Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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trevstonbury
Posts: 12
Joined: 30 Sep 2018, 12:31pm

Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by trevstonbury »

Good Afternoon,

I am looking for some advice on kitting out 2 mountain bikes for touring across South East Asia. The bikes are Whyte 604 Compact and 605 (2016 models), with no alterations from their original spec. We are looking to bike through Mongolia, China and through the rest of SE Asia to Singapore and will be carrying our luggage on the bikes. Our main concern is that the bikes are fitted with the most suitable tyres which provide the right balance for efficiency on roads vs ruggedness for tracks in places like Mongolia with many being dirt/gravel. We would also like to know if there are any suitable panniers or other accessories you would recommend for such an extended journey, we will also be looking to take spares, inner tubes etc...
Any advice would be much appreciated!

Kind regards
Trevor
scottg
Posts: 1218
Joined: 10 Jan 2008, 8:44pm
Location: Highland Heights Kentucky,, USA

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by scottg »

This fellow has been on the road for two years.

https://theradavist.com/2018/09/two-yea ... ke-tour/#1

RyanWilson_AndesRig2018-01-1335x891.jpg
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Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG
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simonhill
Posts: 5226
Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by simonhill »

I think you have plenty of other things to consider before worrying about tyres.

Have you toured before? Have you toured on these bikes? Are you camping, or travelling light?

You need to make sure the bikes are up to it. They are mid range bikes, with mid range components, which could be well worn.

I'd worry about my wheels, how to fit rack or racks, mudguards. Maintenance of disc brakes in places like Mongolia.

Re luggage, most people go for Ortleibs. Tough and waterproof, but horrible looking in my opinion.

Re tyres, look at Schwalbe's website for touring tyres. I think, the Mondial is their current super tough touring tyre.

I presume you're not going till after winter.
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hondated
Posts: 2472
Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 7:59am
Location: Eastbourne

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by hondated »

scottg wrote:This fellow has been on the road for two years.

https://theradavist.com/2018/09/two-yea ... ke-tour/#1

RyanWilson_AndesRig2018-01-1335x891.jpg

Thanks scottg for the link, brilliant. I think I may have a problem as photos of that bike I regard as bikeporn ! :lol:
crazydave789
Posts: 584
Joined: 22 Jul 2017, 10:21pm

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by crazydave789 »

Grrr windows update wiped out my first reply.

mid range bike - not a problem and spares are easier to get, worst case get a new one sent out. they are also less weight conscious which often makes the parts stronger and more up to abuse
alu frame - shouldn't be an issue as there's thousands of people using them everyday for high miles on loaded bikes or gnarly downhills
suspension forks - common enough and they lock out which is good.

spend a few weeks reading the crazyguy on a bike forum and journals because a lot of folks have done that or similar.

my only concerns are any odd sized kit like tyres and wheels you might have, in which case take spare folding tyres zip tied to your forks and know where you can get new kit from and sent out fedex/ups/dhl etc... being able to Mgyver fixes with coke cans and zip ties is very handy. being a pessimist helps in my opinion. schwalbe seem to be the goto make for tyres for longevity and puncture resistance.

know your bikes and how to service/maintain/fix them, the worst thing will be a frame break which is why most overseas tourists take steel frames.

most tourists don't need any of that beyond a puncture repair kit, others have stuggled with endless broken spokes and bearings.

mounting panniers to suspension forks is trickier than regular forks usually needing better bigger brackets, I ended up custom making some for mine but you could look at the thule pack n pedal racks which have the benefit of a decent resale value.

handlebars you can ride what you know with a couple of sets of bar ends or switch to butterfly bars for something different.
m-gineering
Posts: 254
Joined: 23 May 2015, 12:01pm

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by m-gineering »

trevstonbury wrote:Good Afternoon,

we will also be looking to take spares, inner tubes etc...
Any advice would be much appreciated!

You've got me worried. If you feel the need to point out you'll take an inner tube, it would suggest to me that you might not have a grasp of the real challenges. Hope I'm wrong though
Marten

Touring advice for NL: www.m-gineering.nl/touringg.htm
willem jongman
Posts: 2750
Joined: 7 Jan 2008, 4:16pm

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by willem jongman »

I am also a bit worried. These are budget bikes of a kind that I would not feel very comfortable with on such a trip. I looked at the build specifications, and it is mostly bottom end or no name. The wheels in particular would have me worried.
For tyres: Schwalbe Mondial
Racks: Old Man Mountain
crazydave789
Posts: 584
Joined: 22 Jul 2017, 10:21pm

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by crazydave789 »

you do not need high end anything, you might want high end but that doesn't mean you need it.

if that is their budget then that is their budget. many people tour europe on 300 quid bikes with a few bits bolted on.
simonhill
Posts: 5226
Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by simonhill »

My point about midrange said that they could be well worn. The critical bit was well worn, not mid range.

I use mainly Deore on my Surly, which is pretty much mid range. Currently touring in Korea.
Warin61
Posts: 192
Joined: 16 Nov 2016, 8:51pm

Re: Advice and options turning mtb's into touring ones

Post by Warin61 »

m-gineering wrote:You've got me worried. If you feel the need to point out you'll take an inner tube, it would suggest to me that you might not have a grasp of the real challenges. Hope I'm wrong though


Experienced = a person who has made mistakes and learnt from them.

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If you need some things .. like a derailleur.. then they will be hard to find (read impossible).
A spoke or 3 might be ok.
A tool to remove the rear sprockets so you can replace spokes? BYO

How reliable are the bits on the bike? Do you replace or carry spares if you don't think they are reliable?

Same problem for touring bikes...
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