Empowering The Bicycle Traveler

Touring Bike Components

The Bicycle Wheel

What makes a good wheelset for loaded bicycle touring? Durability will probably rate high in any list of desirable attributes. So, what makes a bicycle wheel durable? Rims: An extruded aluminum double wall rim with a box section for strength. Drilled for 32 or 36 spokes with eyelets in the spoke holes. Eyelets can help Read More

Selle An-Atomica Saddle

"Saving Your Butt, One ride at a Time"  What a great tag line! Customer feedback and diligent perusal of various on-line forums (somebody's got to do it, the internet's not going to read itself!) encouraged us to stock the Selle Anatomica saddles in the store. The saddles have a long cutout intended not only to Read More

Schwalbe Marathon Mondial

(Update 2/20/2012 - The Bike Touring News store now has the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tires in stock in 700 x 35c and 700 x 40c sizes in the folding version. The 26 x 2" folding tire is due to hit North America in March,2012.) The Schwalbe Marathon XR is frequently hailed as the best expedition/long Read More

Saddle Comfort and Bike Touring

Just what is the best saddle for touring???  Drum Roll, please.  The best saddle for touring is the saddle that fits your behind and allows you to ride in comfort!! Okay maybe that wasn’t the answer you were looking for, but it is the best we have to offer.  No two people are shaped the Read More

Nitto Dirt Drop Handlebars

The Bike Touring News store stocks two different versions of the Nitto Dirt Drop handlebar. The main difference between the two, or so I thought, is the diameter of the bar at the stem clamp sleeve. The RM-013 is 26.0mm and the RM-014 is 31.8 mm. I recently did a side by side comparison and Read More