Touring bicycles are usually equipped with luggage racks front and rear, designed to hold panniers or other forms of luggage. Because of the increased weight requirements and reliability demands, touring bicycles typically use road handlebars and saddles for long-distance comfort, combined with rugged hubs, heavy-duty rims and 36-spoke wheels to provide the durability, reliability and wide gearing essential for loaded touring.

Sometimes instead of panniers bicycle trailers are towed behind for carrying the gear; these are sometimes preferred as they provide a low center of gravity and can be detached easily. Touring bicycle frames typically have a long wheelbase and stable steering geometry, with numerous attachment points for luggage racks, fenders (mudguards), lights, water bottles, tools and spare parts. Chainstays must be long enough to accommodate panniers without interfering with the rider's heels during pedaling, and the entire structure must be stiff enough to safely handle long, fast descents with the machine fully loaded.

For gearing, touring bicycles traditionally employ wide-ratio derailleur gears, often with a very low-speed "granny gear" for loaded ascents. However in recent years, because of their robustness and very low-maintenance, internal-geared hubs have become popular. Touring bicycles are usually equipped with cantilever brakes or linear-pull brakes, instead of the caliper brakes used on racing bicycles. The need for mudguard (fender) and wide tyre clearance precludes the use of typical dual-pivot road brakes, which would be excessively large and flexible if made to fit a touring bike. Some newer touring bicycles use disc brakes, because of their superior stopping power and improved performance in wet weather.

However, tourists are inherently conservative in equipment choice because of the need to repair and source parts a long way from home. Thus, touring bikes trade off some speed for extra utility and ruggedness. This combination of features is popular with commuters and couriers as well.

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From the grocery store in Kalispell to the open market in Karachi, Cannondale's touring frames are ready to load up and roll out.

Performance and value meet heritage in the touring platform, Cannondale's first- and longest-produced frame.

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Touring is all about exploring and adventure and there's no better bike to tour on than Sherpa.

From intelligent rack mounts, to gearing, to durable paint - every detail has been considered.

A long-time staple in our lineup, Sherpa offers the durability and features that every long distance rider needs.

Click to enlarge

From the grocery store in Kalispell to the open market in Karachi, Cannondale's touring frames are ready to load up and roll out.

Performance and value meet heritage in the touring platform, Cannondale's first- and longest-produced frame.

Click to enlarge

• Reynolds 525 chromoly frame with 3 water bottle mounts, pump pegs, spoke holder, fender/rack mounts and IS disc tabs
• Full Shimano 18-speed drive train with 105 rear derailleur
  
• Sturdy wheels: Shimano LX trekking hubs, butted stainless spokes and Mavic A316 hole rims

Click to enlarge

Touring is all about exploring and adventure and there's no better bike to tour on than Sherpa.

From intelligent rack mounts, to gearing, to durable paint - every detail has been considered.

A long-time staple in our lineup, Sherpa offers the durability and features that every long distance rider needs.

Click to enlarge

• Double butted chromoly frame with 3 water bottle mounts and fender/rack mounts
• Shimano 18-speed drive train with FSA Vero triple cranks