cheapest world tour bike

• off.road.cc
• Dealclincher
• Fantasy Cycling

Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

• Sportive and endurance bikes
• Gravel and adventure bikes
• Urban and hybrid bikes
• Touring bikes
• Cyclocross bikes
• Electric bikes
• Folding bikes
• Fixed & singlespeed bikes
• Children's bikes
• Time trial bikes
• Accessories - misc
• Computer mounts
• Bike bags & cases
• Bottle cages
• Child seats
• Lights - front
• Lights - rear
• Lights - sets
• Pumps & CO2 inflators
• Puncture kits
• Reflectives
• Smart watches
• Stands and racks
• Arm & leg warmers
• Base layers
• Gloves - full finger
• Gloves - mitts
• Jerseys - casual
• Jerseys - long sleeve
• Jerseys - short sleeve
• Shorts & 3/4s
• Tights & longs
• Bar tape & grips
• Bottom brackets
• Brake & gear cables
• Brake & STI levers
• Brake pads & spares
• Cassettes & freewheels
• Chainsets & chainrings
• Derailleurs - front
• Derailleurs - rear
• Gear levers & shifters
• Handlebars & extensions
• Inner tubes
• Quick releases & skewers
• Energy & recovery bars
• Energy & recovery drinks
• Energy & recovery gels
• Heart rate monitors
• Hydration products
• Hydration systems
• Indoor trainers
• Power measurement
• Skincare & embrocation
• Training - misc
• Cleaning products
• Lubrication
• Tools - multitools
• Tools - Portable
• Tools - workshop
• Books, Maps & DVDs
• Camping and outdoor equipment
• Gifts & misc

As seen in the Tour de France — Affordable* pro race bikes from Specialized, Canyon, Trek, Pinarello, Cannondale and more

First Published Jun 30, 2023

This article contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission, but our editorial coverage is fully independent.

Many of us want the very best kit in the land, which often means buying the same bike and gear as the pros. Perhaps one of the most appealing things about professional cycling is that you can do just that, as in you can walk into a bike shop and ride away on a road bike pretty much identical to one ridden to victory by Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert or Tadej Pogačar... but, these bikes often come with very lofty price tags! Let's have a look at some more obtainable versions of these top-end road bikes. 

In the late 90s there were loads of team replicas around, such as the Bianchi Mercatone Uno, MBK Cofidis and Trek for USPS which many amateur cyclists at the time wanted to get their hands on. However, team replicas aren't as much of a thing anymore, and many team paint jobs aren't quite as distinctive.  

The question of whether pro bikes are the same as ones that you or I can buy in the shops is, broadly speaking, a simple one to answer. More or less, barring individual modifications that some riders might request, pro bikes are these days the same as those that you can buy in a bike shop. All you have to do is hand over around £10,000 (sometimes more) and you’ll be presented with something that is much the same as the bikes that you’ll see being raced towards Paris.

> 10 things you (mostly) only see on pro race bikes

Happily, however, it is possible to get bikes that are very similar - not only in appearance, but also in construction - to the ones the stars of cycling ride, but at cheaper prices. Okay, these bikes aren't cheap, but they are cheaper. It's all relative, isn't it? These bikes use very similar frames, just with cheaper spec sheets.

> 2023 WorldTour bikes — your definitive guide to what all the top pro cycling teams are riding this year

To see what is available, we've had a look at 12 manufacturers to show that you can realistically get a bike that pros are using. We've focused on bikes that share the same (or a very similar) frame and keep the cost a little more obtainable with less posh components. Aside from parts like wheels, transmission, handlebars and stems, these bikes are essentially the same as the WorldTour bikes.

Specialized Tarmac SL7 Comp - £5,000

If you want to be Remco Evenepoel but can't afford a £13,000 Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7, here's a more sensible option.

The Tarmac SL7 Comp uses the same frame design as the Soudal Quick-Step team's Tarmacs, just with a different level of carbon. The Specialized Tarmac SL7 frameset is a refined full FACT 10r carbon layup rather than the S-Works bike's FACT 12r carbon. 

> Understanding carbon bike frames: what does unidirectional, woven and high-modulus fibre all mean?

The Tarmac SL7 Comp is complete with a Shimano 105 Di2 groupset and hydraulic brakes, and it rolls on DT Swiss R470 Disc aluminium wheels with 26mm Specialized Turbo Pro tyres. 

Yes, we realise this is still five grand, but for the money you get the same frame design as the pros. 

www.specialized.com

Scott Foil RC 30 - £4,799

> Check out the WorldTour sprint-winning Scott Foil RC aero road bike

The full-dress Scott Foil RC Pro  as used by Team DSM will set you back £10,499 with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 shifting and deep section C50 aero wheels. Luckily, there's a cheaper alternative!

The Foil RC 30 has the same frame shape as the Scott Foil RC Pro, featuring internal cabling and an aero seatpost like a top-end bike,  but uses a less spendy grade of carbon fibre to keep the cost under control.

It's equipped with Shimano 105 Di2 and Scott's own Syncros RR2.0 Disc wheels.

www.scott-sports.com

Cannondale SuperSix Evo 3 - £4,000

> Is this the new Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4? Pro riders spotted on mysterious new road racing machine

EF Education-EasyPost and EF Education Tibco-SVB team riders use Cannondale bikes equipped with Shimano groupsets, opting for the SuperSix Evo as their all-round bike and the SystemSix as their aero bikes. 

Riders from EF Education-EasyPost men's team were spotted earlier this year riding a new Cannondale road bike which we suspect will be a fourth generation of the SuperSix Evo, but until this is released, you can get your hands on a Cannondale SuperSix Evo 3.

You still get electronic shifting, but it's 105 rather than Dura-Ace, and DT Swiss R470 Disc aluminium wheels, all for £4,000.

www.cannondale.com

BMC Teammachine SLR 6 - from £2,325

> BMC prototype aero superbike spotted at Dauphine 

The French team AG2R Citroën have chosen to stick with BMC bikes this season and is the only World Tour team to use Campagnolo equipment for 2023. 

If you want to buy a pro-spec BMC Teammachine SLR01 with Campagnolo Super Record EPS, as ridden by the AG2R Citroën team, you're looking at a whopping €15,999.00 (∼£13,700). 

Instead, you could get this SLR 6 with mechanical Shimano 105, finished off with Mavic Open Disc wheels and a Fizik Antares saddle for £3,100. 

www.bmc-switzerland.com

Pinarello F5 - £5,250 

> Ineos Grenadiers' Tour de France Pinarello Dogma F

So, you desperately want a Pinarello Dogma F so you can descend like Tom Pidcock, but the budget won't stretch to £12,400. Instead, you can get your hands on a Pinarello F5 which borrows much from the top-end Dogma F, at less than half the price. 

It shares a similar frame profile, but it’s made from a different blend of carbon fibre and has a lower spec with Shimano 105 Di2 rather than the top-end Dura-Ace Di2. 

Ineos riders usually use wheels from Shimano, although the team has been known to dip into the Lightweight and Princeton ranges in search of those marginal gains, but this Pinarello F5 is equipped with 40mm carbon disc wheels from Pinarello's brand MOST. 

www.pinarello.com

Giant Propel Advanced 2 - £2,999

> Check out the “fastest ever” Giant Propel aero road bike

Team Jayco Alula switched to Giant bikes in 2022 opting for Giant's Propel Advanced SL, TCR Advanced SL and Trinity TT. 

The top-of-the-line TCR Advanced SL Dsic 0 will set you back  £11,999  so you might well decide to save yourself a whopping £9,000 by dropping down a bit in frame and components to the Propel Advanced 2 with mechanical Shimano 105 instead. 

You lose the electronic shifting but still get a light carbon fibre frame. 

www.giant-bicycles.com

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 - £5,999

> Check out the unreleased Canyon Aeroad Mathieu van der Poel rode to Paris-Roubaix victory

The weapon of choice for the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen is the Canyon Aeroad CFR, which will cost just shy of 10 grand when equipped with SRAM Red eTap AXS and Zipp 454 wheels. 

The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 and Aeroad CFR have the same frame design and feature an integrated cockpit and aero seatpost, but different carbon layups meaning the CF SLX frame is slightly heavier. 

Still with electronic gearing and SRAM, like Movistar use, the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 8 is equipped with SRAM Force eTap AXS and costs £5,999 - this does include some 62mm deep rims from DT Swiss! 

www.canyon.com

Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7 - £3,649

> The all new Canyon Ultimate is here and it could save you 10 watts

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the Canyon Aeroad, the Ultimate CF SL 7 balances being lightweight and aerodynamic, still with electronic gearing - SRAM Force eTap AXS, for £3,649. 

This bike is still used by the pros, with it being Movistar's choice for those climbing stages. However, they opt for SRAM Red eTap groupsets, Zipp wheels and Fizik saddles. 

Merida Reacto 5000 - £2,600

> Merida introduces speed-focused Scultura Endurance GR gravel bike

If you're a big fan of Bahrain Victorious, this one's for you - the first bike in our lineup in team colours. 

Bahrain Victorious are using the same trusted Merida bikes as last year, and you can get your hands on this team replica for £2,600 - albeit with a lower spec.  The 5000 features a CF3 carbon aero frame with cable integration and tyre clearance of up to 30 mm tyres. 

Shimano Dura-Ace is the groupset of choice for Bahrain Victorious but you'll have to settle with mechanical Shimano Ultegra for this model, and Merida Expert wheels rather than Vision wheels. 

www.merida-bikes.com

Cube Litening Aero C:68X Race - £5,699

> Cube launches Litening AIR C:68X Series road bikes with a claimed frame weight of 799g

The Belgian Team Intermarché–Circus–Wanty continue to ride Cube bikes with Shimano groupsets and Newmen wheels, and this Cube Litening Aero C:68X Race bike gets you pretty much all of the way there. 

It's equipped with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Newmen Advanced SL R.50/65 carbon wheels for £5,699, and yes, this is still a lot of money, but for a bike with a similar spec to the pros, we can be thankful we aren't in five figures! 

The Litening C:68X Aero provides lower drag whilst the Litening Air C:68X is the lightweight choice. 

www.cube.eu

Trek Emonda SL 6 - £4,300

> Check out Trek-Segafredo’s Trek Emonda for 2023

Trek-Segafredo has just changed its name to Lidl-Trek, but what remains the same is its weapons of choice - the Trek Madone and Emonda. 

Like this Trek Emonda SL 6 with SRAM Rival AXS, SRAM supplies the groupsets for Lidl-Trek, while Trek's Bontrager brand provides pretty much everything else. 

The latest Emonda isn't just about shaving grams, Trek's engineers having reshaped the frame for better aerodynamics. The aim is to make bikes that use the top-end SLR version of the frame the brand's fastest-climbing ever.

www.trekbikes.com

Bianchi Oltre Comp - £5,099

> Bianchi unveils radical new Oltre road bike with ‘Air Deflector’ aero tech

Bianchi had some mixed opinions when they released the new Olte road bike, which we have since seen in the pro peloton used by French team Arkéa-Samsic.

The Oltre Comp is derived from the superior Oltre RC and Oltre Pro, with a top-end Oltre RC with Dura-Ace Di2 costing an eye-watering £12,099.

This Bianchi Oltre Comp is equipped with Ultegra Di2, Velomann components and a Mitora saddle for £5,099. 

www.bianchi.com

* Relative to the actual bikes the pros race, that is. We know that these still aren't cheap!

Which of these (almost) pro team bikes would you choose? Let us know in the comments section below... 

Help us to fund our site

We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99. 

If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.

Help us to bring you the best cycling content

If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.

Emily is our track and road racing specialist, having represented Great Britain at the World and European Track Championships. With a National Title up her sleeve, Emily has just completed her Master’s in Sports Psychology at Loughborough University where she raced for Elite Development Team, Loughborough Lightning.

Emily is our go-to for all things training and when not riding or racing bikes, you can find her online shopping or booking flights…the rest of the office is now considering painting their nails to see if that’s the secret to going fast…

Add new comment

Are Pinarello still owned by that handbag firm?

• Log in or register to post comments

SecretSam wrote: Are Pinarello still owned by that handbag firm?

No! But as of, like, literally yesterday. 

https://escapecollective.com/pinarello-has-been-sold/

Latest Comments

That's what they want you to think...

Flipping hopeless driver - what a pillock! Pure incompetence! A solid hit to the wallet is a win.

I don't actually agree with de Vlaeminck's comments, let's wait until the end of a career to see where people are, Pogacar isn't that far off in...

“Unfortunately budgetary constraints mean that the previously envisaged cycle lanes cannot be included within this initial phase of this Victoria...

Anyone used Raw mudflaps? I nearly ordered some but got stuck with the bewildering choice of custom options. Commenting on mudflaps on 30 April......

The real worry is the loons that read, believe and share this nonsense also get a vote.

Can you share the location of this police station? I assume that it's open and you can go in, and there will be staff there. None of the stations...

BIB ... whats truck driving got to do with this....

One of the guys I gravel with has a Moulton....

He did try to run cyclists off the road. He has both poor impulse control and poor aim.

Giro d’Italia: teams list announced

Racing team joined by indonesian prima donnas in astana dewi women continental, astana dewi women team: a new chapter in the development of women’s cycling in the asian continent, dara latifah lands silver medal for indonesia at mtb xce world championship, 6 rebels of road cycling.

Is this the cheapest WorldTour bike? AG2R to ride Decathlon’s Van Rysels in 2024

No more brown bib shorts for the French team either, as they become Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale

All change at AG2R next season, as the team becomes Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale from 2024 onwards, with the team ditching Citroën, BMC and their famous brown bib shorts and climbing on Van Rysel bikes for at least the next five years.

Alongside the  announcement of five new riders for the French team  – including Sam Bennett and Victory Lafay – the WorldTour squad showed off its new kit and bikes for next season.

The kit is a smart blue and white affair, paired with black bib shorts, made by Van Rysel, and will be paired with helmets and sunglasses from the same line. Three new helmets have been produced for the partnership.

Van Rysel, Decathlon’s premium bike marque, has worked with Swiss Side, Deda Elementi and ONERA, the French aerospace research laboratory, to develop the RCR  PRO road  bike and the XCR time trial bike. The frame, headset and handlebars are all Van Rysel, paired with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and Swiss Side wheels. The RCR PRO bike was claimed to weight 6.826kg at the team presentation.

The partnership with Decathlon means that customers will be able to buy the WorldTour equipment at their local stores from 2024, meaning that you could walk into a shopping centre as a normal person, and emerge looking and equipped like Ben O’Connor.

Going off the bikes currently available on Decathlon’s French website, we think this means that AG2R will be riding the cheapest bikes on the WorldTour next season. The top of the range  Van Rysel RCR PRO currently on sale on French Decathlon  is on sale for €8,500, or about £7,400/$9,300. 

While this is fitted out with SRAM Red eTap not Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, and it doesn’t have the same Swiss Side wheels as the WorldTour riders will be using next year, it is a good way of seeing just how – comparatively – affordable the Van Rysel bikes will be.

In comparison, the Canyon Aeroad that Mathieu van der Poel and Alpecin-Deceuninck ride is £8,799/$9,899, which is still not a lot when compared with the Cervélo S5 that Jumbo-Visma ride, which is on sale for £12,500/$13,000, or the Pinarello Dogma F as used by Ineos Grenadiers, which is on sale for £13,200/$15,500.

ONERA’s collaboration with Van Rysel on the RCR PRO was down to aerodynamics, with the aerospace experts helping make the bike as light and as stiff as possible, while still being great through the air.

The three-year project has culminated in the RCR Pro and the XCR time trial bike. The latter is not yet available from the French retailer, but will be in 2024.

Nicolas Pierron, the director of Van Rysel, said in the press release: “Since its creation in 2019, VAN RYSEL, ‘made in Flanders’, has aspired to become a major brand in the professional peloton. Our engineers and designers set ultra-high standards to achieve ultra-performance. We teamed up with experts and professional riders, to arrive at the starting line with products ready to win. 

“We are very proud to see our bikes, helmets, and glasses chosen by the AG2R La Mondiale teams, including the long-established team of the UCI WorldTour. We are excited and eager to start the season.”

Source: Cycling News

Related articles

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Stay connected

Popular articles.

Jump to Other Category

© Copyright - Cycling News

• Help Center
• Chat with a Ride Guide
• 1-866-401-9636
• Retail Store
• Bike Services

Reset Password

We will send you an email to reset your password.

Don't have an account? Create an account

Create Account

Already have an account? Sign In

• Favorite your products & save them to your account
• Save a search & get notified when new products drop
• Be first to know about the latest events & promotions

Bike Finder

Results have arrived, the most (and least) valuable tour de france bikes.

The best riders don't always ride the best bikes. Our pricing experts evaluated Tour de France team bikes to find out who's riding expensive bikes, and who's competing on something more affordable.

Written by: Bruce Lin

Published on: Jun 24, 2022

Posted in: Bikes

World Champion Julian Alaphilippe rides Specialized. Photo  courtesy of ASO/Tour de France.

Not all Tour de France race bikes are created equal. Big teams with big-name riders and big budgets often get to ride the best equipment. Smaller teams have to settle for smaller, more humble bike brands. Life ain’t fair. So, which Tour de France team is riding the most (and least) expensive bike? 

I proposed a dream scenario to our in-house pricing experts: What if The Pro’s Closet could buy Tour de France team bikes? If we did, what would they sell for? Sure, any bike nerd with too much time on their hands can Google the MSRP of each frame and component. But since we’re the world’s biggest used bike retailer, I knew I could get accurate, specific information from our analysts. Plus, they can even account for depreciation . Just a quick warning: If you read on, you’ll probably be seeing dollar signs every time you watch the Tour this July

[button] Shop road bikes [/button]

The most valuable Tour de France bikes

To arrive at these bike values, I averaged the expected sale prices presented by three of our pricing experts. Every day, they use their years of experience, thousands of comps, and even some fancy algorithms to estimate the expected sale price of any used bike . I made sure to get opinions from a diverse group. George is a pro roadie, Kyle is an MTB and motocross nut, and Thatcher is a former pro mechanic. Impressively, all of their estimates were within a few hundred dollars of each other! And all three valued the top three bikes at over $10,000.  

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 - $13,599.00

Teams: Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team, Bora–Hansgrohe, TotalEnergies Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2  Wheels: Roval Rapide CLX

Specialized is one of the biggest bike companies in the world, big enough to sponsor three Tour teams. At over 13,000 dollars, the S-Works Tarmac SL7 is also far and away the most valuable bike. For many, this will come as no surprise. We already know that Specialized bikes hold their value better than any other brand. And the aero Tarmac SL7 is the latest and greatest do-it-all race bike for everyone from climbers to sprinters. All three pricing experts also noted that having a top-of-the-line S-Works frame will take any Tarmac to the next level.

George: Super desirable, anything S-Works sells amazing. Kyle: The most desirable road bike on the market. Thatcher: The S-Works factor makes these bikes sell fast! They hold value inordinately long.

[button] Shop Specialized [/button]

Pinarello Dogma F - $11,499.00

Team: Ineos-Grenadiers Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace

Ineos has the biggest budget in the peloton, and its riders won seven of the last 10 Tours, so of course, they’ll be riding some pretty nice equipment. Pinarello is one of the top Italian brands, and the Dogma always draws a lot of interest — just not quite enough to challenge an S-Works Tarmac, apparently. It could boost its value with some exotic wheels, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility, since Ineos has been known to opt for Lightweight and Princeton CarbonWorks wheels on certain stages.  

George: Good one. Pinarellos are some of the most expensive road bikes we sell. Kyle: Dogmas sell great, and Dura-Ace is Dura-Ace. Solid and desirable.  Thatcher: Dura-Ace wheels are good ... But it could use something more exotic.

[button] Shop Pinarello [/button]

Colnago V3Rs - $10,232.33

Tadej Pogačar. Photo  courtesy of ASO/Tour de France.

Team: UAE Team Emirates Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record EPS Wheels: Campagnolo Bora Ultra / WTO

The Colango V3Rs is the bike ridden by the two-time defending champ, Tadej Pogačar. His UAE team also has massive funding thanks to its title sponsor. Despite that, the V3Rs only just managed to make it onto the third step of the podium. Even though Colnago is a legendary Italian brand, it just doesn’t have the mass appeal to topple the likes of Specialized and Pinarello. Add in the Campagnolo EPS electronic drivetrain, which isn’t as common as Shimano Di2 or SRAM AXS, and you have the recipe for a pricey, but super-niche bike. 

George: The Super Record and Boras won’t pull as much as equivalent SRAM/Shimano or Zipp/Enve. But as a complete Italian package, it's still pretty desirable.  Kyle: It’s rare to crack $10k on a Colnago, but this definitely can. EPS has such a small market these days though.  Thatcher: Colnagos have a very niche customer but that customer often likes Campy. EPS doesn’t do as well as the SRAM and Shimano components though.

[button] Shop Colnago [/button]

The most affordable Tour de France bike

Do you want to ride a pro bike without breaking the bank? This is the team bike that our experts universally agreed was the most affordable. 

KTM Revelator Alto - $6,665.67

Team: B&B Hotels-KTM Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1100

B&B Hotels is a small French UCI ProSeries team, so it has a smaller budget and is actually ranked a tier below WorldTour teams like Quick-Step, Ineos, and UAE. This year, its riders are on the KTM Revelator Alto. Despite having the same name as the legendary Austrian motorcycle brand, KTM bicycles simply don’t have the prestige or resale value of more established cycling brands. It is still a pro bike though, so its value is bolstered by a very nice Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain and DT-Swiss carbon wheels.

George: Does not do great in comparison to other brands.   Kyle: I love my KTM motorcycle, but …     Thatcher: Not a very common brand and they always seem to be slow sellers.

[button] Shop KTM [/button]

[newsletter]

A few more Tour de France bike values

The vast majority of teams ride bikes valued between $8,000-10,000. Here are some of the top WorldTour team bikes (and one ProSeries team bike) that didn’t quite have the firepower to make it onto the podium. 

Trek Emonda SLR - $9,832.33

Team: Trek-Segafredo Groupset: SRAM Red AXS Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus

Trek bikes are top sellers, and the Emonda is one of the most popular all-rounders. But Trek’s SLR frames don’t light the afterburners the same way Specialized’s S-Works frames do. Interestingly, our experts noted that SRAM AXS tends to sell better than Di2.

[button] Shop Trek [/button]

Cervelo R5 Disc - $9,532.33

Team: Jumbo-Visma Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace

Jumbo-Visma is the top challenger to UAE Team Emirates, but its Cervelo R5 falls a bit short of the 10K mark. Our experts actually noted that the slippery S5 aero bike that riders like Wout van Aert will use on sprint stages would hold its value much better.

[button] Shop Cervelo [/button]

Giant TCR Advanced SL Disc - $8,999.00

Team: BikeExchange–Jayco Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Wheels: Cadex

BikeExchange is getting some serious bang for its buck with the Giant TCR. Giant is the world’s biggest bike manufacturer and it has always provided a lot of value for performance. Our experts also noted that Giant’s Cadex carbon wheels actually sell extremely well.

[button] Shop Giant [/button]

Cannondale SuperSix Evo - $8,832.33

Team: EF Education–EasyPost Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Wheels: Vision Metron 

I love the Cannondale SuperSix Evo , but unfortunately, it just doesn’t pull in high dollar amounts the way Specialized, Trek, and Cervelo bikes do. Vision Metron carbon wheels are solid but don’t seem to get bike buyers as excited as other brands.   

[button] Shop Cannondale [/button]

Canyon Aeroad CFR - $8,699.00

Team: Alpecin-Fenix, Movistar, Arkéa-Samsic Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Wheels: Shimano Dura-Ace

As a direct-to-consumer brand, Canyon bikes often have a lower MSRP. This results in a lower resale price compared to many competitors. Not that star rider Mathieu van der Poel cares. Expect him to drop plenty of racers riding much pricier bikes. 

[button] Shop Canyon [/button]

Bikes, Features, Latest, Road Apr 26, 2024

I Will Never Stop Loving the 1st Gen Specialized Allez Sprint

Bikes, Features, Latest Apr 15, 2024

The Sanitas Tap Root: Win A Singlespeed Ti Hardtail With Downcountry Geo

Bikes, Gravel, Latest, Road Apr 11, 2024

ENVE Fray: The Definitive All-Road Bike? The Coolest for Sure.

Bikes, Latest, MTB Apr 5, 2024

This Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup Is My Perfect Leadville Bike

Bikes, Fun, Latest, Road Mar 29, 2024

What's the Best Bike at Tour of Flanders 2024?

Bikes, Features, Gravel, Latest Mar 28, 2024

This Crust Bombora Shows Us a Different Side of Cycling

Bikes, Features, Gravel, Latest, Tech Mar 22, 2024

This ENVE MOG x Classified Bike Might Represent the Future of 1x

Bikes, Features, Latest, MTB Mar 15, 2024

Banshee Legend DH Bike Review: A Privateer’s Dream Bike

Bikes, Features, Latest Mar 6, 2024

The Seven 622 SLX: How Carbon/Ti Is a Bit Retro, but Also Maybe Futuristic

Bikes, Features, Latest, Vintage Feb 21, 2024

The Mantis X-Frame Valkyrie: A Rare Experiment in MTB Frame Design

Bikes, Features, Latest, Tri&TT Feb 14, 2024

Cervelo P5X: A Real-Life Tron Bike That’s Crazy but Also… Practical?

Bikes, Features, Gravel, Latest Feb 7, 2024

I Like This Revel Rover, but I Like the Recyclable Wheels Even More

New arrivals.

Certified Pre-Owned

Trek Domane SL Road Bike - 2020, 60cm

Yeti Cycles SB100 GX Eagle Mountain Bike - 2019, Medium

Specialized Diverge E5 Comp Gravel Bike - 2022, 54cm

Santa Cruz Heckler X0 AXS RSV 29 Mountain E-Bike - 2023, Medium

Specialized Shiv Triathlon Bike - 2018, Small

Specialized S-Works Epic Evo Mountain Bike - 2021, Medium

Trek Boone Cyclocross Bike - 2023, 61cm

Knolly Fugitive 138 Mountain Bike - 2021, Medium

Argon 18 E-117 Tri Ultegra Di2 Time Trial Bike - 2020, Small

Specialized Status 160 Mountain Bike - 2022, S4

Evil Wreckoning LS X0 Eagle AXS Mountain Bike - 2022, Small

Lynskey Helix Road Bike - 2017, Medium

• Vuelta Femenina

Best men's WorldTour bikes of 2023: Which brand won the most races?

Canyon and Colnago dominated at the Monuments, but there was no stopping Cervélo and Specialized at the Grand Tours

Tom Hallam-Gravells

Online production editor.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Who was the most successful bike brand in 2023?

The 2023 men’s WorldTour season is already disappearing into the rear-view mirror, but it will live long in the memory. It was a year that delivered historical success for Jumbo-Visma as they became the first team to win all three Grand Tours in a single season , while Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel duked it out for Monument supremacy.

Although the riders are the stars of the show, none of their success would be possible without the bikes that helped guide them to victory. To ensure that these bikes receive fair recognition, we’ve tallied up all of the wins each bike brand amassed during the 2023 WorldTour season.

Who came out on top? Here’s a breakdown of Monument, Grand Tour and overall victories.

• Read more: Tour de France bikes ranked: cheapest to most expensive

Which bikes won the most Monuments?

=1st: canyon aeroad (alpecin-deceuninck).

2 wins: Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix

Mathieu van der Poel took two Monument victories on the Canyon Aeroad

With Mathieu van der Poel among its riders, Canyon is virtually guaranteed a Monument victory each season. The Dutchman has only failed to win a Monument in one of the last four seasons. He went one better in 2023 by doubling up for the first time, winning Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.

Incredibly, those were his only WorldTour wins in 2023 - the Dutchman clearly knows how to dial in his form for exactly when he needs it. That was proven once again at the World Championships where he powered to victory , becoming road world champion for the first time.

• Read more: Mathieu van der Poel inspires new limited-edition Canyon Aeroad CFR

=1st: Colnago V4Rs (UAE Team Emirates)

2 wins: Tour of Flanders and Il Lombardia

Tadej Pogačar and his Colnago V4Rs at Il Lombardia

It could have been three Monuments for Mathieu van der Poel if it wasn’t for that pesky Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian is equally as prolific for Colnago, although that’s previously been at either Liège-Bastogne-Liège or Il Lombardia.

This year he conquered the cobbles for the first time, winning the Tour of Flanders after cracking Van der Poel late in the race, before becoming only the third rider to win Il Lombardia three times in a row, joining Fausto Coppi and Alfredo Binda in a very esteemed list.

Both Pogačar and Van der Poel have now won three of the five monuments; can either complete the set?

• Read more: Tour de France pro bike: Tadej Pogačar’s highly-customised Colnago V4Rs

3rd: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 (Soudal Quick-Step)

1 win: Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Remco Evenepoel won Liège-Bastogne-Liège atop the Specialized Tarmac SL7 which has since been upgraded with the Tarmac SL8

There are only five Monuments up for grabs each season. With Colnago and Canyon doubling up, that only leaves one spot on the podium, and it goes to Specialized , courtesy of Remco Evenepoel ’s second consecutive victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The Belgian blew hot and cold at times throughout the season, with his Grand Tour general classification hopes stalling at both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. However, there was no stopping him at the Belgian Monument as he delivered another dominant victory after surging away from Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). That was atop the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 but it has since been replaced by the S-Works Tarmac SL8 .

• Read more: Stiffer, lighter, more aerodynamic – Specialized launches new Tarmac SL8

Grand Tours: Which bikes took the most wins at the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España?

1st: specialized.

12 stage wins: Bora-Hansgrohe, Soudal Quick-Step, TotalEnergies

Specialized made its numerical team advantage count at the Grand Tours this season by topping the pile with 12 wins. Most of those were delivered by Bora-Hansgrohe and Soudal Quick-Step , but TotalEnergies contributed one victory in their Grand Tour outing at the Tour de France, where the ProTeam regularly receives an invite.

While its 12 wins are impressive, Specialized is missing an overall Grand Tour victory from its palmarès in 2023. Those expectations were planted firmly on the shoulders of Remco Evenepoel, but his Giro d’Italia plans were scuppered by COVID-19, before his Vuelta a España defence quickly crumbled.

• Read more: Aleksandr Vlasov's Specialized Tarmac SL8 for the Vuelta a España

2nd: Cervélo

7 stage wins, 3 overall victories: Jumbo-Visma

Sepp Kuss and his teammates completed a Grand Tour clean sweep in 2023

Few would argue that Jumbo-Visma weren’t the best team of 2023, even if the UCI’s rankings don’t reflect that. The team was successful year-round, but it was the Grand Tours where they really stamped their authority on the season, making history in the process by becoming the first team to win all three in a single season.

Primož Roglič delivered the first at the Giro d’Italia, Jonas Vingegaard added to it by defending his Tour de France title, before Sepp Kuss surprised everyone by winning the Vuelta a España.

With stage wins added in, Cervélo enjoyed 10 victories at Grand Tours, and each of them was delivered by one of those three riders. It could have been even more if Wout van Aert hadn’t endured a rare Grand Tour barren spell .

• Read more: Vuelta a España pro bike: Primož Roglič’s Cervélo S5

3rd: Canyon

9 stage wins: Alpecin-Deceuninck, Movistar

Canyon bikes dominated sprints at the Grand Tours in 2023

Alpecin-Deceuninck did most of Canyon’s heavy lifting at the Grand Tours in 2023 or, more specifically, Jasper Philipsen and Kaden Groves did. The sprint duo amassed eight of the German brand’s nine wins, with Einer Rubio ’s victory on stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia providing Movistar’s sole contribution towards this tally.

While their wins weren’t enough to top the rankings, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Canyon were undoubtedly the sprint kings at the Grand Tours in 2023.

• Read more: Vuelta a España pro bike: Kaden Groves’ Canyon Aeroad CFR

Which bikes took the most wins in the 2023 men's WorldTour?

The Grand Tours and Monuments are cycling’s premier events, but littered amongst them are a wealth of prestigious races, each providing the opportunity for a coveted WorldTour win.

Here’s the complete bike rankings for the 2023 WorldTour season, including every individual race, stage and general classification victory.

As you may expect, the same brands dominate once again, plus some non-WorldTour brands make an appearance in the form of Aurum, Factor and Ridley, whose ProTeams all picked up WorldTour wins in 2023.

• 1st. 38 wins — Cervélo — Jumbo-Visma
• 2nd. 31 wins — Specialized — Bora-Hansgrohe, Soudal Quick-Step, TotalEnergies
• 3rd. 28 wins — Colnago — UAE Team Emirates
• 4th. 20 wins — Canyon — Alpecin-Deceuninck, Movistar
• 5th. 12 wins — Merida — Bahrain Victorious
• 6th. 9 wins — Pinarello — Ineos Grenadiers
• 7th. 8 wins — Trek — Lidl-Trek
• 8th. 5 wins — Scott — dsm-firmenich
• =9th. 4 wins — Cannondale — EF Education-EasyPost
• =9th. 4 wins — Cube — Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
• =9th. 4 wins — Giant — Jayco-AlUla
• =9th. 4 wins — Look — Cofidis
• 13th. 3 wins — BMC — AG2R Citroën
• =14th. 2 wins — Lapierre — Groupama-FDJ
• =14th. 2 wins — Ridley — Lotto Dstny
• =16th. 1 wins — Aurum — Eolo-Kometa
• =16th. 1 wins — Factor — Israel-Premier Tech
• =16th. 1 wins — Wilier Triestina — Astana Qazaqstan

Which bike brands won the most races in the Women’s WorldTour in 2023? We’ll be releasing the full rankings soon.

Keep up to date with the latest tech news, features and pro bikes on the GCN website, linked here .

Alpecin-Deceuninck

• Nationality Belgium
• Founded 2009
• Team Principal Christoph Roodhooft & Philip Roodhooft
• UCI Code ADC
• Bike Sponsor Canyon

UAE Team Emirates

• Nationality United Arab Emirates
• Founded 2017
• Team Principal Mauro Gianetti
• UCI Code UAD
• Bike Sponsor Colnago

Jumbo-Visma

• Nationality Netherlands
• Founded 1984
• Team Principal Richard Plugge
• UCI Code TJV
• Bike Sponsor Cervélo

Mathieu van der Poel

• Team Alpecin-Deceuninck
• UCI Wins 53
• Height 1.84m

Tadej Pogacar

• Team UAE Team Emirates
• Nationality Slovenia
• UCI Wins 74
• Height 1.76m

Remco Evenepoel

• Team Soudal Quick-Step
• UCI Wins 54
• Height 1.71m

Jonas Vingegaard

• Team Team Visma | Lease a Bike
• Nationality Denmark
• UCI Wins 35
• Height 1.75m

Canyon Bicycles GmbH is a German manufacturer of road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, triathlon bikes and e-bikes based in Koblenz, Germany.

One of the most iconic Italian bike brands, Colnago has supplied bikes to some of the best riders in the world, including Eddy Merckx and Tadej Pogačar.

Specialized

Specialized is a bike manufacturer based in California, USA. The company produces bicycles and components for a wide variety of cycling disciplines. Specialized also sells a range of premium products under its S-works brand.

Pinarello is a bike manufacturer based in Treviso, Italy. It produces a range of high-end bikes for road, track, mountain and electric disciplines. The company takes pride in being the most decorated bike manufacturer in Tour de France history.

Latest Videos

1 The Free Cycling Speed That NOBODY Is Talking About | GCN Show Ep. 590

2 Who Are The Winners And Losers In This Year's Pro Peloton?

3 The Quickest And Easiest Way To Wax A Chain

4 Is Spinning Gears Really Faster?

5 I Built My Dream Bike!

Tom is our Online Production Editor who creates tech content for the GCN website

Related Content

Michelin launches 'City Street' range, an urban tyre aimed at commuters

Increased puncture protection and a lighter weight are the headline features of the new tyre

Cervélo updates Áspero gravel bike with more tyre clearance and increased compliance

The new bike is an evolution of the existing Áspero with design choices that aim to make the bike easier to live with

Zwift launches more features and an all-new climb in latest update

Better training plan integration, iconic climbs of the Tour de France and a new Watopia climb announced

MyWhoosh makes indoor training platform available to more PC users through new Go app

Designed for “low-end Windows devices”, the more compact version of the indoor training platform is still packed with the same features

Subscribe to the GCN Newsletter

Get the latest, most entertaining and best informed news, reviews, challenges, insights, analysis, competitions and offers - straight to your inbox

The Best Budget Touring Bikes In 2024 (Under £1000)

Are you looking to buy a new touring bike that won’t break the bank? You’re in the right place, as this article will showcase some of the best budget touring bikes available to buy in 2024, as well as some tips on bagging a cheap bike.

Lots of people seem to think that you need super high-quality equipment for a cycle touring trip, especially when it comes to the bike itself. And while you do generally get what you pay for, you really don’t need to fork out £2000+ on a premium bike.

The best budget touring bikes are still ready for the open road and capable of carrying you from A to B, but will have more basic components (e.g. an aluminium frame over a steel frame or rim brakes instead of disc brakes) to save on costs.

Choosing a bike for touring with a low budget

The reality is this: touring bikes are expensive items. They’re designed to be durable and capable of hauling heavy luggage, while still being efficient and comfortable to ride all day. These are features that cost. But unless you’re planning to embark on a lengthy round-the-world tour, you really don’t need to buy the world’s best touring bike.

In fact, you don’t necessarily even need a touring bike. Although touring bikes are (obviously) specifically designed for this purpose, most bicycles can be adapted to make them suitable for touring. Hybrids and gravel bikes, in particular, can be good options. A bike with the following characteristics would be suitable:

• Comfortable riding position
• Low gears for climbing hills
• Fitment points to add racks etc
• The ability to run wide tyres (ideally 32mm or more)

So while non-touring bikes may not be primarily designed to provide comfort or carrying capability over long distances, they can still transport you and your panniers comfortably from A to B. My Trek 7.2 FX hybrid happily takes me touring in Europe, for example.

What I’m saying is this: if you have a low budget, please don’t let this stop you from touring. People have cycled epic distances on bikes that didn’t look up to the job. You’ll just need to keep in mind that cheaper bikes will have their limitations.

READ MORE: How to choose a touring bike

The best budget touring bikes

Here are the best budget touring bikes currently on the market. Not all of these bikes are specifically touring bikes — there are some hybrids and gravel bikes thrown into the mix — but they all have features that make them suitable for touring.

Giant Roam 2 Disc (£679)

A versatile hybrid bike, totally capable of touring.

The Giant Roam 2 Disc has everything you’d expect from a great hybrid bike. It’s got a suspension fork, grippy tyres and flat-bar positioning for comfort and control over rough surfaces. It’s also got wide-range gearing, 700c wheels and a lightweight aluminium frame, so efficiency and speed aren’t sacrificed. All in all, the Roam 2 is built for versatility.

The Roam 2 does have a few mounting points, but doesn’t come with any accessories for touring, so you’ll need to factor racks and bottle cages etc into your budget.

Frame:  Aluminium Wheel size:  700c Tyres:  Giant CrossCut, 700x42c, anti-puncture Brakes:  Tektro HD-M275 Hydraulic Disc Gearing:  30-46T chainset, 11-36T cassette Accessories: None

→ Buy the Giant Roam 2 Disc directly from Giant.

Riverside Touring 520 (£799.99)

Designed with European greenways and bike paths in mind.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bike brand that beats Decathlon on price. This is primarily due to the fact that they have their own in-house bike brands (such as B’Twin) and so cut out the middleman when it comes to parts. It’s no surprise, then, that their Riverside Touring 520 was the cheapest touring bike I could find, and while I was dubious as to its quality, online reviews seem to have nothing but praise.

Riverside (Decathlon) say: “Our touring team has designed this bike for discovering bike touring on greenways and bike paths.” Essentially, it would make a great euro-tourer but probably wouldn’t be reliable on a years-long round-the-world voyage. That being said, I’m impressed by the powerful hydraulic disc brakes and 11-speed cassette. It even comes with a front dynamo hub to power your lights.

Frame:  Aluminium Wheel size:  700c Tyres:  B’Twin Trekking 9 Grip Protect+ tyres Brakes:  Tektro T275 Hydraulic Disc Brakes Gearing:  11-46T 11-speed cassette Accessories:  Rear rack, mudguards, dynamo hub

 → Buy the Riverside Touring 520 from Decathlon.

Fuji Touring LTD (€999)

A packrat of a bicycle, ideal for heavily-loaded tours.

The Fuji Touring LTD was designed to be a packrat of a bicycle — ideal for long tours that will require a fair amount of luggage. It comes with a rear rack, and also has plenty of mounting points for adding additional racks, bags and bottle cages as needed.

Thanks to its flat bar design, the Fuji Touring is great for riding over rougher terrain with control and stability. This means it’s better suited for off-road detours than many of the “classic” touring bikes out there, which typically use drop bars instead. The Fuji Touring also rolls upon durable Vittoria Randonneur tyres, enabling fast rolling speeds with dependable grip and traction.

Frame:  Reynolds 520 Chromoly Wheel size:  700c Tyres:  Vittoria Randonneur 700 x 40c Brakes:  Shimano Alivio Rim Brakes Gearing:  48-36-26T chainset, 11-34T 9-speed cassette Accessories:  Rear rack and mudguards

 → Buy the Fuji Touring LTD from Fuji .

Cube Touring Pro (£849)

Touring meets hybrid – this bike is the best of both worlds.

Fully equipped with a rear rack, taillights and mudguards, the Cube Touring Pro is ready for adventure straight out of the box.

This bike is a hybrid at heart, rather than a true touring bike, but take it from me: hybrids can be great for touring. The Cube Touring Pro handles gravel paths with ease, thanks to its plush suspension fork and grippy Schwalbe Range Cruiser tyres. While it may be slower than a typical touring bike, it’ll keep you comfortable over those bumpy roads.

Frame:  Aluminium Wheel size:  700c Tyres:  Schwalbe Range Cruiser, Active, 47-622 Brakes:  Shimano BR-MT200 Hydraulic Disc Gearing:  48-36-26T chainset, 12-32T cassette Accessories:  Rear rack, mudguards, taillights and kickstand

→  Buy the Cube Touring Pro from CUBE . →  There are also  trapeze  and  electric bike  versions of the Cube Touring Pro, ideal for cyclists with less mobility.

Ridgeback Tour (£899.99)

A classic-style touring bike for adventure on a budget.

The Ridgeback Tour is a great example of a “classic” touring bike, with its long wheelbase, drop bar set-up and numerous fitment points. It has a lot in common with its dearer cousin the Ridgeback Panorama , but with cost-saving components, such as an aluminium frame, rim brakes, and a basic but reliable drivetrain.

The Tour may be the cheapest of Ridgeback’s touring bike range, but it’s still ready for the open road, as it’s equipped with full-length mudguards and a rear pannier rack. Since Dawes discontinued the much-loved Galaxy in 2020, there’s been a gap in the market for a great entry-level touring bike, which the Ridgeback Tour might just fill.

Frame:  Aluminium Wheel size:  700c Tyres:  Continental Contact 700x32c Brakes:  Tektro CR-510 Rim Brakes Gearing:  48-38-28T chainset, 11-32T cassette Accessories:  Rear rack and mudguards

→  Buy the Ridgeback Tour from  Ridgeback.

Genesis Day One (£899.99)

Touring bike meets gravel bike.

Genesis is a UK bike brand renowned for its great value models and the Day One is no different. “Super-commuter, meets touring, meets gravel bike, the Day One is our triple threat!” say Genesis. Decked out with an abundance of mounting points for racks, bags, cages and more, this bike is designed to take you and your gear as far as your legs will carry you.

Interestingly, the Genesis Day One is equipped with an internal gear hub, rather than derailleur gears. This might be either a positive or a negative, depending on your preference, but I personally think it’s a positive. Internal gear hubs require much less maintenance, are generally more reliable and allow you to change gears while stationary.

Frame:  Double-Butted Aluminium Wheel size:  700c Tyres:  WTB All Terrain Brakes:  PROMAX DSK-300 Road Mechanical Disc Gearing:  Shimano Nexus SG-C6001-8D 8-speed internal gear hub Accessories: None

→ Buy the Genesis Day One from Genesis .

Trek FX 3 Equipped (£900)

A fully-equipped bike from the world’s most popular hybrid series.

Trek’s FX series is the most popular hybrid line in the world — clearly, they have a great track record. While there are a few different models in the FX series, the FX 3 Equipped is a particularly great option for touring.

As the name would suggest, it’s very well-equipped and ready for adventure straight out of the box. It comes with a rear rack, mudguards and taillights as standard, as well as powerful disc brakes, puncture-resistant tyres and a wide-range 11-36 cassette to get you up those hills.

The FX 3 Equipped does come in at just under £1000 and so may be stretching the limits of a “budget touring bike,” but there are cheaper models in the FX line that could also be good options.

Frame:  Aluminium Wheel size:  700c Tyres:  Bontrager H2 Hard-Case Lite Brakes:  Shimano MT201 Hydraulic Disc Gearing:  46-30T chainset, 11-36T 9-speed cassette Accessories: Rear rack, mudguards, kickstand

→ Buy the Trek FX 3 Equipped directly from Trek.

Marin Four Corners 1 (£995)

A comfortable gravel bike designed with touring in mind.

Marin’s Four Corners is just squeezing into this best budget touring bikes list at £965. It’s primarily a gravel bike but is designed with touring in mind, which is why it’s featured here. It has an abundance of mounting points for racks etc, tons of heel clearance, and a heads-up riding position for comfort over long days in the saddle.

The Four Corners is certainly built for adventure and is happiest touring a little off-the-beaten path, whether that’s a dirt road, gravel path or forest track. At almost 13kg, it’s a little sluggish uphill and certainly won’t break any records for speed, but it’ll make a versatile and comfortable touring companion. Touring is all about the marathon and not the sprint, after all.

Frame:  CroMo/Steel Wheel size:  650b on XS and S frame sizes, 700c on the rest Tyres:  WTB Resolute Brakes:  Tektro Spyre-C Road Mechanical Disc Gearing: 50-39-30T chainset, 11-34T 9-speed cassette Accessories: None

→ Buy the Marin Four Corners 2022 from Marin.

Quick tips on bagging a cheap touring bike

Buy second-hand: You may be able to get a really great deal by buying a used bike. eBay and Gumtree are good places to look. Searching “touring bike” on eBay just now, it’s come up with a Ridgeback World Voyage for £300, a Dawes Ultra Galaxy for £218, and a Genesis Tour de Fer for £647. The Dawes Galaxy is an iconic model and was a touring favourite for almost 50 years until it was sadly discontinued in 2021. There are loads of them in secondhand bike shops and online marketplaces now.

Buy at the end of the year: Towards the end of the calendar year, many bike brands will start rolling out next year’s models. A complete frame redesign takes a lot of time and investment and can’t be done every year. So when a brand launches its next bike, it will usually just be a new colour scheme and a few minor changes — essentially the same bike, but now at a higher price. They will need to clear stock to make way for these new models, so you can often grab last year’s model at a discount during this time.

Upgrade later: The nice thing about bikes is that they can be modified and upgraded. As long as you choose a bike with a decent frame now, you can upgrade sub-par components over time. This means you won’t be taking such a financial hit in one go.

About The Author

Lauren Pears is a freelance travel writer and blogger based in London. She writes about active adventure travel, aiming to encourage and inspire travellers to make the most of the great outdoors.

Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren. Hotels –  Booking.com Hostels –  Hostelworld Cheap flights –  Skyscanner Travel insurance –  World Nomads Outdoor gear –  Decathlon  /  GO Outdoors Cycling gear –  Chain Reaction Cycles Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!

Similar Posts

How To Choose a Touring Bike

The 10 Very Best Touring Bikes For 2023

Careful, the very first pic you posted, you say it’s an aluminium frame, while it’s clearly steel from the photos and listed on the product webpage. Hard to have much confidence in the rest of the article.

Hi Everett, are you referring to the Ridgeback Tour or the Giant Roam 2? Both of these definitely have aluminum frames.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Best Cheap (Sub-£1,000) Touring Bikes for Low-Budget Adventures

Posted on 

Many of the cheap touring bikes listed here did not survive the pandemic, so the latest edition of this post is shorter than before. For further options, you may wish to head over to the updated-for-2024 list of best touring bikes at all price points .

As cycling continues to grow in popularity, many manufacturers have begun producing cheap, entry-level touring bikes aimed at cyclists and travellers on a lower budget.

For me, as a long-time evangelist for the bicycle as the best way to see the world , seeing more cheap touring bikes on the market is a welcome trend. Some recent trends in cycle touring (especially those better described as bikepacking ) have become marketing instruments for selling expensive, top-of-the-range equipment to people who would be fine with something far simpler.

While there is always a place for artisan products and the pursuit of design excellence, there also needs to be an accessible route into this wonderful lifestyle for people with limited financial means. After all, cycle touring can also represent one of the most affordable – and therefore accessible – ways to see the world.

In this focused post, then, we’re going to have a specific look at some of the cheapest commercially-available touring bikes that have also stood the test of time and proven themselves reliable on real-world bike trips.

Shall we get started?

New Cheap Touring Bikes: What To Expect

When I say ‘low budget’ or ‘cheap’, don’t forget that a touring bike still needs the durability to cover a lot of miles while carrying a lot of luggage. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t meet the basic definition of a touring bike at all.

So, in this post, I have classified a cheap touring bike as a new, touring-specific bicycle with a manufacturer-suggested retail price of under £1,000 (about US$1,300 or €1,200).

The most popular touring bikes cost a lot more than this. ‘Cheap’ is a relative term.

(If this number doesn’t sound cheap to you, by the way, I empathise completely. Luckily I’ve also documented various methods of getting yourself an almost-free touring bike , though you’ll need to spend significantly more time and effort.)

For under £1,000, you can expect to get a brand new touring bike from a reputable manufacturer that will serve you well if you understand its limitations.

And if you find a good clearance deal in the low season, you could pay even less.

Some notes on the design of cheap touring bikes.

When you look through the list below, you’ll find that entry-level touring bikes are usually (but not always) designed primarily for use on good roads and bike paths, which is where most people imagine beginning their bike touring careers. 

For this reason, most cheap touring bikes have classic touring geometry , road bike wheels and tyres based around the 700C wheel size , simple, cable-actuated rim brakes rather than more complex disc brakes , and drivetrain components taken from the budget end of Shimano’s mountain-biking or road component ranges.

They’ll generally be based on aluminium frames , which are cheaper to manufacture than steel, and will usually come with a basic rear rack to carry a set of touring panniers . Don’t expect a front rack (aka: lowrider) to be included as standard, as manufacturers expect newbie riders to be using a two-pannier luggage setup. 

Most touring bikes are sold with basic mudguards (fenders) already fitted. Expect contact parts like saddle, pedals and grips to be extremely basic – though this is also the case with premium touring bikes, as most riders will want to fit their own preferred components.

A cheap touring bike may be a good choice if you want to give cycle touring a try but don’t want to invest too much in a high-end touring bike before you’re sure cycle touring is for you. Entry-level touring framesets are often suitable for upgrading as your ambitions grow; and if you find you just don’t get on with bicycle travel, you can sell the bike and cut your losses.

Conversely, a cheap touring bike may be a bad choice if – among other things – you have a habit of trying to save money even when you don’t really need to. If you’re serious about doing a lot of bike touring in the future, and you do have access to the necessary funds, you might be better off investing more in premium touring bike or even a custom-built expedition bike that will both serve you better in the long term and save you money on maintenance and upgrades over time.

Before we go any further, I should add that my strong advice against buying bikes online applies equally with cheap touring bikes. 

Having said that, let’s take a look at some of the best-value touring bikes available today.

Adventure Flat White 

Availability: uk rrp: £440.

While this bike has recently been discontinued by the manufacturer, I’ve kept it on this list for reference while leftover stock remains on sale.

First up from Adventure Outdoor Co (a sub-brand of Sportline, one of the UK’s biggest bicycle distributors) is the Flat White, part of their series of entry-level bikes. It’s an impressive effort to produce what is probably the cheapest off-the-peg touring bike on the market in the UK right now.

The cromoly steel frame in particular will attract a lot of interest, and it looks to be well thought out in terms of eyelets and braze-ons. The 2×7sp Tourney drivetrain isn’t going to impress anyone, but there’s no particular reason it wouldn’t take you a couple of thousand miles before needing attention – and spares for this range are abundant and cheap.

• Click here to read my detailed review , and scroll down for some helpful comments from owners of the bike who’ve taken it on longer trips.
• Click here for a list of UK and international stockists of Adventure Outdoor Co bikes.

Dawes Galaxy

Availability: uk rrp: £700.

Dawes, too, sadly discontinued the Galaxy line in 2021, citing several years of declining in sales. Again, I’ve kept it on this list for reference while leftover stock remains on sale.

Long known as the archetypical British road touring bike, the Galaxy is the entry-level model in Dawes’ current range. For the money, you get a remarkably accomplished machine with one of the longest-running British bike manufacturers’ names behind it.

Very close on paper to the Ridgeback Tour (see below), the Galaxy is fitted with Schwalbe Marathon tyres, which will get you across a continent or two before needing replacement. Gearing is definitely road-oriented, with a low ratio of 28×32.

• The Dawes Galaxy was one of the most widely available touring bikes in UK high street bike stores, so you may still find a few older models for sale.

Cube Touring

Availability: worldwide list price: £800 / €730 / us$760 / ca$1,090.

The entry-level touring bike from major German bike maker Cube is the affordable and simply-named Cube Touring . The standard model in this range is currently one of the cheapest off-the-peg touring bikes on the market, and is widely distributed across Europe and North America.

If you’re used to the appearance of British or American designed tourers, you’ll notice some big differences, such as the flat handlebars and adjustable stem, the resulting upright riding posture, and the front suspension fork, as well as other details like a kickstand, a hub dynamo, and LED lights as standard. These are all fairly typical features of touring bikes from German and Dutch makers, where utility and comfort take priority over provenance.

In an effort to cater for a diverse customer base, the Cube Touring range comes in several frame variations and sizes, including the classic diamond frame (5 sizes), women’s specific with a sloping top-tube (3 sizes) and a step-through frame for riders with impaired mobility (3 sizes), all in a choice of two colour schemes.

The ‘semi-integrated’ rear rack, which is held in position by the mudguard/fender, is unorthodox, and the seat stays and front fork don’t have standard mounting points, complicating any modifications to the bike’s luggage-carrying capabilities. Riders looking for an entry-level touring bike that can be upgraded in the future may also decide to pass on the Cube Touring for these reasons.

The rest of the specification is impressive at this price point. The entry-level Shimano V‑brakes and drivetrain components are sensible. As with any bike, you’ll want to fit your own preferred saddle, but the inclusion of ergonomic grips, lights, fenders and a kick-stand makes the Touring more or less ready to hit the road right out of the box.

• Check out the full Cube Touring range on the Cube website .
• Find your local dealer in Cube’s online directories of stockists in the UK and Europe , the USA , and Canada .
• Don’t buy this bike online. Support your local bike shop ( UK list )!

Decathlon Riverside Touring 520

Availability: uk & europe list price: £800 / €800.

There’s no denying the success of Decathlon ’s no-frills approach to designing, manufacturing and selling sports and outdoor gear. The Riverside Touring is the entry-level model in Decathlon’s new foray into touring bikes, and for many riders will be a welcome addition to the sparse options at this lower-budget end of the market.

The Riverside Touring 520 is based on an aluminium frame, whose geometry sits somewhere between the old-school rigid mountain bike and today’s trendy gravel/hybrid rides. The frameset sports a big range of mounting points for more or less any luggage configuration you might imagine, including a front lowrider or fork cages, a traditional rear carrier rack should the semi-integrated stock rack not be to your tastes, and no less than five bottle cages.

The riding position of the Riverside Touring leans towards relaxed and upright, with the sloping top-tube helping with mounting and dismounting, and flat bars with so-called ergonomic grips and bar-ends atop a stack of head-tube spacers, all pointing to a bike designed with the casual or newcomer rider in mind. Comfortably wide 1.75″ tyres will be equally content on asphalt and gravel at the 700C (28″) wheel diameter.

Looking at component choice, Decathlon have specified a 1×11 drivetrain (ie: a single front chainring driving an 11-sprocket rear cassette); unusual on a tourer where riders tend to benefit from a wide and fine-grained range of gear ratios. The hydraulic disc brakes are also an unorthodox choice for a touring bike. Both will have traditionalists up in arms, citing increased chain wear rates, a reduced choice of gear ratios, and the near-impossibility of repairing hydraulics on the roadside.

There is a certain amount of validity to such criticisms, but a quick scan of the many customer reviews of this bike suggest that these concerns may be more theoretic. In the regions of the world this bike is likely to be used, spares and repairs for this bike will be abundant. And if you want to take it further afield, you can always fit cable disc brakes and/or a regular drivetrain.

Certainly one of this bike’s great strengths is how widely available it is for test-riding, Decathlon having hundreds of locations across Europe and increasingly further afield. Indeed, I can easily imagine a first-time tourer with a reasonable gear budget walking out of the store with not just the bike but a full set of luggage and maybe some camping gear too.

There are only four frame size options, however. Taken together with the wheel size, this may prevent those with short body lengths from finding a good match with the Riverside Touring 520.

In summary, while Decathlon have leaned pretty far into the crossover between classic touring and the gravel bike trend, there’s little to find fault with at this price – and there’s considerably more scope for upgrades here than other entry-level touring bikes in this list.

• Buy the Riverside Touring 520 in the UK from Decathlon .
• The bike is also available from Decathlon branches across Europe and beyond.

Ridgeback Tour

Availability: uk list price: £900.

Ridgeback ’s touring bike series has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, with many long-distance riders using the Panorama or the Expedition .

Happily reinstated for 2024, the Tour is their entry-level offering, and for the price, you’ll find an impressively well-specified aluminium-framed touring bike.

The 3×8sp mountain-bike drivetrain with a Shimano Claris rear derailleur and an 11–32t cassette gives the Tour a good range of gear ratios, and the Continental Contact tyres are above average: expect to get a good few thousand miles out of these.

Other plus points include 36-spoke wheels, toe clips, a sturdy rear rack, and a range of 5 frame sizes. Ridgeback are well distributed in the UK; it shouldn’t be hard to find a dealer in your area.

• Check out the Ridgeback Tour on the Ridgeback website .

Pro Tip #1: How To Get A Cheap Touring Bike Even Cheaper

Whether online or in store, getting discounts on touring bikes is all about timing .

New season models start rolling out towards the end of the calendar year, but sales decline at this time too. This is when most stores will start clearing old stock to make space for new season bikes. Discounts are generally around 25–35%, but can be more.

Late spring and summer is peak bike-buying season, making it the worst time to get a good deal on a bike.

Pro Tip #2: How To Avoid Buying The Wrong Bike

As I’ve mentioned many times elsewhere, the best way to avoid getting the wrong bike is to test ride it first .

You’ll also benefit from getting the bike set up by an expert bike fitter for your unique size, shape and comfort preferences.

Read this touring bike FAQ post for more on why this is such a critical stage of choosing a bicycle, be it a cheap touring bike from the list above or top-end expedition bike to take you round the world.

Related to this, if you’re having a hard time choosing between a small number of models on your shortlist, it’s probably because the one to choose will be the one that feels right when you test-ride it – and you haven’t test-ridden them yet.

(If you’re UK-based, this list of specialist touring bike shops might help here.)

Pro Tip #3: Some Advice On Upgrading Cheap Touring Bikes

As mentioned earlier, many of these bikes – particularly those with steel frames – are prime for upgrading if you decide to make touring a more regular thing, or you have something more adventurous in mind.

Among the best places to start are with the wheels (changing the stock wheels for a hand-built pair), the tyres (upgrading to a more durable set such as the Marathon Plus or Mondial), and the racks  (Tubus’ cromoly racks are second to none).

You might also consider getting the basic headset switched out for a more durable cartridge-bearing unit.

Upgrading these parts will make your bike a much more capable long-haul touring machine, as they’re critical structural parts that you’ll want to make as fail-safe as possible.

Drivetrains, pedal bearings, gear and brake cables and the like will wear out, of course, but that’s true of bikes twice the price – and in any case, these are things you can easily replace when you’re on the road.

You might also consider building your own touring bike if you have access to plenty of cheap or free components.

Are there any other cheap yet reliable touring bikes I’ve missed from this list? Do you have first-hand touring experience with any of the bikes above? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below!

Save or share this post:

• Share Copied to clipboard

Also relevant to this post:

• How To Custom Build The Ultimate Expedition Touring Bike (With Pictures)
• What’s The Best Touring Bike? (2024 Edition)
• 3 Critical Questions To Ask Before You Choose A New Touring Bike

Comments ( skip to respond )

39 responses to “the best cheap (sub-£1,000) touring bikes for low-budget adventures”.

Hi I’m in the UK at the moment and planning to tour with a bike from Liverpool through France to Italy for 3months. I’m totally a bigger. Please help me for choosing a bike the best for a woman 167cm. And my budget is around £600 with all gears. I’ve searched Trek dual sport 2 for woman so far. So complicated to decide to buy.. I have two months for practicing and preparing before leaving the UK.

I’d suggest you visit the nearest branch of Decathlon and try their Riverside Touring bike. Their staff should be able to advise on the correct frame size for you, and let you test ride it too. It’s slightly over your budget, but you won’t find any new touring bikes that cheap any more…

Thanks Tom for all the pain and hardwork you take to collect all the available information on touring or world traveller bikes and present us in simplified way which helps in finding right bike for every one dreaming of touring the earth surface. All this information is so inspiring for adventure tourers. I am one of the dreamers and hope one day of bike touring the world. Thanks and respect from India.

Thanks for the many interesting write-ups. I would appreciate a little article on the Marine Four Corners. tq

I wouldn’t be able to write a dedicated article without riding one for a good amount of time. Having looked at the spec, the lack of racks and the road groupset (among other things) mean it doesn’t really fit the mould of a classic off-the-peg touring bike – more a gravel bike you might occasionally use with light bikepacking luggage.

Hi Tom, I love your website and have learned so much from it, so many thanks. Just a thought on your list of budget touring bikes. I seems to me that most bikes sold for “touring”, in the UK at least, are less than ideal in two principal respects. Firstly, they mostly have drop handlebars. To be honest, hardly anyone tours with drop these days, except (mainly English) traditionalists of mature years! Why can’t manufacturers get up to date and offer flat bars with decent bar ends? Secondly, and this is related to the type of bars, the gearing on most “touring” bikes is not really low enough for grinding up long steep hills with loaded panniers. In my respectful opinion a sensible touring bike will have more or less MTB gearing which is easier to achieve with flat bars. For what it’s worth, I am 69 years old and have been cycle touring for only about 5 years. I have learned from experience and experimentation. I bought a bike to help recover from two hip replacements, and became quite hooked! The problem was I bought a Boardman hybrid which wasn’t really suitable for cycle touring but over the years I have experimented with various handlebar set-ups and have changed from a double to a triple chainset combined with a big cassette, which gives very low gearing. It’s a bit of a compromise but does ok for simple UK touring such a the English Coast to Coast and a recent trip across Scotland. 

Thanks again and keep up the good work

Hello Tom, have you come across the Kalkhof range? I’ve only just come across it — I’m on a quest to find a bike for modest length trails (20 — 40 miles at the moment). My current bike is a Dutch-style McKenzie with all of 3 gears. I’ve just found a Kalkhof Voyager 21 2018 step-through Hybrid bike. I like the upright position and 3 years in Germany biases me towards German design but I know nothing about bikes beyond how to ride one. Any thoughts?

Hi Tom, A bit of a wild card, but people looking for a budget “euro-tourer” as opposed to a “world-tourer” would probably like the Decathlon “Hop-rider 500” priced at £400. 700c, 38c, triple shimano and hub dynamo to boot. lightly loaded this would make a fine short to medium distance machine. Could be easily upgraded as things wear. Although I use a dropped barred tourer, I would definitely consider this for relaxed trips up the Danube, Canals of Holland etc, etc. Also available in ladies frame. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/hoprider-500-urban-hybrid-bike-id_8405476.html

Very interesting reviews of budget touring bikes. I’m very taken with the Flat White but the site doesn’t seem active? I’d like to find out how to purchase one of these as they seem outstanding value.

Enjoying your blogs

The site seems to work for me:

https://www.adventureoutdoor.co/mens/flat-white

A few stores seem to be waiting on new stock, so perhaps it’s just a temporary shortage…

Hi Tom, Yes the link does sort of work but no way to purchase on the site or a list of stockists. I believe they come under the group Madison and have emailed them for some help on this.

Freewheel.co.uk seems to have the Flat White in stock at £440.

https://www.freewheel.co.uk/adventure-flat-white-road-bike-varrk541

Thanks for the heads-up!

Hey Tom, this is Quentin Silvand. You most probably don’t remember me. We met years ago at a Horizon Unlimited meet in the Uk. I was on a motorbike at the time. For the last 2 years switched to cycling europe and not looking back. Still got your DVD and using it as inspiration documentary for wannabe travelers. Got a new gf and plan to go rtw and by accident saw your article on cheap touring bikes. And I think I found the bike we will buy for the trip. The ridgeback tour 2017. Cheap and cheerful I feel. Anyhow, just to say hi and thanks again for the inspiration. Regards, Q

Hey Quentin! Well done on making the switch! 😉 Good luck to you and your girlfriend on the RTW ride – when do you leave?

we will leave probably in July. I am gutted, we bought x2 fuji Touring 2017 bikes from a german website which turned out to be a scam and we lost all the money. went to the police and all but money is gone. now looking again at cheap options. on your list though it seems quite a few are now hard to find. the Adventure flat white is just out of stock everywhere. Edinburgh coop seem to have less bikes these days. really stuck as what to get now.

That’s a terrible story! Did you pay by credit card? You might be covered by fraud insurance if so…

Do you mind telling us which website it was? I live in Germany and will likely buy from something nearby!

I bought an Malvern Star Oppy S1 for $850 Aus 3 months ago for touring here in Australia. It was fitted to me but I would prefer a slightly more upright ride position. I have just finished a 1200 klm tour of NSW and Qld, my second large tour and found it virtually perfect for me. Its a 16 speed Claris with mech disc brakes, STI’s and even though I predominetly rode in the Dividing range fully loaded with front and rear panniers I never once got into the lowest gear., In all hills I train in 3rd or 4th gears only as if I am carrying weight. Their is an Oppy S2 with 105’s and Hydraulic disc, it is slightly better spec’ed then mine but it is $400- $600 dearer and I didn’t want hydraulics. I find it an excellent lower priced cromoly steel bike for the touring I do, sure many people want triples, but the way I ride, I don’t need them.

I have owned a 2016 Fuji Touring bike for the past year. I have done several 3–4 day light tours on it in New Zealand where live. I ve toured on tar seal and gravel roads and a mixture or road gravel and dirt. I also use it as my commuter in the city and for city rides for leisure. In all circumstances the bike has been an absolute pleasure to ride. I have changed to a Brooks saddle, and I did put Schwalbe marathon tyres on it. Also I put mudguards on it. Overall it has been a great purchase and when I compare it to other touring bikes I think it’s fantastic value for money. If your looking for a light tourer that you can use as a commuter when your not touring, The Fuji touring has my full recommendation.

Good to hear your experience with this bike. I am in NZ now, and considering to purchase a Fuji Touring bike as well. I was wondering where you bought it? I’ve got some troubles finding it… :/

Thanks for the guide Tom. After touring for some years on hybrid bikes, we need to replace one of our bikes and are looking at some budget options to upgrade to a proper touring bike. As I have access to the cycle to work scheme, I may have to go mainstream so leaning towards the Dawes Galaxy however, Chain Reaction has a good deal on the Fuji Touring at the moment.

So, with a 25% discount, at £636, the Fuji has CrMo frame, and Deore and Alivio components all for the same price as the Galaxy. It feels like a better deal. Would love to find a comparison of both bikes to help my decision.

Hey Carlos – if the bike looks comparable on paper, the only way to decide from this point on is to test-ride it! Perhaps you could find an LBS that stocks it?

Yes, that’s what I’ve been trying to do but the combination of Halfords cycle2work vouchers, it’s a touring bike and it’s a Fuji, which seem to have a limited distribution network in the UK, is making it very hard to find a LBS which has one to test… and I live in London.

My LBS suggests the Ridgeback Tour or Voyage over the the Dawes Galaxy, which they believe is overpriced. But the 2018 Tour is £750 and the Voyage £850. Will continue searching.

I wouldn’t be surprised if those are all the exact same frame with different branding. Not that there is anything wrong with that. They just all look identical.

My brother and I recently did a 1000km tour from Newcastle to Brisbane (Australia). It was on a mixture of tar and dirt roads. It rained half the days. At one stage we road several kms over a flooded swamp like road; we also road several kms over a gibber road and many of the dirt roads were muddy because of the rain. We carried camping gear.

My brother purchased a Fuji Touring bicycle to do the trip. The touring bicycle market in Australia isn’t big and the Fuji is at the entry level of what is available. The cost was around 1100 AUD which current is about 509 GBP at current exchange rates. (The Oz dollar has been on a roller coaster recently so not sure how useful this comparison is.)

He rode the bicycle as purchased except for swapping the pedals out for his preferred clip-ins.

The bicycle worked perfectly with no problems what so ever other than needing to use the barrel adjust on the rear derailer cable to tighten it about half way into the tour.

I’ve been touring for many years and I thought the bicycle was very well spec-ed for the price.

Chrome-molly steel frame. It’s a welded frame the finish look quite good to me. Low rider mounts Includes a spoke holder! 9spd Deore drivetrain. Comes with a triple so the gearing is fine for touring. Tektro, linear pull, alloy Comes with a OK rack for light touring. No mudguards.

We looked at a number of entry level bicycles and this was the best. I’d certainly recommend it if you are getting started.

Typos! Sorry. road -> rode Tektro, linear pull, alloy -> Tektro, linear pull, alloy brakes

Hi Tom, noob and a big fan here. I bought a 2014 fuji touring bike for 55k here in India. 

What is your opinion on that bike?

Your opinion is probably more valid than mine, seeing as you own one! 🙂 Have you taken it touring yet?

Hi Ram, also looking to get the fuji touring bike. How’s it keeping up?

Hey ram where in india do u get touring bikes? Did u buy ur fuji online

Hi Ilona, I can tell you it’s a really, really comfortable bike to get around on — I haven’t taken it on a long trip yet, but I have ridden it with a pretty heavy load front and back to test it and it’s worked really well for me. Cheers Sandra

Hi Tom, Thanks for the article. This is very helpful, especially tips at the end. I am just thinking about getting a new touring bike and I had in mind Trek 520. What is your opinion on that one, comparing those above? Thank you!

It used to be a classic, but I’m not sure how today’s version compares. At £900 I’m afraid it wouldn’t fit this list.

Hi Tom, maybe have a look at the Trek520 — I’m very far from an expert, but the guy at the bike shop who’s done lots of touring pointed out all the features to me (steel frame, disc brakes, good gearing) and said it’s punching above it’s weight when it comes to quality vs price. It’s AUD $1399 so that’s in about the same price range as those above.

It’s always been considered a classic touring bike, but definitely not at the low-budget end of things – £900 RRP in the UK.

Ouch! Looks like I got a bargain — I paid about 645 at the current exchange rate, and that was getting it here (through a dealer) from the USA.

Hi Sandra who was your dealer in the US?

Surly LHT’s are available for a grand these days — active sport i think doing 33% off. same with the Surly Cross also a cracking tourer without the nobblies. The 700 wheels are better than 26 imo, as they are more flexible for all round usage particularly if wanting to use it as your only bike. Otherwise, if you’re hauling mega lots on the racks, then there’s no better than the 26 LHT imo

Something to add? Cancel reply

• ten best motorcycles
• new motorcycles
• motorcycle dyno
• buyer's guide
• comparison tests
• gear and products

Top Touring Motorcycles in 2023

Comfort, modern tech, and convenience is king on these long haulers.

• Touring & Bikepacking Bikes

Here Are The 12 Best Touring Bikes You Can Buy In 2020

Table of Contents

How did i select the best touring bikes, best touring bikes: long distance, best touring bikes: light touring, best touring bikes: off-road, best touring bikes: trekking, best touring bike: all-round, best touring bikes summary.

I know, I know. It’s a bit late in the season for picking the best touring bikes for 2020. But with Summer soon arriving for many of you, I think you will really appreciate the best touring bikes for 2020!

I have gone through my 2020 Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide and picked out all of the bikes that stand out to me. You can get a copy of my book which teaches you all the ins-and-outs of touring bikes, comparing over 160 bikes, right  HERE .

Today, we’ll be going through all of my picks, and I’ll be using as many data points as possible to justify why I picked them. Even if you don’t like my bike choices, you will be able to apply this information to any touring bike you’re looking to buy.

Price/Value Some people will argue that the bikes I’ve selected are  not cheap enough, but it’s my experience that you get great performance and reliability through investing a bit more in your touring bike, especially if you’re planning on using it long-term. If you want a cheaper bike, I recommending getting an older version of these bikes second-hand…

Frame Geometry I have carefully assessed the frame geometries for each of these bikes to see whether they are suitable for the intended use. Everything I’ve picked is stable, upright and has the appropriate steering speed for the handlebar type.

Low Gear Ratios I wish I didn’t have to talk about gear ratios so much, but all too often I find that touring bikes are under-geared. Bike designers often don’t travel themselves, so they don’t understand that we are climbing all kinds of gradients with a tonne of equipment… and maybe a few days of food too! Today, we’ll be comparing touring bike using gear inches. This is the diameter of the wheel, times the size of the front chainring and divided by the size of the rear cog. With this information, we can compare bikes with different wheel sizes and drivetrain setups. All you really need to know is that lower is always better, and ideally, your touring bike will have something around 20-inches in the smallest gear for on-road, and less for off-road road. These numbers are relative: a bike with an 18-inch gear will climb 10% slower than a 20-inch gear, which means you’ll either find the same hill easier – or you can use to this mechanical advantage to comfortably ride up steeper gradients.

Frame Stiffness The majority of touring bikes support a front and rear load, and your frame is the medium which needs to resists the twisting forces between these two points. When it comes to the handling, stability and general feel of a touring bike, we want our frames to be as stiff as possible without having the weight of a boat anchor. You can determine the approximate stiffness of a frame by the diameter size of the tubes employed. On a steel bike, we’re looking for downtubes that are 34.9mm or larger.

Wide Tyre & Fender Widths Traditionally, touring bikes have had very narrow tyres. This is ok on smooth roads, but the reality is that there is very little speed penalty to using a wide slick, which will take you on the rougher backroads. The optimal tyre with fender clearance for most touring bikes is around 50mm or 2.0″. That way you can run a 35 or 40mm on the smooth tarmac, but switch to something closer to a mountain bike size if you find yourself on dirt roads.

Kickstand Mounts Kickstands are so damn useful when you’re touring, in fact, I think it’s crazy so many touring bikes don’t have them. I don’t realise how much I use mine until I borrow a bike without one, a kickstand is just 250 grams extra weight – so expect many options on this list to be kickstand-friendly.

Cube Travel // €799 This is probably the most under-rated touring bike you can buy. The Cube Travel is incredibly capable on a mix of surfaces, with 29×2.2″ tyre clearance with fenders. It comes with lots of great features including a rear rack, rear-mount kickstand, Shimano Deore 27-speed gearing, hydraulic brakes and a dynamo hub and lights. The frame is available in five sizes, and there are an additional three step-through frames for ease of getting on and off. The climbing gear is pretty good too at 22 inches.

Fuji Touring // US $899 – €899 – £799 – AU $1499 If you don’t mind giving up some braking performance, the Fuji Touring is a killer build for the price. This Reynolds steel bike is ready to cross a continent with its 36 spoke wheels, 27-speed Shimano gearing, easy-to-repair brakes and Vittoria Randonneur kevlar tyres. The bike is available in seven sizes, so it will suit riders of all heights. The long chainstays and fork rake help to offer a long and stable wheelbase, and this is paired with the quick steering necessary of a drop bar touring bike. The climbing gear is a 21″ which ain’t bad at all. If you want a kickstand, check out the Pletscher Multi for a good fit.

Diamant 135 // €1299 – £1149 – US $1410 I’m almost certain you haven’t seen this bike before, but if you have, I bet you didn’t know this: the Diamant 135 is a re-branded Trek 520, but with better parts and a lower price! This frame is available in six sizes, it has a great touring geometry has recently been updated with a larger downtube for increased frame stiffness. Like most European-specced bikes the 135 comes with all the features you need: racks, dynamo lights, kickstand and the Brooks B17 saddle which is universally well-liked. The spec is great with tough 36 spoke wheels and Deore 30-speed gearing with a 22″ climbing gear. There is one glaring downside to the 135, however, and that’s the funky handlebars. Fit a regular flat bar with bar-ends or an alt handlebar – and you will love it.

Vivente Anatolia // US $1474 – €1362 – £1186 – AU $2500 Here’s another bike you haven’t heard of. Vivente is an Australian brand that specialises in touring bikes. The owner of the company has been touring all over the world for over 40 years and as a result offers stiff, steel touring bikes with all of the touring features he likes himself – from a rear-mount kickstand, a top-tier rear rack, dynamo lights and even a mirror. These bikes come with a perfect 19″ climbing gear and super strong wheels which even feature triple-butted rear spokes – that’s attention to detail. Wait, why am I telling you about some obscure Australian touring bikes? Well, they’ll ship their bikes anywhere in the world for just US $190. That actually makes them a really awesome deal.

Kona Sutra // US $1499 – £1449 – €1499 – AU $2500 One of the hardest choices on this list was a drop bar touring bike at the mid-price point. The competition is stiff here – it was a toss-up between the Salsa Marrakesh, the Trek 520 and the Kona Sutra. I ended up picking the Sutra because it is $200-$300 cheaper than the others but comes with the best components of the lot, including a 30-speed Deore drivetrain, a 20″ climbing gear, TRP cable disc brakes, a rear rack, fenders and a Brooks B17 saddle. It’ll also clear 29×2.2″ tyres without fenders if you plan to do any off-roading. The biggest downside to the Kona Sutra is that there is no kickstand plate and they’re kinda hard to fit too. For good kickstand mounting alone, you might be better off with the 520 or Marrakesh.

2020 Diamondback Haanjo EXP // US $1999 If you’re up for packing light and travelling fast, you can’t go past the Diamondback Haanjo EXP. This bike is under 10kg and depending on your body weight, will be good to support a 10-15kg load. The lowest gear is just 21 gear inches, so you should be able to comfortably ride up the steepest road gradients, and given the bike weighs so little, it certainly won’t hold you back either. While the frameset uses a modern lightweight carbon construction, Diamondback has kept the parts simple, fitting bar-end shifters, TRP cable disc brakes and a threaded bottom bracket shell to the bike. This bike will clear 27.5 x 2.0″ tyres, it has 3x bidon mounts on the frame and provision for front and rear racks along with fenders.

2020 Salsa Journeyman Flat Bar Sora  // US $1199 My other lightweight bike of choice is the flat bar Salsa Journeyman. The Journeyman uses an aluminium frame and carbon fork to keep the weight down to 11.3kg, which is really decent for a bike at this price. You can choose between 700c wheels with narrow tyres or 27.5″ wheels with fatter tyres. The climbing gear is a little high at 24 gear inches, but you can fit cost-effective Acera 9-speed parts to the Journeyman (eg. 42-32-22t crankset) which will get the climbing gear right down to 18 gear inches! This bike has a frame geometry ripe for an alt handlebar conversion such as my  KOGA Denham Bars  or the Surly Molokos, which will provide both an aerodynamic hand positioning along with the stability of a wide flat bar.

2020 Surly Bridge Club // US $1200 – £1350 – AU $2500 The  Surly Bridge Club  is one of my favourite dirt road touring bikes. This simple steel rig is just $1200, it has an 18 gear inch climbing gear from the new SRAM SX 1X drivetrain and it will clear 27.5 x 2.8″ tyres. For an all-round touring setup, you could fit some fat 2.4” Schwalbe Super Moto-X slicks and fenders and this bike will be great on a dirt road tour too. The Bridge Club frameset has got all the braze-ons you can think of, including mounts for the Surly-8 and 24-Pack rando racks.

2020 Masi Giramondo 27.5 // US $1199 The $1200 Masi Giramondo has long been recommended by me. Not only has it got a super cool paint job, but it’s running 27.5″ x 2.1″ mountain bike tyres, TRP cable disc brakes, reliable bar-end shifters and 30-speed Deore gears with a 18.5″ climbing gear. I’m honestly surprised I don’t see more of these steel bikes floating about.

2020 Salsa Fargo Apex // US $2199, £2250,  The Fargo is one of the most capable drop bar bikes, offering 29 x 3.0″ tyre clearance, a 22″ climbing gear, and the ability to fit a  Rohloff 14-speed gearbox hub  and  belt drivetrain . The Fargo frame geometry is super upright; it’s intended to be this tall so that you can ride in comfort in the drops for long periods of time, where you have the best access to the brakes. The SRAM Apex model is actually $400 cheaper than last year, and that’s even with the awesome Salsa Firestarter carbon fork. Like many Salsa bikes, perfectly-fitting frame packs are available for the Fargo in all sizes.

2020 Canyon Pathlite AL 4   // €799, £749, US $799 The Pathlite AL 4 is a standout in terms of value and reliability amongst trekking bikes. Wait, what’s a hybrid doing on this list? Well, you’ll be really surprised what these bikes are capable of. The highlight of this rig is the coil-sprung suspension fork which is nice and reliable and will add significant comfort and traction on dirt roads. The bike has an insanely low 17″ climbing gear from its 20-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain. Chuck a handlebar pack and rear panniers on this bike and it will take you a really long way.

KOGA WorldTraveller Signature   // from €2600, US $2800, £2300, AU $4400 The KOGA WorldTraveller is one of the best touring bikes you can buy – and yes, I can justify this objectively (they’re my personal bike sponsor, however, this isn’t a paid ad nor did KOGA have any input on this list). The KOGA frame has very high attention to detail – incorporating full-length internal cable routing, a steering limiter, super smooth welds and an abrasion-resistant paint job. You can choose from 11 stock paint colours, or as an optional extra, any custom colour you desire!

You choose between a step-through or traditional frame which are both available in five sizes. The frame geometry is very stable thanks to the long wheelbase but it’s paired with agile steering up the front which tempers a heavy front load. The frame is optimised to be super stiff laterally, so you can load up the bike with a tonne of gear and it will always ride without fuss.

KOGA bikes are custom-built from the ground up using many components that I personally use and recommend. You can choose between fast-rolling 700C wheels for the road, or the 27.5″ wheels that I use for off-road terrain. These are the strongest wheels you’ll find on any stock bike – I’ve been using Ryde rims for over a decade and never had a failure. You can then pick easy-to-repair rim brakes or super powerful and reliable Shimano XT disc brakes. The WTS comes with a full XT 30-speed derailleur drivetrain, which is good as it gears for touring, or if you have deeper pockets you can choose the Rohloff internal gear hub like me.

If you want the best dynamo lighting and charging, that’s an option. Kickstand? No problem. Brooks saddle? Sure thing.

Like the Vivente, you can get these bikes shipped globally for €300, and in the process save the 21% VAT included in the price. You will, however, have to pay your local tax and import duties – so do the calculations because it might actually be cheaper to plan a bike trip in Europe, picking your bike up along the way!

That rounds out the best touring bikes for 2020! It was super hard narrowing this list down to so few, but I think these models really stand out in each of their categories. Let me know what your favourites are in the comments below!

Also, if you’d like to know everything about touring bikes, check out the 2020 Touring Bicycle Buyer’s Guide , which teaches you about all the touring bike features, before equipping you with all the tools you need to compare over 160 current bikes. It’s updated yearly for free – forever – and is a product I’m super proud of.

Are There Any Touring Bikes You Definitely Think Should’ve Made This List?

• best touring bicycles

Related Posts

The best touring and bikepacking bikes of eurobike 2023.

• Gravel Bikes

The 7 Best Budget Gravel Bikes With Drop Bars (Under $1000)

Here’s Why Gravel Bikes Will Get Much Better In 2025

The 9 Best Flat Bar Gravel Bikes (Under $1000)

• Mountain Bikes
• Gravel Bikes
• Hybrid Bikes
• Electric Bikes
• Commuter Bikes
• Exercise Bikes
• Women’s Bikes
• Kids’ Bikes
• All Best Bike Brands
• Mountain Bike Brands
• Electric Bike Brands
• Bike Rack Brands
• Brand Review: Rad Power Bikes
• Brand Review: Ride1UP Bikes

Disclaimer: Bikexchange is reader-supported . We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links on our site.

Best Touring Bikes in 2024 for Multi-Day Cycle Adventures

Bicycle touring is by far the best way to travel and experience the world on two wheels.

Touring bikes allows you to carry all of the necessities you need for a fulfilling life on the road.

Whether you go out of town on the weekends or looking for a comfortable bicycle for daily commutes to work – down here you’ll find a brief selection of different types of touring bikes.

• You may also like:   Best Bikepacking Bikes: the 14 Models We Recommend

Best Touring Bikes of 2024

1. yuba mundo lux .

Versatile cargo bike

MSRP: $2,499

•  26 x 2.15″ 
• 3×9-speed Shimano Altus 
• WTB SX-23 Rims

The steel-framed Yuba Mundo Lux is built in a cargo style that could be the perfect tourer as it is durable, comfortable, and capable of handling big loads. 

The drivetrain is a 3×9 speed Shimano Altus setup with an 11-36t cassette, and a Shimano Alivio 42x32x22t crankset. The bike has hydraulic disc brakes and huge 2.15″ Schwalbe Big Ben puncture-protection tires that provide grip and durability in all conditions.  

The Mundo Lux comes with an extra-long rear rack, fenders, LED lights, and a bell. Look no further when you want a bike that’s already got plenty of character for touring or everyday urban riding. 

Buy on REI.com

2. Surly Ghost Grappler 27

MSRP: $1,949

• Chromoly steel frame and fork
• MicroSHIFT Advent X 10-speed
• Tektro Mira MD-C400 mechanical disc brakes
• Teravail Ehline 27.5 x 2.5″

The Surly Ghost Grappler is a bicycle that could easily take you around the world (maybe even more than once) if you had the time to do it. With a touring bicycle like this, you can ride on any road and path that you come across and carve your own as well.

The Ghost Grappler gives you some incredible components for the money, so the price is well justified. You’ll get a typical gravel setup with stable geometry and a high-quality Chromoly steel frame.

You’ll be also a durable MicroSHIFT Advent X drivetrain with 10-speed gearing and Tektro mechanical disc brakes. Plenty to take on any gravel climb. In addition, you’ll have a TranzX YSP15 dropper for extra control on descents.

On downhills, control the amount of braking power you need with a set of mechanical disc brakes that stop the massive Teravail Ehline 2.5″ tires from rolling. 

Buy on JensonUSA.com

3. Ride1UP 700 Series

An electric touring & commuter bike

MSRP: $1,595

• Integrated rear rack
• 30-50mi range
• 750W rear hub
• 60Nm of torque

The 700-series by Ride1UP is not your typical touring bicycle as it is an e-bike. Depending on your purposed field of use, it can replace recreational cyclists’ needs to carry pannier bags comfortably and commute easily with a punch of electric assist which is available in both pedal-assist and throttle power.

Although this is not the bike to use for a trip around the world, it is definitely something to consider when it comes to shorter-distance travel. The reason why it is not as suitable for long-distance touring is the fork, which should be rigid, and a single-front chainring derailleur system.

Other than that, we’d love to see more mid-drive electric touring bikes available in the future. Sure, those bikes would cover a tight niché market, which might actually be quite unacceptable to the touring bike communities, but seeing someone cycling around the world with an e-bike would be something to look out for!

Buy from Ride1UP.com

4. Tommaso Sterrata

Best value touring road bike

MSRP: $1,025

• Alloy frame & carbon fiber fork
• Shimano Claris groupset
• Avid BB5 disc brakes
• 700x40c tires
• Weight: 25.4 lb

Tommaso is a company that is well-known for its valuable budget bicycles. They mainly specialize in road bikes, but with the gravel madness at its highest, Tommaso decided to give adventure cycling a try as well.

The result is one of the most beautiful and budget-conscious touring bicycles we have. Tommaso Sterrata is an aluminum travel bicycle with a carbon fork and 40 mm tires.

Italian Design And Top-Notch Engineering.  Tommaso Illimitate is one of the cheapest bicycles in this overview. Therefore, if the price is your only criterium, this is the obvious choice. However, it might be the obvious choice for some other reasons as well.

Obviously, thanks to the super-wide CST Tirent 40 mm tires, Tommaso Illimitate is capable of tackling all types of terrain. The Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes help as well by providing lots of consistent braking power in all weather and road conditions.

The only setback  is the 11-32T cassette, which might be too small if you plan to ride in very hilly areas. However, the 2x crankset provides some balance by offering you a wider gear ratio.

Buy from TommasoCycling.com

5. Salsa Cutthroat

Salsa knows its way around bikepacking

MSRP: $3,599

Weighing in at 24 lbs, the Cutthroat GRX is Salsa’s vision of lightweight touring bikes. Equipped with Shimano GRX RX400 hydraulic disc brakes, Teravail Sparwood 29 x 2.2″ tires, and stable gravel bike geometry – there’s not too much to add or remove from the bike. It’s ready to roam out of the box.

Salsa Cycles know their way around materials and components, hence the reason the frame and fork are made of carbon. Carbon is the premium frame material, and there are multiple mounts for racks and/or water bottles.

When carrying a bunch of extra gear along, you really need to find the right gear and cadence to keep you motivated. Therefore Salsa has chosen an 11-speed Shimano GRX 600 drivetrain.

Shimano GRX 600 is a mid-range groupset suited for off-road cycling. The longevity of this setup is provided makes it perfect for bicycle touring. 

All-in-all, the Cutthroat is a great touring bike equipped with somewhat foolproof materials and components, making it a great deal to consider. These are components that you wouldn’t want to upgrade when getting a touring bike.

6. Marin – Nicasio+

MSRP: $1,179

Marin Nicasio is a brand-new bike coming off the production line of this California-based company. It’s among the more affordable models on this list, offering fantastic value for the money. If you can afford just one bike but you want to do both on-road and off-road traveling, then this Marin model is a safe choice.

Just like the previous bikes I’ve shown you in this review, it’s built around a lightweight and bump-absorbing steel frame . More precisely, it’s the Series 1 Double-Butted CrMo steel frame .

In terms of components, Marin Lombard 1 is very similar to other adventure bikes in this price range. However, it has some crucial differences that make it even more suitable for pulling lots of weight and covering great distances daily.

For example, it’s equipped with a 1×9 speed microSHIFT drivetrain that features a subcompact 42T crankset and an 11/46T cassette.

The microSHIFT groupset is a common sight on gravel bikes that cost around $900, so there are no big surprises there. It’s a reliable shifting system that’s easy and cheap to take care of.

This Marin also comes with Tektro Road Mechanical Disc brakes and Marin’s double-wall, tubeless compatible wheels that sport 650bx47mm WTB Horizon tires. They’re ideal for gravel rides, but they’re quite fast on tarmac and asphalt as well.

7. Rondo – Ruut ST1

MSRP: $2,999

Another mid-priced adventure bike with all the classical elements to expect from a decent touring / gravel bike. The Ruut ST1 by Rondo features a steel frame and carbon fork for best bump-absorption and front-end stiffness, mounts for fenders and racks, and a drop bar. There’s also the 1×11-speed SRAM Rival 1 drivetrain which is quite a decent choice at this price range.

Besides the numerous rack & fender mounts, the bike comes with 700x40c tires and Rival hydraulic disc brakes. The frame has clearance for 650bx2.1″ tires which is excellent for a touring bike.

Buy on Mikesbikes.com

8. ALL-CITY – Gorilla Monsoon Apex

MSRP: $2,599

The Gorilla Monsoon is an excellent-value touring/adventure bike. With an SRAM APEX 1×11 drivetrain, 612 select steel tubing Chromoly steel frame and fork, and Tektro MD-C550 mechanical disc brakes it has it all. The bike also has unique features like a TranzX dropper post and tubeless-ready rims and tires.

The wide WTB Riddler, 27.5×2.4” tires allow you to tackle almost any terrain you want and All-City packed the frame full of mounts to make this bike perfect for bicycle touring. 

9. NINER – RLT 2-Star 

Niner RLT 9 2-Star has an aluminum frame with an RDO carbon fork. Together, they keep the weight down and provide a responsive ride, which is great if your intention is to travel long distances.

Niner RLT 9 2-Star implores you to take it on an adventure over gravel and dirt road with every component fitted on it. The loudest of them is the SRAM Apex 1  groupset. This is SRAM’s gravel-specific groupset that’s built for the roughest of terrains. It’s incredibly reliable and shifts smoothly in dirt, dust, and sand.

This RLT 9 2-Star model also has a pair of Schwalbe G-One Allround TLE 40mm tires which offer tons of traction even when the bike is fully loaded. If you find yourself racing the dark to find a place to camp, you’ll be in good hands.

The brakes are also SRAM hydraulic discs, which means that they are optimized to provide the maximum amount of power and control in loose conditions, such as gravel or mud.

We’d recommend this bike to all travelers and adventurers out there who are looking for a foolproof bike touring choice to start their across-the-world travels.

10. PRIORITY – 600

Commuter / Touring bike with carbon belt drive

MSRP: $2,299

If you want to get a quality touring bicycle that comes with some handy accessories that you will find useful when you hit the road, you should check out Priority 600. This bike comes equipped with front and rear fenders as well as front and rear lights powered by a front dynamo hub.

Its frame and fork are made of lightweight aluminum which is the favorite material in the bicycle touring the world. It’s incredibly strong and unbelievably light. The fork is rigid and the whole bike is bejeweled with a plethora of eyelets to fit all of your accessories.

The next reason why this is a great bike touring choice is the drivetrain and the components. Namely, Priority 600 comes with a sealed Pinion gearbox and a carbon belt, which don’t require any maintenance.

Pinion simplifies shifting quite a bit. The tires are WTB Horizon 650B, tubeless-ready, so you don’t need to worry about punctures. Therefore, if you’re planning to combine both off and on-road routes on your adventure, this is a great choice.

Braking is done with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, which are easy to adjust and maintain wherever you are. They offer excellent performance as well.

The conclusion is that you can’t go wrong with the Priority 600, no matter what kind of adventure you have in mind, as it’s a pretty much do-it-all companion.

Buy from PriorityBicycles.com

11. SALSA – Mukluk

MSRP: $4,199

• Lightweight carbon frame
• 26″x4.6″ tires
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• Shimano XT/SLX 12-speed drivetrain

The Mukluk adventure bicycle is optimized for long off-road rides on gravel and dirt roads that you would choose if you wanted to see the backcountry or the bush. All of the features listed above come together in this Salsa bike to create a bicycle that can navigate gravel roads, cobstones, and even mild singletracks.

This version of Salsa Mukluk comes with a premium Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain with a 10-51t cassette. That’s a very decent range that will allow you to actually ride your bike most of the time instead of pushing it.

The tires are massive compared to other adventure bikes 4.6″ wide. Coupled with 26″ wheels, they’ll ensure comfort and grip at all times. They’re tubeless-ready as well, so you can say goodbye to punctures. Finally, this bike comes with SRAM G2 RS hydraulic disc brakes which provide swift stopping power.

Buy on GravityCoalition.com

12. Surly – Bridge Club 

MSRP: $1,499

• Shimano Deore M5100 11-speed
• Surly Extraterrestrial 700x41mm
• Steel frame & fork
• Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes

One of the most-coveted touring bikes online is the Surly Bridge Club. This model is obviously equipped with all the essentials for a long-distance bikepacking tour .

The quality of components is quite good for this price range so expect it to perform according to the stats. These include a Shimano Deore drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, Surly Extraterrestrial 41mm tires, and WTB ST i21 tubeless-ready rims.

The Chromoly steel used one this bike is extremely tough and comfortable to ride. As a bikepacking bike, the Bridge Club is loaded with mounts for racks, panniers, frame bags, or all of the above. This bike is great for recreational cyclists who want the best bang for their buck so don’t hesitate to look it up. 

Buy from Gravity Coalition

How to Choose a Touring Bike?

What is a touring bike.

Touring bicycle is essentially designed to accommodate multiple racks for pannier bags and water bottles. Travel longer distances, usually overnight, is a place where a touring bike thrives. They are different from bikepacking bikes in the way the gear is carried on the frame.

Must-have components

• 650b or 700c wheels
• Multiple eyelets for racks, panniers, and water bottles
• Drop-bar handlebar
• Relaxed fit
• Rigid frame
• Generally made of either aluminum or steel
• 2x or 3x front chainring for a wide variety of gears
• Mechanical disc brakes for easy maintenance on the road

With a bike that checks all of the boxes above, you can easily go on a serious cycling expedition, such as the Cairo to Cape Town cycle route , without giving it any second thoughts.

Commuter / Hybrid / Gravel – Which is best for touring?

Apparently, many cyclists confuse these three different types of bicycles because they have some things in common. Touring bikes are bicycles with a rigid fork and plenty of mounts to add the gear on, while:

The commuter bike is widely known as a bicycle that’s used for, yes you guessed it – for commuting. Other times are known as everyday around-town bikes.

Gravel vs. Cyclocross vs. Touring Bikes — Differences Explained

Hybrid bikes on the other hand are bicycles that are a mixture of two worlds – most of the time a mixture between a road and a mountain bike while they are equipped with front suspension and lack the comfort for all-day cycling trips.

Gravel bikes are often related to touring bikes due to their wide range of use, geometry, and build quality. Although a classic gravel bike features more performance-based geometry, components, and set-ups (with 1x chainring, etc)

What are the key features a touring bike should have?

Bicycles that are used to cycle around with all share pretty much the same characteristics. Most of the time, you see those bikes use 650b wheels (27.5″), while there are the occasional 26″ wheels still around.

The frames are made of either aluminum or steel for extended durability, and as a rule of thumb with a rigid fork and a 1x front chainring means lesser maintenance while limited gearing, especially when riding around with excessive baggage.

Is a carbon fork good for touring bikes?

When talking about forks, which take the first beating in most cases, there are three options to choose from. Check out the pros and cons for each material:

• Steel – Cheap, durable, good vibration qualities. Very common as steel forks on touring bikes can accommodate various accessories on the bike.

Beginner Tips for Handling a Carbon Fiber Bike

• Aluminum – Affordable, durable with plenty of eyelets to add racks and water bottles on the fork.
• Carbon forks are common for most road bikes at the sub-thousand-dollar mark, and nowadays some touring/commuter bikes come equipped with carbon forks as well. The reason why most carbon forks don’t have eyelets is that any direct vibration reduces against the fork reduces.

Touring Bike Wheels And Tires

26″ x 650b vs 700c

• 26″ = Commonly used tires that are easily found all around the world.
• 650b (27.5″) Wide and sturdy, great size for gravel & touring bikes. Allows getting the pressure low for harder passes.
• 700c = Best for fast commutes on paved roads

The most popular choice of wheels for touring bicycles are 26″. The reason is that they are stable, comfortable, and easy to find even in the least developed countries in the world. On 26″ inch wheels – instead of 32 spokes, touring bike wheels usually have 36 spokes which make them sturdier.

650b wheels are better for off-roading, while 700c boasts better speed on paved roads. You can fit chunkier tires on a 650b wheel for better, while the selection for 700c is not as wide.

Chain vs belt drivetrain

Touring means going out in the wild elements of nature for extended periods of time, so be prepared to keep the bike up to its best performance. In recent years, we’ve seen many globetrotters use a carbon belt drive instead of the classical sprocket & chain derailleur system.

A Guide to Belt Drive Bicycles – The Advantages and Disadvantages 

As belt drives don’t need any lubrication and have a life expectancy of up to 19,000 miles / 30,000km, it is quite logical to think of it as a perfect alternative.

What components should a touring bike have?

When it comes to the components on touring bicycles, less is always more. You should be looking for simplicity. The reason is that simple components are much easier to repair on the fly if something breaks down while you’re in the middle of nowhere. Still, you should be aiming for quality Shimano and SRAM parts that won’t give in that easily after thousands of miles of abuse.

What bike accessories do you need for touring?

Finally, a touring bicycle is of little use without its accessories. The indispensable ones include racks, water bottle cages, and bike bags. Some travelers also like having a dynamo which allows them to charge their batteries while riding and power bike lights.

How much do touring bikes weigh?

The weight does not play such a significant role when it comes to touring bicycles.

That’s why they are made from heavier materials such as steel and aluminum. Why spend thousands of dollars on lowering the weight of your bike by 500g when you’re going to undo that by carrying a gas canister. When you’re tugging 20-40 lbs of weight with you, a few pounds of weight up or down does not make a big difference.

What’s the difference between men’s and women’s touring bikes?

Although we haven’t listed any specific women’s touring bikes in this list, you can check out our Best Hybrid Bikes for Women to get a broader view of what to expect.

Important Factors to Consider

Touring Bike Frame

The most popular frame materials for touring bicycles are steel and aluminum. Steel is the strongest and the most comfortable material out there. Moreover, it is the easiest to repair in case of any problems. On the other hand, aluminum is not as strong and not as easy to repair, but it is significantly lighter.

Touring frames have longer chainstays and longer wheelbases. This makes them more stable and allows riders to fit them with bike bags and other accessories. They come with numerous eyelets that let you attach racks, bike bottles, and other equipment.

Even though touring bicycles look more like road bikes, they borrow gearing from mountain bikes. They often feature MTB groupsets and gear ranges which makes it easier for riders to climb steep hills under heavy loads. The most popular are 2x and 3x systems with 11-32T cassettes and higher.

Although, it’s been proved that the 1×12 gearing is among the most optimized options for longevity, price, and gearing.

However, you’ll see many belt-drive bicycles coming to the scene due to their internal gearing, and 19,000-mile belt life expectancy!

Share this on:

About the Author

Sam Millers

5 thoughts on “ best touring bikes in 2024 for multi-day cycle adventures ”.

Starting my research for a bike to do several multi-hundred mile rail to trail vacations

Good luck and have fun! I think this selection is a good place to start.

I did not see one bike that looked like it could handle riggers of touring, 40soke hubs/front rack with mounts, any idiot that tours with too much weight on the front wheels are asking for trouble front rack is a great area for bag lower packs book stove and fuel handle n=bar bag passport/ money and maps and music easily detached/ backpacks clothing tent/ pad/ food for 7days ( big issue water) make sure that everything comes off easy /Been robbed a few times in three different countries/lighting and roll-up solar panel/ something that can be used while riding on the back rack / You would be amazed at what you can get by with less is always better/ cloth hanging on the bike to dry works. and that beer at night sure hits the spot. I use to live on a bike / for months at a time.

What would u recommend for extended touring then? I don’t know

Again many thanks. You have certainly given me much to consider. However, the Tektro CR720 are themselves cantilever brakes too. So I wonder why you have suggested these as a possible alternative to my present Tektro Oryx cantilever brakes on my Ridgeback? They look very similar. I do appreciate your comments on this subject

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Best touring bikes 2024: tourers for adventures on two wheels

Although there are many bikes capable of cycle trips, the best touring bikes remain the optimal tool for longer journeys

• Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Our pick of the best touring bikes

What to look for in a touring bike.

The allure of the open road is one of cycling’s enduring themes. Touring by bicycle allows for this on a grand scale, travelling for several days, often in far-flung places with all your kit strapped to the bike. Of course, micro-adventures closer to home can be just as much fun and still keep the spirit of adventure alive.

Whether you’re planning an expedition abroad or fancy exploring more local roads in far greater detail, a touring bike is the ideal tool for the job. Designed for cycling long distances in comfort, the bikes should be both stable and reliable in their handling, as well as providing all the mounts you need for pannier racks and bags and mudguards . Self-sufficiency is one of the tenets of cycling touring, so the bikes are usually designed with ease of maintenance in mind, too.

The good news for touring cyclists is that the range of bikes available to cater for their needs has grown substantially in the last few years.

In this guide, we've rounded up the more traditional options. If you're thinking of going off-road, perhaps investigate gravel orientated options in our buying guide here , and if you plan to go quick and travel light, see endurance road bikes here .

There's more on what to look for in a touring bike below - but first, here are our top picks of the best touring bikes.

Genesis Tour de Fer 30 touring bike

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

This is a bike that's been created exclusively to provide a comfortable and practical ride for a touring cyclist. The Reynolds 725 Heat-Treated Chromoly frame promises a springy ride and an incredibly strong base.

The 160mm rotor mechanical disc brakes are a more modern introduction with a nod to practicality, especially in the wet. Although we’ve found mechanical TRP Spyre brake calipers aren’t quite as powerful or as easy to modulate as a hydraulic brakeset, they are easy to adjust and highly reliable – perfect for a long-distance tour.

A 10-speed Shimano Tiagra drivetrain is about right for a bike at this price point, but in our experience, a 50/39/30 crankset provides gears that are just a bit too big for cycle touring – particularly over hilly terrain. 

But you can always swap this out for a smaller ringed option down the line. We find that with a cassette of 11-34t, going for a granny ring of 26t is generally a good bet.

We’ve always found Schwalbe’s Marathon tyres to be highly puncture resistant and with a good wear rate. In 35c, these are capable of traversing broken roads and tamer gravel, but if you’re planning on spending a large amount of time off road you would want something a bit plumper.

Handily, this bike come with many of the accessories we think are a must. Firstly, mudguards, but also dynamo powered front and rear lights, bottle cages and the Tubus pannier racks front and rear.

Surly Disc Trucker

A spin-off of Surly's much-revered Long Haul Trucker, the Disc Trucker keeps many of the much-loved versatility and can-do attitude, but this time with the addition of mechanical disc brakes and thru-axles – unlike the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 which has disc brakes and QR axles.

Opinion is a little split on thru-axles for touring – if you have any catastrophic issues with your hubs in more remote countries, you're unlikely to be able to find a replacement locally. That said, those kind of hub issues are quite rare and if it does happen you can always get a replacement sent out. For the improved alignment between the rotor and the caliper, we think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

A multitude of braze-on mount means the Disc Trucker is capable of running front and rear bags, full-coverage fenders, two water bottles, a spare spoke and even a pump peg. However, in not coming with these accessories, you will have to factor these into the cost, making the value for money a little less than the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 or the Kona Sutra.

With both 26" and 700c wheel build options available, the Disc Trucker can be as adventurous as you choose. The 26" (in sizes 42-58cm) is capable of taking up to 2.1" tires, while the 700c version (in sizes 56-64cm) has room for up to 42mm tires — both with fenders.

Although touring bikes generally do have a more relaxed position than a typical road bike, designed as they are for comfortably covering long distances, the Disc Trucker does have a particularly high front end. This isn't necessarily a problem, but if you are coming from a road cycling background, you may find just such an elevated position a little uncomfortable 

Made from a CroMoly Steel, the Disc Trucker comes equipped with a Shimano Alivio/Sora drivetrain, with the 48/36/26 triple Alivio crankset and 11-34 9-speed Shimano cassette provides a gearing range we find to be a great balance between top-end speed and low-end winching – particularly if you’re planning on maxing out the rider and kit weight limit of 161kg (355lb).

Kona Sutra All Road touring bike

The gloss black Sutra is made from Kona 's Cromoly steel frame and is kitted out with smooth-rolling Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x40c tires on WTB STi23 rims, which are now tubeless-compatible.

The current model has replaced the previous Shimano Deore 3x10 drivetrain with 2x10 chainset from Shimano's GRX gravel range. It's a move that's unlikely to please the touring purists. The 46/30t chainrings are matched with a 11-36t cassette, which sees the bike's gearing range reduced. It should still see you up the steep climbs, just perhaps not in as much comfort as before.

Gone too are the bar-end shifters, replaced with Shimano 10-speed Tiagra road shifters. Again it's quite the change, moving the Sutra from a traditional tourer into a far more modern interpretation. It reduces some of the bike's previous mechanical simplicity, which is appealing if your tours are long and overseas. That said the move to STI levers will appeal if you're used to riding a regular bike.

Another nod to modernity are the TRP disc brakes, which are blend of mechanical and hydraulic, and the frame's thru-axles.

With a Brooks B17 leather saddle, mudguards and a front pannier rack finishing off this tourer, this good-looking bike oozes style.

The leather Brooks saddle does require a bit more care than what you might be used to – it need to be kept covered from heavy rain and needs a semi regular application of cream to keep the leather supple. But by functioning essentially as a hammock, it is exceptionally comfortable and only gets better over time as it moulds to your shape – it wears in, rather than out..

Ridgeback Voyage

Classic styling never goes out of date - and the vintage-looking Voyage has got it by the bucket load, though a redesign means that modern tech has not been overlooked.

The Ridgeback Voyage uses Reynolds 520 tubing for the frame, with a CroMoly steel fork. A rack and full mudguards (fenders) come as standard. 

The Shimano 48/36/26t triple chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette offers a good range of gearing although with relatively large jumps between the gears due to having just nine gears at the rear. 

We don’t find this to be too much of an issue when taking it steady on a cycle tour but would prefer something a little tighter if multiple very high mileage days are planned.

Shifting and braking is taken care of by Shimano's reliable Sora levers and Tektro cantilever rim brakes. The latter certainly help make the Voyage a maintenance-friendly machine - easy to maintain and find replaces for, even in remote locations - although disc brakes may be a preferred choice for all-weather tourers.

Alex rims with a high spoke count are pretty dependable, even if not the flashiest and fitted with 32c Continental Contact tyres, they can handle a little off road, but are best suited to the tarmac.  

Trek 520 disc touring bike

Constructed from Trek's CroMoly steel, the frame has been designed around disc brakes and fitted with a rack and fenders mounts.

The Bontrager Affinity rims are tubeless-ready, which might be worth setting up if you want a bit of a faster ride when commuting. But for long-term touring it’s generally best to stick with inner tubes so as to avoid the added complication of sealant drying out. Bontrager’s 38c H1 hard-case Ultimate tyres offer good puncture resistance themselves.

The drivetrain is a mixture of Shimano parts with Sora shifters. The crankset is a triple, with 48/36/26 tooth chainrings, and the cassette is an 11-36 so you'll have ample gears when the road goes up. TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc mechanical discs look after stopping.

However, with only nine sprockets on the cassette, the jumps between the gears are a little large, as with the Ridgeback Voyage. But if this does cause you an issue, and if you find yourself not using all of the gears, you could fit a tighter range cassette for smaller jumps.

Like the Genesis Tour de Fer 30, the wheel axles are QR, which can make getting the rotor and caliper aligned properly a little more difficult than with a thru-axle system

The overall weight comes in at 14.26 kg / 31.4 lbs in a size 57, which is lighter than some of the more traditional options.

Cube Travel Pro Trapeze touring bike

Cube offers its Travel Pro tourer in both a traditional crossbar and step-through frame design, with the latter making mounting and dismounting this robust, aluminum bike easy and convenient.

The convenience theme is carried through much of the bike. It's equipped with a Shimano Nexus internal hub gear system and a Gates CDN Belt Drive system which offers super low maintenance compared with a more traditional chain and derailleur system.

With this eight-speed hub, the jumps between the gears is a little larger and the overall range a little lower than you can get with a derailleur system, and it's not quite as efficient. But that said, if you're planning on taking it steady on your cycle tour, those points are pretty immaterial compared to the benefit of much lower maintenance.  

There's plenty of clearance for extra-wide tires and the wheels are currently wrapped in Schwalbe's Marathon Almotion 29x2.15in rubber.

Finishing off this functional tourer are full-length fenders, an adjustable CUBE stand Pro kickstand, a Knog Oi bell, lights (front and rear), and a semi-integrated carrier for pannier bags; these features will have you covered for any adventure.

Salsa Marrakesh

The Marrakesh is designed to take you touring wherever you wish — including a trip around the world if necessary. The frame is built from 4130 CroMoly tubing and has a serious array of mounts. There's room for up to five bottle cages thanks to extra fork mounts plus it comes fitted with front and rear racks. There's even a mount to carry a spare spoke.

Elsewhere there are bar-end shifters and a 3x9-speed Shimano Alivio groupset. The gearing range is designed to get you up the steep stuff even when fully loaded thanks to 48/36/36 triple chainring paired with an 11-36t cassette. The shifters also make roadside maintenance a little easier.

Its world-touring credentials are further aided by its generous tire clearance - 700 x 40mm even with mudguards (fenders), and comes stock with Maxxis Roamer 42mm tires. This means you should eat up the miles in comfort even when the road gets rough.

It's difficult to lay out specific criteria when it comes to choosing a touring bike because the beauty of touring is that it can be whatever you want it to be – there is no single best touring bike for everyone, what is best for you depends on the type of tours you want to go on. However, there are key elements to consider when selecting your two-wheeled riding buddy, which will enable you to get the best touring bike for you.

Touring bike frame

If you're planning a longer trip, and intend the bike to be used primarily for such adventures, then the resilience and comfort of steel is a sensible choice. As such, most of the best touring bikes will feature this metal. The amount you're willing to invest will dictate the weight, strength and character of the steel you end up with.

When looking at steel touring bikes, expect to see the word 'Chromoly' a lot. This is a form of low alloy steel that is used when strength is particularly important. It takes its name from two of the primary alloying (mixing of metals) elements used: “chromium” and “molybdenum”.

If you're planning on using the bike for touring and other duties: club runs, commutes, shorter rides where speed might be more in your interest, consider aluminum or carbon .

Bikes suitable for touring will have a relaxed geometry: a shorter top tube and taller stack to put the rider in a more relaxed position. The wheelbase will be longer, to create a feeling of stability. You'll also notice that the chainstays are longer - this means panniers can be mounted without a chance of clipping your heels and it allows for better distribution when panniers are full.

Touring bike wheels

Elsewhere in the cycling world, we talk about low weight and aerodynamics when it comes to bicycle wheels. And sure, if you're aiming to break a world record on your cycle tour then those are probably still very important areas to consider.

However, if you mainly want to get to somewhere rather far away, and you'd like to arrive there with a wheel that's still true and contains the same number of spokes you left with, then a strong wheel is what you desire. Look for a higher spoke count that you might opt for on a speedy road bike.

The best touring bikes will generally have at least 36 spokes per wheel, tandem touring bike can even go as high as 48. 

Touring bike tyres

It's incredible how much difference a set of tyres can make to a bike. The frame can be designed with comfort top of the agenda, but put on some narrow rubber shoes and pump them up to the wrong tyre pressure and you'll be bumping about all over the road.

Most touring cyclists will want to go for wider tyres - 28mm+, when compared with their road racing cousins. The further off the beaten track you want to go, the wider they should be. If you plan on tackling some light trails, look for 32mm+.

Touring bike brakes

Traditionally, touring bikes had rim brakes and these will certainly do the job for most road-based tours. However, disc brakes do provide far superior stopping power, especially in the wet, and they are now more common than rim brake on the best touring bikes

Since disc brakes don't rely upon the rim to bring the bike to a halt, they also reduce the risk of the rims becoming worn through debris building up on the pads.

Add in that many touring cyclists are carrying luggage, therefore adding to the overall load, powerful brakes that work in all weathers do seem like a sensible addition. However, not everyone likes the appearance of disc brakes on a traditional steel machine and the pads are a tiny bit harder to replace and set up, which is worth considering if you're maintaining your bike on the road.

Luggage and Lights on a touring bike

A purpose-built touring bike will come with pannier racks fitted, as well as fenders and perhaps even built-in lights. These all add to the overall weight, but if the intended purpose requires them, it's no bother.

If you plan to use the bike for other purposes, like group rides, then you may want to look for a bike that comes with eyelets for guards and racks, so that you can remove and fit them as and when.

There's a lot of clever luggage solutions around these days, such as frame bags and oversized saddlebags , that allow you to do away with panniers if you'd rather distribute weight differently.

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

The Grade Climb, and 'My List' feature among new updates announced

By Adam Becket Published 30 April 24

The electronics branded super-team graced the jerseys and the top of the results lists throughout the Eighties

By James Shrubsall Published 30 April 24

Useful links

• Tour de France
• Giro d'Italia
• Vuelta a España

Buyer's Guides

• Best road bikes
• Best gravel bikes
• Best smart turbo trainers
• Best cycling computers
• Editor's Choice
• Bike Reviews
• Component Reviews
• Clothing Reviews
• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Advertise with us

Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

The Best Electric Bike Sales You Can Cash In on Right Now

With discounts of up to 40% off from brands like Specialized, Rad Power Bikes, Blix, and more, now is an awesome time to grab a new e-bike.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

Sure, you could ride a standard bike to the office or to a picnic in the park to meet your friends. But an e-bike can make commuting much smoother, especially on days when you don’t want to give your full effort while you’re just trying to get where you’re going. With their built-in pedal assistance, these motorized bikes can help you get from point A to point B without getting drenched in sweat. Not to mention, some models have a cargo rack on the back of the bike to make it an even better option for city-dwellers and those who want to use their bike to do errands, make a quick grocery run, or drop off a gift at a loved one’s pad.

Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 Electric Bike

This editor-approved e-bike is on sale for 40 percent off right now. That means you’ll save just over $600, scoring this bike for below $1,000.

This e-bike— equipped with a 350-watt geared hub motor and able to go for up to 40 miles—was named the best utility e-bike in our guide to the best electric bikes , with Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy and Commerce Editor Kevin Cortez noting many of its features. “The Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 is a reliable workhorse for around-town use, from short grocery trips to quick coffee runs,” they wrote in our guide . “It has a rack, integrated lights, Schwalbe Super-Moto-X tires with puncture protection, hydraulic disc brakes for improved stopping power, and a suspension fork to smooth out bumpy rides.”

Rad Power Bikes RadRover 6 Plus Electric Fat Tire Bike

You can currently score our pick for the best fat tire electric bike for $500 off the high-step model.

When recommending it, our editors pointed out how approachable this bike is with a car analogy: “Think of the RadRover as the Ford Model T of fat tire e-bikes: cheap, reliable, and for everyone,” our editors say . Now with its current discount, this 750-watt hub motor-powered e-bike is perhaps even more approachable.

Blix Ultra Fat Tire Electric Bike

Right now, you can score this editor-approved fat tire e-bike for $700 off. It has 4-inch tires, hydraulic disc brakes, and a 750-watt hub motor that peaks at 600 watts higher.

One of the most interesting aspects about this bike, though, is its dual-battery feature, which offers 1,344 Wh of power and gives riders as much as 80 miles of range at a time.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Step-Through

Available in three colorways and four sizes (though some are picked over), this editor-recommended e-bike will save you just over $1,250 when you buy it on Specialized’s site right now.

Ranked as one of the best e-bikes in our guide , the Turbo Vado 4.0 was dubbed the best premium e-bike by our editors. “We’ve ridden a lot of e-bikes over the years, and the Specialized Turbo models consistently test amongst the best in all categories. The brand puts a ton of development time into its Turbo series e-bikes by refining the motor tune and carefully selecting parts. This work pays off with best-in-class ride quality,” Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy and Commerce Editor Kevin Cortez write about this model in our best electric bikes guide . This bike features a 250-watt motor with a torque of 70 Nm and can reach speeds as fast as 28 mph.

Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser

Grab this top-rated e-bike for 14 percent off right now in both the step-over or the step-through frame options.

Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy and Commerce Editor Kevin Cortez dubbed this bike the best cruiser e-bike in our guide to the best electric bikes, calling out its style as well as its integrated rack and suspension fork as just a few of the bike’s highlights. This bike also has a 750-watt hub motor and can reach just under 30 mph when utilizing pedal assist.

Rad Power Bikes RadExpand 5 Electric Folding Bike

Named the best overall in our guide to the best folding electric bikes , the RadExpand 5 is nearly 20 percent off for both the white and black colorways.

With its 750-watt hub motor, this step-through bike has a built-in cargo rack in the back, lights situated in both the back and the front, and the ability to go as far as 45 miles before needing to charge up again. And of course, one of the biggest selling points of this bike is the fact that it folds up to help you make the most of your space.

Micki Wagner is a commerce editor for Hearst’s Enthusiast Group, where she is constantly on the lookout for exciting new products, great sales and deals, and fun gifts. Her work can also be found on Saveur and Worth . When she’s not writing about the latest and greatest products, you can find her checking out new restaurants, spending way too much time shopping online, and binging Parks and Recreation…yet again.

Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Sales & Deals

This Editor-Recommended E-Bike Is 40% Off at REI

The Best Presidents’ Day Deals on Cycling Gear

The Best Cyber Monday Deals for Cyclists

Cycling Gear Still on Sale for Prime Big Deal Days

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days: Bike Accessory Deals

Peloton Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Sale 2023

Save $700 on This Top-Rated Stationary Bike

Save Up to 30% Off at REI's Big Bike Sale

The Apple Watch Series 8 Is 30% Off for Prime Day

The Best Cycling Gear From REI’s Memorial Day Sale

The Best Memorial Day Sales for Cyclists

• [ Tuesday, April 30, 2024 ] 5 weeks of nighttime road work scheduled to begin on I-293 starting May 5 Civics
• [ Tuesday, April 30, 2024 ] Lead paint informational event on May 7 Community
• [ Tuesday, April 30, 2024 ] Morse endorsed by Birdsell, North Country leaders Civics
• [ Tuesday, April 30, 2024 ] This Day in City Hall History: Aldermen get details on Comcast merger Civics
• [ Monday, April 29, 2024 ] Tuesday’s weather: Cloudy and cooler, high of 54 Rick Gordon's Weather Corner

May 2 is Taco Tour 2024: Where to park, what to know and how to make the most of ‘World’s Largest Taco Tour’

Sign up for our free daily enews.

Email address:

Online Voting

Volunteer options.

If you’d like to help out by being a Taco Tour Guide, it’s not too late. Click here .

Road Closures

• Elm Street will be closed on May 2nd from 12 – 9 p.m.
• Complete closure of Elm Street between Granite and Bridge streets
• Chestnut Street will remain open however all roads will be closed at Chestnut Street headed westerly towards Elm Street inside this area.
• Lake Avenue and Granite Street will also remain open as well as Bridge Streeet.

Elm from Bridge to Granite

Hanover up to Chestnut

Lowell up to Kosciusko

Merrimack up to Barrister Lane

Where to Park Your Car – and Bike

Park at the DoubleTree Parking Garage and start your tour @ Shopper’s

Park at Victory Garage and start your tour @ Consuelos’s

Park at the Hartnett Lot and start your tour @ Alley Cat Pizzeria

Park at the SNHU Garage and start your tour @ The Patio

Park at Arms Park and start your tour @ Stark Brewing

• Park at Pearl Street Lot and start your tour @ The Farm

Participating Retailers w/ fun taco-themed items and activities:

The Magic Man, Dasean Greene will be performing at Diz’s Cafe, the Stonyfield Family Zone at the YMCA and throughout the event

Stop by the Manchester Animal Shelter’s booth to enter their doggie costume contest and visit their doggie water station

Ted Herbert’s Music School will be performing by City Hall Plaza throughout the event

Doug The Devil Stick Man will be performing his devil stick & comedy routine at the Stonyfield Family Zone at the YMCA

Wicked Joyful is hosting a Taco Tour after party with Carissa Johnson, Cozy Throne, & more at 9 p.m. at The Shaskeen

AR Workshop will have Taco Tour Candles & DIY Taco Tour Ornaments, and music by The Real Music School

Crimson and Clover Florist is right by AR Workshop and will have fun flowers!

Dew Collective will be hosting a photo-booth and flowers

Granite State Escape is running a scavenger hunt throughout the event! Visit their booth for details

Taste & Art of Greece will be showcasing their Greek goodies on Hanover Street

Beeze Tees is the official home of Taco Tour Manchester merchandise

The Terracotta Room will be serving up its good vibes and taco-themed merch

Live Music starting 4 p.m. at the M&T Bank Bandstand Stage located at Elm & Bridge streets.

⇒ click here for musical lineup., about this author, carol robidoux.

Publisher Manchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!

See all of this author's posts

Click here to join the growing list of InkLink Community Ad Partners who, like us, are mission driven and believe in building community.

Copyright (c) 2023 Manchester Ink Link. All rights reserved. Site by Manon Etc

Privacy Overview

Looking for cheaper Eras Tour tickets? See Taylor Swift at these 10 international cities.

Swifties who want to snag tickets to Taylor Swift’s colossal Eras Tour know the experience won’t come cheap.  

This year, the billionaire will only visit three U.S. cities – Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis – and prices for the in-demand shows are astronomical . For the Oct. 18 show in Miami, for example, cost of a single ticket ranged between $1,615 and $8,524 on StubHub.com as of Wednesday afternoon.

So, how else can fans see one of the world’s biggest singers? Go abroad .

In the past 30 days, searches for ‘Taylor Swift Europe tour 2024 tickets’ have increased by 300% in the U.S., indicating that some people are ready to take a long-haul flight to see the wildly popular artist live, according to travel website Islands.com .

Concert-goers who head to Europe for their Swift experience may actually save more money in the long-run . Not only are ticket prices across the pond cheaper, but many European cities, like Warsaw and Lisbon, are also budget-friendly, offering inexpensive food and lodging. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Was the travel worth it? Beyoncé and Taylor Swift's summer concerts drew fans from afar

To determine the most affordable Eras Tour stops, Islands.com researchers compared the cost of a two-night trip, including one cheap ticket on StubHub.com, two nights at a four-star hotel, six inexpensive meals, two five-mile taxi rides, and one domestic beer. However, researchers didn’t account for airline tickets or concert merchandise.

With safety at the top of travelers' minds, the researchers also factored in the city’s safety rating out of 100. 

To stay extra safe, the State Department encourages travelers to register with the U.S. embassy in the country they're visiting any time they travel abroad. That can be done at step.state.gov .

10 cheapest destinations for the Eras Tour in 2024

10. Vienna, Austria - total average cost: $1,089, safety score: 69.72

9. Cardiff, U.K. - total average cost: $1,061, safety score: 61.83

8. Lyon, France - total average cost: $1,047, safety score: 44.3

7. Lisbon, Portugal - total average cost: $1,028, safety score: 70.15

6. Munich, Germany - total average cost: $1,000, safety score: 78.88

5. Paris, France - total average cost: $971, safety score: 41.83

4. Stockholm, Sweden - total average cost: $935, safety score: 53.86

3. Hamburg, Germany - total average cost: $903, safety score: 57.51

2. Gelsenkirchen, Germany - total average cost: $749, safety score: 51.33

1. Warsaw, Poland - total average cost: $712, safety score: 72.98

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

Moscow Metro Tour

• Page active

Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review