Touring bicycle
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A touring bicycle is a bicycle designed for long-distance travel, and especially bicycle touring. Typically, touring bicycles are a mix of mountain and racing bicycle components, with special, heavy-duty frames designed to carry specialized luggage and other components specific to long-distance riding. Some cyclists prefer recumbent bicycles for long-distance travel.
Touring bike specifications
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Touring bicycle frames typically have a long wheelbase and stable steering geometry, with numerous attachment points for luggage racks, fenders (mudguards), lights, water bottles, tools and spare parts. Chainstays must be long enough to accommodate panniers without interfering with the rider's heels during pedaling, and the entire structure must be stiff enough to safely handle long, fast descents with the machine fully loaded.
For gearing touring bicycles traditionally employ wide-ratio derailleur gears, often with a very low-speed "granny gear" for loaded ascents. However in recent years, because of their robustness and very low-maintenance, internal-geared hubs have become popular.
Touring bicycles require stronger brakes than typical road bicycles, so they are often equipped with cantilever or linear-pull brakes, instead of the caliper brakes used on road bicycles. Some newer touring bicycles use disc brakes, because of their superior stopping power and improved performance in wet weather.
Thus, touring bikes trade off some speed for extra utility and ruggedness. This combination of features is popular with commuters and couriers as well.de:Reiserad pl:Rower trekingowy