TRAVEL BY BIKE

Essential Gear for Bicycle Touring and Cycling Trips

If we are talking about traveling by bicycle, there are many aspects to consider in order to approach any journey with all the guarantees and in a safe way, with a bicycle loaded with luggage, always making the best possible use of the time invested.

When planning the trip we will have to evaluate a lot of data and different possibilities. The distance and time spent will obviously determine the equipment required. A day trip is not the same as a trip lasting several weeks. With adequate preparation, a cyclist can cover distances of more than 100 km per day, which is already a considerable distance. Obviously, the type of terrain, the weather and the accumulated elevation gain of the route will also have a great influence on the planning and the type of elements that will be needed.

Touring panniers are a classic piece Of gear For trips that last several days And we must carry everything we need. When we talk about self-sufficient bicycle touring, we refer To trips In which we also carry everything we need To spend the night camping, without having To resort To paid accommodations, such As hotels.

But there Is another word that, lately, Is On the lips Of many cyclists When it comes To the subject Of travel On all types Of bikes, whether MTB, gravel, road, etc.. We refer To the term "bikepacking". This New minimalist way Of understanding bicycle travel offers a whole series Of specific bikepacking equipment, designed To make the journey With a high freedom Of movement, more comfortable, faster And more effective. With the right components, we can travel With a bike that behaves more Like an unladen bike, compared To the use Of classic panniers And pannier racks For bicycle touring. In addition, thanks To this equipment, we will be able To make routes that would be difficult To access With more classic equipment.

When it comes To touring bikes Or bikes For bikepacking, we cannot fail To highlight, among the possible ones, gravel bikes, As many models seem To be equipped, conceived And designed For this New form Of touring. In any Case, the ideal bicycle For touring will depend a lot On the type Of roads we are going To ride.

There are a large number Of bikepacking bags, Of all types And volumes, that fit perfectly To the frame Of different styles Of bikes. A good rear bag Like the Topeak Backloader Is one Of the most characteristic elements Of bikepacking.

It Is also common To incorporate a front bag Or handlebar bag such As the Topeak FrontLoader bag. In order Not To compromise the steering behavior Of the bicycle, we should Not load excessive weight In the front area.

And New bikepacking products are constantly appearing To distribute the load among the different parts Of the frame. Each Case must be studied very carefully To ensure that these bags are compatible With the shape And size Of our frame. A good example would be the Trailframe II frame bag.

Very accessible are the bags that can be installed On the top tube Of the bicycle. This space Is ideal For storing, For example, energy bars And gels To be consumed On the move. A very capable bag Of this type would be the Blackburn Outpost Top Tube Bag.

Electric Bicycles And Bicycle Touring

Electric MTB And electric road bikes allow a New style Of touring, a New way Of traveling by bicycle. It may Not be the best Option For the majority Of cyclists who travel by bicycle, but there Is no doubt that For some it can be an extraordinary way To approach this type Of adventure. It can also be a suitable alternative For organizing a bike trip With cyclists In distinctly different states Of fitness. If we opt For an electric vehicle, we will have To take into account the possible charging points during the trip.

Bike Touring Events

When many people hear the term "bicycle touring", the first thing they think Of Is a road tour. There are events such As the Quebrantahuesos cycling tour In Spain that, every year, brings together thousands Of amateur cyclists. They are a multitude Of events With different degrees Of difficulty, which usually have several mountain passes And represent a challenge For many Of the cyclists, As well As a form Of motivation To train throughout the year. Although these events are Not, In principle, Of a purely competitive nature, many Of the participants train conscientiously every year To measure themselves And Try To improve their personal bests. There are also cyclists, athletes With a federative cycling license, who go To these races only With the objective Of completing them In their entirety, within the established margins Or maximum cut-off times, If any.

Bike Touring Gear at Mammoth

If you have already decided To go On a cycling trip With the best equipment Or you are thinking Of signing up For an Event, among the many proposed In the cycling calendar, In Mammoth's physical stores and in this section of our online store we have an extraordinary range of products in stock so that you can choose the most suitable one, always with first class advice and information. Keep in mind that many of the people who work at Mammoth are also cyclists like you and will always be able to offer you the best advice.