sb88

Commute on your tourer? Tour on your commuter?

Reasons to / not to?

Are tourers too nice / special / heavy?

hyegeek

I have one bike that I use for both.

bmthom.gis

I built my commuter with the intentions that I could use it for touring.
You can use any bike to tour, especially if you are doing a credit card one.
Tourers certainly aren't too nice for commuting - they are built with heavy usage in mind!

Leebo

Ride what you got. Usually the tourer has all the bags on it. I commute with the fair weather ride, 2 hardtail mt bikes and 2 dedicated winter bikes. 2 wheels, pedals, go. Going to commute on the fat bike sometime this winter.

tarwheel 

I initially bought my first touring bike (Bob Jackson World Tour) to use for commuting, after riding to work on an Italian racing bike for a couple of years. However, having a touring bike inspired me to do some actual loaded touring, although I had been riding supported tours for years. I've since bought a second touring bike (Soma Saga) for loaded touring and use my original touring bike mostly for commuting. I commute on occasion on all 5 of my bikes, but the Jackson is set up best for regular commuting with fenders, a rear rack and dynamo light system.

pdlamb

Yep.

Touring bike has provisions to carry panniers. It's also got a slightly upright position (for better vision) while allowing for riding in the drops (which makes getting to work easier on a windy day). Not to mention the wider tires, which soak up some of the shock from unseen bumps or potholes on night time or wet rides. And the tires are a bit heavier, which means I didn't flat when I hit something that went "clank."

Buffalo Buff

I do.

I bought a ridley Fenix road bike with the intention of using it for everything. And I do.

I've done three tours on it in a variety of geography. Rode along the coast, rode through some mountains. The compact double chain ring and 10 speed cassette was more than adequate for climbing mountain passes under a touring load.

I commute on it every day, year round, rain or shine. I don't use a car, I don't use any other bike, I just ride my Fenix.

I goof around on it too. Off roading, some trail riding, I've taken it to a few skateparks and done some jumps and cruised a halfpipe, etc.

It's handled all of this on 23-25mmm tires and the stock 24 spoke rims. I weigh over 200lb too!

Fun as hell. I love this bike.

InTheRain

I bought the touring bike specifically for commuting. I have not toured on it yet (it's been 8 years.) It has handled it's commuting duties admirably. Converted it to an e-bike in March of this year. That may put an end to any dreams I have of touring on the bike. I think I've also changed my mind about the type of touring that I would like to do. I'm thinking I would enjoy bikepacking more than road touring. Thus, I need another bike, right? I'm looking at a Surly ECR.

alan s 

Both of my commuter bikes double as touring bikes. One for off-road and the other for road.

Booger1

Same bike.....

enigmaT120

I commute on my touring bike. I haven't toured on it yet. But I have enough miles on it to have carried me across the country and back.

RidingMatthew

i use my Moto for commuting but I have ridden/ toured the GAP last year with it.

I would like to get a touring bike that I can use for commuting..

RubeRad

If your commuter has the carrying capacity and appropriate gearing, go for it.

My commuter is a CrossCheck that wears a rear rack pretty much full-time. If I wanted to go on an extended tour, I wouldn't hesitate to put a front rack also and use it. Depending on the terrain, I might put a triple on to help get the weight up any hills. I got friction front shifting, so that would be an easy conversion.

ThermionicScott 

Sure, why let words get in the way of riding your bike?

Many of my regular riding friends use "touring" bikes for everything. Although I'm sure the bike companies would be happier if they bought a separate bike for every conceivable use.

pdlamb

Hush, they might hear you. Coffee shop bike has a holder for a grande. Doughnut shop bike has a rack with a 2 pound weight limit. Recovery ride bike has a special camera holder. Interval bike has two bar mounts, one for HRM and another for watch with countdown timer. Commute bike comes with special rack for a badge and racks for 8.5 pounds of clothes. Urban assult bike has 2.5" tires and suspension for riding over curbs, but how can they differentiate between that and the singletrack bike?

rmfnla

Why not?

They are both designed to carry stuff...

robert schlatte

I a Schwinn Voyageur that I mainly use for a commuter but I have toured on it in the past. I have a Soma Saga dedicated touring bike that I occasionally commute on. I also have a winter bike that I ride in crappy weather.

lanahk

I commute on my LHT. Sure, it's heavy, but I have rough streets, railroad crossings and clothes and lunch to carry. I'm thinking of adding a commuter bike to the mix, just to have some options, but I really like getting on my LHT.

Bassmanbob

I'm in the process of purchasing a Trek 520 for both commuting three days a week and eventually short 3-4 day tours. This thread is strengthening my decision to do that. Thanks!

WonderMonkey

Commute on tourer? - Seasonal. Going into the off-season I'm turning my hybrid into my commuter.

Tour on commuter? - I don't have panniers and such so I pull a Burley Travoy. I can do that with either my road bike or my hybrid.

reducedfatoreo

I do. I built up a Cannondale ST500 that doubles for both loaded touring and commuting in NYC. Works great, and I once loaded three cases of beer + groceries on the racks and spread through the panniers!

Here's The Hog fully loaded on its first ever tour, and locked up in Times Square. The dynohub is great for commuting, and I've since upgraded the front light to the USB Luxos so I can trickle charge devices on tours.

fietsbob

I Built a 'Touring' frame in 1975, It has been re equipped for various purposes over the many Years.

People Tour on what Bike they own, so Any Bike You have is a potential Touring Bike..

MichaelW

I could but don't. I built a low cost hack for locking in high theft-risk areas, a nice old steel roadbike with a rattle can paintjob.
My current commuter is a low maintenance, grab and go machine with all modern conveniences (Alfine 8, dynamo lighting).

Papa Tom

I hate to be THAT GUY who boo-hoos your whole premise, but why do we keep insisting that we need different bikes for different types of riding? I drive the same car to work that I drive to the next city to see my grandchildren, and the same car I would drive if I were to take a 12 hour drive to Niagara Falls.

Too many rules scare people away from cycling at all. Just get a bike and ride it. No offense intended.

Bike Gremlin

I find bikes with longer chainstays more comfortable over bad roads. I also like having a bit fatter tyres (28, 32, or even 42 mm if loaded) and room for mudguards, rear rack. So a touring bike is better for commuting.

..unless you often need to carry the bike upstairs - then it's better when it's lighter and smaller.