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Touring bikes have 700c wheels and average width (28 - 38mm) tyres. They are built with stability in mind and are designed to carry lots of gear. They will generally come kitted with mudguards, racks and bottle cages. Steel is the tubing of choice for traditionalists. But the old days of gear shifters on the down tube have long since gone - nowadays gear shifters are built in as part of the brake lever (typically Shimano STI or Campagnolo Ergopower), or located on the bar end. Drop handlebars are still the norm for touring bikes, although a growing number of cyclists opt for straight or raised city style bars.

The exhilarating feeling of independence and freedom, when cyclo-touring with all your gear, cannot be overstated !

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