Pjoncena

Hi! Im Pujan from India, Im interested to buy a good all purpose bicycle which I might also take on bikepacking tours comprising of several days.

Personally I dont see much difference between normal hybrid bicycles and touring ones except that the touring one have rack pannier mounting and made from steel mostly. Also they have drop handlebars.
We have here in India almost all great bike companies like Giant, Trek, Canondale selling their bikes online and also some local brands available. My budget around 40k rupees ($500) which is still less for a standard touring bikes like Fuji Touring, Kona sutra, trek 520 etc.
Can general hybrid bikes like Trek ds1, Specialised Crosstails or Giant Roam3 also capable of doing multi day tours? Note they have all aluminium construction.

Any feedback would really help me choose the right bike .
Thanks!
_ pujan

Elvo

https://www.amazon.com/Cinelli-Hoboo...-LLPjG8Ee9-fzg

TheLibrarian

The different hand positions having drop bars and geometry of the touring bike help on longer rides by giving you more sitting positions so you're not in the same one all day long but otherwise the bikes technically can do it. It just wont be as comfortable. I plan to take my hybrid on a few short tours someday but haven't gotten around to it. Not sure how the used market is where you are or what other brands in that part of the world might have something more suited to touring in your price range.

tyrion

You can get bikepacking bags to strap on almost any bike:



The problem is bikepacking bags are on the expensive side, and the ultralight gear often used in bikepacking is also expensive.

What's the used bike market like in your area? Are there any old steel mountain bikes (without suspension) available?

Maelochs

My first question would concern your current level of cycling experience. Second, I would ask about the sort of terrain you plan to ride.

In my opinion, any metal bike can be used for touring (CF presents too many problems as far as mounting racks unless it is specifically designed for it---and I don't know any bikes in that price range which are.) Steel or aluminum both work--I have used both.

The main thing, IMO, is suiting the bike to the load, the rider, and the terrain. Generally I would prefer very low gearing for a touring bike--hauling loads up hills after a long day in the saddle, I want all the help I can get. I prefer a small front ring of 22-28 teeth, particularly if you plan to cross mountain ranges.

Flat bars usually offer fewer hand positions, and that can lead to fatigue, but with trekker bars you can obviate that issue.

You will need to make sure the frame has enough attachments points for all the racks you might want, and enough space inside the main triangle for a bag if you plan to carry one.

If by "hybrid" bicycles you mean bicycles with a front shock absorber ... I would not want to go for long tours on a bike with a cheap front shock--it is a failure point. I would not want the extra weight unless I was going to be riding off-road. if you plan to ride overland, a suspension fork might be indicated. if you plan to ride packed dirt, gravel, or paved roads, wide tires should offer the necessary traction and comfort.

Hope everything goes as it should, whatever choices you make.

tyrion

Wow what a deal! The Tubus racks alone are almost worth the price.

indyfabz

Considering that the bike is well over a grand most other places, that seems to good to be true. Maybe because it's a 2017?

Edit: Found one review:

https://www.bikemunk.com/best-touring-bikes/

Heavy with a mash of good and cheap parts Also notes that the prices fluctuate. That and maybe being a 2017 could explain things.

Metieval

only for X-small, XXL

$1,600 for a Medium

jefnvk

Yeah, too bad any size bigger than XS is three times the price

Rajflyboy

Pjoncena

Thank you for such a detailed reply, it was really helpful.
Regarding my experience- I learnt cycling alone since I was a kid using my dad's bicycle, since then I travelled many places around my hometown, school , leisure rides and excursion with friends . But after I got my motorcycle I stopped bicycling, my fitness is really bad now, got many health issues.
Anyway I havent done any long distant self supported tours , but I really want to do it, get away from city life with a bicycle and head to some mountains, carrying bike.
Well need to start with shorter trips, get my fitness back.
So started checking the cycles available.
I have a friend who did many 100+ kms rides on his trek fx bike, which is a basic hybrid bike.
So Im wondering if I really need to get a costly touring bike for multi day trips.
trips.
Thanks again for your suggestions!

lkoyanagi

Those bikes are not budget unless second hand. Budget means Schwinn, new. You should have a list of specifications and accessories. Dont forget the legal requirements like reflectors and lights in each country you are in as well as riding in town and tourist areas. I could get specific as to the bike but the shop will fit you with the appropriate bike and accessories in your budget. Shop accessories are sometimes very expensive. Discount chain department stores are usually cheaper and have cheaper bikes as you know. You are not stupid.

Maelochs

Any simple bicycle in the $500 range ought to work fine, if you keep everything lubricated and adjusted. There is no need to be a special bike .... I did a supported cross-America tour on (mostly) a $500 Dawes. Bikes are tough, and unless you are hitting huge bumps at high speed, they aren't stressed that heavily.

if you start off just regaining fitness, you will learn about your new bike, how to maintain it and such, and when you start doing overnight and weekend trips, you will start to learn about bicycle camping. There is a touring forum (https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/) here and lots of good resources online

A lot of people who have a lot of money enjoy buying expensive gear and expensive bikes (I do myself sometimes) but in fact, you can get started quite cheaply. I started by wrapping everything in multiple plastic bags and stuffing everything in cheap panniers, sleeping in a folded tarp---heavy but simple and cheap. The farther you plan to go, and the more food, water, clothes, and tools you need to carry, the more you will want to invest in good camping gear, because it is a lot lighter ... but even there, no need to go crazy and get NASA-level gear. People will usually recommend the expensive stuff, but you can get stuff that is almost as good, and certainly good enough, for cheap if you shop around.

Still ... it isn't a cheap sport. For one thing, you will probably want to have cash on hand because if something big breaks---say you have to replace a wheel---then you pretty much have to pay whatever the nearest shop charges ... because the bike will be too heavy to carry, and impossible to push, and will have all your essential gear strapped to it.

You definitely will want to learn a little about bike repair---how to limp on if a cable or a spoke breaks, how to keep the bike adjusted if stuff rattles loose .... it is all really simple and you might only need to use your skills once in your life, but that one time could mean the difference between riding slowly into a small ton ... and dying in a desert. if you are riding alone and out of cell phone range ...

But ... stuff like that happens Very rarely. Mostly the only downside is that you might get rained on or something. And the upside ... is you get to do it.

Rajflyboy

Maelochs

I wholeheartedly agree. I actually ordered a Yari,then canceled and got a Sportif because I was not going to do much gravel ... but for touring, that Yari is a really good option. Simple, sturdy, able to go anywhere, ready to carry loads. Great option.

Rajflyboy

teasel

I've had a Jamis Aurora touring bike on dozens of long trips and I love it. I think it's a good alternative to the Surly Long Haul Trucker.

Rajflyboy

Pjoncena

Sorry Fuji Yari is not available in online bike stores here in India, price shown in Fuji usa website is $899.

Im currently checking on Canondale quick 6, selling now at a discounted price of ₹34k ( $490), it has good shimano components and lightweight. I might need to fit a arm rest bar for more hand positions.

As Maelochs suggested previously, my first thing now would be to regain fitness and paddle more, and go on short trips for which I think canondale hybrids can survive.
Some model Im considering now as per availability and budget:
Canondale Quick 6
Schwinn Super Sport 3
Btwin Triban
Foldie Btwin Tilt 120.

Anyone tried any of these bikes ? btwin got microshift gearing instead shimano.

Maelochs

I looked up the Triban for another poster a while back ... looked like a really good value.

Both the Schwinn and the Cannondale are solid, basic bikes. I am not going to go looking for weights, but I'd imagine the Cannondale might be a touch lighter ... but the Schwinn has a steel fork, and from the fuzzy pictures I can find, it looks like the fork is drilled and tapped for a low-rider front rack. I think that might be a plus.

I have never owned a folding bike. I am not sure how easy ti would be to pack a lot of gear onto one. I am also not too sure a loaded folder could handle rough terrain---short wheelbase and small wheels.There are a lot of folding-bike websites, where people could offer better advice.

Lastly, a trekker bar would be a worthwhile investment Eventually. I used to take some pretty long trips on my flatbar Bridgestone back in the day and I survived, but if I were going to do a lot more touring I would have gotten on of these: Cycle Touring Equipment | Handlebars

09box

I have a Sportif Disc and it handles gravel and single track quite well. Plenty of room for 32c gravel tires and I've had a 35c slick on mine.

Lazyass

The Sirrus Alloy is $475 and has front and rear rack mounts.

fietsbob

OK what Brands of Taiwan's fine Bicycles are you finding in your bike stores in India?

Maelochs

Good news. I was thinking a 32 would fit ... Now I can buy tires without worrying I might have to return them. Thank you.

tyrion

On these less expensive bikes I think the wheels will be the weak spot, depending on how much you weigh and how much you carry. In general, smaller wheels (26 inch) wheels will be stronger than larger wheels (700c).

The Btwin Triban looks like it has skinny 25mm tires, so I wouldn't get something like that. Get a bike with tires at least 32mm wide.