Our World Touring Bicycles Review - 2 Years on the Road 

Wow. This video does really helps me in selection of components for my future touring. Keep it up guys. Stay safe, enjoy your ride.

The best thing about both your bikes is that you travel great distances on them. A great adventure!

Nice to see serious round the world cyclists not spending a fortune on hub or pinion gear bikes.

Thank you Maudi and Eric, learning so much! 🌄

I would like to add my thanks as well, it is encouraging that you use perfectly normal everyday equipment and concentrate on the things that can let you down, like the headset. As there are no off the peg touring bikes at the moment I used a Boardman gravel bike changing a few parts and have done many km of touring but it is comforting to see you guys - the experts - are not spending fortunes on equipment either.

You guys are super cool. I love your no frills, warm, down to earth manner. Love it! Remionds me why I ride!!! Dont stop riding!!!

Great video, I love the fact you are you basically built your own bikes!

Makes me so happy to see you guys back on the road!! :D may the road rise before you!

Very good video and explanations. Thanks for taking the time. Take care and stay safe, Al

thank you for this, I look forward to my bicycle tour!

this is it !!! love the explanation

I enjoyed a lot! Thanks guys!

Nice touring set up. Thank you for Sharing 👋😁🚴‍♂️

Thanks for being so detailed!!

Three years ago, when I saw your video clips, it was shocking to me, your bikes are the TANK, heavy tall and long. Now I understand the reason why. It's really helped out the selection of parts for my touring bike, SURLY LHT 2014 model (second hand bike as like your). Stay safe in your hometown, see you someday on the road of somewhere. Thanks a lot.

I admire your setup on components and models of bikes, very sturdy for extended riding in all terrain. I can understand why you sit high being tall riders so your in a more vertical riding position with high stem, something I noticed many Europeans utilize. I tried that position using a trekking bar but found pushing a bike up a hill was very difficult as I have seen your problems as well. I have a Surley Molko bar now installed and not as high riding position, makes pushing a loaded bike up steep grades easier, a bit of less wind resistance as well.

Great video as usual, very informative!

Good bike set up, very comfy handle bar, I was amazed with your bike frame its durable and strong, thanks for sharing .

Well built, good quality hand built cromoly framed mountain bikes from the '90's can be picked up here in the UK for easily under £100. Raleigh and Saracen made some very high quality bikes which sell for next to nothing and can be economically transformed into comfortable touring bikes with very little effort. I've never seen a steering corrector/dampener on a bicycle before but looks very clever. All the very best on your travels from the UK 🇬🇧 Qua Patet Orbis 🌍

You can adjust the nose bolt on the Shimano B17 saddle and that will take care of the "slack" in the seat. Thanks for your wonderful videos. We spent a rainy Sunday discovering your channel and watching your neat journey!!

Thank you guys for inspiring me and I want to go and find myself again.

Thank you for this helpful video.... More power guys and keepsafe always 🙏🙏🙏

Thats gr8 ! This info will help me to buy my bicycle in future . You both are awesome

you guys inspiring everyone in this world

I like your style both of you! Nice!

Amazing video very simple and straight thanks a lot 👍👍👍 Keep it up guys

I love your videos. Really well done. I've been a cyclist for more years than I can remember. When they designed men's and women's bikes years ago, I think they messed up. The men's frame with the straight top tube is dangerous for us guys. I call them, "Nut-Crackers" 😜. For all the accidents I've had, it's a wonder I was able to father two children. Thanks again for all of your awesome videos. Still trying to get through them all.

Can't believe the durability of kool stop brake pads ! It's incredible.

Finally I've been waiting this video. I've always wanted to know what gear you guys have. Cool!

Glad to hear that the KOGA frame is doing well. I've been in the market for a KOGA World Traveler for some time without luck. I think I'll have to get it from a dealer in The Netherlands now as I had so little success trying to buy it from a Swiss dealer. Ok, guys, continue to keep us up to date with your adventures. Best to you both from Richard in Atlanta.

Great vid thanks. Love the kogas! And a local Company for you guys I guess. but just goes to show you dont necessarily need expensive bikes to travel as well. Safe travels. SHEFFIELD ENGLAND. ❤️

Heroic tyres!

Good video,with your Brooks seat, I had and have the same and to make a it tad more comfortable, I just got a cheap Glue stick,rubbed in lines over the seat,not go berserk,then got a piece of lambswool skin and placed that woolly side up, over the top and pressed it on, just adds a bit of extra comfort, I found the glue stick keeps it on for ages.

Thanks for this video, amazing only 2 rear tires for 2 years, very durable tires

The information provided is inconceivable, I am very thankful to you for this information.

so glad you also shared your gear ! very helpfull and most of all - appreciate your experiences on the road Howcome you went with the 26" ? isn't 28" more common and bigger therefore more distance covered with similar energy?? All the best from Germany, keep it up

Nice video 👍 Could you make a video of equipment you took with you on the trip, that you don't recommend, and useful equipment you wish you had, or equipment you have bought on the trip? Wish you a nice journey 👍

Great to see the bits of your bikes. I was looking for an old Giant mtb to change it in to a touring bike 👍

Wow, I have one from Ergotec AHS Premium been used for 5 years.

Very good Damono

Thank you for sharing 😎

I have the Brooks B17 with Titanium railings seat, if you want to straighten out the seat, grab an alan key and look for videos on youtube and it will give you instructions on how to tension the seat to sort out the sag by using the alan key on the bolt on the front of the underside of the seat.

Would not have guessed you overhauled the bike! Looks like a legit touring bike!

Nice, thanks for this

great video

I have been watching you to for years there is nothing more important than the gear review from true miles. Can't wait to see what junk you still carrying and what was left behind. Thanks for the progress and I do recommend keeping the nice rack it helps your forks.

Deore XT is my favorite component yes...and Deore also....setting and wörking is easier also lighter than other comp. Longer life too.....good choice....

Wohooooo..... waiting over...!

Thank you for this video. It would be also be interesting to hear what worked well and what didn't, which gear and clothing you recommend, etc.

Nice overview of your bikes. 🚲 👍🏼 I also have an older Giant hybrid with rim brakes. I was going to buy an expensive dedicated touring bike for my upcoming tour, but i decided to do what you did, and just use the money to update the components like stronger tires & wheels as well as racks & bags. Anyway, i hope you both are well & staying safe. Any plans to continue your tour once the travel restrictions are lifted?

Ребята,вы-герои.Счастья вам.

Great stories of this video, traveling in bicycling was awesome because you can reduce a carbon footprints. Keep traveling🤙

Nice Show of your Bikes Guys ...with the Brooks Saddle Spreading/Sagging overtime ...Get a Leather Punch and Create Three Holes either side of the Saddle ..then when Needed You can Lace a Leather Thong Strip Between the Holes ...( of course do this underside of the Saddle...Good Luck ..but it ooks like you wont need the Technique for a Few more years on your B17 !

thanks a lot!!

very good review.

Very intresting to see your bikes in detail. Quality but simplicity seems like the way to go. Keep an eye on the side walls of your rims, if they wearout too much from the breaking forces, they just crack along and your tyre will come off, making it impossible for the wheel to spin. The front rim on erik's bike looks a bit worn to start an other long distance tour.

Traveling the world with basic bikes and modest modifications. No need for €3000. Rides. Wonderful educational videos

I've been considering installing a longer stem on my touring/commuting bike. Do you have any advice or comments on what it's like to have such a tall stem? In the United States it's very uncommon to see such tall handlebars, but it looks very comfortable.

Be careful with the under seat rear lights. Make sure your coat or jacket doesnt cover them up. Great reviews!

Wich mount do you have with your cateye? Thanks a lot and keep it up...

If you haven't yet toured the western US, there is a lot of space and beauty. Much variety as well. The Sonoran Desert in Arizona has great weather in December, January, February, November, March. It can be bit on the warm side in October, but not too terribly bad; same for April. Eastern Oregon has some great riding. Also, the Eastern Sierra, as long as you stay on the quiet roads (as always). The Eastern Sierra area has a lot of good wild hot springs. There are many other parts of the West that are also very nice, including the forests of Northern and Central California, some of which are not highly visited or well known. The Lakes Basin area, around Gold Lake and Sierra Buttes is beautiful. Goose Lake is a nice one. Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Northern Arizona all have some great areas. ForestyForest has some good Western backcountry tour videos. Wider tires do help on some of these roads, but many of the roads are not so rough. He took some rough ones. You can find quiet paved roads or smoother dirt roads. I'm leaning toward wider tires lately, for my own riding, maybe 2.25"-2.8". I don't need to go larger than that for the riding I do, but I do want something a bit wider than my current 1.95". Here is one of Foresty's videos: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fZhQ73t2NhM.html He did some other tours in the West as well, and also has videos for those. Here's one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-P88L0mySkpo.html

Brilliant.

Thanks. Like to see what works for different people. I am still in search of a comfortable synthetic seat.

Thanks

Hi! First of all you are making great videos. Enough long and full of interesting stuff. And ofc you guys seems to be very nice :D Now I want to ask you about brooks seat that you are talking about in 12th min... is it geting soften after tightening up or you didn't do that? I just bought the same brooks like yours but as it is winter I'm not riding a bike at the moment so I've never tested it.

Also I recommend Swiss stop brake pads I had some on my fixie for 3 years riding 50 miles a day

I had cycle shop for 30 years.and sold a lot of giant Boulders in that time. I was interested to hear whether you fitted a lower gear set or ran with what the bike came with the bike

That Giant bike is almost the same as mine ! I am currently working on it to make it a nice comfortable commuter. I will take some inspiration from you ;)

I came across your channel and it inspires me to go on a trip myself. I am interested in how tall are you and what is the size are your frames.

Very good adventure bike

Great vid guys! Would love to see a review of the rest of your gear... Heading off (hopefully!) For a tour in feb so planning out all the gear now!

jullie zadelpen is echt futuristic. Tof

Brilliant 👍

Thanks for sharing in detail. Are you thinking on changing to 29wheels?

I have a seat like that only smaller and vynyl . I ride around town and never have had a sore or uncomfortable ride.

My first touring bike was the giant atx 870. After riding 10,000 kilometers, it was stolen downstairs in my school dormitory. The bike I am riding is still from giant, escape sl1, so far it has ridden at least 12,000 kilometers. It's like "ship of Theseus", with two replacement grips, two pedals, three outer tires, two chains, center axle, rear wheel hub, and of course countless inner tubes. I think it's time to retire it.

have you considered using springs on front and back forks?

베리~굿..very~good..좋아.!!!

You both have setups that put you in an upright riding position. Does that come with trade offs? Example: reduced traction on front tire.

Doing lots of touring myself and prone to having a "nice cup of tea" on the side of the road at a good view point (and also using a primus Omni fuel stove, kept in the side pocket of my ortlieb bike packer plus) the bike buddy MK 3 has to be my favourite bit of kit, for quick release of the fuel cannister compared to the MK 2.

I used to mount my phone on my bike but the vibration caused the camera lens to come loose. Now I store the phone in a zippered pouch attached to my stem with Velcro. Less vibration but not as convenient for access.

With the brooks saddle, there's a nut under the front nose which you can tighten clockwise so it's less of a hammock, but dont tighten too much just 1/4 of a turn as needed.

Awesome

Good to see a aluminium frame going around the world...

Hi guys just watched again a well done video, how did you like your panniers, and would you take less gear for setting off next time , i find my ortleab roll top panniers to be a bit of a pain , I think i will Get a pair of the kind with drawstrings and lids next .

Hi Eric, I'm fixing up an old Giant MTB frame just like you did. You've managed to get the handlebars up using the special trial stem, but how tall are you? So I can guess the rise I and maybe find the same stem. Most normal stems don't have enough rise and I don't really trust those adjustable ones. Thanks!

beautiful couple...

I am planning for my trip, I was thinking of buying surly LHT or trek 520. But after seeing your video I am rethinking, u guys proved we can worldtour with cycle which has basic components, no need for fancy bikes, if u don't mind me asking how much u spend for your one bike.

Nice review! I was wondering how well the marathon mondial 26x2" fit on the Koga Miyata :) Do you think 26x1.75 is better?

Ms Wheels to Wander, I had no idea that you were so tall, 57 cm bicycle frame! Do you folks endorse that device under your saddle, thudbuster?, for smoothing out the ride? How do you attach the frame lock?

Good informative video and proving that you don't need to spend a fortune on bike and gear to do a world tour. I would think the number one priority for the bicycles is having robust and reliable frames and components, and being able to do maintenance and repairs yourself. I like the thudbuster! I have suntour's cheaper alternative and it help to take the sting out of bumps. Personally I prefer a touring bike frame in steel but lots of world tourers are using aluminium now. Personal preference I guess. Are the schwalbe marathon and mondial tyres difficult to remove off the rim? Maudi and I have something in common, body height! I am just under 6' 6" tall so getting anything to fit comfortably "off the peg" is a challenge. I would love to have a frame made to measure but as I'm always trying different components to help me find more comfort, I'm not sure what I'd want in frame dimensions to achieve that perfect frame. There's always the recumbent trike!

Nice guys. Goes to prove that we all do not need to buy a 6k Koga or a Thorn.

Hi guys i have had issues with my phn, thank you for this video it was most excellent, looking forward to the next one, hope you both are doing great, maude is looking special as always, Eric your a lucky guy, I see you have same 2 ltr, bottle cage your so right there brilliant, interesting tyre differences, the bikes have held up well and the tyres seem to have done really well, the brakes wow they have been amazing do they stop as well as you would want,also one important question about the trip, will it continue, and will you show us some ride outs for the day with you both, or could you do a day in the life videos there popular, perhaps a maintenance video , the bikes have done you proud, you have chosen well your gear o wise one lol, and a incredible experience for you both most inspiring thanks guys its great you both bk safe and sound 😀 am of to watch the video again 😀 see this is what we mere mortals do we watch whilst you guys do, you gota continue as the world of adventure still beckons ,the most important thing is how do you guys see your future, i fear the Netherlands amazing Infrastructure, mite be satisfying for a while but soon you will start the planning process 😉 all just say awesome so far 😀.

What handle bars do you suggest for an upright position?

I love the videos you guys have. I have only one question, why did you not run marathon plus

👍👍👌👏🙏 All the best

Erik, I’m building up an old ‘90s mountain bike as well. I have the 1 1/8” threaded headset. What adapter to threadless did you use and did you keep the original headset or upgrade it?

I rode a double century on 1" tubes and it was really fast. Rough but really fast.

Thanks, very inspiring. Whats the weight of your bikes?

They really know their stuff. I would expect that after two years of being in the saddle. When a Brooks B17 stretches from use it’s time to grab the wrench and retention it. It is very uncomfortable if you don’t.