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Which cycle is best for touring in India?

With the innumerable variants of cycles available in the market and every brand introducing newer features to their bikes every day, it has become a pressing question for beginners to understand the type of cycle they need to choose on an expedition such as an all-India tour. So which cycle is best for all India touring? The answer is not in the brand, but rather in the components of the cycle.
 
Any rightly sized bike having a quick-release system for both wheels must ideally be sufficient to tour all across India. Every other additional feature in the components of the bike such as the V-brakes, drivetrain, shocks, wheel size, saddle, and handlebar, only increases the comfort of the journey. The best cycle for touring India is simply the one which fits you right and has the defined/desired comforts you require.
 
In this article, I will explain all the components that will offer to you the utmost comfort on your journey. Firstly, we have to understand that the best bike for touring has to be a mountain terrain bike or an MTB and not a road bike. MTB offers the most comfort and durability in all road conditions in the long run. So for convenience sake, we are not considering road bike in this article.
Best cycle for all-India cycle tour
Points to keep in mind before choosing a cycle for all-India touring

Quick release

Instead of having solid axel and nuts that hold the wheels to the frame, a quick release system holds the wheel to the frame through a lever which allows the wheel to be pulled out and put back instantly into the frame of the bike. Considering that there are going to be a huge number of flat tyres in a cycling tour and that sometimes it becomes necessary to pack the bike in a box, having a quick release system is a must. Ensure that any bike you are going to pick first has a quick release system for the wheels if not the seat post.
 

V-brakes

V-brakes are the traditional brakes having a clinging arm wire pull mechanism, where when the cable is pulled, two arms are drawn towards one another allowing the brake pads to hold the rim of the wheel in place. Most brands have stopped manufacturing these brakes as they are considered too old-fashioned, thus making them available on some commuting or cheaper urban bikes.
 
There are however many reasons why a touring cycle has to have V-breaks on it and not the newly available disc breaks. Firstly the V-brakes are extremely easy to handle. Breakdown chances are almost close to zero. Secondly, it offers the opportunity to go without service and have the brake pads and cables fixed/replaced easily by the rider himself. Lastly, any local store you visit in India is going to have shoe pads for these traditional brakes but not all of them will be capable of handling your fancy disc breaks.
 
If the seller at your local store convinces you to buy a cycle with disc breaks explaining it to be the new norm, just turn it down and head for the traditional V- or caliper brakes. This will also turn out to be easier on your pocket.
 

26″ wheels

There are mostly 3 wheel sizes to choose from whole buying a bike. The 29″ wheels are the new culture for cyclists, offering interaction with a wider surface area of the road and so better traction. The larger 29″ wheels also offer quicker acceleration and better rolling over rough surfaces and downhills. But none of these is needed for a touring bike. A smaller wheel on the other hand offers better manoeuvring ability and is easier to ride uphills. Both the features an individual on a cycle tour needs.
But nothing beats one reason why you need to choose 26″ wheels over either 27.5″ or 29″ wheels. Since the diameter of the wheel is smaller, the spokes are a tad bit shorter, allowing it to take more strain and weight. Choose a 26″ wheel with 32 spokes over the current culture of 29″ wheels with 28 spokes. The shorter size and extra spokes offer the ability to load more weight onto the bike, without straining the spokes too much. If the tyres wear out, you can be assured that every other cycling store even in remote places of the country will have a replacement tyre for the 26″ wheels.
 

Frame sizing and position

By far the most important factor to be considered for a cycle tour, even more important than the quick release itself has to be the frame size and the fit. Every individual is differently structured, with the inseam length which is the length of the legs from the groin, varying for different individuals even of the same height.
 
Go to the bike store where they have the right instruments to do the bike fit so that you don’t compromise on the frame at any cost. Riding close to 50,000 Kms+ requires a comfortable seated position on the bike. Shell down the extra money that you save from choosing V-brakes and 26″ wheels for the bike onto the bike fit. The size of the frame, height of the saddle, how far the stem is away from the fork, and how far ahead or behind the saddle has to be, are all part of the bike fit that a computerized system will output for a relaxed and pain -free journey.
Bike fitting and frame size for all-India cycle tour
Make sure that the bike fits you very well. Have the saddle height, stem length, and bike fitting done for you at the local store

Suspension

Having a suspension on the rear fork of the bike is the silliest thing one can do. It makes the rider put in 10 – 20% extra energy per cycle stroke to compensate for the spring action and wear you out in the long run. Even worse, if you have a weak back you run the risk of an injury. Having a rigid fork on the front as well is not a bad idea. But having a suspension fork in the front with a suspension lock is a luxury. A suspension lock allows you to turn the fork rigid when necessary. Most bikes lately come with a suspension fork and a lock feature. But feel free to omit the suspension completely. It compromises a bit of discomfort on bad roads with easier serviceability.
 

Saddle

For a comfortable riding experience, the saddle is more important than one can think it could be. Similar to the inseam length that varies between individuals of the same height, the distance between the sit bones also varies drastically from person to person. My sit bone width is roughly around 140 mm and so I have got a 145 mm specialized power saddle for my bike which is one of the best in the business. While getting your bike fit, make sure that you have your sit bone width measured to be able to invest in the right saddle.
 
One of the biggest mistakes some riders do is to have a gel foam covering for the saddle. To understand some of such frequent mistakes cyclists do in preparation for a cycling tour, read this blog: Common mistakes you need to avoid on an all-India cycle tour.
 

Drivetrain

The gear system is one of the most overrated components of the bike that people look for before buying a touring cycle. Having as many as only 3 rings on the crank and 7 rings on the cassette allows for a combination of 21 gear possibilities to choose from. This must be more than sufficient to get you through an entire India tour.
 
Invest in Shimano components for the drivetrain, be it 3*7, 3*8, 3*9, or 3*10. After choosing the rest of the bike components, pick the drivetrain based on your planned budget for the cycle.
 
The budget for the bike is only a fraction of the amount of money that will be needed for a tour of the order of an entire nation. Or is it? To know more about budget travelling and how to travel without spending money, read this blog: How much does it cost to tour India on a cycle?