Touring Bikes.

[Rollon]

Are there any mountain bikes that are more suitable to multi day cross coutry tours than others or are they all the same in this respect. Discounting downhill and other specific purpose bikes of course.
Dave.

 

[lukesdad]

It might sound obvious but comfort and fit is going to be more important than weight or speed, in this respect your probably looking at a full susser kitted with xt.Have alook at the speialized bikes.

 

[Cubist]

You need to look at XC or trail specific bikes. Shorter travel forks, (80 to 120mm) hardtails for lightness, plus there are some out there with bosses and eyes for racks and stuff, and with frames that are designed for longer distance but less of the airborne stuff. Or you could be prepared to start around the £1200 mark for a XC full susser. If your touring includes much time on tarmac, then I would steer you towards a hardtail.

 

[april74]

If the terrain you intend to cross is not too rough a touring bike such as a Dawes Galaxy with 700x32 tyres is probably your best bet.

A rigid MTB with fat tyres will cope with most of the terrain that luggage carrying touring cyclists ever choose to tackle.

It all depends on the off-road terrain and how much of your journey is on tarmac. Any kind of suspension on tarmac is a waste of money and energy. And any kind of luggage carrying touring on any decent, technical off-road terrain is not going to be anything but a slog.

 

[Tinuts]

I agree with the above post. You could, however, try a hybrid approach - a 26" touring bike would allow you to fit suspension forks if required and tyres appropriate to the terrain. I'm thinking something like the Van Nicholas Pioneer type design (http://vannicholas.com//WbmBikeHome...pRKeRhb8Mo2npHEMduqJxkT2zIe4adN6FC1OHV7G7/Q==) or a cheaper alternative like Thorn (http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/models.html).

 

[soopoot]

Aren't the hybrids more expensive?