Selecting a bike for touring depends entirely on personal preferences and the type of tour you wish to undertake. If you plan on carrying heavy loads, ensure the frame can support them safely.
Consider purchasing a bike with multiple gears to tackle steep climbs more effectively, and look for one with more durable tires with multiple spokes.
1. Helmet
Helmets are essential pieces of gear for bikers. Not only is wearing one required by most states’ laws, but a helmet also serves to shield riders from injuries in case of an accident. A properly fitted helmet should have chin strap and vents so airflow doesn’t become restricted while riding.
Touring bikes are tailored specifically to provide comfort on long journeys while carrying heavy loads, featuring wide tires, low crossbars or step-through frames for easy mounting/dismounting as well as wider gear ranges to handle steep climbs or flat terrain.
Find a touring bike with ample mounting points to attach mudguards, racks, and other accessories. Look for one with tabs brazed onto its frame near both rear dropouts and fork dropouts that allow you to attach racks or fenders easily.
2. Reflective Gear
Reflective gear is one of the most essential bicycle accessories you can purchase; it makes you visible to car drivers on the road, and could even save your life!
As High-Visibility equipment (HV), HV gear is used by construction workers, firefighters and police officers for keeping them safe. Furthermore, this gear can also be found used by cyclists, runners, joggers and walkers to stay protected during their activities.
Reflective cycling tights, shirts, jackets and accessories can increase visibility to drivers in low light conditions. Constructed from lightweight breathable materials with multiple reflective materials positioned front and back for increased visibility at multiple angles.
Other reflective gear that’s especially effective is ankle and wrist bands. You can use your arms to indicate turns in low light conditions, which is often misunderstood by motorists. Reflective running gloves also exist for increased visibility when running at night; choose ones with reflective markings as well as warm, breathable fabric for the best experience while touring.
3. Waterproof Jacket
An effective waterproof jacket can make all the difference on wet tours. Modern membranes layered between tightly woven fabrics work far more effectively and lighter than oil and wax coatings of old.
Gore-Tex ePTFE fabrics use a hydrophobic DWR treatment that causes their outer face to shed water rather than absorb it, thus maintaining breathability even when covered by sweat and condensation from your body.
Assos’ Equipe RS Rain Jacket Targa is an incredible road jacket. Combining ultralight materials with race-oriented cuts that fit like a glove on any bike, its design provides perfect aerodynamic positioning without flapping around when sprinting uphill or climbing steep hills. In addition, its carefully considered cuffs and double zip make for easy use when sitting hunched over on your bars.
4. Gloves
Cycling can be an unforgiving sport, so the last thing anyone needs is bad bike accessories (other than behaviors that endanger others). Gear keeps riders safe and helps them perform to their potential while making carrying extra layers easier for longer rides.
Cilenti recommends using a large bike basket on long tours to store snacks, books and jackets/rain pants. Willworx makes an attachment that easily attaches to handlebars with 17.5 liters of storage capacity that’s fully waterproof on both the outside and inside; additionally it features a finger bridge to prevent finger separation during crashes, and features rubber palm gloves to add grip and comfort if you experience slipperiness while riding.