Travel bike

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
a typical touring bike with hub gears
loaded touring bike
Custom-made touring bike (built in 1991), fully loaded
Aluminum touring bike with lockable suspension fork
different panniers on a touring bike

The touring bike ( French Randonneur ) is a specially designed for the needs of bike travelers bike that can be driven more safely with more than 50 to 75 kg of luggage and braked. The maximum permissible weight is 150 kg or more, the usual weight of the bike 16 to 19 kg.

Specially manufactured touring bikes are designed to cope with the increased loads by using stable material and, for example, frame tubes with greater wall thicknesses. They tend to have a longer wheelbase and greater caster than other standard bicycles to enable relaxed riding over long distances.

Many recumbent bikes are also suitable as touring bikes. Special requirements must be observed, see → Main article: Short- term and long-term

conditions

The frame must be suitable for the attachment of several luggage racks and should also allow stable straight-line stability when the bike is heavily loaded. When in doubt, stability is more important than weight. Attachments should therefore be robust and easy to care for. On the other hand, unnecessary weight should not be transported, especially on mountain routes. A low handlebar can lead to tension in the neck and back. A sitting posture that is too upright, on the other hand, puts a strain on the buttocks and, like bulky loads, increases air resistance.

Frame and attachments:

  • Rigid and sufficiently long frame to accommodate the required panniers,
    • Travel bikes, which are mainly used on the road, have a rather low bottom bracket position . This allows the heavy bike to be supported more securely when it is stationary. On the other hand, the pedals touch down more easily when driving over obstacles.
  • Stiff wheels with particularly resilient spokes and rims (ideally 40 or 48 instead of 36 spokes, which are crossed four times at the rear, if possible), waterproof bearings and robust tires. Kevlar inserts can reduce the puncture of foreign bodies (but are prone to spontaneous tearing).
  • Ergonomic seating position tailored to the traveler's driving style in order to avoid incorrect stress:
    • A steep saddle tube (the frame strut between the bottom bracket and saddle) improves the power delivery when pedaling.
    • When placing your heel on the lowest pedal position, your leg should be straight.
    • A high quality saddle avoids pressure points on the buttocks. It should be slim enough at the front not to rub against the thighs. Saddles made of hide leather are traditionally used, but they have to be retracted beforehand. A spring-loaded seat post is gentle on your buttocks on uneven surfaces.
    • Saddle inclination: When driving slowly (up to 16 km / h) and in an upright position, the saddle should be adjusted horizontally. Due to the wind resistance, higher sustained speeds can be achieved with a low handlebar position or the use of racing or triathlon handlebars and a correspondingly inclined upper body. In order to relieve the spine and genitals , the saddle nose can be tilted slightly downwards.
    • The handlebars should enable several grip positions, through which not only the support of the hands and the position of the arms, but also the inclination of the back can be varied.
    • Racing hooks and clipless pedals allow a round step. Racing hooks allow the use of ordinary shoes as long as the sole is sufficiently stiff. Combination pedals can be used with cycling shoes as well as with ordinary shoes (without using the click mechanism).
  • The circuit should also allow short translations when driving in the hilly country. In addition to conventional derailleur gears , hub gears that require less maintenance but are somewhat less efficient are also suitable . When it comes to the chain, durability is more important than shifting efficiency (gear changes are less frequent on long journeys than in everyday life).
  • Powerful brakes : If one brake fails, it must be possible to bring the bike to a halt with the remaining brake, even in the rain and downhill. As a rule, at least cantilever brakes , but preferably V-brakes (V-brakes) are used. Disc and hydraulic rim brakes can also be found on touring bikes (depending on the travel destination, the supply of spare parts and repair options may be limited on the way). Due to the higher loads, the frame and fork must be approved by the manufacturer for use with hydraulic or disc brakes. Ordinary coaster brakes and drum brakes can overheat on longer descents and should only be used as an additional, third brake on downhill stretches, unless the manufacturer expressly approves their use as the main brake on the touring bike (or on the bicycle or cargo bike ).
  • loading
    • Simple luggage racks can break due to the constant stress on bike tours. Brand manufacturers usually stamp the information on the permissible load capacity on the carrier.
    • A lower center of gravity improves driving behavior (e.g. during evasive maneuvers or off-road driving) and makes it easier to handle the bike (especially when pushing it).
    • Loading the front wheel alone can cause the rear wheel to lose traction when braking. Loading the rear wheel alone can cause the front wheel to climb on very steep passages and make it difficult to handle when pushing.
    • The front panniers should hang on a lowrider , not be too bulky and contain the heaviest parts of the equipment. It should be noted, however, that most common lowriders are limited in their payload to a maximum of approx. 15 kg.
    • A larger load on swiveling front luggage racks hinders the steering. The wheel is easier to steer if the front luggage rack is mounted on the frame so that the additional mass is not moved with it when steering. However, this type of carrier is usually less resilient and the luggage sits significantly higher than on the lowrider.
    • When driving off-road with sprung touring bikes, luggage racks should preferably be attached to the frame rather than to the suspension fork or rear wheel swing arm. This greatly reduces the load on the bags and straps in the event of impacts, and the safety and speed advantages of the suspension are retained. Carriers that are mounted on the fork bridge of the suspension fork are also available. Carrier systems that are not supported in the area of ​​the running wheels are technically more complex to manufacture and less resilient than comparable conventional carriers. A suspension significantly reduces the shock load that the wearer has to absorb. When used off-road, however, higher lateral forces occur. Due to the increased fastening of the panniers, handling the bike on difficult passages and when pushing it requires more strength and skill.
    • A handlebar bag allows quick access to smaller items while driving. Maps or navigation devices can be stored under the transparent cover of the lid, making them rainproof. A separate holder for a mobile phone or navigation device is also helpful.
    • In addition to the drinking bottles, a smaller pocket can be attached to the frame triangle. A sturdy bag or pad in the rear corner of the frame makes it easier to carry the bike, as it can then be lifted over the shoulder without the collarbone hitting the frame tube directly.
    • Balancing the load between the right and left sides has previously been recommended, but is actually not required. A minimally increased tire wear due to the compensating steering angle is not noticeable in practice.
  • Often up to three drinking bottle holders can be attached in the frame triangle. Some holders also accept larger bottles.
  • A hub dynamo works more reliably than one driven on the side of the tire. Although it runs constantly, it has a higher degree of efficiency under load than a traditional dynamo. It is therefore well suited to be used to charge batteries or to power other devices.
  • A rear-view mirror increases safety in urban traffic and driving in a group.
  • Suspension forks and struts should be provided by the manufacturer for the higher loads on the touring bike. Otherwise, you can expect the suspension to bottom out and fail quickly. The production of special touring bike suspensions was given up due to a lack of demand. Particularly high-quality or robust suspension elements (e.g. for use in difficult terrain, in downhill sports, as well as on cargo bikes and tandems) are also suitable for use on touring bikes.
  • A two-legged bike stand enables the packed bike to be parked. Center-mounted side stands are hardly suitable; Side stands attached to the rear only on level ground and if they are exactly the right length. If luggage is attached to the fork, a spring tensioned between the fork crown and the down tube can prevent the front wheel from whipping around, which significantly increases parking and stability.

In addition to robustness, when selecting the components, it is also important to ensure that they are easy to repair or replace while on the move, depending on the local conditions. Simple steel structures can be repaired by welding in any small metal workshop even in poor countries.

Due to the above-average load, many parts of touring bikes only last a few tens of thousands of kilometers. Therefore, high-quality groups of racing or mountain bike components are often used. Touring bikes therefore usually cost well four-digit amounts.

Many small manufacturers adapt touring bikes individually to the proportions and wishes of the customer. If the frame is made to measure, the caster and wheelbase can be adjusted, and brazed-on sockets for special circuits, brakes, luggage and bottle holders can be provided. By comparing the body mass with the frame geometry, it is often possible to choose a suitable series-produced touring bike. Leg and upper body length largely determine the geometry of the frame.

Dimensions on the wheel

In order to select the right frame, the measurement methods customary for racing bikes can be used in a slightly modified form for the touring bike:

  • The saddle is adjusted horizontally and about as high as the handlebar.
  • The tip of the saddle is about 5 cm vertically behind the bottom bracket axle.
  • The horizontal projection of the handlebar stem is often chosen so that the middle finger reaches the handlebar when the elbow touches the tip of the saddle.
  • When seated in a comfortable position on the saddle, the heel of the extended leg should just reach the pedal in its lowest position. If the sole of the shoe is thicker under the heel than at the front for this measurement, the saddle height can be reduced by the difference between the sole thicknesses.
  • These rules apply to normally built people, with particularly long or short arms or legs, this can only be a rough guide. Women tend to have longer legs and therefore prefer to ride slightly shorter frames.

equipment

Typical load limits of the luggage rack are:

  • rear rack up to 40 kg, but mostly around 25 kg
  • Handlebar bag 2.5 kg
  • Lowrider up to 12 kg each
  • additional front luggage rack up to 10 kg

These values ​​vary depending on the manufacturer. If the specified values ​​are exceeded, however, the steerability and handling of the bicycle deteriorates. Heavy objects (tools, spare parts) should in principle be stowed as deep as possible. Bulky and light objects (sleeping mat, sleeping bag) can be attached anywhere with elastic bands. In rainy areas, bicycle panniers made of waterproof PVC tarpaulin are often used. Roll-top bags are also dustproof.

If you carry a robust bicycle trailer , it can hold heavy items of luggage. This often improves the handling, driving behavior, puncture safety and durability of the bike. The total mass of the rider, bike, trailer and luggage should not significantly exceed 150–170 kg. The additional weight of the trailer is hardly noticeable when driving in flat land. Single-track trailers have advantages in the mountains and hills, when driving off-road and when driving in groups. They are lighter, narrower and cannot tip over sideways. This also enables fast cornering on uneven terrain; especially when a suspension trailer is used.

Alternatives to the classic touring bike

fully-sprung touring recumbent, partly loaded

Common racing bikes , touring bikes , trekking bikes and mountain bikes are often used for bike tours, among other things for reasons of cost. These are less resilient, but often lighter. Elongated racing bike frames with racing bike handlebars were originally called randonneuse ( French , female form of hiker). Today the masculine form of the term, randonneur, is more common. In French, randonneur generally stands for the touring bike.

Mountain bikes for sporty use are often offered with a very short rear end. A particularly long rear wheel carrier must then be mounted in order to be able to mount panniers far enough back that the heels do not hit the bags when pedaling. It is also advisable to attach some of the luggage to the front wheel to prevent the front wheel from climbing on steep climbs. Special luggage racks must be used on sprung wheels. Ordinary luggage racks can hinder compression and be bent in the process. If the luggage is on the unsprung part of the suspension fork or on the rear swing arm, this partially negates the advantage of the suspension. A spring-loaded seat post does not increase driving safety to the same extent during fast off-road driving as is the case with full-fledged suspension, but complex designs enable a similarly high gain in comfort.

Also Velomobiles be used as travel wheels. Due to their low center of gravity, they are stable even when loaded. Depending on the model, attaching luggage racks can be difficult. Special recumbent touring bikes are suitable for high loads. When driving to remote areas, the procurement of spare parts for unusual components (small wheels, special handlebars) can be a problem. Information on geometry and dimensions can be found in the → main article: Kurzlieger

Footnotes

  1. ^ Rüdiger Bellersheim, Ernst Brust, Michael Gressmann, Dietmar Hertel, Franz Koslar: Table book bicycle technology. 2nd Edition. Europa-Lehrmittel, 2011, ISBN 978-3-8085-2332-2 , p. 191; quoted from: Reiseräder, definition on fahrradmonteur.de
  2. ^ Rüdiger Bellersheim, Ernst Brust, Michael Gressmann, Dietmar Hertel, Franz Koslar: Table book bicycle technology. 2nd Edition. Europa-Lehrmittel, 2011, ISBN 978-3-8085-2332-2 , p. 221.
  3. ↑ Minimum number of spokes Smolik Velotech: minimum number of spokes
  4. ↑ Michael Gressmann: Bicycle Physics and Biomechanics. 10th edition. Moby Dick Verlag, Kiel 2008.
  5. ↑ radtouren-Magazin ( Memento of the original from March 22, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. : Pros and cons of disc brakes on trekking bikes @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / radtouren-magazin.com
  6. ^ Stiftung Warentest: Bicycle brakes
  7. ↑ SWR: Bicycle brakes
  8. ↑ Ulf Hoffmann: The bicycle book: purchase, technology, maintenance, repairs, e-bikes and pedelecs. Verlag Stiftung Warentest, 2013, Chapter What types of bicycles are there? Das Reiserad , p. 19 ff ( limited preview in the Google book search).

Web links

Commons : Travel Bikes  - Collection of Images