Choosing A Mid-Range Touring Bike

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a reliable touring bike.

Many companies like Trek, Dawes and Surly are turning out mid-range touring bicycles that are well designed, reasonably sturdy and perfectly suited to trips of a few weeks or a few months at a time.

Expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1,300. In return, you’ll get a bike that’s been made with touring in mind, from a reputable brand-name company. (See our list of bikes to consider)

The frame will be built for comfort over long distances. Features that should be standard include:

• A longer wheelbase than your typical mountain bike, preventing your heels from clipping the panniers as you pedal.
• Plenty of attachment points for bottles, mudguards and racks
• Components that are of a reasonable quality.

Don’t expect much of a choice, however, when it comes to colours and other custom options. If you can, get 26″ wheels (the standard for global touring) but the bike you want might only come in a 700 cc size.

Other places where manufacturers often cut corners include:

• Racks – Mid-range tourers usually come with racks that are fine for moderate loads but not heavy touring. Often, only a back rack is included.
• Gearing – Sometimes the gearing tends a bit to the high side and doesn’t offer a true ‘granny gear’ for serious hills.
• Wheel Clearance – Check to see if there is enough space between the frame and the mudguards to fit the widest tires. If not, dirt road touring will be challenging.
• Wheels – The wheels will probably be machine built.
• Saddles – They’re often not the most comfortable models.

On the whole, none of these things matter much if your goal is to take shorter tours, mostly on paved roads and always within easy reach of a bike shop. If you want to take a mid-range tourer on a more adventurous trip, then factor the cost of upgraded racks, wheels and a better saddle into the price. With a few changes, you can turn a mid-range touring bike into a decent bicycle for longer expeditions and come in well below the cost of a high-end expedition touring bicycle.

If you do want to make a few upgrades, it’s worth trying to negotiate a deal with your local bike shop. They might give you a discount on things like better quality tires and racks if you’re buying a bike at the same time.

Planning ahead also helps make your money go further. If you can buy your bike in the autumn or winter, just as next year’s models are coming out, you can often get a great deal as shops are clearing out older versions.

Here are some specific brands of mid-range touring bikes that you might consider. Of the group, the Trek 520 has a long-standing reputation among bike tourists and the Surly Long Haul Trucker is a relative newcomer that’s received excellent reviews.  The Dawes Vantage and the Marin Muirwoods are among the cheaper bikes in this category.

Click the photos of each bike for more information.

TREK 520	SURLY LONG HAUL TRUCKER
MARIN MUIRWOODS 29er	REI NOVARA SAFARI
MARIN MUIRWOODS	REI NOVARA RANDONEE
DAWES KARAKUM	BRUCE GORDON TAIWANESE BLT
DAWES VANTAGE

• Surly Long Haul Trucker
• Marin Muirwoods
• Marin Muirwoods 29er
• Choosing An Expedition Touring Bike
• Choosing Racks for Bicycle Touring