Cross Country Touring

By: Alex Landels
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:26:25
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A bike is a wonderfully elegant creation-true technological genius.

A well-made bike can take you thousands of trouble-free miles. When it does break down, even the most mechanically challenged can repair it. The near universality of bikes-even in countries like Bangladesh-means parts and skilled repairmen are readily available-at reasonable rates.

I use a 21-speed Norco with DX gearing and a light frame, a pannier rack on the rear with two panniers, mud guards on rear and front, bell, two water bottles with corresponding attachment points, flat bars with extension grips, a bike lock, reflectors, a tool kit (see below), a helmet, biking shoes, a spare inner tube, and biking gloves.

ASIDE: With the exception of the extension bars I strongly recommend all this equipment-the bell and helmet are legislated in some countries. Extension bars are only required if you purchase a mountain or hybrid bike-they allow you to hunker down, making you more streamlined. A road bike does not require the extension bars. DX refers to Shimano's middle cost range for bike gearing-not bad but not the best.

My Norco is a hybrid-a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. A limited budget with a desire for flexibility-to ride on paved roads and in wilderness areas-made the purchase of a hybrid clear to me. The cost for the bike and listed accessories was $780 CDN-still about the same in 2006.

ASIDE: I never rode my bike on any rough terrain, always on paved or good gravel roads. I never regretted my selection and used the same bike on other long-distance tours as well as around my hometown-to this very day.

I will not get technical about bikes but will give you some sound advice. Get as much bike as you can afford but never buy a cheap one-medium- to high-quality only. Cheap department store bikes cannot take the punishment of a long-distance tour and you will have nothing but problems-problems that will eat at your soul and pocketbook. The threshold for medium bikes varies, with a bottom of around $350 (US or CDN dollars). Spending more, if you can afford it, makes very good sense, as a good bike will last for decades.

ASIDE: Expensive bikes are attractive targets for thieves all over the world. If you do buy one, you'll have to be more vigilant than you might like-certainly extra security precautions are in order.

A few words about accessories:

Biking shoes are a good buy even if you only plan one long-distance tour in your life. They are constructed with a steel shank, which means you can impart more energy into your pedaling-the shank reduces the flexing of a normal shoe or runner. Biking shoes reduce the strain on your feet, and happy feet are good things to have on a long trip.

Biking gloves make those hundreds of miles easier on the hands. Even on paved roads (and certainly off-road) there can be a lot of jarring. You can get the ones that enclose the whole hand or the ones that leave the fingers free. Either type is good as long as they have good thick padding in the palms.

One thing that I didn't bring on my first trip was a pair of proper biking shorts. This was a very big and painful mistake-don't go without proper bike shorts. The Lycra type with thick padding in the crotch and bum areas is the best.

I didn't bring a bike computer the first time. Get one as you will want to know how far and how fast you are going. Using the bike computer in conjunction with a daily mileage log will help you plan your itinerary-point to point-and of course will allow you to exactly state how many hundreds of miles your journey has taken you.

Panniers (portable suitcases for bikes) fit on either side of your back rack. Do not go cheap on them as they are carrying all your worldly goods. Bring small garbage bags to stuff your clothes into-then into the pannier-as well as Ziplocs for your food, because panniers are water-resistant but not waterproof.

Front and rear fenders may not look chic but they are extremely effective at preventing water/mud going up your back or in your face.

I strongly recommend that you bring a small bike tool kit. Most bike stores sell these kits. They usually consist of four or five Allen wrenches (hex heads), a fork and pedal wrench, a tire repair kit, and a spoke wrench. I augment the kit with a plastic bottle of bike grease for the chain, a chain breaker to join the chain together if it breaks, a bike pump, two spare spokes, and a spare inner tube. A small book on basic bike repair would be advisable-there are plenty of those around. Bike repair is not rocket science and is very easy to learn and do.

The need for a water bottle should be obvious to anyone but the need for two may not. The more water you have and drink the less dehydrated you will be. Dehydration can be a serious health risk-especially when you are exerting yourself. Even low levels of dehydration can affect your strength and, therefore, your pedaling speed. Two bottles and/or a Camelback give you enough water to maintain hydration between stops.

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