Show off our bikes! (page 1 of 9)

Some people have questions about choosing a touring bike, so those who are equipped can post a photo here and describe their ride—its strengths and, of course, its flaws.

I’ll go first!



Here’s the beast: a Ridgeback Panorama model, around 10 years old, bought second-hand from a cyclist who’d picked the wrong size. Steel frame in Reynolds 725 (it’s written on it, but I doubt the whole set is that series). Gear ranges from XT for the rear derailleur to some cheaper parts. Three chainrings and sturdy but heavy wheels. Here with 35mm tires—plenty for gravel paths and the occasional rougher trail (as long as you don’t ride like a sausage!).

What I’ve modified: - Upgraded from 9 to 10 speeds when I changed the cassette - Installed two Tubus racks—the rear replaced the original aluminum one (which got bent) - Moved the shifters to the frame instead of the brake/shift combos, which were getting in the way of my handlebar bag - Swapped the saddle for a Brooks B17 (the original one didn’t suit me at all) Over time, some wear-and-tear parts have been replaced.

It’s comfy and sturdy but heavy (almost 14kg). Downsides? It’s a bit sluggish when you stand up to pedal—the chainring rubs against the front derailleur cage (the bottom bracket lacks rigidity). Definitely not a climber’s bike! The cantilever brakes are a tad weak—you get used to them, but you’ve gotta anticipate.

We’ve had some great rides together, but it’ll soon be on the market since I’m replacing it with a custom Cattin. I won’t sell it for much—it’ll make someone happy...

Hi Pat,

Existing discussion here:

https://voyageforum.com/discussion/presentons-nos-montures-d7628532/

:)

And voyageforum.com/v.f?post=1576435

Hi Matt, That’s a good point, but it’s a bit dated—since then, there have been new members on this forum, and new trends (like Gravel) have shifted how we do things, not to mention this new (or not-so-new) backpacking craze. Anyway, travel is still travel, but the way we travel keeps evolving, and I think it’d be great to share our bike choices. Cheers,

Works for me. :) By the way, I've made quite a few upgrades to one of the bikes I showed last time. :)

That works for me. :) By the way, I've made quite a few upgrades to one of the bikes I showed last time. :)

Same here! The world of bike travel is really taking off, so I think it's worth sharing our experiences and perspectives on how our practice is evolving.

nice bike! bravo

Claudio’s current ride— a bit clunky, sluggish, and Claudio himself, quite heavy, bordering on 100 kg, which makes the pace a bit tricky on hikes... but still capable of covering 100 km in a day on flat or moderately hilly terrain (1,000 m elevation gain). Designed for roads and paths like the local 'Bredanne'—what we call greenways around here, though they’re not always smooth! http://cbandiera.free.fr/matos/mon-coeur/

Compare that to Fanette, his former bike now serving as a pack mule after 65,000 km; way more responsive. http://cbandiera.free.fr/matos/fanette.php

And then there’s Fanny 2 to miss—a road bike better suited for paved roads, worn out after epic rides like Brest-Menton. She still comes out now and then for local routes. http://cbandiera.free.fr/monvelo But the years have passed, and now Claudio rides slower, embracing the motto ‘in praise of slowness.’

Claudio

Hey Nomad,

What a beauty!!! It almost looks like a Fahrradmanufaktur—a real tank and so well equipped too :) What’s the frame size?

Gotta keep it as a second bike for local rides. claudio

Great topic—it really shows the variety of bikes we can use to travel. And it’s especially helpful for beginners to see what kinds of bikes work and how to equip them.

So, I’ll play along with the introductions. Here are the three bikes I’ve traveled with—none of them are technically "touring bikes."

1 - An aluminum semi-suspension MTB with disc brakes, big 26" Marathon tires (2 inches wide), and a 3x9 MTB gear setup. The rear rack is mounted on clamps that grip the seatstays:



2 - A solid, rigid 1990 CroMo steel MTB, refurbished in 2012 or 2013, with slick 26x1.35" tires, a 3x7 drivetrain, and V-brakes (replacing the original cantilevers). This is the only one of the three with eyelets for a proper rear rack:



3 - A carbon road bike with a triple 10-speed setup (26/26 as the lowest gear—it works!) and 25mm tires. The seatpost has threaded mounts, and I use a Tubus rack kit that clamps to the axle:



None of these were ever marketed as "touring bikes," but they’ve all brought me joy on trips, despite being so different. They do share a few things in common: aside from not being designed for travel (I use or used them for other things year-round), they’ve all only ever had two rear panniers and a small (now mini) handlebar bag. And they all have triple chainrings.

I almost forgot the downsides. The first one is suspended and has big tires, so it’s heavier and harder to climb with. The second only has 7 cogs, the seatpost is stuck due to oxidation (at a height that works for me), and the rear hub is 130mm—so finding a replacement wheel in case of a breakdown isn’t easy. The third isn’t built for heavy loads, but with my weight plus luggage, I’m still under the weight of some unloaded cyclists. The real limitation is stability on descents (I don’t go faster than 60 km/h for safety). The first two have flat MTB handlebars—I prefer drop bars now. I’ve been riding drop bars for 3 or 4 years and don’t plan to switch back.

For beginners or anyone thinking about getting into bike travel: it’s totally possible to hit the road with the bike you already have. Adapting it isn’t too complicated or expensive (e.g., two Decathlon panniers). Just make sure it’s in good condition (or restored), well-tuned, and the right size. And pay attention to luggage volume and weight limits.

Happy riding!

Of course, if you have a brand-new bike built specifically for touring, that’s the dream! !

2019 titanium Gravel Genesis Croix de Fer with only 1,200 km on the odometer, Schwalbe Energizer tires (Marathon Pluses coming soon), Tubus Fly Classic rear rack. Just need some good waterproof panniers now.

I hadn't thought about it, but it's true—I didn’t start my bike trip with my Ridgeback. Even though I don’t have a personal photo of it, I’ll still introduce it to you.

A mountain bike, back then I was a fan. With it, I crossed all the French mountain ranges via trails, with just a small backpack on my back. At the rear, I had mounted a pannier rack, on which I attached a waterproof bag with a bungee cord. Up front, I had a handlebar bag. Even though it was made of Tange Prestige 5/10th steel—thin and light—it accompanied me for 15 years before it was stolen. By far the best touring bike I’ve ever had: comfortable, lightweight (under 11 kg), responsive, reliable, and simple. As for drawbacks, I’d mention brakes that were a bit weak for touring and its Mavis 217 rims, which didn’t last very long (but they’re wear parts).

The only modification was the tires, which I changed depending on the route. For a purely road trip, I’d mount Hutchinson Slick 1" tires—very light and flexible (the model hasn’t been made for a long time).

Just goes to show you don’t need to ride a German tank—you *can* (or could) travel with extremely light and completely reliable bikes. I’d add that back then, manufacturers still offered excellent steel frames as standard, which isn’t the case anymore.

Hi there

A Farrhad bike, and I'm super happy with it :D

Back in the saddle after a year off following surgery

Can't wait to hit the road again :D

Hi Nomad,

What a beauty!!! It almost looks like a Fahrradmanufaktur, a real tank and so well equipped too :) What’s the frame size?

Size 56, which fits me perfectly at 1.79m

Mine hasn't left its winter storage spot yet... Not great... a bit of DIY: Lapierre Titane frame from before 2000... originally paid in francs—solid base, though. 3x9 (44 to 24 - 12 to 32, from memory...)—friction shifters salvaged from an old MTB (fed up with poorly adjusted indexed ones...) Shimano hybrid pedals—standard 26" wheels—1.35 tires up front (Schwalbe Kojak T, flexible)—1.60 at the back given my weight (100 kg—20/23 kg of luggage). With age: front-wheel hub motor / battery in a container on a mini front rack (DIY, but cheap, lightweight, and it works!!!) Rear aluminum rack on clamps... Standard V-brakes—battery-powered lights... In short, not exactly top-notch, but it can still hit the road... And to try to prove you can go far and high without necessarily needing "high-end" or "specialized" gear... some photos from our past trips: Up in the heights, "bike-mule" style: And my wife, her very first mountain pass, her very first trip:

My bike.

A Tilt 9 [1] from Decathlon that I used as a base to adapt the equipment [2] and get a good city and touring bike. See the photo in my avatar.

A few key features:

- Folding with 20" wheels - Belt drive - 8-speed internal gear hub in the rear wheel - Electric generator in the front hub

I’ve been using it for my tours for 5 seasons now and I still love it.

One downside, though. It’s about as heavy as a regular bike—around 15-16 kg. If anyone knows of a lighter folding touring bike with the same features, closer to 10 kg, I’m all ears.

[1] No longer in production

[2] See https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7027020

Side note: The discussion where I explain how I transformed my bike is also interesting for owners of non-folding bikes, since I share how to find the right documentation and tools (and where to get them).

Attached are a few photos thanks to the time-travel machine.

My humble one... A big-box-store MTB I bought in the early '90s, still kept, even though I later bought a better MTB. I wasn’t into traveling back then, but I always wanted to keep it. And when the urge hit, I turned it into a "ride-around" (that’s what I call it...) Only the frame, fork, and front derailleur are original. The rest is salvaged or good finds. Aero rims, 3x7 with 24-34-44 up front and 14-32 in the back, rear rack, suspended stem (a quirk I keep for comfort and originality...) Anyway, I really like it—I feel good on it. Now, it’s heavy, the rear dropout is 130mm, limiting upgrades, but I’ve got something that works for me. Budget-wise, aside from the bike I bought for 990 francs back then, it’s cost me a max of 200 €. Maybe even less. I’ll switch to thinner tires. In the photo, the new crankset isn’t on yet, and it’s outfitted with a makeshift rack made from cutting up an old frame. Solid, but heavy... I’ll find something more recent.

Hello, I’ve been in Thailand since January 15th and will be here until March 3rd. So you’re seeing my bike live and direct. It’s a Vagabonde No. 020, so it’s pretty old. No issues though—Mavic rims, XT 9-speed drivetrain, V-brakes, Ortlieb waterproof panniers, and Schwalbe 1.35 tires. I’m really happy with the frame—it’s super responsive. In our family, we have four Vagabondes, and we’re all really satisfied. I know Meg2 had some problems, but personally, I’m happy with mine. It must have nearly 50,000 km on it. I don’t see any flaws—just the rider getting older. The bike was built 12 or 13 years ago, and there haven’t been any problems. Just regular maintenance on wear-and-tear parts. For example, I change the chain every 5,000 km. Best regards, Jacky

Here’s my ride.. Ridgeback Panorama 2019. Shimano XT and Sora drivetrain, TRP disc brakes, Tubus front and rear racks, Crosso and Lone Peak panniers, TiGr titanium lock. No fenders or kickstand, stock Schwalbe Marathon tires.