Tips for cycle trips component choices · Component Choices in Tips for cycle trips
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Component Choices in Tips for cycle trips
Component Choices in Tips for cycle trips
Shifters: Many modern bicycles have very complex shifters that are not possible to service, changing to bar-end shifters is a good choice for bars that will fit them (drop or moustache) as they are very robust. Old (80's or 90's) mountain bike "thumbie" shifters are a good choice if using flat bars, but are hard to come by, and are only compatible with the number of gears they were designed to be used with at the time. If you are willing to spend the money Paul Components makes an to mount bar end shifters as a thumbie on flat bars. This is an excellent robust solution.
More gears is not always better; while it is important to have a good range of gears, especially a very low option, 9 or 10 speed rear cogsets wear faster, and come out of adjustment more easily than 7 or 8; and usually do not give wider range then 7 or 8. A cassette with 8 gears on it is probably the best choice, as quality chains are still available, as are reasonable quality cassettes.
Rear Hub: The rear hub is a part of the bike that is under a lot of stress. The older standard of rear hub was designed for a threaded freewheel, the new one is called a freehub and is used with a cassette. More info The newer freehub is stronger, and more reliable, and the gears come off more easily to replace a broken spoke if needed. While replacement parts are harder to find in some parts of the developing world, it would be a good choice there too. It would be far less likely to need replacement than a freewheel hub, and if for some reason it did, it could be replaced with a freewheel hub and freewheel at that time.
Headsets: Threadless 1 1/8th inch is a good choice. While threaded 1 inch have been around for longer, they require large tools to adjust, and are not as strong. Avoid integrated Headsets as it can be difficult to find parts for this in the developed world and worse in the developing one.
Bottom-brackets: Square taper Bottom-brackets are the most common, and the easiest to find replacement parts for, they make a good choice. The only disadvantage is they are a few dozen grams heavier, not a worry on a touring bike. Avoid the many different splined standards. Unfortunately square taper BBs are coming on very few new bikes these days -- though you can still buy quality ones. It would be worth swapping to a square taper BB and crank if you are planing an extended tour in the developing world.
Wheel Size:In many developing countries the 26" decimal wheel size (aka ISO 559) is more common than the 700C size (ISO 622). (But other sizes that are now discontinued in most of the developed world may be even more common) It's probably safest to stick with 26" if possible. Be aware that the naming conventions for tire sizes are convoluted and far from self evident. For example there are 6 different incompatible sizes all known as 26" see list for more info.
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Tips for cycle trips Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.