You can escape your daily routine by touring on a mountain bike. Make sure to prepare before using your mountain bike for touring in order to avoid having to abandon your trip. Is it possible to tour on a mountain bike on the road? There is no better bike for touring than a mountain bike. There is less likelihood of getting a flat tire because the tires are strong and can handle rough roads perfectly. You can take a mountain bike on a long-distance trip, but it takes a bit more pedaling. While touring on a mountain bike, you should keep a few things in mind. Take advantage of these tips to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.
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Benefits of Using a Mountain Bike for Touring
Mountains bikes are well-suited to long-distance riding because of their geometry. Compared to road bikes, you are in an upright position. It is important to ride a hardtail, which means there is only one suspension on the front. A full suspension (both back and front) will make the ride frustrating. Long-distance riding should never be done with full suspension. You have limited hand positions with flat handlebars, which give a stable and comfortable riding experience. After a couple of hours of riding, this might get uncomfortable, but there are solutions that let you reposition your hands. Later, I’ll get back to you. When you are riding a flat handlebar bike, climbing is great. A 26-inch mountain bike will climb much faster than a 29-inch mountain bike.
There are two types of 29ers: 29” and 27.5”. 29ers are the traditional ones, but the 27.5” is making a comeback. With 29ers, you can paddle longer distances, it takes a bit more effort to get going, but you can maintain speed better than with 26″ models. It wasn’t until it was time to upgrade that I realized I needed something bigger than my 26″ mountain bikes. My smaller MTB still handles on trails very well, but it’s a huge difference in speed and distance.
There are Some Drawbacks
Touring on a mountain bike has a few drawbacks. A few simple changes can solve many of them, but others are tougher since an MTB isn’t designed for long tours. There are MTBs designed for the roads and touring, but most people don’t have multiple best mountain bikes. A 10-hour ride will cause saddle pain, it’s inevitable. Get your saddle broken in and ride as much as you can before your extended tour. It will save you a great deal of frustration and pain if you get used to a saddle. It will start hurting after a while if you don’t wear seamless pants!
You’ll need long mudguards to prevent dirt and water from spraining your back and face since they don’t come with them. There is nothing I dislike more than getting mud between my teeth and feeling the sands between them for hours. Long flat rides may be hampered by the suspension. It is designed to reduce the impact of rough terrain, and absorb bumps and shocks caused by rocks, bumps, and tree roots. Forks with modern suspensions have lockouts that disable the suspension. The suspension moves up and down based on your weight as well. Stiff forks are probably more comfortable on flat roads, so it’s not a huge drawback. Your local bike shop can help you determine what stiffer fork you need.
Butterflies, Trys, and Aeros: Handlebars
With butterfly bars, you can change your position when you feel a slight pain in your wrists or get annoyed leaning on the bars. When climbing uphill, you can also lean over a bit more. These are great if you’re going 300-500 miles. Trybars and aerobats are also options, but they are very rare. Mountain bikes can also mount them, but you often see them mounted on road bikes. They are not compatible with all the best full suspension mountain bike, so make sure that they do not interfere with any cables, you still need to be able to break them. It’s possible to change positions with these bars, but they’re not very aerodynamic. This isn’t a speed trial, so you shouldn’t be worried about it. It should be possible to get one that fits your mountain bike since I’ve seen people riding them. Butterfly bars are still recommended, however. A different handlebar may be able to allow you to ride more comfortably over long distances if your bike isn’t compatible. With a regular MTB handlebar, I have never had any problems during long trips of more than 3 hours.
Getting Rid of Knobby Tires
Trails on rough terrain are perfect for knobby tires, but long trips are not. It’s going to be a rough ride if you don’t replace them. Maintaining speed is difficult. In the first hour, you won’t be worried about it, but it could become a frustrating ride that requires hard pedaling. Make sure your tires have a slick profile. Maintaining your speed is easier and requires less pedaling. You shouldn’t ride longer than three hours on knobby tires. Travel Contact Continental tires are the ones I recommend. Despite their slick profile, they maintain a grip outside!
Panniers, Racks, and Bags
When you plan to take a lot of gear with you, most hardtail mountain bikes have racks and bags. When going on a bike vacation, some people like to take everything they possibly can with them. Ensure that your wheel can handle the load if you want to mount a rack. The extra weight of your rear wheel could cause it to collapse as soon as you hit a bump, even if it is suitable for road riding. Make sure your wheel is in good shape and has a decent rear hub. Also, check to see if your front wheel can accommodate small panniers. When you practice before heading out on your bike, they affect handling and make your bike less responsive. It’s a good rule of thumb to carry too much when you need both rear and front panniers! Pack lightly with a handlebar bag if you need to travel light. Put light stuff in there, heavy stuff makes it hard to make last-minute corrections.
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Finally, I Would Like to Summarise
Traveling long distances on a mountain bike is a good idea. Their strength, durability, and reliability make them a good choice. A few minor changes can make a big difference compared to a road bike. Be prepared in case of an accident or a breakdown of a part. Bring rations and repair kits if you plan to stay out for a few days. Planning and preparing for longer trips are more important. Food, water, GPS, and a phone with long battery life. Be sure to inform relatives about your trip and check if you can recharge along the way. Slicker profiles should be used instead of knobby tires, and full-suspension mountain bikes should not be taken on trips. Ensure that all the parts on your bike are in good working order before going out. If you’re going for several days, make sure your bike shop checks it. Don’t take any chances.
