mazway

Hey guys, i have been looking to get a bike for a while now.(a year)
As of now I really am looking to get into shape and start riding again,but one day I plan on doing a tour.(as long as life does not get in the way)Should I buy a touring bike all my riding will be for recreation and if I get interested in anything else I can buy another bike for that area of Biking.
To Make along story short Is a touring bike good for riding around 20-30 miles a day,getting into shape and going along the back roads or should I look for something else.

jamawani 

If you don't commit to doing the tour, life WILL get in the way and you will never do it. I and many others on this blog can attest to that. Similarly, having the absolutely perfect bike is not so important as having a reasonably comfortable one. I've seen people going cross-country on 3-speeds. If you already have a bike, take it down to the nearest shop for a tune-up. And start riding. Then, get the best possible bike for your general use. It seems to me it is more important to get back on the bike around town than getting a touring bike right now. Finally, you can look at touring - either with the first bike you get or another one.

There are many variables about touring that will affect the bike you use. Panniers or trailer? Pavement 100% of the time, rail trails, or even some dirt? Even standard frame or recumbent? Still, I think you can get a good, mid-range bike for around town that you can convert to basic touring. So find a bike that works for you today. Tomorrow will take it's course.

Best - J

mazway

I don't have a bike at this time.My last bike was a mountain bike,But at this point in my life I am more attracted to road riding.
So I am open to anything for road,I will do a tour,one day it might be next year or it might be five years.
My thought is that I may as well buy a mid level touring bike and I can outfit it as I see fit for touring,but in the meantime I can use it for local rides around home.

Cyclist0094

. Touring is not just touring for 3 months at a time. It is day, overnight and weekend trips also. I just came back from a 3 day tour in Virginia/NC I enjoyed that just as much I do 3 week tours.

Mid level road bike is what about $700 or so? If you got another 400 bucks or wanna shop used get yourself something like a Trek 520. The value of that new midlevel bike is going to decrease and the cost of new 520's is just going to increase. You might as well start out right.

cyccommute 

I have ridden bikes since the late '70s and until about 4 years ago, they have been either mountain bikes (lots of mountain bikes!) or a touring bike - one, that's it! I used my touring bike for centuries, for commuting (when I wasn't riding my mountain bike), for touring (when I wasn't using my mountain bike) and for all levels of rides with my bicycle club. From <20 mile easy rides teaching newbies how to ride to fast 50 milers to 125 mile death rides where I was the only one to come back! I've ridden it loaded and unloaded up the highest continuous road in the US.

And, although I have a couple of go-fast bikes now, I still put far more mileage on the touring bike then on any other. A touring bike is made to be comfortable and easy to handle for hours and hours of riding. Why wouldn't you choose a touring bike over a race bike? Both of the race bikes I have are fast and nimble and uncomfortable as hell! I could never image going up Trail Ridge Road on one of them. They aren't geared for it (I'm too old to be pushing a 39/25 gear to over 12,000'!). I also couldn't see riding one of them for 125 miles. I definitly wouldn't put a load of clothes and food on them and ride to work!

So, yes a touring bike is a good choice. Lance may not ride one but Lance also has someone to massage his tired muscles at the end of the day. My wife just laughs at me