Difference between adventure and touring cycling?

Jeremy McCreary

Jeremy McCreary

Well-Known Member
Region
USA
City
Carlsbad, CA
Trying to understand how adventure and touring cycling differ.

Familiar with touring, but the adventure category is a new one on me, having been under a cycling rock for the last 25 years. Did some web searches without a clear answer.

If you do adventure e-cycling, what draws you to it, and what kind of ebike do you use?

Thanks!
 
Adventure cycling may take on different meanings on so many levels for some but once e-bikes factor into the equation, it certainly broadens one’s perspective on where, how long and how far one can ride. An extended bikepacking trip might be considered the ultimate adventure but I think most e-bikers here would likely prefer the confines of a comfy cabin or hotel room.

As for me, I love the mountains and what an exhilarating experience they bring to a ride whether it’s rolling up the highest paved road in the country on our Creos in picturesque Kananaskis or slowly making my way up a technical climb on my Levo in Banff National Park. With that said, it doesn’t require that you push your physical and mental abilities to the max but I find that doing so tends to make the reward or quest you seek at the end of the journey more satisfying.
 
You can also define an adventure as going somewhere you have never been before, or going by a different route. When you start out on your own every ride is an adventure. I would advise staying reasonably close to home or joining group rides until you are comfortable with your bike’s capabilities.
 
For me, the adventure cycling is a long trip that typically lasts for the whole day. You might need extra batteries to be able to make such trip. Adventure cycling might involve more days but you need to stay at a hotel or motel, i.a. for battery recharging.

Gravel cycling (and ultramarathons) is the model sports discipline of adventure cycling.
 
Personal opinion: Touring is load up the paniers and go on established roads; sharing with motor vehicles about all the time. Adventure would include more off established road where you are unlikely to see motor vehicles; except those with off-road equipped vehicles.
 
Check out the Adventure Cycling Association’s website at adventurecycling.org. As others have said, adventure cycling may be a bit more broadly defined but essentially both are about traveling by bicycle. The rise of gravel bikes and bikepacking gear have increased the appeal to a wider audience, so its not just about loading up the panniers and going out on the road.
 
Here are a couple of examples:
www.marinbikes.com

DSX FS

2023 Marin Bikes DSX FS, Aluminum 700C, suspension, flat-bar gravel bike. With large tire clearance and dropper post routing for better off-road control.
www.marinbikes.com www.marinbikes.com
www.marinbikes.com

Nicasio 2

2023 Marin Bikes Nicasio 2, Chromoly 700C gravel bike. For adventures on and off road.
www.marinbikes.com www.marinbikes.com
It is a do it all category. Yes, It is most often referred to as Gravel/Adventure. It is a hot and growing segment. I love it.

I encountered one for Stefan today. The saddle is set a 75cm and it has 52mm crank arms. And weighs almost 40 kilos.
1689460563045.jpeg
 
I'd be interested in the categories a few people I know fall into.

19 yo who took his bike to Mongolia then headed off through the stans. Solo, several months, no set plan. He calls it a tour but it sounds adventurous to me?

A couple of local guys flew their mountain bike over and spent a few weeks cycling in the Himalayas. It was a supported ride, luggage carted for them and accommodation / food supplied. Even a bike mechanic! But they were tackling crazy altitudes, rock strewn roads, adverse weather ( including snow) . Adventurous tour?

How about the guy who flies his bike over the SE Asia, spends a few weeks wandering around - nothing pre-booked but he finds accommodation most nights . Carries a tent and supplies just in case. Mostly rides bitumin roads , but isn't afraid of gravel. Also isn't afraid to use a bus / train if he feels like it. He calls these trips touring, but to me they seem more adventurous than an organized tour?
 
JenniferA said:
Check out the Adventure Cycling Association’s website at adventurecycling.org.
Click to expand...
Thanks! They've done an amazing job in terms of saturating the Google returns on almost any search phrase involving "adventure" and cycling or biking. But oddly enough, never found a clear distinction vis a vis touring on their site. What I did see was lots of overlap between the "adventure" rides they were offering and what I would have called touring. Hence the OP.

My days of sleeping on the ground are over, and I do like my showers. So if touring implies multi-day rides with camping, no thanks. But adventure cycling with hotel stops has some appeal.
 
Example: although it is an adventure, I consider RAGBRAI a tour. 50th anniversary this year. It looks like they are going to have Iowa Summer weather this year rather than nice weather like last year.
 
Jeremy McCreary said:
My days of sleeping on the ground are over, and I do like my showers. So if touring implies multi-day rides with camping, no thanks. But adventure cycling with hotel stops has some appeal.
Click to expand...
This morning my time, I will report a typical adventure ride of last Friday (105 miles).

Also, the Mazovian Gravel Ultramarathon I completed in June was an adventure trip type (I had one overnight stay at a farm hotel for the 160 mile race. The organizers let 3 days for the 300 mile riders). It was pavement, gravel and singletrack ride with a creek or river crossing and numerous obstacles. The riders could freely buy in shops and eat in restaurants or bars (if they could find some in that underdeveloped area). The organizers had even provided a map and a list of grocery stores en route. The riders could eat and sleep at pitstops.

I was the first e-biker ever admitted to a gravel ultra, at least in Poland 😊

All my gravel cycling friends describe their hobby as 'adventure cycling'.
 
I tried to ride that Super 73 today. It cannot be pedaled for any distance. Your knees are up at your shoulders. It felt like sitting in a kindergarten desk. It is really just an electric min-bike with a throttle. The pedals are useless, decorative. The tape is set at 1 meter, a saddle's height.
 
Last edited:
Rondo is a Polish company that makes the most beautifully designed Gravel/Adventure/Touring bikes. This one has a flip chip in the front fork to change the geo from fighter plane twitchy aggressive to touring. @Catalyzt would drool all over his shirt it he saw these bikes. But he would need a stem riser and more comfortable saddle, plus the motor for those Hollywood Nights, in those high rolling hills. These bikes are very good, but a little harsh for anyone over 50. https://rondo.cc/bikes,41,pl
1689467822619.jpeg


 
Here is the direction of the Gravel/Adventure/Touring scene. You will see bike porn and accessories. That MYLC 'milk' is amazing. It is the Rondo in the cover photo.
 
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