Every one who is seriously considering going on a long bicycle journey does or will wonder about his/her ride at one point.
Can I set off on a "normal" bike ? or Will I need to purchase a special touring bike ? Is a used Mountainbike good enough? Should the frame be made of aluminum or steel? Is a 425 millimeter chainstay long enough and a 90 millimeter stem short enough?
Will I need lights or even a dynamo-hub ? What gears/shifters should I choose to pedal around the world ? Shimano LX, XT or Rohloff gear-hub ? Are V-brakes good enough or should I choose hydraulic brakes? What kind of saddle for my delicate behind? How strong should the racks be to carry my gear ? Should be pedals be broad or narrow to fit my shoes ? Shall I get shoes that click onto the pedal itself ?
Is the handlebar comfortable enough to hold onto it for some 8-9 hours every day ?
Which rims resist best on rough roads and nevertheless be reasonable light weight? Which tire should I choose to best avoid punctures? Will I need fenders to keep me and the luggage dry ? Would a kick-stand come in handy ? Should the inner tubes be with car- or Schrader valves ? Will I need four panniers or could I fit my stuff in two maybe ?
And after you have made up your mind about all the points above for a fortnight you still have not found an answer to the question - where to buy such a bike ? and which bike-shop can give me the best deal for my (little) money and nevertheless offers a good after-sales service?
Luckily I had some spare time to think about all that - but somehow I still haven´t found the answer to the hardest question of all ...
WHICH COLOR SHOULD THE BIKE BE ?
Can I set off on a "normal" bike ? or Will I need to purchase a special touring bike ? Is a used Mountainbike good enough? Should the frame be made of aluminum or steel? Is a 425 millimeter chainstay long enough and a 90 millimeter stem short enough?
Will I need lights or even a dynamo-hub ? What gears/shifters should I choose to pedal around the world ? Shimano LX, XT or Rohloff gear-hub ? Are V-brakes good enough or should I choose hydraulic brakes? What kind of saddle for my delicate behind? How strong should the racks be to carry my gear ? Should be pedals be broad or narrow to fit my shoes ? Shall I get shoes that click onto the pedal itself ?
Is the handlebar comfortable enough to hold onto it for some 8-9 hours every day ?
Which rims resist best on rough roads and nevertheless be reasonable light weight? Which tire should I choose to best avoid punctures? Will I need fenders to keep me and the luggage dry ? Would a kick-stand come in handy ? Should the inner tubes be with car- or Schrader valves ? Will I need four panniers or could I fit my stuff in two maybe ?
And after you have made up your mind about all the points above for a fortnight you still have not found an answer to the question - where to buy such a bike ? and which bike-shop can give me the best deal for my (little) money and nevertheless offers a good after-sales service?
Luckily I had some spare time to think about all that - but somehow I still haven´t found the answer to the hardest question of all ...
WHICH COLOR SHOULD THE BIKE BE ?
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