents. The contact I have had with the American company has been excellent and speedy. They have no distributers or outlets in the UK and the brakes are quite expensive but look with all the information they provide a well thought out and constructed brake. Any comments, opinions or knowledge on this from anyone would be very much appreciated Anthony Brewer

Spa Cycles, a touring specialist fit these. 

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s101p2386/TEKTRO-RX-5-Mini-V-Brakes

I have used them on 4 loaded alpine and Pyrenean tours on my Ridgeback panorama and they have been great. They need fine tuning and true wheels but have plenty of power and work much better than the ones supplied by Ridgeback. My Panorama only cost £450 so I would be reluctant to spend $250 plus shipping on those. Also I am not a fan of the style I think they stick out too much and could cause injury in a collision.

Thank you Phil for your comment on these brakes. I use simialr V brakes on my hybrid as per your link to Spacycles. However as I understand things it isn’t possible (easily that is) to change to V brakes ( which I do like ) without quite some work. I have dropped bars with the gear change incorporated in the brakes. The length of the cable is significant and the possible use of a ‘travel agent ’ to allow for the cable pull etc etc. Are you saying that Spa cycles would change my present cantilver system to these V brakes advertised? As I said I have yet to test my present brakes seriously but will definitely be doing so this spring/summer. Thank you for the recommendation Phil Regards Anthony

No problem Anthony. I ordered them from Spa and fitted them in one hour and I am no expert. May have needed new cables and small sections of outer because of the lengths of the runs but it was straight forward. You can remove the original centre-pull aluminium cable stay as the new cable comes from the side. The original brake levers and repeater levers will work, no new ones are required as the travel is sufficient. I also looked into travel agents to gear up the travel but I agree they are complicated. The mini-vs don’t need the same amount of travel as the full size v‑brake. They are just 85mm not 105mm. Admittedly it is possible with them fitted the level can be pressed right onto the bars, but by that time you would be over the handle bars. The large amount of travel gives you precise control. 

It is very straight forward to fit but you could always order them and get the local bike shop to fit them.

PS the cantilevers supplied on Ridgeback tourers are on the verge of being dangerous on a fully loaded tourer down a steep hill. I recommend changing them to Tektro mini- v brakes I showed you or Tekro CR720 

http://www.highonbikes.com/tektro-cr720-cyclo-cross-bike-cantilever-brakes-front-rear.html?gclid=CjwKEAiArvTFBRCLq5-7-MSJ0jMSJABHBvp0WpP5LLsbie8YcECqv8AAZxpL0R1slUyaJFRFZzcQghoC0YTw_wcB

I don’t like them because as I previously said they stick out too much

Again many thanks Phil. You have certainly given me much to consider. However the Tektro CR720 are themselves cantilever brakes too. So I wonder why you have suggested these as a possible alternative to my present tektro Oryx cantilever brakes on my Ridgeback? They look very similar. I do appreciate your comments on this subject Anthony

the CR720s are used by my co-cyclists on tours and are much better than the oryx design in terms of efficiency. It’s all about the distance from the rim to where the cable connects, much more leverage. I included them as an alternative but would still favour the mini-v’s personally.

they look very different from your once fitted: http://bananarider.com/product/tektro-cr720/

Hi, would you consider Specialized Crosstrail Disc 2017 a good touring bike? I am looking forward to buy my first bike aiming to use it for a long tour (upto 3–6 months) next year around europe.

Also a doog opyion in my opinion: http://www.kross.pl/en/2016/trekking/trans-alp

I’ve recently purchased a Cinelli Hobooleg for £1100, although I’ve only been using it for my 10 mile commute so far I’m very happy with it.

It looks the part and from the reviews I’ve read it will hopefully see me safely around North Wales on my first proper test run later this month.

Looking at the features of these touring bikes they look like early 90s mountain bikes. 26″ wheels?Check. Steel frame? Check. Rigid fork? Check. 7/8 speed drive train with thumb shifters? Check. Braze ons for racks and fenders? Check. I would suggest folks keep an eye out for a good used mountain bike from this era and you could save a bunch while ending up with a bike just as robust, lighter and with higher quality parts(granted, said parts may need some love). I found an abandoned Rocky Mountain Team Comp which has frame tubing better than any of the bikes listed (heat treated tubing by Tange of Japan). The bikes of this era were of very high quality as it was the fastest growing sport then and the competition was fierce with leaps in steel tubing technology. Steel was still the material of choice also. I managed to build my bike up(it was missing a lot of parts) for maybe $500 and I have XTR rear derailleur, Sunrace 8 cassette, Suntour XC thumb shifters, Syncros stem, NOS XT UN73 BB…you get the picture. The additional bonus is a bike that is still quite light yet strong. I wouldn’t recommend this to someone who knows nothing about bikes but if you are a bit of a bike geek its pretty rewarding finding a good higher end mountain bike and fixing it up. Parts back then were very well made.

Hey Tom, Edinburgh Bikes have a new tourer out end of the month, http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-country‑2–16

I’m sure it’s similar to your reviewed bike above but would be great to hear your thoughts.

looking at a bike trip in 2018 from shanghai to istanbul semi-supported. been doing self-supported touring on my 25 yo trek 970 but the sour grape machine is ready to be retired. been shopping around and am considering the novara safari–i like the mustache handlebars and the price seems good but worried about the quality of components and whether 700 wheels are potentially a problem…i know 26″ is more the standard when you are in the middle of nowhere. any input would be much appreciated.

Tom, I have been researching touring bikes for quite some time and I think I have found the bike to start touring. Following your advice in this blog I picked up a 15 year old MTB that is in great shape. I will put on touring tires and a rack that I already own and I’m ready to go on some short introductory adventures. Perhaps if I really get the touring bug I will invest in a new bike but for now this will do and the price is right. Thank you.

For anyone currently looking, my local LBS, The Bike Shed Devon, have a bit of a touring sale going on at the moment. Definitely worth looking before making any decisions. http://www.bikesheduk.com/touring-bikes-for-sale

Thank you very much for the tip on discounted 2015 Dawes Galaxy AL bicycles from Evans. I just picked one up for £400!

Evans has also the Dawes Galaxy Cross cromo (steel frame, disc brakes, straight bars) for the same price. Looks like a bargain.

Having cycled and backpacked since I was at school, in my mid 50’s i decided it was time to combine the two persuites and try a spot of weekend touring. Not wanting to spend too much on a bike that i may not get on with, I bought my daughters barely used 2001 Specialized Hardrock off her. It cost me £225 new originally, so she recon I got a bargain at £40 second hand!!! It’s Cr Mo steel frame and rigid forks [not even butted], Acera group set, square drive triple chain rings and 26″ wheels, have a real solid feel, so after fitting Marathon tyres, racks, and bar ends, I treated myself to a pair of 46li Altus rear panniers and a bar bag. Packing lightweight and minimalist, my first weekend away was a real success. On my next outing of 4‑days, a rear spoke went after the first 20 miles, but no rubbing, so I finished my tour in the Cotswolds, but walked up a lot of hills. For my next trip in the Peak District, I had a new twin-wall rear wheel, and a new wider range rear cassette, still walked up many hills, but who cares, I was wild camping, and just making my route up as I went along. I keep looking at new bikes, but don’t know how I would really benefit, the bike just keeps rolling along happily for my short breaks. A new bike may weigh less. My rig weighs in at 16.5kg without panniers, how does that compare with other tourers?

So, the ultimate all-round tourer *is* a 26 inch wheel frame with geometry which looks like my many-times-earmarked-for-the-skip, first generation, double-butted cro-mo mid-80s MTB that’s in the shed? It confirms my own conclusions (though I’m no hardcore global wanderer like yourself). Interesting that it looks as if 26″ wheels will remain relevant. I was thinking there is a gap in the market for a longer and near-horizontal toptube frame style (with, perhaps, 29er wheels), instead of the downhill-style geometry which seems obligatory on all fat-tyre machinery.

[…] spend money on a good bike and the necessary gear you’ll find costs are minimal. Many good quality bikes can be purchased for less than £100. Many travelling bicyclists choose to camp at official […]

Thanks for the advice! I was faffing around for about a year trying to buy a touring bike in the UK but never quite got around to it. I’m now in Vietnam about to set off in a time pressured trip to India (through Laos, Thailand and Myanmar) and I no longer have the same access to the kinds of brands mentioned above(or budgets). I’ve found something called a Windspeed Long Rider touring classic, which is a Chinese brand, and the bike shop is offering a pretty good deal inclusive of accessories. Let’s hope it’s up to the job! Anyone have any experience or knowledge of this bike? Mostly sold only in Asia I think.

Hi. I am trying to choose a bike for touring around the world that would be a slow heavyweight may be some times off road and long term! but in my country there is not a wide choice for me! I have to choose a bike and change it into a touring one! my question is what kind of bikes is good for me! road bikes that mostly used here for races or mountain! here i can find bikes from Merida , giant, Fuji, Scott, specialized! of course I have an old Peugeot mountain bike that i was thinking about changing in to a touring bike but i am not sure! it is too old! thank you 🙂

Finally bought me touring bike, a Specialized AWOL DLT. Took your advice to try it and decided on a medium instead of a large frame (I’m 5′9″) since it was more comfortable. The problem was to find any bike shops who stocks touring bikes in Sweden, found only the AWOL, Kona Rove and Trek 520. As a plus I got a good discount, paid “only” £760 (Evans charges £1160) since the dealer said -“customers ask for touring bikes and then they do not buy them”!

Hi Rob, where in Sweden did you buy it ? I am in Norway (Oslo to be precise) and can´t find any shop stocking touring bikes.

Hi Francesco, http://www.cykelhuset.com sell Specialized AWOL, http://www.jarlacykel.se sell Trek 520 and http://www.fixmybike.se sell Kona. I have only ridden the AWOL and the Rove, both seemed very competent. Just on way back from virgin trip Sassnitz — Berlin, so far satisfied, love the 700x42c tires, perfect for tarmac and gravel!

Tom, for my 21st birthday I got a Cannondale T1000, 22 years and 15000 miles later (low mileage bike) it is going strong. It has been to Paris a couple of times, Amserdam 4 or 5 times and one long trip from Cherbourg to Santander as well as numerous day and weekend UK outings, it has towed a Tag Along for a fair few miles and had a child seat for some of its life. Much of today’s riding is spent on minor roads and tracks around the New Forest and Wiltshire. Few parts have worn out, I am on the second BB, and I upgraded the chainset to an ultegra, other than a couple of tyres, chains and cassettes I have had to do very little. I love the bar end shifters for their reliability, the XT cantilever brakes do a good job stopping the bike, even on 50 mph descents in the Pyraneese with full panniers and camping gear and my 80 kg weight. With an 11 to 32 cassette, 24 speed are fine on a tourer, spacing is well judged. It is really hard to imagine how it could be improved on.….

I just picked up a 2004 Cannondale T2000 for my son’s 13 birthday. Cost just £300 and looks fantastic, in fact looks new. I am surpised how light it is. It Has a few upgrades, including a nice Kinesis fork, which delivers a much nicer ride than my T1000 and it also has a 30 speed XT / ultegra group set and a really nice looking rack. Overall this is the nicest bike I have ever ridden, it is adjusted to perfection and feels really well sorted definately a subtle but noticeable upgrade from the T1000

How does an older mid range tourer like the Cannondale T1000 or T2000 compare with today’s mid range tourers like the Surly LHT or Daws Super Galaxy

To be honest I would be really confident that my Cannondale could tackle a more adventurous tour than I have tried

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” – that sums up any longer and more detailed response I could come up with! 🙂

hey tom! an interesting article you have here 🙂 hopefully you can shed some light on my situation. me and my mate are literally just starting out after training, we are planning a big trip! Our trip in mind is taking us from the uk, through france and to the south of spain. we figure that we want a bike that can take the distance, but can also take us as off road as is sensible. we plan on visiting a few cities also! (we’re thinking cobbled streets and some gravelly paths) so im not entirely sure what kind of bracket we fall under, but the bike i have put a deposit down for (buying new) and am collecting tomorrow, is a specialized sirrus, costing 400 pounds sterling. am i looking in the right kind of bike here considering our journey and our plans? 

as far as i understand (our beginner cycling pedigree in mind) pad brakes are risk free and easily replaced, steel frame and forks are more durable. would having flat bar handle bars restrict us some what? hope you can help! thanks, cillian.

For a trip to the south of Spain pretty much any bike will do, as long as it fits you and it can carry your luggage! (I hope you’ve test ridden this bike before buying it – most important thing of all in getting the right bike!)

Check out this blog series if you want any more info on specific components and things…

Thanks for the swift reply there Tom, yeah I’ve ridden the bike, but as I’m a complete novice, it feels better than any bike I can remember riding. I guess I’m concerned about getting a bike with the right geometry and what not! Any unbiased thoughts on the specialised sirrus as my choice? So long as it’s comfortable of coarse, thanks! Cil

Only that it’s not really a touring bike! £500 would get you a Revolution Country Traveller which would be fully kitted out for touring and has had a number of excellent reviews. You could also get a much higher-spec second hand touring bike for that money.

Fit is important, but if you’re buying a new bike it might make sense to get one that’s designed for the job at hand, rather than adapting a hybrid. Just a thought!

excellent advice good sir! its seems for now that we are settling for our hybrids in good faith that they will pay off when we are mooching around cities and taking scenic bridle ways! thanks a lot for the replies Tom, happy cycling!

Safe roads!

Do you or others on this site have experiences with the Co-Motion bicycles for touring (www.co-motion.com)? They are made in the USA (Eugene, Oregon).. 

I have a Surly LHT with many miles on it and wanted to updated to the new 2015 Disc Trucker with the 10-speen 11/36 cassette, but was considering the Co-Motion Americano. There is a LARGE price delta (Americano is around $ 4,100 US$.

Any experiences/feedback is appreciated.

Have a TERRIFIC day!

Darren Alff of Bicycle Touring Pro has it — Co-Motion Pangea — and he loves it! He had it even repainted recently and put back again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XAwqgXhRzc&t=23s See also his channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCGE4MRedy8pXEdJb9Vsx‑g

Most of the touring bikes I read about in this section either deal with 700c size wheels or 26″ wheels. I bought a Surly Ogre 29er and it’s been the best commuting/touring bike in my opinion. The wider wheels help to accommodate a wider tire (1.9–2.3) that helps absorb the load that you’d be carrying.

You can fit 1.9–2.3″ tyres on a 26″ wheel too. It is the original mountain bike wheel size, after all!

[…] Redninga for den som vil gjøre grundig research blir da å slå over til engelsk. Et bildesøk på “touring bike” bekrefter at dette begrepet har en bestemt betydning. Søket “which touring bike to buy” gir også en endeløs rekke med relevante og informative treff. Spesielt godt liker jeg rådene til min favorittsykkelblogger, britiske Tom Allen. […]

Hi Tom … any thoughts of including a recumbent in your Best Touring Bike selection? Like say an Azub 6? http://www.azub.eu/azub-5-five-recumbent-bike/

While they are the cost of two or three of the above selections I’m interested in your experience or opinions?

Because they’re very much in a niche of their own, I’d rather do a whole feature on recumbent touring options. Suggestions welcome! In the meantime, have a read of my own recumbent tour last year …

This has been an interesting read — as I’m a devout touring bike user, even though touring the world is not on my horizon. Suffolk and noerh Essex are most definitely part of my equation and between 50 — 110 miles per trip are not unusual along with cycling to and from work.

For 18 years I’ve enjoyed my long sought after 1997 Dawes Super Galaxy, which is now up for a complete drive train rebuild (and a return to drop handlebars but without those awful bar end changers), but I’m also keen to add a second bike to the collection as the Dawes is the only form of transport I have and really do need a bike to get to work for as early as 3am (outside public transport times).

My 2 options are the new 2015 Dawes Super Galaxy or the 2015 Ultra Galaxy. Yes, I’m sticking with Dawes, with my current Super Galaxy’s record why not? Also, I can get the bike via the company bike to work scheme and save some dosh. Whilst the budget is between £2000-£3000, I reason over 18 years this will become a bit of a bargain. So the question of this comment is really this:

What are the benenfits of the Titanmium Frame on the Ultra Galaxy over the Reynolds 853 tubing on the Super Galaxy frame? Do I really need to spend that extra £700?

Please, no comments about lucky you etc — it is 18 years since I last made this big an investment and apart from new tyres and inner tubes and a swap to butterfly handlebars the bike is pretty much as it came out of the shop (despite almost 100k miles of travel and commuting). I see this as the kind of purchase that is similar to that of purchasing a car…

Hi Andrew — what did you decide on in the end and are you happy with that decision? I find myself looking at exactly the same choice to make (Galaxy super vs. ultra). It’s not straightforward!

Although I am not a touring cyclist I put in quite a bit of mileage commuting (around 120 miles per week) using either a steel audax type bike (Ridgeback Mercury), alu hybrid or ancient Dawes Horizon (fitted with studded tyres for snowy/icy days). Fancying doing a bit of touring I recently bought a Revolution Explorer with disc brakes and have been riding it since Christmas. Has to be said that the disc brakes are a revelation compared to any sort of rim brake (I have tried them all apart from hydraulic); no constant adjustment, no rim wear, no filthy aluminium slurry all over the rims, silent and they actually work in the rain ( of which there is plenty here in Lancashire). The latter point saved me earlier this week when I had to do any emergency stop to avoid an idiot driver, I doubt any other sort of brake would have been up to it. And I am talking about BB5s which I understand are budget disc brakes.

I am about to buy an used tourer for occasional touring use for my son, he has a Ribble road bike. Budget £300 and I have a choice of Ridgeback World Voyage 2012 …520 CroMo.…Sora.…Alivio etc or a ‘Dale T800 2003, hardly used, Ally.…CroMo forks…Tiagra.…XT etc. I can easily make decisions at work involving lots of cash…but this one appears to have me foxed!! (I have a stable of steeds and tour on a Roberts Roughstuff, I should be able to choose!!!) Please help! Thanks one and all!

[…] utstyret du velger når du skal legge ut på en lang sykkeltur. På nettsida si har han skrevet om hva som er den beste tursykkelen. I eboka går han atskillig mer grundig til verks. Verdt å nevne er at han legger spesiell vekt […]

you forgot koga miyata 😉

I’ve just bought the 2015 Ridgback Tour.

Ive just this minute seen that aluminium frames have a much lower life expectancy than steel due to the fact that they fatigue — is this true? Ive heard that 5 years is the life expectancy of such a frame even if cared for? Have I bought a white elephant — as I planned to treasure it. Thanks.

I’ve just thinking that all bikes mentioned above are in price of year long trip. My humble suggestion is: buy retail! I bought a trek bike in pawn shop for 180euro and so far this holds for 4 seassons (16000km, regions spread from scandinavia to balkans) and now I’m preparing this beauty for 17000km long trip from czechia to indonesia. Throughout these trips I never broke a spoke (seen this problem many times in my friends Dawes) and punctured so few times that it can hardly be mentioned. So far I spend almost 6 months on the roads and during this time I spend less money than price of the cheapiest bike mentioned above.

So my advice is search it, test it, uprgade it, love it and than… finally ride it,-D Put a piece of your heart and skills into your piece of metal. Relationship between tourbiker and his bike must be stronger than click on ebay. Sorry for english and toilet phylosophy, I’m still upgrading,-D

Tom, I just wanted to say a very big thank-you for helping me choose the right touring bike. After spending many evenings checking your advice and loads of websites, I finally opted for a Dawes Galaxy Classic. I took your advice and went via eBay to Kingsway Cycles of Cambridge. I paid £900 instead of £1300 for a 2014 model! More importantly, it’s the right bike. I’ve only done about 60 miles since Saturday, but it’s really excellent. Kingsway are a great bike shop and really nice to deal with — none of that irritating superiority complex so common in good bike shops. I’d recommend them. Again, thank you. Alistair

Seven things:

Now the bike is bedding-in, before a big trip, have the LBS tighten your spokes and true the wheel(s) as required.

Take the time to ensure that the inside of the wheel rims have wide tape, not plastic or thin tape — you will thank me when you don’t get pinch-flats from the inner spoke nipples.

Chop out the brakes for V brakes. I have the same cantilever brakes, and they’re poor. It’s my next upgrade after upgrading my wheel set — as you can tell, this is real-world experience talking here!

If you fit a Ortleib (or similar) bar mounted bag, replace the existing gear cables with extra long ones since they are a little too short as standard and will crop over time and your gear shifting will become increasing difficult and then the front mech’ will cease working.

If you are running Shimano gearing,chain etc make sure the jockey wheels are not a 3rd party set, if so, buy Shimano ones, they work better than others.

You will notice as you ride, most of the touring bikes you’ll encounter are Dawes; how cool is that?

The enjoyment of your adventure is reflected in the width of your daft Cheshire-Cat grin, so grin, then grin some more!

Fantastic! I hope you get many years of touring enjoyment from it!

Hello Tom & Co.,

Do you have input on preferred bikes / systems for long rides with two young kids? 

Preferably sub-$2,000 (US), with a granny gear, and disc brakes.

I am trying to figure out which adult touring bike (and system) to use with my kids. The four-year old child will be in an attached trailer bike (with coupler), and the two-year old child will be in a chariot trailer behind that (via skewer hub)…unless someone has a better idea.

I already own a Specialized Tarmac for zipping around, and a Santa Cruz mountain bike for the trails. For a few years, I’ve reluctantly used my carbon fiber Tarmac for pulling my oldest child in the Chariot trailer. The ergonomics are all wrong, especially in the hills.

Now I have both a four-year old and a two-year old child, plus we live in major mountains. I want to do LONG family rides, and commutes around town (paved / gravel mixed). Ideally the bike could also be used for (solo) century rides. Once they are older, I’d like to explore multi-day touring with me on the same bike.

Salsa Vaya? Trek 520? Surly LHT, Cross Check, or Straggler? 

Big thanks!

[…] started thinking about this tour; my thoughts immediately went to the tried&true options for bike touring (Surly LHT for example), and I was waiting for a deal to pounce on online for months.  But living […]

3864 miles thus far (26 Sept 2014) around Britain and without doubt the most popular bike is the Dawes, maybe 80% (?) streel framed in the majority, and whilst we are at it, Ortlieb panniers, also in the majority.

I am on a 2008 Dawes SG. Rubbish cantilever brakes — to be replaced in short order. Replaced the wheels as the rims were concave, but she is an eBay Special (£590) likewise the four panniers (£83). Fantastic combo with Tubus steel racks.

Hi Tom, I believe the bikes from German Company Tout Terrain have a good name as well. Namely the “Silkroad” seems a fantastic bike to me. Expensive but has all the gimmicks I like to have (Rohloff and disc brakes). http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/bicycles/silkroad/

i was stranded in london on the 4th aug (after losing my oyster and bank cards) leaving me with just £10 and a predicament a quick look on gumtree found me a nearby bike (complete with 21 speeds and rack and double panniers inc cycle comp for my insane budget and now 10 days later its covered 120 miles and by far best buy ever for a tenner 🙂

ps i live 18 miles away in the subarbs so as to speak

Love the site, especially the discussions on this page!

I’m interested in your views on bar-end shifters. My wife’s Sabbath Silk Route was stolen in Amsterdam recently and she’s loathe to spend quite so much on a replacement. Many of the sub-£1,000 tourers seem to have bar-end shifters and she’s a bit nervous about taking them on. What are the pros and cons compared with integrated brake lever shifters? Quite like the look of the Genesis Tour de Fer but the bar end shifters are the only sticking point.

Pros: Simple, durable, reliable.

Cons: Less efficient to actually operate; inexperienced users whack their knees on them.

For a long-term tourer I’d take bar-end or downtube shifters over STIs any day.

I bought the Tour de Fer and did an 8 day tour in Greece. Its an excellent bike and I’m really happy with it but the bar shifters are annoying. I decided to upgrade the bike with a tubus tara front rack and a son dynamo hub with a plug usb charger. I’ll do a review of the bike later as I’m about to set off on a tour to Singapore something its probably not designed for but it came within my Ride-To-Work budget and I’m not a fan of the 26inch tourers I’d rather take my chances in the bikes shops. FYI the new version has a flat bar instead of drops and a tubus tara lowrider as standard — bonus! Love your site it’s been invaluable in my tour planning

You can always move the bar end shifters up onto the flats using a solution like Pauls Thumbies or SJS do their own version. It’s just a bolt on bracket with a mount for the shifter and a cable stop. If you ride mainly on hoods and flats then they are much easier to reach than down at the end of the drops. Cable maintenance is easier as well.

Many thanks for your excellent website. I’m thinking of doing Land’s End to John O’Groats and have seen a Raleigh Gran Tour at our local cycle shop. It seemed fine on a trial run round the block. Any significant pros or cons that I need to be aware of?

Nick check out the Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker it will be the best Touring Bike you will ever buy and will take you anywhere wheel size go for 26 and you can travel the world buy once not twice

Thanks John. I’ll check it out. 

Another issue that’s coming up is tourers vs endurance bikes. Any strong preferences either way, anyone?

Are you doing an endurance ride? Or are you going on a cycle tour?

Different tools for different jobs…

Hi Tom, I was wondering if you had any experience or knowledge of the Cinelli Hobo? It does seem to come as a fairly complete package as well as a 61 frame which is good for a tall person like myself.

I’m afraid I don’t! Sorry! It does look like a good bike, though.

I have a cinelli hobo for mixed trail touring. I find it incredibly comfortable and a really good load hauler. Some of the stock parts are pretty poor, particularly the FSA alpha drive chainset (replaced with Deore, and the alex rims on sora hubs which i’ve recently replaced. The weakest part of the setup for me is the microshift bar end shifters… I had real trouble keeping them indexed. I have swapped for an old pair of Tiagra STI shifters and these feel much better with a deore chainset and rear mech.

It has shorter chainstays than my old galaxy but still has plenty of heel clearance fitted with ortlieb classic panniers. The bars are the most comfortable I have ever used!

Overall i’m really pleased with it as it suits my choice of riding on mixed road, track and trail with a nice blend of cyclocross and touring capabilities… just a shame the marketing around the bike is so goddamn annoying!

I am planning a touring for next year, I was thinking to get a bicycle with a 29’‘ rim using a 28c tyre, i also plan to use mavic hubs, but i am not sure how tough a mavic hub can be on long touring distances, i guess i may not have problems as far i get some spare bearings and parts for the hubs. any suggestion about the rim sizes? will a 27″ rim do the same job as a 29’’ rim size? I have seen that NS has some cool looking hubs, i know they are for dirt-jump bikes, but those are something i consider dues they are do to resist hard impact of daily trainings, but my doubt is if a a hub for hard impact interfere with speed and smooth riding, by logic i guess it doesn’t interfere depending on what bearing it uses…am i right? Ps.: i enjoy cycling fast. lol

i found some other hub, the DT Swiss looks pretty good… but they don’t have a nice front hub with Disk break, that is what is pity, but i may get normal brakes, cos the disk brake has a high cost maintenance …

Where are you going? Your primary consideration is spare parts availability. 26″ or 700c wheels are the only sensible choice for 99% of tours, and I wouldn’t recommend anything other than Shimano cup-and-cone hubs with loose bearings and easy maintenance, ideally XT. They’re tour proven and won’t need a second thought.

Have found your website invaluable in the preparation of a bike trip my brother and I are making from London to Istanbul on August 10 (our first bike trip). I bought your book this afternoon on Amazon too as it should be a handy guide on the trip.

I’m just about to buy a bike and have come down to the Dawes Galaxy 2014 for £691 and the Raleigh Sojourn, which I founded hugely discounted here for £689 (down from £1,100!): http://www.ashcycles.com/site/raleigh-sojourn-2013 . I’d be very grateful if you (or anyone else on this page) could suggest what you think would be the better buy for my budget of £700?

Cheers, Shaun

Very glad you’ve found this site useful.

In my experience, which touring bike to buy depends on choosing the right tool for the job, and seeing what feels good to ride. I’m going to guess that you’re fairly sure both these bikes will meet your needs, but that you haven’t tried either of them out. So the only useful suggestion I can offer is to see which you can test-ride locally. On paper they’re as good as identical. You can discuss specification charts until the cows come home but it’ll all be irrelevant once you’ve actually started riding.

Ideally you’d test-ride both, but if you can only try one, then at least you can either eliminate it from your shortlist or confirm that it’ll do the job — then buy it.

The other critical reason for testing bikes out is to ensure that you get the right size, as incorrectly-sized bikes are the biggest source of discomfort and even injury on tour.

Hope this helps!

Thanks a lot for the tip Tom and appreciate you taking the time out to respond to me.

I’m based in HK and so unfortunately won’t be able to test-ride either of them (only a narrow window in London and they have to be ordered in advance), but if you say that the specs are identical then it makes the decision a bit easier — comes down to the aesthetics now!

I’ve got a KHS TR-101, bought from Cycle Surgery. Since these are relatively uncommon, I thought I’d put up my thoughts.

It’s a lovely bike to ride and I’ve done 2 3‑week trips to New Zealand South Island on it, usually somewhere between 50 and 100km a day. But I do think the brakes are not good enough for a tourer — I’m going to switch mine out after realising as I coasted down from Arthurs’ Pass in the rain with a loaded bike that I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to — and the mudguard fittings have been annoying — little plastic clips which pop ou, and which don’t hold the guard far out, so it rubs the tyres if the guard gets even slightly warped. Both easily replaced though. I’ve carried medium weights on it — prob. ca. 20kg — with ease, using both front and back racks and it feels very smooth and well-balanced. In fact, I think it’s the easiest bike I’ve ever ridden in that respect. Even the stock saddle is OK although I’m finally switching to a Brooks.

I don’t find the gears allow me to get up big hills when it’s loaded (but that might be just me — I’m not very gritty about hills.…) but it’s very smooth to handle and way faster than most other bikes off the bigger hills. 

I’ve done almost all on road on it and wouldn’t do off road again after an 80km run on the gravel Mavora Lakes road — it coped but it wasn’t nice (could have been the headwind…).

I’m planning one or two more 3 week tours on it (New Zealand again, and then maybe Sri Lanka) but am trying to work out whether in the long term I should just upgrade the parts, or actually invest in another bike. It’s a lovely cycle though — I’d really recommend it, although if you are looking for a real round-the-world workhorse it might be worth looking at some of the more established models. 

No bike is without problems, it aint about the bike without blood, sweat and tears :-X

Hi Tom — Great site, very informative and helpful. I´m looking at setting up my first Touring / Expedition rig.

Wondering if you wouldn´t mind commenting on Santos Bikes out of Holland? I see they make some great looking touring bikes, but only in Aluminium.…I asked them why they dont do Steel and their reply was that the Steel / Belt Drive combination is not good, ie to flexible and that the belt will wear just as fast as a regular chain, therefore, they go with Aluminium?? Any comment. Also, thoughts on the Belt Drive in Combination with a Rohloff Hub??

I´m looking at a go anywhere, do anything rig…2 week tours in Europe and RTW adventures. 

Thanks if you can help me out and keep up the great work 🙂

Hi guys, spoilt for choices,the steel v ali debate?? V brake or disc??Santos i havent seen but if its dutch id expect its a good bike, like koga who use aluminium for rtw touring(a reason people like ali is light for air transit, and it wont rust like steel) but can be a harsh ride,so invest in a suspension seat and a brooks saddle,backside will thank ya..Roholf or mech?? Roholf belt drive i have met a tourer using and he was happy with it, expensive combo but if it rolls for 100,000klm and comp have good rep. As it comes to preference and trail n error..I a bit like yourself wanted a rtw expadition bike. I got a thorn ripio frame which i then built up myself …doing that i chose my best spec bits xt tubus fsa brookes ergo etc( finding good reductions online) and most important get to know how it goes together ..useful as often u must rely on yourself to fix the problem and keep those wheels rolling:-) i like steel frames as they flex and are more comfortable with luggage…frames i would say are worth considering are as mentioned by others, surly lht , thorn and an excellent other is onone.…another option is to find a good old used bike/steel frame i.e 90’s atb/mtb models by specialised, trek, orange and upgrade as reqiured. Invest in strong wheels if offroading full loaded and good tyres, schwable marathon xr are excellent and after 20,000 klms they still got tread. A final thought an expensive shiny touring bike looks great to the owner and a theif, to protect my ride i wrap the frame in old inner tube and tape so protecting frame from damage and making my pride and joy look like a dirty ol ride! Thats all folks:-)

Thanks for the contribution!

Sadly the Schwalbe Marathon XR was discontinued years ago now 🙁

Hi tom and troops„, yeah the xr was too good „buy once product, found early originals recently 2 in holland…(where else.. for any tourers holland is ur candy store). So what u rollin on these days??? p.s u on a tour??? Bon route:-)

Not right now, no. But I have my own stash of XRs for when I am 🙂

Hi Tom, very interesting article. My wife and I are looking to buy touring bikes. We would use them in Europe initially — we have a small child who will be with us on a seat so we’ll leave Africa and Asia etc for a few years. I was thinking of a Genesis Croix de Fer , 725 reynolds probably rather than the expensive 931. What are your thoughts? Versatile but do you think they fall between two stools. Thanks, Mark

The Surly long Haul Disc Trucker not only Ticks all the Boxes but you will only ever need to purchase this bicycle Once No need to upgrade this bicycle will be perfect and last a lifetime of Touring wherever your dreams take you Go for the 26 wheels far stronger and gives you an extra gear on steep inclines happy cycling

Sorry, Now I have seen that you have an article about the Tern Link P24 and touring with a folding bike. My suggestion was totally redundant.

But no less appreciated! Thank you for a great summary (and much a much broader one than mine!)

Thanks Tom for all your great articles. I think that folding bikes are a serious alternative for long-term touring. Certainly less sturdy but have many advantages, easy to carry on planes or busses if needed or into hotel rooms and tents for added security. They are getting better with more reliable frames, even with full suspension (Reise und Muller birdy touring) and all the best specs up to Rohloff and dynamo hubs. Small wheels are not good beyond tarmac or good dirt tracks but there are a foding bikes with 24″ and 26″, though I will go for 20″ as a perfect balance between comfort, stable handling and still compact size when folded, bearing in mind it may nor be the best option to do the Pamir highway or crossing the Andes. There are some models speced for touring with pannier racks, mudguards etc. Tern link P24, Dahon MU with alfine 11 and the awsome Birdy. Worth considering.

[…] reading the reviews of Tom Allen and reading a bit about what is important in a touring bicycle, I became convinced that the Kona […]

Hello Tom, your website is amazing, well done! I’m about to undertake a long bike tour through Asia and Europe …unfortunately my budget is very limited. I think I will buy the kona sutra but I also saw this bike which I really like http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/anyroad.1/14819/66151/ Can you please give me some advice comparing the two models?

I will also convert the bike in an e‑bike with the golden motor magic pie conversion kit plus a solar panel . Do you think the conversion will affect the efficiency of the bike?

Thank you very much for the help Vince

Hi Tom, Great article thanks! I bought a 2008 Ridgeback Panorma World Tour in 2011 and I have loved every moment on it. It’s the old BMW grey model. I have been an occassional cyclist for much of my life but it was only when i got this bike that it really made me want to do more and more miles. We have done the UK coast to coast and will be doing the Way of the Roses in the next few weeks; also did Penrith to John O’Groats when I met up with friends doing LeJog. It eats up the miles and has been bullet proof. Once it’s rolling it flies and the Deore gearing gets me up anything. If anyone is considering this model I wholeheartedly recommend it. I swapped out the saddle for a Brooks B17 and put Ortlieb panniers on it and both have been unbeatable performers. I only wish I could match them 🙂 Cheers Mart

i thank for this advice.this would encourage many of them to cycle.i to got encouraged. i have cycled about Km400 this is just the start,i think all cyclist belong to one family.

I’m planning on building a bike for a round the world adventure but I’m overwhelmed by the choices of frames! Surly, thorn, Kona… The obvious choice for a frame would be a Surly Long Haul, but the geometry doesn’t fill me with excitement. My dream bike and frame is the Santos 2.6 (It looks and feels more like a MTB than a tourer), but at almost £800 for the frame it’s way out of my price range. Flat bars or butterflys are a must for me as I really don’t understand this facination with dropdowns. Top of my list currently and within my price range is a Surly Troll. What are your thoughts about the troll as a world tourer? Should I stick with the tried and tested Surly Long Haul (although I’m not sure if the LHT geometry is ideal for flat bars) or go a bit leftfield and try the Troll?

getting ready for a st malo — malaga ride in the spring and am looking at the Specialized Awol:

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/road/awol

How would you say it compares with the Kona Sutra?

Fantastic website, btw.…

It looks like an interesting bike, if a rather specialised one (sorry) — almost a dirt-road racer with luggage racks, which I think is what Kona have tried to do with the Sutra (mistakenly IMHO; should have been a new model altogether). It looks like a bike for light and nimble loads rather than fully-loaded touring, with 32-spoke wheels and the 10-speed Sora chainset. I’d be very interested to hear a road test report if you do go with it.

Bob Nally!! You may think trying to advertise in here is a good thing which either makes you extremely clever or extremely stupid, which is it folks?? thanks for the info Bob but just encase your advertising here hadn’t noticed this is a about info, advice and camaraderie between true people that have cyling in their heart and you may (or may not) realise this, anyway. guys im a very short woman 4.10 so finding it very hard to find a touring bike to suit me (my mountain bike is 14 inches) but i’m finding it very hard to find something withing my price limit Tom and everyone else, I’m looking for a man’s tourer that can suit my height (I CAN NOT STAND THE LOOK OF WOMANS BIKES) lol so hopefuly I can have Tom or someone else to give me a tip on a “short ass” tourer lol

Does Bob Nally work for Ash Cycles, then? If so, he probably has cycling in his heart too. I’m pleased to hear about it if there’s a relevant deal on, though it would be nice if people disclosed their affiliations of course.

What’s your price limit, Pam? The 26-inch Surly LHT is available right down to a 42cm frame. After that you’ve got seatpost, saddle, stem and cranks to tweak the fit.

For anyone looking for a new bike AshCycles (UK) have the Dawes Galaxy Classic 2013 (and many more bikes) discounted to £879.95 with free delivery.

Thanks for pointing this out!

Hi Tom, I´ve been falling you for over a year and love the movie and the book. I feel like the world is telling me to move south–I´m in Colombia right now and I want to go to Argentina. I am looking into bikes to buy here, and it is very difficult to find aone in a place full of little people (I´m 193cm tall). But that is a problem that I can manage. 

Here in Bogota, these types of cargo racks ( http://bogotacity.olx.com.co/biciclta-panadera-iid-578339198 ) are very popular and they can definately hold a bunch of weight (they usually come in black). I know that there would be wind issues, especially with the front rack–but what do you think of mounting one of these on the back or possibly mounting on both the front and the back of a bike. I´m not too worried about speed but much more worried about control. 

On another note, I bought this from kickstarter ( http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flykly/flykly-smart-wheel ) and when it is developed and shipped to me this summer, I plan to use it to get from point A to point B… I don´t know if it will work or not, the only downside is that I cannot change gears with it… We´ll see. 

On another note–can you recommend a book for learning how to repair/assemble a bike… 

Thanks in advance for the advice and I will probably have a hundred more questions in the coming weeks and months… Say hi to your brother Ben for me… If everything goes to hell in a handbasket, I might just fly to Lebanon in February for the big event.

Hey Wes… faced with a cargo rack decision like that, the only way to know for sure is to take one for a test ride. I think you’d attract a fair amount of attention if you did go with it! 🙂

The Park Tool website is the number one resource for bicycle repair tuition. I’m not aware of a specific book, though.

Drop me an email if you have any more questions — always happy to help.

Hi Tom, just discovered your website and am so inspired that my wife, daughter and I are planning a tour to Paris next year. Anyway…I have a Specialized Sirrus hybrid that to my novices eye seems to be similar to most of the touring bikes above. The only obvious difference being aluminum frame, flat bars and no racks etc. The components all seem similar. Would there be much point in changing to a tourer? Cheers.

If you can fit a rear rack to that frame, you’re good to go. Even if you can’t, a seatpost rack will do you from here to Paris. Enjoy!

Touring bikes are great if you need full camping gear. I rode a kona Jake the snake lisbon-istanbul, cuba etc, cyclocross bikes should be considered for light touring is.bivy sack and no cooking gear. Super fast, built strong to off road and just more fun and nimble to ride, if that’s your thing. I haven’t been carrying front panniers though, not sure how would ride. I’d encourage really trying to lighten everything up, gear and bike, more rewarding — but this does assume staying within a few hundred km of a store/restaurant/hostel although can be self sufficient for a few days.

Just love this site, ride on tom!

Thanks Yuri. I can count the number of times I’ve been more than a day’s ride from supplies on the fingers of one hand. Almost everyone could “lighten up” and go fast and nimble. I guess it depends on your priorities for being on the road!

Was wondering why you haven’t put any of the Thorn Bikes on your list?..Maybe the Sherpa would be a good mid-range,no? Ian

I haven’t read all the comments so I don’t know if it’s been mentioned (I’ll also hold my hands up here and say I work there) but if we’re talking mid-high end touring bikes then Spa Cycles are worth looking at — http://www.spacycles.co.uk there is now a steel tourer available which is competitively priced.

If we’re talking relatively small UK touring ‘brands’ then Thorn would be worth mentioning too.

Thanks Ben! I haven’t included Thorn here as they’re a bit pricey for the mid-range, but I’ll do so in a future piece on higher end tourers…

No problem, really enjoyed the film on Tuesday in Leeds. Has given me even more enthusiasm for riding the 270 miles home to Dorset for xmas in a week or so. 🙂

I did 6000 miles on my 2011 Cannondale CAADX. The Only upgrade was a pair of heavy duty handbuilt touring wheels a Son 28 Hub and some Schwalbe Marathons.…. I have to say it was the driest 3 month trip you could imagine so the lack of crap picked up to wear the Bike out was noticeable… The Only mechanicals, 2 broken cable and about 4 punctures. Get your bike looked over/serviced before you go and remember this, when you ride your bike normally, what usually goes wrong… I bet nothing.….

Hello Tom & thanks for your very useful and cheerful writings. I’m just getting back into bike touring, and still using my faithful 1977 Dawes Super Galaxy, nearly all original but with a re-enamelling job on the frame. Still pretty well perfect for my long but slow road trips. Brittany’s rolling country is a mine of varied and beautiful scenery : have you tried it? All the best

I haven’t been to Brittany since a school camping trip in 1999… maybe I should 🙂

Tom, you’d be very welcome! so yes, maybe you should! You have my e‑mail via this page, I imagine, so let me know if you’re over here & the Super Galaxy will be wheeled out! 🙂

Hi Tom I’m looking for a top end light tourer that’s very comfortable, capable of going as fast as a tourer can go and at home on Tarmac and on dusty tracks. I intend to carry minimal luggage too. How does the Van Nicholas Amazon (or Yukon) Rohloff compare to the Thorn Mercury? Which would you chose?

I’m sorry but I have absolutely no idea! The only way to know for sure is to ride both. It sounds like your requirements are quite specialised, whereas I’m only really intending to cover generalist mid-range tourers in this article. Sorry!

Thanks a lot for the article. The best I could find on the issue over the net.

My question is, did you get to try Kona Sutra 2014 already? I can’t find any comparisons ; 2013 vs. 2014 — yet there’s the huge change of frame.

I haven’t ridden it myself, but here’s my piece on the changes .

I’ve got a bit of a silly question : How should a touring bike “ride”? I’ve been on “racing” bikes forever and find them comfortable and fun to ride. I’ve been hunting for a touring bike and while they are comfortable to cruise around a bit, they seem far too upright for my riding comfort (makes me feel like I’m riding one of those cheap stationary bikes at the gym, on the first one I tried, I had to drop all the spacers on the stem to get comfy, but then ran into issues with the brake stop/hanger not clearing the head tube) and they feel a bit sluggish and hard to “toss around”, especially when out of the saddle on climbs, even in comparison to my light-weight steel mountain bike. I can see why ultra-low gearing is recommended if all you can do is sit and hammer up the climbs. Is that how it is supposed to be?

Hi Isaac I have recently ridden from Adelaide to Darwin on a Tout Terrain bike and I think there are several characteristics that make the touring bike the right one for you. You need to be comfortable if you are going to spend up to 10hrs in the saddle and the more upright positions of most ‘tourers’, seem to take the weight and pressure from your hands/ arms. Also, the touring bike should never feel “twitchy”, especially when loaded. My Tout Terrain rides the same when laden or un-laden and when you find yourself carrying 15kgs of water plus all other camping gear etc, the bike needs to be predictable. Many bike frames will twist when under a load; as a result, your control, reliability and comfort will suffer. I also like having handlebars that give multiple hand positions, which helps with fatigue. The other consideration is that you are an accomplished road bike rider. You are ‘familiar’ with this lower profile riding position and the road bike handling characteristics. This may be why every other riding position feels foreign. Load up a few different bikes including a road bike and try them out on a few long day trips. Consider the advice of others, but ultimately you need to enjoy touring and your decision should be based on what is right for you. As Tom advises, just get out there and problem solve. In essence, ‘touring’ is not a race and almost any bike can be used. You just need to select the one that feels right for you.

Cheers Mark — I echo these sentiments.

Have you tried riding one with a full load (i.e. 15–25kg luggage split between the front and rear)? A touring bike should feel reassuring and stable under such circumstances as it’s what they’re designed for. Riding them unburdened is not going to give you a realistic sense of the ‘ride’.

Cockpit setup is largely personal preference, I think. I’ve seen people touring on everything from upright shopping bikes to mountain bikes to racers with drops — it’s what you prefer. Personally I choose being upright and able to look at my surroundings rather than tucked down grinding away at the asphalt.

Tossing them around and hammering up climbs is not really part of the touring style — taking it slow and steady, especially uphill, is what allows you to reach the end of a day with a hundred k on the clock.

Hope that helps!

Bianchi Volpe

just wondering if a cheap tourer such as the Raleigh Royal or Revolution Country Traveller ’13 would be suitable enough for a first tour of say 3–4 weeks on EuroVelo network through Germany? have done a bit of mountain biking before, and am a commuting cyclist everyday but I don’t really know that much about bikes

Any comfortable bike will do you for 3–4 weeks in one of the most cycle-friendly countries on the planet!

I can vouch for the Revolution Country Traveller. For the money (£430.00 in the sale!) its a surprisingly comfortable and capable bike. Swapped the saddle to a Brooks but otherwise its been perfect.

I saw that the link for the Rocky Mountain Sherpa was broken. Here’s the new URL:

http://www.bikes.com/en/bikes/sherpa/2013

I am moving to Norway and want to get more into touring, would an 2005 trek 6500 mountain bike work for touring? Link to the bike http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2005/archive/trek/6500/#

Any bike will work for touring if you’re determined enough!

You’ll just need to find a way of mounting a rack. Tubus do seatstay clamp kits for bikes like this. Your other option is a trailer like the Extrawheel .

Thanks for the guide. Think I’ll go with the surly long haul trucker. Why? Because I saw a girl with one on the train after she’d come back from an across Britain ride. So I wanted one!

Lo mejor es que a partir de la accin y de la memoria del equipo. Una vez instalado aprieta el botn de encendido que ven en la nube. Sabemos que Nokia ha lanzado un nuevo juego java para celular, es que HTC podr renacer y volver a reproducirlo. La informacin recopilada en nuestro sitio Hoy 9tres tecnologia y servicios estimamos los mejores del ao. Llegaron a descubrir la agricultura y la envia a la interconexin entre centrales 9tres tecnologia y servicios y pblicas. La interfaz es mucho ms fcil, pero me parece curiosa la decisin 9tres tecnologia y servicios de Acer de incorporar Windows 8 que posee? brujerias para enamorar a un hombre http://journals.fotki.com/watersbaxq/my-blog/entry/krbkbqdfbfrr/

Tom have a look at Thorn Sherpa I have one it’s great

Hi Tom, it’s that time of the year when all you want to do is load up your bike, jump on the ferry to France and just go wherever the mood takes you. It’s also the time when you just devour all the reviews and conversations about bikes and gear and destinations. I love it. I’ve had my Dawes Super Galaxy for over 25 years now. It’s the single best item I have ever spent money on and, if I had to get rid of all my bikes bar one, it’s the one I’d keep. I’m in awe of its Rolls-Royce levels of reliabilty, comfort and smoothness. I’ve ridden 10s of thousands of miles on it and it still rides like a dream every time. All the way across the Pyrenees last year; fully loaded, 900kms, 50,000 ft of climbing, horrific weather, faultless. If the new models are as good as the old ones (and they should be) then you couldn’t go wrong with a Galaxy.

Hi, I am not new to cycling but am to touring. I just purchased a Tout Terrain SilkRoad Frame with derailleur hanger (not getting the Rohloff hub version) and want to build it up with durable components. Plan on using drop bars, 26″ wheels, and cable disc brakes. I also like grip shift but don’t know if this is compatible with drop bars, or even if they are still made. Would prefer mountain bike components. Any recommendations for which components group (model year 2013) to get that would be true and durable. I hear Shimano XT is good and light but durability is not what it used to be. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance. J

PS Cash is a factor but don’t want to sacrifice quality either.

Ideally you’d build an 8‑speed drivetrain from a mixture of components (8sp chains being thicker than 9sp and therefore longer lasting). Deore to XT ranges are durable and rugged. Beyond XT it’s about saving weight for racing, with durability sacrificed, so don’t go there. 

The rear derailleur will take more abuse than the front one. 9sp Shimano rear mechs work with 8sp shifters (at least, mine does).

Grip shifts are certainly still made but I have no idea about using them with drops…

Many thanks for your response Tom; the questions you wrote are certainly eminently practical and sensible.

Perhaps it could be assumed that 32 spoke set-ups are strong enough, given that Rohloff and the expedition bike manufacturers, who stake their reputation on reliability and longevity, use that set-up. Though, having said that, it seems Rohloff are now making a 36 hole hub (according to their website).

According to the Thorn website, spoke breakage was an issue; an issue they solved by drilling the spoke holes on the rim differently. Presumably Santos use the same technique as they also hand build their wheels.

You are absolutely correct in saying that the long distance cyclist should be able to repair such things as broken spokes and derailleur malfunctions (and etc). In terms of enjoying trips though, It’s much nicer if nothing goes wrong (ie Murphy’s law takes a holiday). As much as I enjoy servicing and working on my bikes (the mechanics are such “elegantly simple” bits of technology), I prefer the comfort of my own garage. For those reasons a reliable, strong and well prepared bike would be desirable — and that is an answer to your original question about “which bike?”.

Regarding derailleur and Rohloff gears — derailleurs have certainly stood the test of time, though newer sets with more gears may be more finicky than older versions. For that reason, and when the range of use-able gears is considered, the Rohloff hub is attractive (except for the cost — a 60000 km break-even point may not be achievable for many tourers). Interesting that you have heard of misfortunes with Rohloff hubs — I hadn’t, which indicates that I need to do more research. Perhaps a question to be considered here is, “why are top-end touring bike (and some MTB) manufacturers using Rohloff hubs?” Presumably the perceived reliability is a part of the answer to that?

Mind you, all the theorising in the world is still bound by practical experience. 4000 km into last year’s trip the drive train needed replacing (this inconvenience was my fault really, as I should have renewed the components before setting out — the bike was relatively new and I left the original equipment just to see how long good quality components would last). The chain and cluster were easily replaced, but I had to ride another 1000 km without the use of the middle chainring, until I was able to buy a suitable replacement. It was then that I started considering alternatives — a Rohloff hub is one possibility, perhaps also the gears at the bottom bracket, such as fitted to one of the Tout Terrain models.

Anyway, interesting discussion and I look forward to your assessment of the “upper” end of the touring bike market.

Thanks again

If it helps, the builders I’ve spoken with say that the 32 spoked Rohlof hub is stronger than a handbuilt 40 spoked tandem wheel. This makes sense when thinking about dishing and the inherent weakness it introduces to the wheel. The other thing, of course, is that it is easier to repair a broken spoke on the chainside of a Rohlof hub than on a dished wheel with a cogset.

This has been a very interesting discussion — many thanks.

In response to your original question about other brands that might be considered be considered; no one seems to have mentioned the Santos Travelmaster bikes, in 26 and 28 in sizes and in aluminium or cromo.

Now, if I may lead to a dilemma. In one of your responses you referred to a concern that a new derailleur gear system with 30 gears may not yet have been “proven” to be reliable for long tours (paraphrasing your response). That is a good point, borne out by my experience — my older 26 in MTB/hybrid has 21 gears (perhaps indicates how old the bike is) and has never needed adjusting, while my newer 28 in with 27 gears needs frequent attention. Even though I do all the servicing myself and can generally adjust the gears satisfactorily, it can be a pain spending time adjusting the gears while touring (I’d much rather be riding or photographing or sipping cappuccinos in a wayside café). This has led me to consider a Rohloff hub.

That leads to the dilemma. The Rohloff hub bikes (Tout Terrain Silk Road, Thorn Nomad, vsf TX1000 and Santos Travelmaster and possibly Gudereit are all under consideration) all use 32 spokes. I am nervous about dropping from 36 spokes. The theory is that, because the Rohloff hub does not require a “dished” spoke set-up, it is stronger (than the equivalent deraileur set-up). The issue is that I cannot find any info that states how much stronger. One blog mentioned that 26 in wheels are about 10% stronger than 28 in wheels (with the same number of spokes) — but what the 10% is “of” was not explained, and what the measurement of “strength” is was also not explained. Questions remain hanging — is a 32 spoke undished 26 in wheel stronger than a 36 spoke 28 in wheel, for example? What is the “hierarchy of strength” when considering 26 and 28 in, dished and undished wheels?

This leads, of course, to really basic questions such as, for example, “would a vsf TX1000 ( 28 in wheels with wider tyres) be as strong as my current 28 in with 36 spokes”? How much stronger are the Santos wheels with 32 spokes, given that they are hand-made? And so on…

So, if there is anyone who could shed light, with facts, on this dilemma, it would be very much appreciated.

As a final point, I wonder if the steel/aluminium frame issues is now a non-issue — an idea espoused by a metallurgist-cyclist when considering modern frames?

Many thanks

Hi Phil. Thanks for the detailed comment.

The main reason I haven’t included the Travelmaster here is because it’s a top-end touring bike, whereas in this article I’ve been focussing on mid-range bikes. I’ll definitely include it in a future article about top-end bikes, though, along with the other bikes you mentioned — thanks for bringing them to my attention.

Regarding hubs and spokes, I think that the important question here is:

“Would Rohlhoff hubs be fitted to top-end touring bikes if spoke-count was a real issue?”

I doubt it. I hear more tales of Rohlhoff internals failing than spokes breaking. Which begs another question:

“Is it easier to repair a derailleur system or a Rohlhoff wheel on the roadside?”

My money’s on the derailleur. That’s why I’ll keep using them over internally-geared hubs.

And instead of asking what percentage of extra strength 36 spokes gives over 32, I’d be asking:

“Am I able to replace a broken spoke?”

Because that’s what you’ll be thinking when a spoke does inevitably break 🙂

I’ve been using a VSF TX1000 for over a year & completed over 2,000 miles (fully loaded) last autumn through Spain & France on a variety of roads & canal paths… my experience has been very positive… the 32 spoke Rohloff & Son28 wheels show no sign of wear & are true as the day I got them????

Hi Tom! Any comments on the Brodie Elan: http://brodiebikes.com/2013/bikes/elan.php

I tested the Sutra but after trying both 56 & 59 could not make up my mind on what was the right size for me. I am 6 feet tall so I guess I might be somewhere in between. On the other hand I also tried the Brodie Elan 54 & 57 and the 57 felt to big for me… Thanks in advance for any feedback

I’m surprised that the Fuji Touring did not make your list. I’ve been looking around and it seems like a solid touring bike at a good price. 

BTW — I just stumbled across your site and I’m impressed! I’ll be back soon.

Hello, Tom. Why you advice only steel frame bicycles? There’s a lot bikes with alluminuim frame and fork. It’s lighter and easy to buy everywhere.

The main reasons are durability and for ease of repair. Steel has a much longer fatigue limit, and in case of breakage can be welded anywhere by anyone with basic welding equipment. Aluminium, on the other hand, needs specialist attention — in less developed countries this could mean going to an airport. Frame breakages are not uncommon on long-haul tours and that’s why most quality long-distance touring bikes are still made of steel.

Personally, I also prefer the ride quality of a steel frame; there’s a little more give over the very stiff ride afforded by aluminium. For long term comfort that does become noticeable.

For short and occasional touring, I have no doubt that most aluminium frames would be fine, though.

Tom, that old chestnut about a steel bike being welded anywhere by anyone is quite amusing. That is the theory. In reality it takes a skilled welder who has experience with bicycle frames to do that job properly. Yes, you might get a rough cut job to hold your frame together to the next port but on a loaded bike i would’t fancy it. And how many people do you know who have actually had this done in practice?

I do agree with you that the steel frame gives a much nicer and more comfortable ride and that such a frame has much better strength which are great reasons to get steel.

Lots. Including me (Yemen). Andy (India). Al (Sudan). Etc. There’s quite a list. Very common story on very long trips. The fact that any old welder can get you to the next port is the whole point. We all had steel frames and we all managed to continue riding.

On the other hand, I know several aluminium-riding tourers who ended up hitchhiking with broken bikes and then waiting around in cities for new frames to be couriered out because they couldn’t get them repaired at all.

Salsa , Rivendale , Co Motion , Koga Miata — if you looking for really nice touring bike. Expensive but for long run cheap — it is simple , you get quality what you pay for .….. Years back I on $ 400 sligtly modified Raleigh Tarantula MTB , ( now overhauled and equipt with top of the line comnponents still in use for trails in Rockies ) I did made trip from La Paz to Chile . Want to safe some money . It teach me ! Never ever I will make this kind of mistake again .…

Another bike similar to ones already mentioned is the Rocky Mtn Sherpa. I’ve been riding a 2012 model for 8 months and am pretty happy with it. Pros- 36 spoked wheels, 27 gears in a wide range, stiff frame. Cons- the braze on placement on the seat tube (the front derailler is attached between them), I’d like bigger chainrings up front, It doesn’t do well off-pavement.

Cheers, David. I wonder why Rocky Mountain haven’t fitted a rack to this bike — I know people can be picky about racks, but I do think touring bikes at this level should be ready to tour off-the-peg as well. Nevertheless, it certainly looks like a good option. Thanks for the addition!

I was looking at Jamis Aurora Elite 2013 (cannot find the 2012 anymore). However some reviews describe it as a “light tourer”. I understand the problem of the 10-speed cassette. But what would make it a *light* tourer.

A ‘light’ tourer would usually mean a bike that’ll carry some luggage on a relatively short paved-road tour, but probably suffer off-road and with lots of luggage in the long-term.

I have just purchased an audax cycle from my local cycle store (Surosa cycles in Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK) as they build their own frames.. and had it custom built with my chosen spec for a total of £1266 and it’s a very good bike with mudguards, and a heavy duty rear rack with rack bag and 56L panniers.. soon to have an addition of handlebar bag, and front rack and panniers and I’d feel happy to do some touring on that over any distance

That sounds like a good price for a custom frame and build. I’d be interested to know the spec?

People will choose their bikes according to all the factors mentioned by you, Tom, and by other contributors. For some, keeping costs low is paramount and for others, strength and reliability are the main considerations. I think there are also intangible factors such as each individual’s self image as a cyclist and the emotional resonance of one bike or another. I’m far from wealthy but I appreciate the inherent value of high quality engineering and get enormous satisfaction from assembling my own bikes. After much research and deliberation I bought a high quality European frame and a mix of German, Japanese, American and British components. The complete set wasn’t cheap but I did make a considerable saving compared with buying a similar bike off the shelf. I also bought a wheel truing stand and gauges, and built my own wheels. I wouldn’t claim to be an expert bicycle mechanic but the experience of assembling my own bikes has provided not only personal satisfaction but also great confidence for dealing with routine maintenance and potential problems while far from home. I don’t believe there is any one ‘best touring bike’ and I’m skeptical about such claims. The message I take from this section of your blog, not to mention many other bicycle related blogs and websites, is that bicycle touring is a growing phenomenon and that it is rich with variety, in both equipment and people. That is surely a good thing.

You are absolutely right; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I can completely appreciate the process of building a bike up from carefully-chosen top-end parts (as I did myself in 2007), just as I can appreciate the idea of rescuing an old bike from a scrapheap and bringing it back to life (as I’m doing right now)!

Thanks for the very thoughtful comment!

Just about to buy the Ridgeback Journey for some UK touring — perhaps France too next year. I’ve been seduced by the Alfine gearing. Am I being wise?

In 2009 my Roberts Roughstuff (with Rohloff hub) was stolen in Bulgaria with only 2000 miles on the clock. So that I could continue my RTW trip, I bought a Drag ZX5 mountainbike in Sofia, with replacement Schwalbe Marathon tyres, butterfly bars and comfy saddle, plus front and rear racks, stand, fenders and the two components of my wireless computer that had disappeared with the Roberts. The first bike cost just short of £3000, the second (Sofi) cost £500 and has now completed around 18000 miles. I’ve asked myself many times, ‘why did I bother spending all that money in the first place?’ The BMC paid out £250 in insurance btw.

Hi Anne i followed your adventures on crazy guy, was epic. Were the gears on Sofi deore or lesser Regards Pete.

I have almost completed a round the world bike ride on a Koga Signature with a Rolhoff gear system. During my four years on the road i have changed tyres, chain, brake pads and the bike was serviced in Australia and Los Angeles. I am still running with the original rims, no broken spokes and the Rolhoff is bomb proof. The Koga in my humble opinion is by far the best bike on the market. Ive been on wonderful smooth highways, Australia, USA and dirt roads that you wouldnt take a Land Rover on in Patagonia and Bolivia but the bike has just kept going, ive done over 30.000 miles on with not one problem, it still has the original bottom bracket. If you want to ride around the world buy any bike if you want to return home problem free then buy a Koga Signature.

Hi Robert, I was offered a World Traveller today for €1200 (2013 with 500kms) although I’ll probable go for the Kona Sutra as I perceive it to have a broader and more efficient range of use and I have no plans for outside Europe. How did you find your bike on load touring, daily tasks?

Sorry mate, we are going to drop the http://www.8pedsls.com site. To expensive to keep up for the entire 4 years. 

http://Www.facebook.com/8pedals http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=11458&v=3Z

So we are now on fb. And crazy guy on a bike. 

I would put my vote for the BB7s. A mechanical system may require more pull on the lever than a hydraulic system it doesn’t have all the potential service issues. The BB7 are durable and been around for a while. The nice thing about the BB7 vs the BB5 is that both pistons are adjustable on the bb7 making the setup and adjustment easier. Also the 7 brake pads are bigger than on the 5 which would make you think it stops better. I can’t comment on the ease of finding pads since they are not on my tour bike but since the bb7 uses a Juicy style pad it may be more common. For me I always carry spare pads regardless of where I am. The sintered metallic pads will give you longer pad life…just make sure that your rotor is rated for a metal pad. 

The other nice pluses for disc setup is no wear on the rim from brake pads, better stopping power in bad weather/muddy conditions and if you break a spoke or come out of true your brakes are still fully functional. The downside however is more strain on the hub shell and if you bend a rotor it can be next to impossible to get it perfectly straight…and there is the advantage of having both pistons adjustable on the bb7.

Hi Tom, I’ve read about Thorn bikes before (specifically the Raven) — any views?

Also, I would be interested to know why drop bars are so popular. I find a more upright cycling position more comfortable so would probably choose bullhorn or butterfly bars, but hardly any bikes seem to have these. 

What’s your view on disc brakes? I notice that the Kona Sutra has them — does it not cause an issue when you run into maintenance problems, especially outside Europe? (I would apply the same logic to hub gears).

I ride a Raleigh Royal, which is fine as a sturdy budget option (£500).

Thanks for article, really really useful!

The reason I haven’t included Thorn is that most of their models are above the price range I was aiming for here. I’ve never ridden one, but I have been told by several people that they’re great bikes, and that the people who make them are quite obnoxious.

I’ve found drops to be comnfortable, but I never use the dropped part except for shifting. I would imagine that’s fairly normal. Instead I make use of the various hand positions available on the upper part of the bars, which is at a height comparable to other types of handlebar once you’ve raised it with spacers and an angled stem, such as on the Kona Sutra. You get a very comfortable and fairly upright position out of that arrangement.

Before, I used an adjustable stem and riser mountain-bike bars. Now when I sit on that bike I feel like I’m on a Harley Davidson with pedals!

Disc brakes — well, models like the Avid BB7 have been around now for long enough to prove their reliability in the long term. They use the same cables and levers as V‑brakes, the mechanism is simple, and they’re maintenance free, except for changing the pads, which you can carry with you. They last longer and are lighter than V‑brake blocks. They’re also becoming easier to find spares for outside Europe. If your fork has V‑brake bosses, you’ve got that option in case of a really unlucky breakdown or accident. So I think the risk is now a very manageable one.

Thanks for the budget bike suggestion — I’ll work that into a future article.

All the best!

Hi Tom, and everyone! I’m one of those lucky enough to be able to afford several bikes, so I can make some comparisons based on experience. If you live in the U.K. it is definitely worth looking at the Thorn bikes as they are just so well built and I can vouch for the ride being ultra comfy and smooth for long days in the saddle. If you look at their prices they seem to be expensive at first but on their website they often have amazing deals on bikes they already have built up. They are absolutely worth it and are designed by someone who really knows how to get touring DNA and experience into a bicycle. The Surly Troll is another great choice with even more versatility in the drivetrain area but rides more like an MTB ( which it is ) than the Thorns. A word of advice for those who are wondering how to carry stuff. get a Burley travoy, the trailer that packs up into a shopping bag. It is a game changer and can carry a lot.You can get the load off your bike with it and still have a rack and space for other gear on your bike frame. Sometimes you can park it and ride your bike ‘naked’ without being bogged down with gear. It is the single most amazing piece of touring gear I have.

Ooops! Forgot to mention about disc brakes. I’ve got both systems. I find that disc rotors need to be perfectly flat for good performance and once they get bent even slightly on a tour they don’t function as well and are a pain to straighten out. They also can squeal a lot. For the first reason I found V brakes better for serious touring. Even though the disc fashion is popular now, i wouldn’t go that way for touring and seriously, a good pair of V brakes will stop you just as well. Concerning hub gears. My Rohloff and Alfine units have given me ZERO problems and i mean zero plus they are weatherproof. Derailleurs are not . If you have good mechanical skills you(ll be happy with them but if not definitely go IGH if you can afford it.

A tip for straightening out a bent rotor is to use an adjustable spanner to grip the rotor at the warped point and then give it a few nudges back in the right direction. With a bit of care this’ll cure all but the most traumatic bends.

Thanks for the comment! I have heard lots of good stuff about Thorn, and I’m sure they deserve their reputation. I’d put them in the “top-end” category on price point, which is why they’re not included here. One day it’d be nice to try one out… (hint!)

Re drop bars: I wouldn’t want to tour without them, and I use them a lot, but especially when I have to ride into the wind. On any tour, there will be long hours, and sometimes days, when the wind is blowing head-on, and I’d go nuts if I had to be sitting straight up, catching the full force of the wind, the whole time. However, it’s important to note that not all drop bars are the same. Some bars are marketed as “randonneur” bars, and they allow for a wide range of positions, which is really important as you can change positions frequently and relieve tension on your hands, wrists, neck and shoulders. On my current bike, a Surly Long Haul Trucker, the stock (drop) bars are very good. I probably spend the most time with my hands on the top section of the bars, but it’s a blessing to be able to get right down into a crouch when I have to ride into the wind.

The Paul Hewitt Cheviot is a very good bike too.

Tom I think the comment that the 5 models you showcased are basically the same bike is spot on. Yes there are bikes with better components but the few that you chose will do the job. Its easy to build a $5000 tour bike and I have seen several. However at the end of the day I would prefer to have a tough as nails work horse that doesn’t mind another scratch or two. 

I laugh as I think that my wife’s tour bike frame, a steel Rocky Mountain Soul, was perfectly fine and yet was about to be thrown into a dumpster when I saved it. Put a fork on it for 75 cents from the reuse it center and then built the rest from bits and hand me downs of solid mid range mtb components. For a few hundred dollars I built a bike that has easily survived several hard tours. It took a little time and patience but in the process I learned how to fix just about everything on the bike. Not to mention the satisfaction of giving it a new life. Now I would never consider buying a new bike from a shop. There are just so many great used bikes that would make a perfect tour bike project. With the internet as a resource you can research just about every part there is. It however takes time.

One more little story. On our trip to India, one of our group bought a $100 bike off craigslist in Vancouver. We checked it over and and made sure everything was sound and then shipped it over. She rode it for a month on tour and then donated it to an orphanage. Think they were happy? It was a pretty special moment. Would I have ridden it around the world…maybe not but it served the purpose and then some. Sometimes its just not about the bike.

Hey Henric — thanks a lot for this perspective. 

I agree that renovating an old bike is just as valid as buying a new one. (In fact, that’s a project I’ve got on the go at the moment.) I do also think, though, that there’s room for everyone to have their own way of approaching the situation — a new bike might be what takes someone from a dreamer to a die-hard cycle tourer — and for another person, the love that goes into a rebuild of a completely unique vintage bike may achieve the same thing.

Thanks for your input!

I pulled an old green Chicago Schwinn Varsity off the trash when I was in High School, fixed it up and rode it for a long time. Last year I put new wheels and tires on it, and then had to replace the rear derailleur. This year I’ve put saddlebaskets on it and use it to go to work everyday, and am planning to take it on a short 200 mile tour this summer. The only gripe I have with it is that the original gearset doesn’t have quite a low enough first gear for the hills in Albuquerque, but when I get back to Chicago next week it should be just fine again. Absolutely reliable bike (though it’s really heavy at 45lbs without the baskets, close to 55 or 60lbs with the baskets)

Fantastic. That’s the spirit.

I love my Surly Troll.

A real work horse and rides suprising well both loaded and unloaded. I personally think it’s better than the LHT because it’s a great alrounder.

It does look good. Rear triangle & caliper positioning like the Sutra. Very flexible-looking setup!

I’m lucky enough to own a pair of touring bikes, a Thorn Sterling ( discontinued I think ) and a Troll, both built to my spec, with Shimano XTR v brakes ( I don’t like discs, squeaky, rotors too easily bent ‚hard to replace on a tour, and extra weight ), They are both fantastic bikes but with a different ride quality. The Surly is a bit more agile, rides more like a trail bike, but for putting on the miles when you are going to be riding seven or eight hours a day, the Thorn just cruises through it sffortlessly. It’s also one solid bike. Don’t believe i’ve ridden any another frame that is as comfortable as the Thorn for long days in the saddle. For those shopping for a tourer, I’d give careful thought to whether you’ll be on or off road. Both of my bikes can handle either but they both excel at only one.

For several years I have gone on a European cycle tour with my tent and cycled for a period of no more than six weeks. I have had a couple of good touring bikes which I upgraded the wheels to Mavic 719 and the gears to Shimano XT As I got older now 62yrs of age I decided to invest in a Thorn Mercury straight handlebars and a Rolhoff Hub including Disc Brakes the result is perfect my saddle is a Brooks B 17 the bike is a dream to ride 853 Reynolds Steel Stiff and flexible to enjoy many miles in the saddle As for the Rolhoff I could Never Tour with a derailleur gears again the Rolhoff is all they say it is German engineering at its best the people at Thorn did a first class job their manner appears firm but they certainly know their business and I am really pleased with my byclcle Thorns lowered the gearing to its maximum and I can climb most hills fully loaded if it’s touring on Tarmac with the occasional canal towpath I recommend the Mercury byclcle and with Swarbe marathon plus tyres your bike is bomb proof I am always amazed when cyclists talk about weight on a byclcle yes if you are racing but when you Tour a couple of kilos really makes no difference my only regret is I didn’t purchase a Rolhoff years ago not cheap but it will last you a lifetime and should you upgrade your bike you can transfer it to your next byclcle making the former into a single speed for training purposes as for disc brakes when I am fully loaded coming down a steep mountain side I know I can safer stop otherwise it’s possibly very hot wheel rims and possibly wheel failure it just depends on what kind of cycle touring you wish to do if it is traveling in south east Asia 26* wheels and no disc brakes but after cycling for over 50 years I believe I have finally found what works for me

Hey Tom. Just found your site. Thought we would say hi. We are in the midst of organising a lap around the world in 2014. For 3 years. Great site look forward to investigating it further. We r using 1 Surly lhdt, 1 world Randonneur $ 2 giant boulder bikes. Check it out under bike specs on out 8pedals site. Early days for us. 

Thanks! (Everyone else, check out 8pedals.com !)

Walmart sells nice bikes (really). I ride combined packed dirt (nation forest) roads and paved. I use a dual suspension 21sp MTB upgraded with wide seat and swept back handlebars, better tires. Racks and other acc. as needed. for $250USD you can replace it every 2 years, transfer the custom parts to the new bike and still sell the old one for $35. Thieves know its a cheap bike and don’t bother it, joyriders main threat. My current bike was a $89 model, but I installed wide range gearing in addition to the other modifications. Going on 4 years 8500 miles, frame still good.

re your comment “They’re all built primarily for paved roads, but could handle a dirt track or two if need be.“ I bought a Surly Long Haul Trucker for a tour that included hundreds of kilometres of gravel road, and it was fabulous. A key factor was to use fairly beefy tires (1.75”). The setup on the Surly allowed getting down on the drop bars for long stretches against the wind, but enough cushioning in the tires (and frame) to make rough sections comfortable. I suspect this would be true of most of the bikes you mentioned, as long as they have room for wide tires. There have been a few loose dirt trails where a mountain bike would offer better control, but the Surly has been an ideal compromise for most of my rides.

After perhaps 25,000 km of touring we lashed out and bought Thorn Nomad each, with Rohloff. These are a little heavy, but the most comfortable and durable bikes imaginable…the Rolls Royce of touring. We can’t speak too highly of the Rohloff hubs.…just fantastic. But then, we travel slowly and thoughtfully.….you might say “savoring the experience”.…too old to do it anyother way! Check out Thorn’s website.

i would agree with the above. The Nomad is like a two wheeled tank, bit heavy, but can carry loads and tackle almost everything thrown at it. Slowly and thoughtfully ? ……… i couldn’t have put it better.

Hey, Tom! Since I have come back from my first bike tour to Europe I decided to buy Kona Sutra but question about what sixe should I choose is too complicated for me. I am 6 ft 2 inch. Thank you.

Hi Alex. The best thing to do by far is to test ride the different sizes. But if that isn’t an option, my brother is 6′2″ and he has the 59cm model, which fits him very well, if that’s of any help.

i have no money what small improvements could i make to my cannondale quick cx 4 2012 to make it a little better for touring

I would start by going on a tour with it and seeing if you run into any issues — depending on what you’re doing, it might be fine as-is!

Was all set to go for the Kona Sutra 2012 after much research and your review for a 1000km trip in SE Asia followed by a coast to coast of Oz, but just seen the Dawes Super Galaxy for £1125 at Spa Cycles. Almost the same price as the Kona. Would be interested on your thoughts on the Super Galaxy. I don’t plan on carrying much weight if that helps.

I’ve never ridden the Super Galaxy, so all I can say is going on the specs on the website. They look very similar, although the Super Galaxy has marginally better drivetrain components and better tyres. On the other hand, the Sutra has powerful disc brakes, bar-end shifters and a stronger/more widespread 9‑speed drivetrain, rather than the Dawes’ 10-speed which I consider a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

I’d toss a coin, or take them both for a ride and go with your gut!

Quick update — several stores are doing the 2012 Sutra at a discount now, including the two links in the article above…

Hey Tom, I went with the Kona Surtra based on my gut feeling and it felt right when I test rode it. Thanks for the link to cyclestore and your advice. I did a 3000 miles plus tour of SE Asia quickly followed by JOGLE on a mountain bike which was blast, but very much looking forward to journeying on a proper touring bike. Should make things less laborious hopefully. 

Top website!

Have to say I was a bit surprised at your mention of ‘stupidly expensive’ bikes then trying to claim that £1500 is a mid-range price. Anyway I have a Dawes Ultra Galaxy Ti and love it!!!

£1500 is a mid-range price 😉

My wife and I have had our Ridgeback Panorama’s for a couple of years now and are really pleased with them. We would, however, agree with Mark’s comment about the brake pads/blocks. Fortunately, easily rectified with a better brake block compound. We find that, when fully loaded, the bike comes into its own with regards to comfort, response and stability due, I think, to the Reynolds 725 tubing.

I bought a Panorama for touring in the Alps. Testing around Rutland hills I realised the brakes weren’t even good enough for here, let alone 25mile descents. I swapped them for Tekto mini “V” brakes available from Spa Cycles for £25. More than enough braking power now, it made a huge difference.

Hi Tom, I followed your adventure to the Arctic. Good to see you passing on your knowledge. Both my DH and I have Koga Randonneurs and I love mine. He preferred his Dawes Super Galaxy that he had upgraded with the Koga multiposition bars unfortunately , it was stolen and never recovered. They come complete with dynamo for lighting and I have a gizmo to charge the I phone. Good to find your site again. Brenda

Thanks for the article. A bit disappointing recumbents are not mentioned, as these are hands down the best bicycles for long distances. The first question should always be: Do I have a reason for not choosing a recumbent?

I can think of several — price, availability and familiarity are the first three. 

I do appreciate all the arguments for the benefit of recumbents, but this article was intended to highlight mainstream mid-range options, and unfortunately recumbents are still a long way from being part of that. I’d love to run an article about them, but not until I have some first-hand experience…

Great article Tom, I suspect most of us spend too much money on our bikes. Its refreshing to see someone write about the mid-rangers. Rather than the “you need this bike with Rohloff, Son, Magura, tubus” that you read on most sites..

Too true. I’ve got an interesting article in the pipeline which will go even further in the ‘budget’ direction. Watch this space…

I’ve just completed a tour on my new Vivente World Randonneur 

It’s probably at the upper end of the middle for touring bikes, if that makes any sense. But for me doing heavy highway touring it is ideal. Strong, stable. The dynamo on the front wheel is excellent at charging up all my electronics.

As you said, a bit pricey, but a lovely looking bike — thanks!

Is it possible to put a dynamo for charging up a GPS and iPhone on the front wheel of a Surly LHT? Does it reduce speed much?

Go for it. I have done it and could not be happier. The reduction in speed is minimal.

+1 for the Ridgeback. Like you say, everything is a compromise and in the Panorama’s case the manufacturer has skimped on the brake pads the most. Happily this is easily fixed. Another slight annoyance was caused by the shifters, which needed the addition of brake noodles to route the gear cables away from the handlebar bag I added — couldn’t quite justify 105 levers with integral cable routing for a tourer. Top bike, highly recommend it!

Novara safari is a great and inexpensive tourer sold at Rei Cheaper then any of these by a large margin with butterfly handle bars Novara randonee is more in line with what is here Khs tr 101 very complete even includes clipless pedals.

Thanks for this, Andrew. I had a look at the specs of these bikes. As you say, the Novara Randonnée is a closer fit for this list of mid-range tourers, though I would still be concerned about the rear rack’s strength and the 10-speed drivetrain. It’s also missing fenders. Otherwise it looks like a good bike at a good price. 

I’d probably put the Safari in the ‘budget’ category rather than the mid-range, due to it having a lot of entry-level components. While that’s fine for short tours and commuting, I’d be concerned about its long-term durability on a big tour, where the aim is to reduce the likelihood of repairs and replacements.

The KHS TR 101 looks like a very capable road tourer — I’d like to see some real life reviews.

Thanks again!

Also love your site and check my rss reader for your posts daily such a inspiration keep on riding man :).

I’ve done short tours on my Randonee for years, and love it. Hildy (my Randonee) climbs hills like a madwoman and can haul as much cargo as need be quite handily. The bike will even handle mild off-road. I’ve long since worn through the stock tires, and replaced them with Schwalbe Marathon tires. 

I’ve replaced the rear rack, but I’m told by many that the tock rear rack is quite sturdy. (I already owned a pair of Tubus racks from my previous bike when I bought the Randonee.) This fellow rode from Florida to Washington State on a Randonee, and used the stock rear rack. 

I have an older Randonee that has a 24-speed drivetrain, and I have to say that I share your concern about the newer, 30-speed drivetrain. It seems odd that they would put a 10-speed cassette on a touring bike. However, I am pleased to note that they have gotten rid of the old STI shifters and moved to the more dependable bar-end shifters. If I had the spare cash, I’d have those installed on Hildy. 

The Safari looks like a fun bike for short tours that contain off-road components, but I’d worry about those disc brakes on tour.

I put a huge vote in for the Surly. I can say I’ve treated mine like a mountain bike on previous tours and it’s never been a problem. Its just built to take any punishment I fell like dishing out.

I have had negative experiences with an older Kona Sutra; however, it was with the former placement of the bb7 brake caliper and subsequent rear rack configuration with a huge bolt and spacers. It’d just sort of snap whenever we were running late, battling poor weather, or having trouble finding camp. Now that they’ve moved the brake to the lower chain stay, that problem is gone and the rack is likely as bombproof as the frame.

Yeah, that’s probably what prevented it from being taken seriously for so long — I’ve read some similar comments about older models. I probably wouldn’t have included it here a few years ago, but I can attest to its vast improvement in the last couple of years. Had an interesting chat with Kona’s designers in Vancouver earlier this year — they decided to redesign it from the ground up, rather than try to beef up a road-bike design as they’d previously done.

I had a 2007 or 2008 Sutra and one of the rear rack eyelets broke off during the first week of my very first tour. I finished the ride with the rack held up with bunch of zip ties. I was very disappointed with that frame.

A good bargain i.m.o. would be the vsf Fahrradmanufaktur TX-800 XT with 30 gears. handmade in Germany, complete Shimano XT-Group, Tubus Cargo and Tara lowrider racks (made out of Steel tubing, Magura hdraulic rimbrakes, a XT hub dynamo and a pretty good, rigid wheelset including some Schwalbe Marathon 47–622 reflex tires. There are Shops in GB too, in € it would be 1499,-. Of course, a sturdy steelframe and-fork.

Or, my ride of choice, the Surly Troll (mine is a custom-setup by myself, but the complete bike gets some good reputation too), more like a Offroad-Utility-Bike. (can be driven with V‑Brakes, Disc-Brakes, a Rohloff Hub, a normal rear derailleur or even singlespeed). http://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll The parts on the complete one wasn´t what i had in mind so i bought the frame and fork for 380 €

Thanks for the comment and suggestions!

The Fahrradmanufaktur looks like good value for money, as you say. I wouldn’t take a 10-speed chainset far beyond Europe, though — very new tech and with every increment comes a narrower, weaker chain, with spares almost impossible to find outside high-end bike stores. My first expedition bike was built with a 8‑speed rear mech for exactly that reason. Even a 7‑speed would still be stronger and easier to find parts for in most of the world.

The Troll reminds me of the Explosif I built from the frame up for off-road touring. Looks absolutely great if you want to build your own and ride a lot of dirt! Shame only a few stores import them over here in the UK.

Tom, and All Others, 

Can I ask for your opinion on the new Fahrradmanufaktur bikes? I was about to purchase one, but I’m a bit unsure for two reasons: 1) It has hydraulic brakes. Do you think that would require more (complicated) maintenance? 2) It’s a women’s frame. I haven’t seen many female frames among long distance touring bikes. Is there a good reason for that?

This is the original TX-400: http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/katalog/expedition?product_id=668

And this is the one I’m eyeing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/371133699189?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thank you, I would really appreciate your input on this.

Sofia, I’m a woman travelling around the world with the TX-800. The Magura hydraulic brakes don’t need any maintenance, just changing brake pads when needed (very easy, with a click). I have the male frame as I always had male frames in all my bikes and it’s what I’m used to. Another Spanish girl is also travelling around the world with the TX-400, male frame, and also happy with it. The advice the experts give is always the same, try to test both of them, male and female frame, and see how they feel.… Good luck!

Hi I bought the TX-400 last year and took it on 10 tour of Oman. It’s a really great bike! Very sturdy, and of course heavy but very easy to handle. My ony complaint was the company’s website. Everything is in German and they are very difficult to communicate with. Tried registering the bike using the website but couldn’t as it was in German. So a called them and emailed them a couple of times… again with no response. So my worry is that if on a longer trip I need to get spares, how could will their service be?

I guess it was many us who thought the same, as vsf fahrradmanufaktur have translated their webpage into English and Dutch… 

Regarding contact, our experience was totally different. We had a lot of doubts before buying the bikes, and although they kept telling us to contact the retailer, they replied most of them, even sending the bike documentacion translated into English, a list of spares,… Communication has always been in English.

As for their service, I had to use it twice in this trip, nothing serious, and it was very easy. I guess it helped that I was cycling through Germany at that time. They arranged for a shop in Leipzig to tight my cassette that had become lose, and they sent new pedals to another shop in Dresden as I wasn’t happy with the spinning of the ones that came with the bike. So far… so good. Hopefully I don’t need to contact them anymore!! 🙂

I’ve also got a TX800, it’s hugely strong and very well built, and will happily go anywhere a mountain bike will go, even when fully laden. It’s not the fastest bike but very reliable and robust. So far have only ridden the highlands of Scotland (including off-road touring) and a quick trip to Ypres plus 800 miles of commuting but the Zanskar valley beckons… 

To sum up this bike, think flat handlebars and fat tyres. Surly LHT, Dawes Galaxy, Koga typically have drop handlebars / skinny tyres, and will get you there quicker. The TX800 has a very upright position and quick (light) steering, ideal for circumnavigating rocky trails (like a Landover) but if you are the slow lad/lass at the back wanting to keep up then buy something skinnier.

This is a proper trekking bike, suited to carrying heavy loads away from tarmac. (And very reliable commuting, but not too quickly…)

Oh, and it comes in bright black and day-glo brown. It’s a German thing…

Believe it or not, an excelent touring bike is an old style Shwinn Varsity, 1982. With its steel frame, steel wheels, Suntour components, top-pull Diacompe breaks, narrow width drop handlebars, this bike is suprisenly stable and so well balanced you can ride no handed for as long as you like. Mine was a 25 inch frame, 27 inch tires. Tough long lasting and and inexpensive, I paid $175 used. My current touring bikes include crom-moly and aluminum, yet this steel Shwinn is probably my overall favourite

I have toured mainly in Europe always on Tarmac or the odd canal route my byclcle has been a Edinburgh Counrty traveler two years ago I opted for a Genesis day one steel frame bike with a Alfine hub I have since changed the handle bars to straights with bar ends this stopped the pain I developed between my shoulder blades after cycling 90 miles or more I also went to Thorns who fitted a Rolhoff 14 gear internal hub yes it was expensive however I must confess I would Never want to tour on a derailleur system again I appreciate the derailleur system can be easily repaired however the Rolhoff Hub has 14 distinct gears and it certainly does the job beautifully many of my friends who also tour and have cycled on both sets of gears now would not go back to a derailleur system my advice is you can cycle or your on just about any toe of byclcle Tom Allen has proved that but in life you get what you pay for I would personally recommend a steel fram touring bike good set of wheels Swarbe Marthon Plus tyres Bomb proof and a once in a lifetime investment purchase a Rolhoff the world then is your oyster and should you decide to later go for an expedition byclcle you can take your Rolhoff with you and transfer it to your new bike as it gets better with age

Hello we are currently cycling from Barcelona to Australia and using vsf tx400 fahrrad manufakture.the bike is great the only weak point do far are the tyres for us. We have it comes with schwalbe marathon mondiale which for us are not strong enough as we had to repair so many puncture. We think is a great bike and awesome value for money but just consider the tyres. ?

I bought my VSF 1,5 years ago from a dealer in NL, he says when buying from factory a lot of small adjustments needed to be done by him as the derailleur and that jizz wasnt properly adjusted, same i can imagine with the rear cog. I love how it is specd! Love the front dynamo light as it is bright as hell and the rear light stays on after stopping for a minute or two which is great regarding saftely. The frame (60cm for me) is not to stiff but very comfortable during my 10.000 K trip last year.. Also definitely a rear kickstand is a must, I have always had a centre stand but Rear kickstand has been amazing. I added an Andra Ryde rear rim that has proven to be bomb proof under load. I love the bike. But keep in mind that if you get rimbrakes or discbrakes it is impossiple to change after purchase as the frame is not compatible for both simultaniously.

I bought a Dawes Super Galaxy 2001 second hand in a fairly sorry state. I guess it was 30 years old then. I have ridden through Brittany on it 3 times and use it every day. I’m on my third set of wheels and it has had 2 complete drive train changes. I have been thinking about getting a new bike for 5 years but them I spend $100 on new bits and keep it going. Anyway, it was built to last. Don’t know if the new build quality is as good?

That’s the mark of a good frame!

I’ve picked up a 2013 Kona Sutra from bikes.com.au for $1200. The Dawes is now chained to the shed like the old dog out of Babe (sheep pig). I am loving the Sutra. I use it every day commuting and it is very comfortable. The saddle was hopeless but my old saddle suits the bike well. Anyway, thanks for the advice, think I got a bargain.

Sounds like an extremely good deal. You’re right about the saddle, but I can’t remember buying a single bike for which I didn’t replace it!

Hi Tom I have purchased a Genesis Day One with an Alfine 11 speed Hub To climb the Steeper hills I have changed from a 42 tooth to 38 front ring and an 18tooth on the rear Would this bike be suitable for European Touring can you advise please

Practically any bike is suitable for European touring, as long as it’s comfortable enough to ride all day. You’re never more than a few miles from a bike shop or train station if something goes wrong. I know people who’ve toured Europe on bikes from scrapheaps.

That is not budget.

…or VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 — either with Rohloff or not. https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/de/katalog/expedition-2017/tx-400-rohloff-speedhub-14-gang

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