Since a few years building travel bikes became my big passion. I´m happy when ever I got the opportunity to create a travel bike or only assist on that. When ever one of the bikes I put my hand on, leaves to explore the word, at least for a bit I feel myself going with her to new adventures where never a bike went before. There is nothing bigger than watching a mountainbike, while your inner eye already sees a fully equipped and loaded travel bike. I´m not really a mechanic, but I got some experience and knowledge in bike building, especially reinstatement of used bikes to travel. Here is what I mainly advise people about if they ask me for some advise on the decision of a travel bike. 
I´m the mountainbike traveller. Normally I would always go for a mountainbike unless you frequently suffer back pains or other specific reasons. A moutainbike provides more freedom to leave
the literally beaten track, you got more control on dirt roads and more security on slippery streets. A classic touring bike meanwhile is more comfortable, speeds you up and spares energy as long as you are on asphalt. If you take care on the frame geometry you can find a quite good middle way matching with your requirements. While choosing the right frame you should keep in mind...
- geometry: the higher the handlebars are the closer you come the frame geometry of a touring bike. Be careful that the head tube angles (C) not getting to sharp. Furthermore consider the space your bags occupy behind your feet. If the chain stay (D) is too small you will always scratch with your feet on the bags.
- rack supports: modern mountainbikes often doesn´t have the holes to mount the rack, two on the end of the chain stay (D, left side) and two
behind the seat, on top of the wheel.
A travel bike doesn´t need to be a super light high-end bike, but need to be reliable and comfortably. The main technical details you should consider in your decision:
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- breakes: V-Breakes vs. disc breaks depends a lot on your destinations. If you´re planning to stay in western Europe I would go for disc breaks. If you want to leave this region v-breaks are still an interesting option. V-Breakes are cheaper and easier to replace. In both categorys there are huge differences in price and performance of the braks. If you decide for disc breaks a middle class model (hydraulic) is enough. V-breaks should have high quality, but are still cheap
- suspension: Steel is king. The suspension got quite an simple job on a travelling bike and that spares money. The flow, and the weight doesn´t matter that much. What we need is a solid and not maintenance-intensive suspension.
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| With light equipement and the rack just on the seat post- easy to handle, but not that comfortable to ride |
If we talk about used bikes you should get an appropriate 26" bike with v-breaks beginning with 250 Euro, more 50 Euro for disc breaks. If you want to go 29" you should calculate 100 Euro more.
So far so good, we got a mountainbike with good prospects now. But the requirements for heavy loaded long distance bikes are quite different to normal mountanbikes.
- Saddle: Saddles are a religious thing.
The believers of the orthodox community of Brooks believes in the way of a thousand kilometres of pain to find redemption in a perfectly customized formed leather seat. Meanwhile the miss-believers try not to suffer to bad and hope there is a little piece of heaven somewhere out there between all these foam saddles. I got a leather saddle but never used it on a longer journey. Once you go off-road on a leather saddle you will think twice again.
- racks: The back rack is the basic equipment of a travel bike. Depend on the trip you plan the difference in racks mostly is not that big and important. You should get a solide one for about 30 Euro. Front racks normally only are mounted if you carry a lot of stuff. But even when you don´t have that much the better equibility feels better and better under control. The desicion is a bit tougher than the one in the back as they have to be mounted on the suspension. Be careful that your rack and your suspension fits together.- bags: Sparing on the bags meanwhile is like sparing on a tent: it makes you tired, angry and wet. Good bags are about 40-60 Euro each one, but that´s well spent money. Keep care on the weight distribution. If you carry a lot, you could think about a front rack as well. Depend on the bike and the suspension this can be costly or difficult, but much better to drive. At least go for a good
handlebar bag
Well once you are on this point you can think about the colour of your bell, handlebar ends, stands, lights, bike computer, protection, grips and all the other jewellery your girl demands for.
Enjoy your journey in good and bad times till death parts you
Simon
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| Heavy loaded but still offroad, that is what only a mountainbike can |
