Let's Go Touring by Bicycle

Where will you go with your favorite bicycle?

You can enjoy daily "commuting to work or school," city rides for shopping, or leisurely cycling. But why not take a bicycle trip (touring)?

Even a day trip is a proper tour. From cyclotouring with train travel mixed in, to full-fledged long-distance cycling trips across the world, there are various styles of bicycle travel.

Changing your bicycle equipment depending on where you want to go and what you want to do, and planning and preparing for the trip is also a fun time.

Load up useful and cool travel gear like panniers, front bags, and large saddlebags for bike packing, and embark on a free-spirited adventure!

Discover the atmosphere, sounds, and scenery that can only be experienced at the speed of a bicycle, and the emotions that are often overlooked in everyday life!

There are no rules at all in bicycle travel like "it has to be this way!"

The sense of accomplishment upon reaching the summit of a mountain pass at 1000 meters, savoring local cuisine, stopping by shrines and temples, napping by the river, or even having no particular destination is perfectly fine.

The journey is entirely up to you, embarking on your own adventure. It could be said that this is the true joy of cycling. That is the greatest charm of bicycle travel.

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Recommended Bicycles for Touring

There are various types of bicycles such as "cross bikes," "road bikes," "MTBs (mountain bikes)," and "mini velos." There are no fixed rules about which bicycle you must use for travel, but some are more suitable for touring.

Depending on the distance, terrain, and equipment, a tire width of 30mm or more is desirable for a touring bicycle. This offers the advantage of making the bike more stable even with heavy loads, and reduces fatigue on long journeys. Additionally, it is appealing as the roads on a trip are not always paved with asphalt.

Starting with traditional touring bicycles like rando bikes and sportifs, if you're planning a serious long-distance tour overseas, a robust MTB is recommended. For domestic tours, in addition to dedicated touring models, cyclocross bikes and gravel road bikes (adventure road bikes) are also excellent choices.

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Recommended Packing Items

For touring, we do not recommend using backpacks or similar items that put direct stress on your body. Bags that can be loaded onto the bike itself are recommended.

In addition to the familiar pannier bags attached to the sides of a rack, there are also bike packing options such as large saddlebags, front bags, and frame bags that are lightweight and can be mounted without a rack.

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●Carrier + Bag Style

For long trips with overnight stays, you inevitably need to carry a lot of luggage. In such cases, a carrier with pannier bags attached to its sides is convenient.

You can attach bags to the front and rear wheels, on both sides, allowing you to carry luggage in up to four bags. Capacities typically range from 20L to 30L, with larger ones up to about 40L.

●Bike Packing Style

Compared to the aforementioned style where the carrier itself adds weight, this style involves attaching lightweight bags directly to the bike. The appeal is that it minimizes compromising the bike's agility.

Combining a large saddlebag, front bag, and frame bag can provide about 30L of capacity, making it possible for several days of touring if the season and weather are good.

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Let's Go Cycle Camping!

Cycle camping, a trip that adds an outdoor element to traditional cycling.

Load your camping gear onto your bicycle and enjoy tent camping and outdoor cooking in nature. Don't get caught up solely in the element of speed. You don't have to set an unreasonable distance.

This cycling style, which includes the joy of camping, is a somewhat luxurious way to travel by bike, I think.

【Necessary Items】

Sleeping Bag Lightweight Down Jacket Sleeping Mat Tent Groundsheet Canned Tuna Pasta Seasonings Water Bottle Rinko Bag (Bicycle Carrying Bag) Cookware Coffee Grinder Coffee Dripper Emergency Blanket Mug Maintenance Kit Hanging Chain

 For cycle touring, in addition to maintenance kits essential for regular cycling, you'll need a variety of items such as a tent, cooking gear, sleeping bag, toiletries, and apparel.

Bicycles cannot carry as much luggage as cars. To have a comfortable bicycle trip, it's key to carefully select your luggage and keep it light.

The photo shows an example of carefully selected luggage. To prevent the bike from swaying, it's important to pack heavier items at the bottom and fill any gaps in the bag.

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Let's Go Gravel Touring!

Touring isn't just about riding on paved roads.

Sometimes, you might want to stray from the usual route and ride on forest trails.

For rugged mountain paths, it's best to ride an MTB with thick tires, but for well-maintained forest roads or gravel paths, a touring bike with tire widths of about 33c to 45c can also be ridden.

Touring bikes can venture into paths that road bikes with narrow tires struggle with. Their versatility brings back the "excitement" and "thrill" of exploring unknown places from childhood.

I can't think of any other companion that leads adults on such adventures.

Side roads you'd pass without noticing if you were only focused on speed.

Confronting your weaknesses or discovering unexpected resilience in a quiet, deserted forest.

Such moments are essential in life, yet so precious in our hectic daily routines. The world of the extraordinary is often closer than we think.

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