Le biciclette da cicloturismo sono simili a un abito d'alta sartoria, in quanto chiamate a vestire come una seconda pelle e adattarsi alle esigenze e ambizioni di ciascun ciclista. Per questo rientrano in una delle categorie più eterogenee al mondo, al punto da includere sia i modelli "gravel", derived from road bikes and adapted for carrying panniers, as well as mountain bikes with a particularly comfortable riding position, not forgetting the variants derived from city bikes. Regardless of design philosophy, the key elements for a product intended for cycle tourism are reliability, comfort and load capacity, so as to tackle with complete peace of mind both the day trip and multi-day journeys.

Cycle tourism, the best bicycles for travel and day trips

A pair of mountain bike-derived touring bicycles

Bianchi Spillo Diamante

Cannondale Touring Ultimate

Cinelli Hobootleg

Giant Toughroad SLR 1

KTM Life Lontano XT

Merida Crossway 300

Olympia Country Urban

Scott Silence Evo

Specialized Awol

Surly Long Haul Trucker

Trek 920 Disc

Reliability is non-negotiable in a touring bike

Unlike pure road and mountain biking, weight is not a decisive factor. Saving kilograms is always welcome, of course, but not at the expense of robustness or ease of repair. With this in mind, steel and aluminium frames still dominate — whereas in other sectors they have been superseded by carbon — lightly treaded tyres are ideal for safely tackling easy unpaved tracks, and disc brakes are not "compulsory". In some cases, indestructible V-brakes are preferable to hydraulic discs, which are refined but vulnerable in the event of an impact or fall.

apertura_05 — Most touring bicycles are capable of tackling routes on both tarmac and off-road terrain

Lights, pannier racks and a comfortable saddle are a must

When it comes to wheel sizing, 26-inch (or 29-inch) solutions are ideal for long off-road stretches, given the greater availability of spare parts and tyres with a generous cross-section, while the 28-inch configuration, in road-bike style, is better suited to daily distances of over one hundred kilometres predominantly on tarmac. Lights, pannier racks and a comfortable saddle are essential. The latter is crucial to prevent a day trip from turning into an ordeal. The advice here is to visit a shop and try out several models, paying particular attention to gel versions and those with a central cut-out, so as to relieve pressure on the perineal nerve. Finally, if you opt for clipless pedals, it is better to go for mountain-bike-derived ones, since shoes designed for wider wheels are more comfortable and practical when walking. Here is a selection of touring bicycles suited to different types of route, from the day trip to journeys of hundreds of kilometres.

apertura_004 — The classic luggage arrangement on a touring bike

Bianchi Spillo Diamante

It has the look of a city bike, but the technical specifications are typical of a touring bicycle. The Bianchi Spillo Diamante features a hydroformed aluminium frame with internal cable routing, which benefits the clean lines and protects against wear, as well as a 27-speed Shimano Deore/Acera groupset (3x9v). The suspension fork is a Suntour NCX-D LO – weighing 1,995 g – with 63 mm of travel and remote lockout, suitable for easy unpaved roads too. The rear rack is standard, while the dynamo integrated into the hub and the gel saddle promise maximum comfort. Price: €899.

Cannondale Touring Ultimate

It is not a "simple" beast of burden: the Touring Ultimate by Cannondale derives from the American brand's road bikes and features an aluminium frame, a rigid lightweight alloy fork and Shimano RS785 hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm diameter rotors. The particularly puncture-resistant Schwalbe Marathon Plus SmartGuard tyres are paired with 28-inch wheels, designed primarily for road use, and an equally reliable Shimano Ultegra groupset (2x11v) with a compact 50/34 chainset and 11-32 sprocket cassette. Price: €2,699.

Cinelli Hobootleg

One of the most refined touring models on the market, an ideal trait d'union between cyclocross and trekking, as well as a bike worthy of the Guinness World Record, having completed a round-the-world trip in 144 days. The frame and fork are in Columbus Cromor steel with triple butting, guaranteeing reliability, comfort and durability over time. It can be fitted with generously sized tyres (up to 40 mm), enabling it to tackle any terrain. It uses a Shimano Deore derailleur (3x9v) with a 48/36/26 chainset and 13/34 sprocket cassette. Combined with Tektro cantilever brakes, it comes with a set of Tubus racks for carrying heavy loads of up to 40 kg at the rear and up to 18 kg at the front. It weighs 12.6 kg and costs €1,515.

Giant Toughroad SLR 1

Built for the roughest terrain, thanks to the mountain bike-derived aluminium frame and hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm diameter rotors. It uses a mixed Sram X7/GX groupset (2x10v) with a 42/28 chainset and 11/36 sprocket cassette. The rigid fork is in carbon to keep the weight down, while the 28-inch wheels – an unusual choice for a model aimed primarily at off-road use – feature 50 mm section tyres. The composite fibre seatpost promises precise vibration absorption. Price: €1,299.

KTM Life Lontano XT

It has mountain biking in its DNA: the Austrian bicycle can count on 29-inch wheels with Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tyres, a steel frame with rigid fork, Shimano RT68 CL disc brakes and a groupset, again Shimano, from the XT series (3x10v) with a 48/36/26 chainset and 11/34 sprocket cassette. Fitted as standard with racks and a dynamo integrated into the front hub, it comes equipped with a vintage-look Brooks B17 saddle. It sacrifices some lightness in favour of robustness – it weighs 16.4 kg – and costs €2,099.

Merida Crossway 300

It has a dual personality: on one hand a leisure bike suitable for easy unpaved roads, and on the other a touring model for long distances, once fitted with racks. The aluminium frame is paired with a Suntour SR NCX D-RL fork with 63 mm of travel and remote lockout, as well as a mixed Shimano Deore groupset (3x10v) with a 48/36/26 chainset and 11/34 sprocket cassette. It features Shimano disc brakes with 160 mm diameter rotors. Weight: 13 kg; price: €799.

Olympia Country Urban

The Italian manufacturer offers a versatile model, suited to urban commuting as well as a day trip out of town or medium-range cycle touring. The sturdy aluminium frame is paired with the 24-speed Shimano Acera groupset (3x8v). Fitted with rack mounts, it features a rigid fork in lightweight alloy, while the down tube, curved near the head tube junction, enhances torsional resistance. The Shimano BRM-315 hydraulic disc brakes complete the technical specification. Price: €610.

Scott Silence Evo

Goodbye chain: the Silence Evo uses a toothed belt drive, virtually maintenance-free, paired with an 11-speed Shimano Alfine derailleur integrated into the rear hub, greatly benefiting the protection of the system and reducing the adjustments required through use and vibration. The aluminium frame fitted with a rigid fork, also in lightweight alloy, is complemented by Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and an integrated dynamo lighting system. It weighs 14.5 kg and costs €1,749.

Specialized Awol

Built for adventure: the steel frame fitted with a rigid fork is paired with Tektro Spyre mechanical disc brakes with 160 mm diameter rotors and a mixed Shimano Sora/Alivio groupset (3x9v) with a 50/39/30 chainset and 12/36 sprocket cassette. A gear ratio suited to tackling even the most demanding climbs. Its distant kinship with a road model is underlined by the drop handlebar and the 28-inch wheels with 45 mm section Borough Sport tyres. It can be fitted with mudguards and a rack. Price: €1,190.

Surly Long Haul Trucker

Cycle touring in its purest form. The frame geometry, characterised by the generous longitudinal extension of the chainstays, promotes comfort over long distances, while the thickness of the steel tubes means it can handle even the heaviest loads. Built for robustness, the American bicycle can take 26 or 28-inch wheels. The mixed Shimano Sora/XT groupset uses an Andel RSC6 triple chainset (48/36/26) and a Shimano HG-50-10 cassette (11/32). Tektro cantilever brakes and mounts for both front and rear racks. It costs €1,365.

Trek 920 Disc

Designed for "fast" cycle touring, that is, for covering kilometres at high average speeds predominantly on tarmac. Derived from the racing models of the American brand, it features an innovative front luggage system with waterproof bags. The aluminium frame with internal cable routing is paired with a rigid lightweight alloy fork and 29-inch wheels. The latter is a mountain bike-derived feature, as is the Sram X5/X7 drivetrain (2x10 speed) with 42/28 chainset and 11/36 cassette. Hydraulic disc brakes. It weighs 13 kg and costs €1,839.

Cycle tourism, the best bicycles for travel and day trips