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The continuous bicycle touring story since 2002
no plans to stop

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The story of how we saved money, quit our jobs, sold our possessions, and set off to bicycle tour and travel around the world

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Continue our Travels

Alaska / Canada / USA
5-3-08 to present
Index to all pages

New Zealand
9-16-07 to 5-2-08
Index to all pages

Australia
9-15-06 to 9 -16 - 07
Index to all pages

SE Asia / China
11-22-04 to 9-15-06
Index to all pages

South America
6-3-03 to 6-17-04
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North & Central America
3-30-02 to 4-17-03
Index to all Pages


*Help Support this Web Site and Continue Our Travels.


Sign up for our RoadNews Newslette.r Written on the road as we travel around the world on our bicycles including free downloadable video links  MORE INFO HERE


Equipment Pages Index

Introduction
How Much to Bring and Weight
Some Advice About Advice
A Note to Perspective Sponsors and Gear Suppliers

START HERE for Touring Bikes and Commuting Bicycles
Bicycle Touring Frames 
The Steel Repair Myth.
Steel and Aluminum Derailleur Hanger Repair.
Bicycle Touring Wheels
Phil Wood: The Best Bicycle Hubs

Panniers / Bike Bags
Cargo Trailers Vs Panniers
Tires for Bike Tours..
Bicycle Touring Saddles.
Cindie's Women's Specific Bike Touring Saddles
Brooks Leather Touring Bicycle Saddle Care and Conditioning
Bike Computer
Touring Handlebars, Bar Ends, Adjustable Stems, and Padded Grips.
Sealed Cartridge Headsets

Camping
Buying Camping Equipment
Tent and Ground Cloth
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Camp Stove
Pots and Pans
Water Filter

Clothing
Bike Touring Shorts

Health and First Aide

Electrical
Short-wave Radio
Computer
Internet
mp3

Books
Packing list
Pictures of Equipment Failures
Shopping

We have bicycle toured in Central/South America, Asia, Australia, and Canada

1:39 Min. VIDEO


Bicycle Touring Laos in South East Asia

5:15 min. VIDEO


Where do you work and write as you bicycle tour abroad or travel overseas?

1:17 Min. VIDEO


Australian Radio (ABC) Interview with Cindie Travis
DSC00009.JPG (597482 bytes)
5:01 min. VIDEO


See All Videos Here

Best touring bike wheels size between buying 26 inch or 700c wheels

see more touring bikes here

The choice between touring bicycle wheels and tires with 26inch or 700c has surfaced in bicycle touring equipment during the past several years with the popularity of mountain bikes.  The decision between 700 cm and 26 inch will have to be made early in the custom frame or stock touring bicycle shopping process because brake mounts and frame geometry can not be easily changed.  In the past there were commuting hybrid bikes, like the Bridgestone XO-1, that could easily be converted to either wheel size and traveled on but these bikes are no longer made and I do not know of another touring bicycle that can be converted to take either size wheel being made in the present.

Before I get into the advantages and disadvantages of touring bicycles with 700c or 26 inch wheels let me make something clear.  I have owned and toured extensively on bikes with both sizes of wheels.  We have also met people traveling for years around the world, in every imaginable country, on end on both sizes of wheels.  In fact we have seen hard core long distance (measured in years) touring cyclist on recumbents, mountain bikes, and more.  The bottom line is no matter what you pick as a cycle wheel size it is not a deal killer and can be used for the bike trip of your dreams.  Both 700c and 26 inch can go to the hardest parts of the world and perform well. As with most options in the bicycle touring equipment and gear world this decision largely comes down to personal preference but there are a few facts to sort out.


FACTS: A few bike wheel size considerations to keep in mind.

- Given the same quality rims, spokes, and building techniques a smaller wheel is stronger because of shorter spokes and so on.  The difference between the two wheel sizes is not much so this difference is small.  With modern advancements in rims and spokes both wheel sizes can be over built to be stronger than necessary.  The disadvantage of the larger 700c can be compensated for by selecting superior rims.  Conclusion: either will work with high quality components
 
- A bigger wheel has a smoother ride because it does not get sucked into holes and depressions in the road as far.  Again, the actual difference in size is minimal so tit is hard (but not impossible) to feel.  This difference can be somewhat overcome with wider 26 inch tires but is more a matter of ride quality preference rather than a performance gain or loss.  Conclusion: either size will be comfortable enough for a long bicycle tour.
 
- 26 inch touring tires tend to come in wider sizes and lower pressure.  700c touring tires tend to be narrower and higher pressure.  This is less true than it used to be because of the growing popularity of comfort and hybrid bikes.  Conclusion: What works best for you will depend on your touring style and priorities but either can do the job.
 
- Many 700c touring bikes do not have clearance for the widest tires.  This does not affect most bike tourist because a medium width tire or smaller is fine, and even preferred, for traveling on paved roads and occasional dirt sections.  With a 26 inch touring bike you can use any tire a mountain bike can, including super wide vibration eating and/or knobby tires.  Conclusion: What works best for you will depend on your touring style and priorities but either can do the job.
 
- There is one concrete fact that may help in your decision process. The wheel size affects your gearing. Given the same number of teeth in your drive train, a 700c wheel will give you an overall higher gear and a 26 inch wheel will give you a lower gear. The aspect of wheel size is easily noticeable here because the size is felt in every revolution. I personally never wish for a larger gear but I am often grateful for the lowest gear possible.   Conclusion: if you are super strong and often wish your bikes had a bigger gear then 700c may be best but if you are average, like us, and wish you had a lower gear on steep hills then a 26 inch may be best.  Of course, either will work.

OUR OPINIONS:  Why we prefer 26 inch touring bicycles for our around the world bicycle tour

Tire Availability: The problem with 700c touring bikes traveling internationally is finding good replacement tires. In my early days of bicycle travel I had a cyclecross bike with 700c wheels.  Long before I met Cindie I rode a solo two year tour, including the USA and Mexico, I realized that finding wide 700c bike touring tires is difficult (without mail order) in the USA and nearly impossible in undeveloped countries like Mexico.  Since then, during our years on the road, we have met countless other touring cyclist around the world, especially in developing countries, who were in the same boat and desperately looking for wide 700c touring tires.  The only 700c tires available in the bike shops were what the local road racers used (if any) which is about as wide as a finger. (700c x 20 -25)  Even after long time consuming searches they were forced to buy these narrow 700c racing tires that wear out fast, easily got punctured, and are less stable with loaded panniers.

Rim Availability:  A similar scenario occurs when a rim is rendered useless from a crash or wearing out (everything wears out)  and starts braking spokes.  Even the most experienced cyclist can  destroy a rim after mishandling by airport baggage handlers or an unfortunate crash.  Sturdy rims made for mountain biking are abundant throughout the world but 700c rims are only common for ultra light road racing bicycles.  A rim meant for a road bike will not last long under the weight of a loaded bicycle but the average mountain bike rim is fine for touring.

Inner Tube Availability:  The same problems finding tubes in developing countries is true.  If bike shops don't carry the tires and rims I guess there is no reason to sell wide 700c tubes

In conclusion: What we think makes the best touring bicycle wheel size

The decision between 700c and 26 inch is a tough one. There is a much bigger selection of 700c touring bicycle compared to the hard to find 26 inch models.  I believe that it comes down to the availability of tires, rims, and tubes where you will be touring  If you are mostly riding on the paved road, sticking to the first world, or traveling for less than 6 months at a time you could pick either type of bike but if you are heading out into the less developed parts of the world I recommend riding a touring bicycle with 26 inch wheels

Bicycle wheels for loaded bicycle touring and long bike tours.


Equipment Pages Index

Introduction
How Much to Bring and Weight
Some Advice About Advice
A Note to Perspective Sponsors and Gear Suppliers
(See more about Sponsorship Here)

START HERE for Touring Bikes and Commuting Bicycles
Custom Touring Bicycles and Bike Upgrade Buyers Guide
Bicycle Touring Frames 
The Steel Repair Myth
Steel and Aluminum Derailleur Hanger Repair
Bicycle Touring Wheels
Phil Wood: The Best Bicycle Hubs

Panniers / Bike Bags
Cargo Trailers Vs Panniers
Tires for Bike Tours
Bicycle Touring Saddles
Cindie's Women's Specific Bike Touring Saddles
Brooks Leather Touring Bicycle Saddle Care and Conditioning
Bike Computer
Touring Handlebars, Bar Ends, Adjustable Stems, and Padded Grips
Sealed Cartridge Headsets

Camping
Buying Camping Equipment
Tent and Ground Cloth
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Camp Stove
Pots and Pans
Water Filter

Clothing
Bike Touring Shorts

Health and First Aide

Electrical
Short-wave Radio
Computer
Internet
mp3

Books
Packing list
Pictures of Equipment Failures
Shopping

 

 

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Our 3rd Book
Down The Road in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

A Bicycle Tour Through War, Genocide and Forgiveness

Our 2nd book
Down The Road in South America

A bicycle tour through poverty, paradise, and the places in between.

Our 1st book
The Road That Has No End

How we traded our ordinary lives for a global bicycle touring adventure.

Printed Soft Cover
(Ships Internationally)

mp3 Audio Book
 Download
Hear First Chapter NOW

PDF eBook
 Download


Cycle Touring Racks: Why chromoly steel is best.



Heavy Duty Travel Tested
Sealed Cartridge Hubs.

Take a look at the strongest hubs built specifically for touring


What years on the road have taught us about bikes.

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