Touring Bikes
Touring bikes are usually equipped with luggage racks front and rear, designed to hold panniers or other forms of luggage. To carry heavy loads, to be field-repairable and for reliability, touring bikes typically have steel (CroMo) frames and forks. They may also have durable hubs, double-wall rims, and wheels with at least 36, and sometimes as many as 48, spokes, laced 3 or 4-cross. To accommodate long rides, touring bikes have comfortable handlebars and saddles. In fact there are many different bicycle handlebar arrangements available to touring cyclists, the choice of which is highly individual.
Touring bikes may appear similar to road bicycles if they have drop handlebars. However, they greatly differ by typically having a much longer wheelbase and more stable steering geometry, with numerous attachments for luggage racks, fenders (mudguards), lights, high capacity water bottles, tools and spare parts. Chainstays must be long enough to accommodate panniers without them brushing the rider's heels, and the entire structure must be stiff enough to safely handle long, fast descents with the machine fully loaded.
Touring bikes may also be fitted with 26" (ISO 559) wheels in preference over 700C (ISO 622). This is because ISO 559 wheels are used on mountain bicycles and are more durable and often easier to source in remote locations than 700C wheels. World bicycle tourers Tim and Cindie Travis are notable advocates of ISO 559 wheels for touring bikes.
