Less common touring bike setups

[ichitan]

Most people who tour on bicycles, use relatively normal bikes, with racks and panniers added. People who plan to travel many thousands of kilometers, over a long period of time, usually buy expensive touring bikes. Many people believe the best touring bikes are made in Germany. Some people fly somewhere, go bike touring for a relatively short time, then fly home. Most of these people buy relatively inexpensive bikes. Some bring bikes from home, but many buy them after flying to where they want to start touring.

Occasionally I see touring bike setups which are a bit different.

One couple had a tandem recumbent bike. The front wheel was only 20 inches, and the wife sat almost above it. The bike had a Rohloff geared hub in the back wheel. They both peddled, and the husband steered. They started touring four years ago. They did stop for a time because of travel restrictions. Following is a picture of a similar bike.

   

Another couple toured with two young children. The father's bike had a child's seat on the back for one child, and towed a child's bike behind it for the other. The child's bike also had a carrier rack on the back, and at times, both children were on the little bike. They were only traveling for three months. Longer would be too much for the young children. The parent's bikes were relatively inexpensive bikes. Following is a picture of a similar setup towing a child's bike.

   

[GirishH]

Hey ichitan,

Firsthand, I saw similarly strange touring bikes. My biking buddy in South America, who cycled from Panama to Patagonia, Chile used DIY panniers. These were cat litter bins transformed into durable "panniers". Attached is a photo of his as we were lost in the middle of nowhere and had to jump some private fences. They were heavy but durable and water-proof..:-)

Then I met an Argentinian who was traversing the entire continent not once but twice on a heavy bike he'd salvaged from a scrapyard. His front panniers were 1-2 lite motor oil bottles. He had attached them upside down after having cut the bottom. The bottom now acted like a lid.

The third rider I met in Colombia had to think of an innovative way to carry his full-sized dog. He'd adopted "Playa" as a puppy on a Mexican beach without knowing how big she would get. After some months now, she was a big dog. So, he got a rack installed and then a huge plastic crate jerry-rigged so "Playa" could sit and "ride" with..:-)

So most of these were inexpensive but innovative ways of transporting the rider and his/her belongings..:-)

(01-15-2024, 09:32 AM)ichitan Wrote:  Most people who tour on bicycles, use relatively normal bikes, with racks and panniers added. People who plan to travel many thousands of kilometers, over a long period of time, usually buy expensive touring bikes. Many people believe the best touring bikes are made in Germany. Some people fly somewhere, go bike touring for a relatively short time, then fly home. Most of these people buy relatively inexpensive bikes. Some bring bikes from home, but many buy them after flying to where they want to start touring.

Occasionally I see touring bike setups which are a bit different.

One couple had a tandem recumbent bike. The front wheel was only 20 inches, and the wife sat almost above it. The bike had a Rohloff geared hub in the back wheel. They both peddled, and the husband steered. They started touring four years ago. They did stop for a time because of travel restrictions. Following is a picture of a similar bike.



Another couple toured with two young children. The father's bike had a child's seat on the back for one child, and towed a child's bike behind it for the other. The child's bike also had a carrier rack on the back, and at times, both children were on the little bike. They were only traveling for three months. Longer would be too much for the young children. The parent's bikes were relatively inexpensive bikes. Following is a picture of a similar setup towing a child's bike.