Choosing a bike for a long trip is a responsible business. You want it not only to be comfortable for long-term pedaling, but to make your efforts as easy as possible. There are several types of bicycles for long-distance travel, they differ slightly in purpose.
Mountain bikes
A mountain bike, MTB, or mountain bike is a model specially designed for riding on rough terrain. This bike will help you overcome various obstacles, it will reduce the difficulty in contact with poor road surfaces, and changing speeds will allow you to fatigue less.
A quality mountain bike boasts a particularly durable frame, improved braking system and a reinforced suspension fork for added rider comfort.
Touring bikes
Such bicycles are either lightweight or specially adapted for the carriage of goods. Long hikes often involve bringing the essentials with you, including a tent and a supply of food, so additional cargo devices - usually a dedicated trunk - can be of great help. The touring model also usually has effective mudguards, large diameter wheels, and a shock-absorbed front fork. Shock absorption is sometimes present on the rear suspension as well.
Hybrid bikes
The hybrid bike is based on the touring and mountain bike. This bike boasts the durability and reliability of a mountain bike and the long-distance adaptability of a touring bike. Hybrids usually have a sturdy aluminum frame, sometimes cushioned. The steering wheel is straight, the landing is quite high.
What should you choose after all?
To determine which of the listed types of bikes is best for you, you need to understand what type of travel you are planning to make. For example, cycling through cities does not require overcoming major obstacles, so a hybrid bike will do.
To hike in nature and travel through the mountains and forests, and indeed, in any extreme travel, it is better to take a mountain bike or a tourist bike. Since a mountain bike is not designed for cargo, and you will have a backpack, there are two options: either carry it on your shoulders, or install a special rack.
As a rule, a truly long journey still implies that you will travel both in the mountains and in cities. Therefore, serious travelers often prefer hybrid models, sometimes supplementing them with individual parts or changing some systems according to their preference. Although, there are famous travelers who have traveled all over the world who ride even the simplest models of bicycles.
