Difference between adventure and touring cycling?

[Prairie Dog]

Interestingly, two large countries by area (Canada and Australia) only host 26 million people each

Actually, it’s closer to 40M here but what’s a few million when we’re likely talking about a population density of 4-5 people/sq km.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Wiki defines adventure as an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. I think it’s safe to say that adventure can take on a whole different meaning when the level of adversity is ramped up. Now I’m not condoning that we start training for the Race Across America but there are benefits to taking calculated risks as we can learn more about ourselves and develop positive mindsets when faced with tough challenges.

However, the answer is different for everyone, as our individual preferences and fitness levels vary greatly. While a far-flung mountain bike adventure might be appealing for some, a classic road tour might be better for others. There’s a little bit of wannabe in all of us and emulating those in upper echelons of their fields allows us to explore new places and better helps us confront our fears.

Being self supportive without relying on someone else coming to your aid in the field could be interpreted as being adventuresome whether it’s soloing a gravel road, a technical single track or as a cross country ultra distant road warrior.

As we age, it’s understandable that this sense of adventure starts to decline which is why it's important that we try and shake up our regular routines by seeking out mini adventures closer to home. I haven’t lost all of my mojo yet and continue to push the limits riding in unfamiliar places while realizing that I have to temper my expectations as injuries take much longer to heal than when I was a young lad.

 

[mschwett]

i think it’s simple.

touring is a long ride, multiple days, with a generally set route that typically involves mostly paved roads, or at the very least known and improved paths.

adventure is the unknown, adverse conditions like snow, rain, ice, rough terrain, camping, unimproved connections between known or unknown points, etc.

if i plan a route to los angeles and ride it over 3 or 4 days, that’s touring. millions have done it, and while it may involve difficult climbs and unpaved sections it’s entirely known, knowable, predictable, definable - even the weather, especially in coastal california.

if i ride off towards the sierra with an idea of reaching one high altitude alpine lake or another, far off the beaten path, with a couple bags full of gear and no clearly defined and known (or at least not 100% sure) path to get there, that’s adventure cycling.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Actually, it’s closer to 40M here but what’s a few million when we’re likely talking about a population density of 4-5 people/sq km.

My mistake, sorry. So Canada's population is more or less same as it is in Poland

 

[mschwett]

My mistake, sorry. So Canada's population is more or less same as it is in Poland

an interesting comparison. california, poland, and canada all have 38-40M people. poland and california are roughly the same size (california a bit bigger, but large uninhabitable areas)… and then canada is about 25 time bigger!

of course most all the e-bikes in canada are clustered near the southern border

 

[PDoz]

My mistake, sorry. So Canada's population is more or less same as it is in Poland

Nah, the canadian population is NOT the same as in poland - at least not if we're talking quality

Canadians are almost Australians, but with a bit of French class and grizzly bear darwinian influence.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Nah, the canadian population is NOT the same as in poland - at least not if we're talking quality

How would you know?

Besides, I could have been an Ozzie if my Dad could find the right woman there back in 1951-1957

 

[PDoz]

Uh, no. My definition of 'adventure' has little or nothing to do with 'adventure cycling.' Being an 'adventurous mtb rider' would be a third and separate concept. I'm not and 'adventurous mtb rider,' I am a novice.

For 'adventure cycling,' maybe there's definitely a difference in taxonomy in the US vs. Australia. Here we have an 'adventure cycling association' which describes what seem to me like bike tours, though I've also seen 'adventure cycling' used in bike marketing materials as the kind of bikes you'd use for personal exploring.

It's strange, many of the companies producing the equipment for Adventurous cycling are US based -

Packradts, eg nrs are made in Idahoe
You make some of the best cottage industry / custom cycling bags, racks, even custom engineered suspension parts

Although I think your adventure racing involves weird words like rappelling instead of abseiling....and your adventure cycling organisation isn't part of the adventure racing group? Just another example of why Canada is above the rest of the US

 

[PDoz]

How would you know?

Besides, I could have been an Ozzie if my Dad could find the right woman there back in 1951-1957

Adventurous Australians / Canadians alternate between Aus and Canada depending on their preferred seasonal sports - so our International mtb racers live in whistler when the snow melts, and our winter athlete migrate there in your winter. Living in a rural area with a high proportion of adventure athletes, we get to know plenty of Canadians

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My question was rather related to your deep knowledge of the Poland's population You must have met many, I'm sure.

Why do you identify "adventure" as "extreme sports"?

 

[PDoz]

Why do you identify "adventure" as "extreme sports"?

I don't.

Extreme sports are instant hit adrenaline

Adventure are slow burn cortisol

 

[Mr. Coffee]

It's strange, many of the companies producing the equipment for Adventurous cycling are US based -

Packradts, eg nrs are made in Idahoe
You make some of the best cottage industry / custom cycling bags, racks, even custom engineered suspension parts

If you look around, that's also the case for a lot of ultralight backpacking gear as well.

 

[Art Deco]

Certainly part of the reason for the high prices on ultralight gear is that it's often made in the USA . Probably not enough volume to interest an Asian manufacturer yet.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A quiz question:
"What nation has invented gravel cycling"?

 

[Roamers]

So, has anyone else drawn the conclusion that touring and adventuring are what they are; just have fun doing either!

 

[Roamers]

A quiz question:
"What nation has invented gravel cycling"?

Don't know if it was "invented", but if it is "The 'gravel' discipline tends to describe riding a drop-bar bike on unpaved roads and trails, fitting somewhere between road cycling and mountain biking."

Living in Iowa 45 years ago, we did a lot of graveling because that's what our secondary roads were. Started with a Fuji Saratoga Touring bike with 25 mm tires @ 110 psi.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Don't know if it was "invented", but if it is "The 'gravel' discipline tends to describe riding a drop-bar bike on unpaved roads and trails, fitting somewhere between road cycling and mountain biking."

Living in Iowa 45 years ago, we did a lot of graveling because that's what our secondary roads were. Started with a Fuji Saratoga Touring bike with 25 mm tires @ 110 psi.

Let me help you: It was the Americans And it is not an old invention, relatively. Salsa created the first gravel bike ever in 2012.

A good reading.

 

[mschwett]

Let me help you: It was the Americans And it is not an old invention, relatively. Salsa created the first gravel bike ever in 2012.

View attachment 158400
A good reading.

it’s hard to argue someone invented riding a bike on unpaved roads! jan heine would DEFINITELY disagree!

before road bike evolved to be lighter, and more aero, with skinnier tires, touring was basically gravel biking. and at the other extreme, before mountain bikes got crazy fat tires and full suspension, there were much like flat bar gravel bikes!

on the other hand, the larkspur canyon gang is commonly considered to have “invented” mountain biking on the slopes of mt tamalpais (where i ride regularly, but on the roads) with a variety of cobbled together components from old bikes, cutting trails into the mountain, etc. on the other end of the bay to the south, another band of riders was experimenting with disc brakes from motorcycles …

interesting history:

HISTORY | Marin Museum of Bicycling and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame

MOUNTAIN BIKING HISTORY There’s a lot of history, information and mis-information floating around about the origins of mountain biking—some that’s well rese ...

mmbhof.org

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Still don't see a consensus on what "adventure cycling" might mean, but it's certainly been an adventure keeping track of all the opinions.

Giant, Ride1Up, and other major ebike manufacturers hawk "adventure" bikes. To me, they look like hybrids — i.e., commuters with limited offroad capability, though not necessarily with the stock tires. Definitely not with the road-bike affinities I'm used to seeing in "gravel" bikes.

My conclusion: "Adventure" sounds great but means little when applied to specific bikes or ways to use a bike.

Subjectively, adventure is where you find it. For some, that's risking whole milk in your latte, venturing onto hard-pack for the first time, or exploring the loading dock side of the shopping center. For others, it's crossing fast water or riding in bear country days from help or even cell service.

Going forward, I'm going to let it go at that and ignore "adventure" as a bike or riding category.

 

[Art Deco]

HISTORY | Marin Museum of Bicycling and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame

MOUNTAIN BIKING HISTORY There’s a lot of history, information and mis-information floating around about the origins of mountain biking—some that’s well rese ...

mmbhof.org

A hall of fame.