Which bike for a long trek to Nepal?
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Translated into English.

Original post
02
Hi everyone! Thanks for welcoming me to the forum :)

I’m preparing for a long trip heading to Nepal, with stops along the way depending on my mood, work needs, and the season. I cycle a lot, but this will be my first big touring adventure. I’d like to camp regularly to keep costs down, so I’ll be riding on all kinds of surfaces: smooth and rough roads, main highways and rocky paths to find my camping spots, flat terrain and the occasional steep slopes.

For my bike model, I’m prioritizing durability, versatility, and repairability. From that perspective, I prefer a steel frame and fork with rim brakes since I’m used to them. I’ve narrowed my choices down to four models:

- The VSF Fahrradmanufaktur T-700 LTD (1400 €): steel frame, aluminum fork, hydraulic rim brakes, 28" wheels, 40mm tires, 36 spokes (2 mm), lightweight rear rack (max 20 kg), no front rack included, smallest gear ratio of 0.72, weight of 13.9 kg.

- The VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 (2200 €): steel frame and fork, hydraulic rim brakes, 26" wheels, 50mm tires, 36 spokes (2.34 mm), front and rear racks included (40+18 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.71, weight of 15.9 kg.

- The Genesis Tour de Fer 30 (2150 €): steel frame and fork, mechanical disc brakes, 28" wheels, 36 spokes, 40mm tires, front and rear racks included (27+10 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.77, weight of 15.9 kg.

- The Rockrider ADTV 900 from Decathlon (1700 €): aluminum frame and fork, mechanical disc brakes, USB port, 28" wheels, 47mm tires, 28 spokes, front and rear racks included (40+20 kg), smallest gear ratio of 0.71, weight of 17.1 kg. This is the successor to the Riverside Touring 900, which was a hit.

I’ve got a few questions:

1/ Should I go for 26" or 28" wheels for my trip? 26" wheels seem better for rough terrain, but 28" wheels feel more comfortable on roads. I’ve also read that 26" tires/tubes are easier to find.

2/ Do you recommend a steel frame and fork over aluminum? I’m guessing a high-quality aluminum frame and fork would be better than a low-quality steel one, right?

3/ Regarding the smallest gear ratio, is 0.71 a good number for a loaded bike in the mountains?

4/ Finally, what do you think of these four models for my project? My heart leans toward the TX-400—it seems to combine the versatility and robustness I’m looking for. But the price difference with the T-700 LTD is making me think twice!

Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts!
NO Nomade743 Veteran ·
Hi Benito, I’ll share my thoughts on what kind of bike might work for this type of trip. Just to note, I’ve been traveling by bike for 40 years, on all sorts of different bikes.

First, the frame material: aluminum or steel—it doesn’t really matter. Some people will talk about steel being supposedly easier to repair, more comfortable, or aluminum being harsher, etc. All of that is just preconceived notions. Pick a solid frame and that’s all that matters. Whether it’s aluminum or steel doesn’t matter.

Brakes: either rim brakes or disc brakes. If you go with rim brakes, avoid hydraulic ones like the TX 400. As for cable-operated disc brakes, they’re not more effective than V-brakes or cantilevers (both cable-operated). They’re simple, reliable, and economical, and brake pads are cheap and much easier to find than a pair of disc brake pads.

For racks, the only brand worth considering: TUBUS.

Gearing: the smaller, the better—but that’s personal and depends on your physical condition.

Regarding your choices: none of those! My suggestions: https://www.cyclo-randonnee.fr/velo-cyclo-randonnee-198/velo-cyclo-randonnee-xle-1394.html?p_modele=0%7C52%7C1 https://www.histoire.bike/decouvrir-la-gamme-randonneuse-3/la-grande-randonneuse-expedition.html
SM Smopy44 Regular ·
Pour le vélo, je suis du même avis que Nomade.

VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400 Pédalier double plateau de 46/32 dents. Cassette 11-34 dents

Vélo Cyclo-randonnée XLE Pédalier triple-plateau 40/30/22 dents Cassette 11-36 dents

Pour 100 euros de moins, tu a un vélo hyper solide, tout équipé, avec des pneus Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 26 x 2.00, des jantes doubles parois, et un braquet qui te permet de grimper des pentes de 5 à 12% en étant chargé.

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