Touring Bicycles Make the World Your Playground
"Roam if you want to, Roam around the world" Roam - B52s Are you an adventurous type? Do you LOVE to travel and see the sights? Are you getting amped up just reading about it right now? Okay calm down, and read on... Touring bicycles are great for people who love to get out and go. They're for those who get a thrill from a ride to the beach or a trip cross-country. With these bikes you'll get to see the world and have fun burning some calories. Disclaimer: You actually don't have to tour anywhere at all to enjoy this bike. They're great to ride anywhere, and if you decide on a whim to get away for a day or so, you'll have the right bike! A couple of great books on the subject are The Essential Touring Cyclist: A Complete Guide for the Bicycle Traveler, Second Edition and Bicycle Touring Made Easy. What makes it a Touring Bicycle?  You may be saying: "But the bike
at the top of the page looks like every road bike!" But it's
more than meets the eye, grasshopper...Bags (called panniers) attach to each side of the rack & hold everything you could possibly need. Mudguards protect your baggage and sensitive feet from, um, mud. Traveling the countryside with all your gear is a hefty task. Touring bicycles are designed with this is mind. Thicker tires and heavier inner tubes keep you safely on the road while excellent suspension is the result of a longer wheelbase. The drop handlebars enable the rider to shift to upright or drop position. This increases visibility when needed and helps fend off saddle soreness on long hauls. Before you buy, think about what kind of touring you plan to do. Are you interested in day-trips, or weekend camping? Touring bikes are designed to fit the specific needs of its rider. Unfortunately, none come with CD players...yet. There is a guidebook called  Bike Buying
that could be very useful to you when deciding on a touring bicycle.
I've ordered it and will be checking it out first hand soon.
Also, stop by The National Bike Registry to check out a very inexpensive way to protect your bike. There are several features to look for in a good touring bicycle: 1. Quality brakes: You're going to be weighed down with baggage, good stopping power is a must. V-brakes or cantilever will do it. 2. Tough tires: They come with good tires, but the wider the better. You'll be able to do some light off road riding. 3. Wide range of gears: The lower they go, the better. This will allow you to conquer hills like Rambo. 4. Customizable: If you want to add mudguards later, make sure there's enough room around the tires to do so. Once you've got your touring bicycle, try to keep its center of gravity stable by distributing weight evenly. This could mean putting panniers on the front and rear tires. Ride it around and make sure you've got good balance before you head out. It will feel weird at first, having all that extra weight, but most people get used to it pretty quickly. I can't stress enough how important it is to buy a quality touring bicycle. You want Strength and Endurance. This workhorse will be carrying quite a load, and you don't want to break down in the middle of the Arizona desert! Accept no cheap imitations. (No department/discount stores) I recommend REI  . They've been around a long time and only sell top
quality goods.Good luck, and don't forget your toothbrush!
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