It’s technically possible to adapt any bike into a road touring bicycle for short journeys, but if you’re planning a long tour, then you are better getting a bike designed for the job, a road touring bicycle is designed to carry the extra weight of loaded panniers that you will need to take on your journey.
If you’re planning to do a number of long-distance tours then investing in a road touring bike is a good idea. Touring bikes are light but strong enough to carry the extra load required for a long tour. Your bike must carry all the essential items you need to be self-sufficient while you are on the road, especially if you are going to isolated areas.
A road touring bicycle is built for exactly this purpose. It will be able to absorb the extra weight while still giving you a decent speed during travelling.
The classic touring bike is very similar in looks to a racing bike but there are many subtle differences. The frame for example is different, built with comfort rather than speed in mind if you’re going to be riding your bike for weeks or even months, comfort is crucial. A touring bike sacrifices speed for comfort. But if you’re touring you are not racing so the sacrifice is well worth it.
A good road touring bicycle will have heavy duty tyres to prevent punctures and the wheels will be stronger to cope with the different road surfaces and the weight of laden panniers and whatever else you have with you.
The nature of touring makes it necessary for you to carry a lot of equipment; everything you are likely to need must fit on the bike. A road touring bicycle will have fittings for panniers over the back wheel and also over the front wheel. There are also lots of small bags you can attach to your bike. Like map cases over the handlebars and a small saddlebag carrying a basic tool kit.
An essential part of a road touring bike are mudguards. These little additions are simple but essential part of a good touring bike, keeping you dry when you encounter rain or wet roads. You may have to navigate over dirt tracks where the mudguards will come into their own.
Touring bikes are designed to ensure the load you carry is spread evenly over the bike ensuring the bike stays balanced and no undue stress is placed on one part of the touring bike.
What kind of road touring bike you buy depends on how much touring you are planning on doing. If you are just thinking of a few small weekend tours then a hybrid bike with fittings for panniers will be fine. If you are planning a long-distance tour, covering between 60 to a 100 miles a day for a few weeks, then you need to invest in a good quality road touring bike.
