Outdoor Gear Tips: A Guide to Choosing a Travel Bike

 

       It can be said that most of the bikes we see every day are capable of completing ordinary bicycle trips. In Tibet, I’ve seen travelers with all kinds of bikes—like the “28-inch” bikes or ladies’ bikes—all accompanying their owners on enjoyable journeys. But for those with average financial means, we recommend buying a bike priced above 1,300 yuan, as this price range can better ensure the smooth completion of your trip and reduce potential troubles caused by bike breakdowns along the way.

       However, we shouldn’t blindly pursue high-end configurations. The more premium the product, the more specialized it tends to be. Most high-end products on the market are designed for racing purposes, focusing on high rigidity, greater responsiveness, lightweight construction, and other features that maximize speed and power transfer. Others are specially designed for extremely intense cycling. In contrast, a travel bike needs to be sturdy, durable, stable in performance, comfortable, have commonly available and universal parts, and be easy to repair and maintain.

       The choice of bike type depends on your personal situation and the routes you plan to ride. You can opt for an off-road mountain bike, all-terrain mountain bike, flat-bar road bike, or a dedicated touring bike.
       Influence of trip type: Bicycle trips can generally be divided into two types: credit-card touring and loaded touring. Credit-card touring refers to cycling in areas with relatively dense towns where you don’t need to carry much camping gear or luggage. Loaded touring refers to traveling through areas with low population density, where you need to carry a lot of daily necessities and a significant amount of luggage. For credit-card touring, you can just choose the type of bike you’re used to. Riders accustomed to road bikes can even stick with a road bike.

       Impact of different road conditions: Choose a mountain bike or touring bike for rough roads, while a flat-bar road bike is a good option for smoother surfaces. In China’s scenic spots, which are often mountainous, your bike must have an excellent gearing system. I usually recommend beginners to buy an all-terrain mountain bike, as it can handle most road conditions and is good for climbing.

       Influence of route length: For long-distance routes, pay attention to riding comfort. On a bicycle trip, the neck, waist, shoulders, and wrists tend to get fatigued easily. A more upright riding position will ease the strain on these areas and help prevent fatigue. Traditional city bikes offer the most relaxed posture but are not ideal for leveraging full-body power. All-terrain mountain bikes and touring bikes are better choices. Bikes equipped with butterfly bars or auxiliary handlebars allow for various riding positions, letting different body parts rest alternately. For long trips, it’s recommended to install auxiliary handlebars. For short trips, you can use a bike type you’re familiar with.

       Buying a bicycle is very similar to buying a computer. Purchasing a brand-name complete bike (such as Fuji, UCC, or Giant) is more expensive but worry-free, and they also have nationally unified suggested retail prices. DIY builds are a bit cheaper and allow you to configure the bike better according to your primary needs, but the quality of current vendors varies, which may require more effort on your part. In recent years, the prices of complete bikes have also started to drop. Generally speaking, for bikes under 2,000 yuan, DIY no longer offers much advantage. DIY allows you to customize parts based on your specific needs and equip them more purposefully.

       The first thing you need to do is choose a bike shop with a good reputation. The bike’s adjustment and maintenance techniques are also quite important. A skilled mechanic can give you advice that helps you spend your money wisely, and good technical skills can make even a lower-tier bike ride more smoothly. Then, we need to consider the frame style and size, and choose the fork and tires based on your main riding conditions. The gearing system isn’t particularly crucial for us and can be a place to save some money, but components like the bottom bracket and hub—which endure heavy use during travel—should be of higher quality. Compared to bikes for other purposes, a travel bike should also have a wider and more comfortable saddle. Additionally, spokes and racks are also important accessories for a travel bike.