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It’s a niche market, so there are relatively few touring bikes from which to choose, unlike the dozens of road, mountain and urban bike models available. And many of the major sport-bike manufacturers offer only a single touring bike (forget about finding a female-specific model). Technology is always evolving in the biking world, yet with touring bikes, little has changed in many years. In this sense, the process of selecting one is more about the rider than the bike. Be prepared to discuss the style of touring you intend to do and the types of terrain you might encounter, and think about what accessories you will need (see CoolTools). Once you find your perfect two-wheel tourer — and perhaps one of the following examples will do — the more enticing question remains: where should you go first?

FUJI TOURING ($999)
Known primarily for its road bikes, Fuji has been around since 1899. Part of one of the largest bike-manufacturing companies in the world, Fuji offers a touring bike that is equipped with everything a serious rider needs kilometre after kilometre — and at a great price.

Like most touring bikes on the market today, the Fuji Touring model has a strong steel frame and fork made with chromoly (a low-alloy steel containing chromium and molybdenum and valued for its high tensile strength and strength-toweight ratio). It’s not as light as the aluminum or carbon frames preferred for other kinds of road bikes but is better at absorbing road vibrations. Remember, you can’t expect to go racing with your Lycra-clad roadie friends on this bike; the weight of it is what makes its ride stable and smooth, even when loaded down with full panniers. And as long as achieving ultimate efficiency isn’t the goal, the Fuji Touring bike would be great for commuting as well.

Fuji’s components may not all be prestigious top-of-the-line brand names, but they are solid and reliable. The 27-speed drivetrain is ideal for climbing the Rockies or the Alps, and its cantilever brakes ensure that the rider is always in control on the way down. The bike includes pedals with toeclips and a rear rack, both of which are often sold separately. On the downside, if you’re finicky about colour, you’re out of luck. Each year, the bike’s colour changes; the 2008 model is green with gold details.

NORCO KWEST TOURING ($1,259)
When the Port Coquitlam, B.C.-based company known for making heavy-duty mountain bikes released its first fully tourtouring- specific bike this year, no one was surprised that it was built to take on the toughest challenges. A brand-new addition to the touring market, Norco’s Kwest is ready for long, heavy hauls in any weather. Its durable wheels, equally at home on pavement and dirt, have strong spokes and top-end touring rims. Considering tires are what touring cyclists need to replace most often, it’s nice that Norco didn’t cut corners here.

Powerful cantilever brakes offer excellent stopping power regardless of how much gear is on-board, but unlike the Fuji bike, most of the Kwest’s components are top brands (Shimano, Ritchey, etc.). One unique feature is that the shifters are located at the ends of the handlebars, rather than on top with the brakes, which allows for a maximum width for the front panniers.

This bike is designed for heavy, longdistance touring and is not ideal for more casual touring. Weekend warriors would be better off on performance bikes that are light but still rugged enough to handle touring-type terrain. The Kwest also comes with Shimano clipless pedals, but a rack is not included. This bike, Like the Fuji model, is available in just one colour each year (dark blue for 2008).

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