Empowering The Bicycle Traveler

Drivetrain

Back in December 2017, Surly announced the release of a new front-loading light touring bike - the Pack Rat.  I was excited about the possibilities from the moment I learned of this bike's existence and Bike Touring News was one of the first shops to stock them.  In the intervening 4 months, Surly has released Read More

New Partnerships, New Products!

While the Bike Hermit and Sky King are gallavanting around Mexico drinking beer and camping under the stars, there has been a lot going on around Bike Touring News HQ!   We're constantly on the lookout for components and accessories to enhance your experience, help you ride more and have more fun doing it.  To that Read More

The stakes are high when traveling far into the backcountry by bicycle.  The potential success or failure of your trip is (literally) riding on your wheels.  A mechanical malfunction at the wrong time can leave you in a very serious situation.  Like teeth, taxes or electricity, your bicycle wheels are easy to ignore when they Read More

A Tale of Chain Suck By replacing my chain and the middle ring on my triple Sugino touring crankset I thought my problems would be solved. The chain would now drop smoothly from the middle ring to the small ring without hanging up on the bottom of the middle ring, getting dragged around and over Read More

When To Replace a Worn Wheel Rim

It's early morning in Moab, Utah when the still air is violated by the sound of a small explosion and the clang of scraping metal. My friend's rear wheel has come apart and is a twisted jumble of aluminum rim, steel spokes and rubber. For the first time, I realize that soft rubber brake pads Read More