World Touring Bike: My 90's MTB Evolution ( 25.000+ Kms on the Road ) 

Great work! I was given an 1980s steel frame Dawes Galaxy that has seen me across Europe any number of times. You don’t have to spend crazy money on gear. A lot of other bike touring channels seem to tell you to buy a new bike every year and get all new stuff. You just don’t need it. Well done for letting people know how accessible touring is, and learning the skills involved in putting together a bike is fun and rewarding.

This is great! I also built my own touring bike using a Specialised Hardrock disc 29er aluminium frame which I bought for only $100 (Australian). Currently 750kms into a 1500km solo ride from the Blue Mountains to Brisbane (Australia). No issues yet...but we'll see! 😅

and to think manufacturers are asking simply ridiculous money for a bike! keep at it mate, love it!

This bike turned out so cool

Love this! Recently also bought an old MTB for some off road cycling. It feels so good to upgrade old bikes and make them run smooth again :)

Hey! I recently bought a 26" aluminum MTB in size 19", also from the 1990s, and I'm starting to upgrade it. I thought about buying the same model with a steel frame, but this one with an aluminum frame has a double barrel technology, which makes it stronger, but even lighter than the steel one. Let's see how it reacts... I chose to put a Deore 1x12v group and 700 rims, probably with 38mm tires due to limited space for the tires. The rest of the equipment and parts will be as durable as possible, as my intention is to do some crossings and also long trips. I'm always in the audience! Hugs!

Most of my bikes are from the 90s. I’m riding a Dawes Galaxy from 94 at the moment. It only has 7x3 gears Shimano STX but it is bullet proof and enough for my needs. I’ve upgraded the cantilever brakes to mini V brakes and the handlebars (like yours) to get a more upright position. Great video. Thanks.

Great video once again! In 2018 I bought a second hand 2011 Giant XR1 with a Deore group set. The thumb shifters still shift perfectly without adjustment after the nearly 17000 kilometers I did on it! I cannot believe it, but that's how it is. I did replace the rear casette once and only just replaced the front big chain ring since it had developed "shark teeth". I also replaced the squeaking bottom bracket. Now it is like new, so smooth and quiet!

You are so detail about your vehicle, prioritizing comfort, functionality and safety.

I got my 90's bianchi 2 years ago. I completely rebuilt it like touring bike. The upgrade I was most proud of making to this bike was the 4x7 gear system. It doesn't offer as much as gear range with custom built quad chainring(24-34-42-48t) but part availability and originality makes it special for me :) I had been riding it about 2000kms now and It's my favorite way to transport.

Thank you for the informative video. I have used the Infinity seat on my bike with about 7000 miles so far. Best most comfortable seat ever. Even though expensive, worth the money. My wife loves hers too. Thanks again and all the best, Steve

If you do this, be sure the frame is chrome moly steel and not just regular steel. Moly steel absorbs road shock much better. A lot of people dont realize that many 90s mountain bikes are moly steel and similar in geometry as a Surly Long Haul Trucker costing much more. I have a 96 Specialized rigid bike. I built it in similar fashion and I can spend days in the saddle. With me and my gear, the bike is hauling 300 pounds. You cant go wrong with 36 or 38 spoke Rhino Lite wheels, Shimano Deore hubs (stronger than XT or XTR hubs) and Shimano LX or XT components. High end components arent as durable and cost too much. The Brooks B17 saddle is the best ever ONCE it is broken in that is.

Nice!, I had a couple 90s rigid steel MTBs which I later converted into commuter bikes with 1" road slicks, I can definitely see them making great touring bikes also.

Great job!!! Absolutely love your custom bike! Much better than what's offered off the shelf with cosmic price tags.

What a great video that comes at the right time. I am using a 90s Trek MTB w. 26“ wheels and was always thinking in buying a more fancy „tourable“. Now I am convinced that I already have the perfect one. Thank you for sharing your experiences, looking forward for the next ones.

I’ve really enjoyed your travels and videos blogs. I also like to sit up position as being safer and like you mentioned you can see so much more. After 70+years of biking and touring I’ve made the switch to an E-Bike.

Really fantastic, watching your other videos I just presumed it was a really expensive touring bike, it looks great, very inspiring.

I got a new bike in 2020 but I rebuilt it for bikepacking and going to be doing a 2000 km trip here soon. I find the ride more enjoyable when I build the bike myself. Thanks for the great video.

Hey Eric, amazing stuff as always. I can sense the video quality improving to (even more) professional levels. I am also undertaking a similar build and I'm hoping to finally begin my bike touring adventures with cycling from Hungary to Ireland in one month to enroll in college. All the advice you're giving is very spot-on and helpful. Also I love the idea of a bike-packing/tourer hybrid so I'm looking forward to seeing your adventures in the future. Keep up the good stuff!

Love this bike! Thanks for all the journeys!

Way to go for keeping this old frame alive and the additions / modifications you made are inspiring 👏🏻. Great video 🙏

Wow Eric, so much in this video. I love the idea of using the components due to their abilities and not as a bling mobile. I have been dabbling with bike mechanics and bought one of those stands from Aldi, it's pretty hard core. I got a chain cleaner too. Keep on rolling. Thanks for posting this video.

Brad Beaird has a RU-vid channel in which he created fenders using a product called kydex. It comes in sheets and can be cut and molded as you wish. I believe he bought through Home Depot in the USA but you may find it on your side of the pond. Thank you for your videos. They are inspirational as well as informative. I liked your shifters and was able to refit my bike using index shifters from Rivendell bike works silver 2 fiction shifters. They work like a hot knife through butter. Have a great season of riding!

The production value here is great

I'm excited to see how the saddle goes. Many greetings

Love some of your upgrades, Specially the foot pedal one, It looks comfy👌

Man what a great video... I am pondering to do world tour biking and your channel has always inspire and educate me to the next level ... me and my spouse will hopefully able to do bike touring soon when we retire 🍻

Great! I think building your own bike before a trip it makes the journey starts earlyer and leave you with a weightless bunch of knowledge to bring with you on the trip. Doesn't really matter what you ride, just make it yours and start pedalling! Peace amigos!

I do really like that sand color. Looks amazing simple and elegent.

Thanks for the video. Everybody does seem to agree that steel is the way to go, and there's gotta be a ton of 90s mtb bikes out there for sale or even free.

This is great for people like me because my cheap bike uses all the parts of a 90's bike. Open bearings, cup and cone. I have made upgrades like a sealed bottom bracket, metal pedals, lighter handlebars etc but I love the solid, slightly elastic steel frame of my cheap bike. It's so smooth and thank god it had proper pannier mounting holes. I ditched the front derailleur and am running it 1x6 which is ideal for me as I only ever freewheel down hills to save energy and I am more than happy doing 13-18mph in 6th on the flat - especially loaded up with gear. You do not have to have a lot of money to go on a bicycle adventure, in fact - it's a very cheap holiday. Even cheaper if you teach yourself bike mechanics.

Last year in May, I purchased an Motobecane Elite 8 IGH (Shimano Nexus Internal Gear Hub) bicycle. So far I have upgraded and or changed the following on this new bike which is now, 3x the amount in what I originally paid for it. 1) Added a Suspension seat post and different saddle 2) Swapped out a handlebar from one other bike I have to new one (bike touring handlebars; Soma Fabrications) 3) Removed original single gear front crankset to what spare crankset I had (which was turned into a single gear crankset; Shimano SLX MTB crankset); I called my LBM and he suggested, especially for fully loaded touring, to upgrade the IGH rear hub to an 11-speed; Alfine 11-speed IGH set up...sometime in future. I have yet to install fenders and further shrink down the front chain ring from a 36t to a 34t in order to compensate for gear ratio that of only 8-speeds vs. cargo weight. I also plan, if and when I decide to travel on my e-bike (which I too built up and customized) to add another battery to carry with me for further traveling distance, plus a higher AMP charger for faster charging. Both of these bikes like yours, are solid; wheels are sturdy and rigid, and frames are Alloy. Both have a front suspension fork on them, a solid rear rack (25kg weight capacity) that I also have a front cargo rack (45lb carry load) to attach to either one when needed. IMO, the best traveling, least maintenance required, and way less worries of components breaking down while traveling is the Pinion Gear box (up to 12 speeds) and a Gates Carbon Belt Drive train set up on of course, an alloy, or chromoly frame with the rest of customized added components to complete bike build. "Priority bicycles"; ALL ROAD 600 bicycles are a great one. Check out their website sometime. Happy trails and safe travels.

I've modified a 1989 Rocky Mountain Hammer. I've added racks front and back, a mount for a handlebar bag. I'm running the original Biopace chainwheels, a seven speed 11-34 freewheel, drop bars and Shimano tourney brake/shifters. Pedals are flats on one side, SPD. on the other. The wheels are the original Ritchey rims. Tires are Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tours, 26X2.1. It is really great to ride is is very comfortable.

Great video!! I was SO close to giving away my mountain bike to buy a "touring" bike. I test rode a new touring/gravel bike, and within a minute, realized how much better my mountain bike is with better gears and hydraulic disc brakes and how much I love it....AND already own it! I won't be riding up Mount Kilimanjaro. You have given me some great ideas. The conversion continues! DD

Thank you so much for your very very nice videos I like it all thank you so much and GOD bless you where ever you are Jerry from Glendale California

Great video as always! Thank you both!

Excellent tutorial. I'll leave it at that.

Danke!

Excellent video. Chock full of good information. I am intrigued by the 3D pedals.

Super high quality content! Thanks

This was a great video! Very nice job on the build. In my opinion the best mountain bikes for touring are from the 1980's. The ones with the horizontal top tube. Most have crazy long chainstays (also wheelbase) and slacker more comfortable angles. I built up an early '80's Maruishi "town and country". It has 18.75 inch chainstays and has a 44.5 inch wheel base. It rips around turns like a freight train even fully loaded on dirt!

as always, great stuff! looking into those pedals .... they look comfy.

Perfect.

The saddle The craziest thing for me was this one Bernard

Amazing video man. Very eco friendly reusable bike. Goes to show that you dont have to crazy on the latest and newest parts.

Loved the video. thanks so much for making it.

Thanks for this video i love it

1st off I love your accent. 2nd off I love this video because I'm Rebuilding a 97 trek to do a tour And sometimes I question if it's a good idea. This video verifies it's a good idea.

Love your informative videos

good stuff. thnx!

Hi Eric! Can’t wait until a review of the Infinity seat from you..

Initially I assumed you had a high end bike because your camera and other gear is so top notch. I thought yours was a Surly or a Soma with that tan color. My tourer is a 90's Trek 930. MTB I actually own two of those frames, the older 80's one is now a cargo bike. The older Giants were great frames . I LOVE your new upgrades. Eventually I might do the ergo bar thing but I'm still "old school" with the drop bars and bar ends. My hands survive OK , but sometimes I wrap a bandana over my right brake hood for extra cush. I need some foam or something. Oh I just got a used Yak BOB trailer, It's freaking awesome. I will use that for local flyfishing forays . I can carry tent , bag, waders and vest in it and 2 days of food. But for a total LD trip I'd probably go back to the mule bike setup. Loved the tire review also. ONWARD.

It strange you didnt get the infinity seat that has full leather it more designed for your adventure than there racing seat been using there seat for 6 years love it

That you’ve toured so many places with these modest old school components says a lot about the trend of complicated disk brake bikes, with lightweight carbon frames, costing 10 to 80 times more. I used to have several bikes like these, purchased for $50. Only thing I’d recommend is to just change the bearings (bb, wheels, pedals) before a big trip or in a regular basis, if they are cup and cone. Costs a few euro for a bag, and will keep the races from wearing down, making the bike pleasant to ride. I think there’s also a possibility that your frame will crack near the BB, which is a normal end of life outcome, because it has been so heavily loaded and you’re the second owner. No safety issue however. Would like to see a LTR of that saddle.

THANK YOU well done a good info.

Flat bar with upright position is comfortable for long rides..wen compared to drop bar. Even for me flat bar with upright position is more comfortable

Hello travelers, I want to thank this video for being very stimulating. I have a 26" Cannondale, and your video makes me "fall in love" again. Thank you for telling me what handlebars you have mounted? I'm waiting (if you can) for an answer. A cyclist hug.

Fantastic build, great video. We really don't need to spend €3000 to have a great ride.leaves more money for the trip

Great video Eric. I just finished riding the 240 mile (386km) Katy Trail in Missouri here in the States with a 26" bike for a video I will be doing soon and it was a great experience. This bike may be used much more than anticipated and I really enjoy seeing your bike and setup. Please do a review of your new saddle if you have time. I would love to hear your thoughts on it before I try one myself. Thanks for the look at your bike. ✌

Howdy Eric! Thanks for all the wonderful videos and information. I’m really enjoying all the wonderful content. Are you using a suspension seat post? If so, which one? I’m looking a quality suspension seat post with a 25.8 mm diameter. Thank you! 🤙🏼🤙🏼

Nice bike👍👍👍

Hello!!! Could you please let us know what you thought about the seat?? Also, not sure if you’ll read it- I’ve been watching your channel for some years now, and you are the inspiration behind so many of our travels. I also convinced my husband to go bike touring - but I need your help!! We are from Brazil and we have a bike each- I’m just not sure if we should assemble a bike in Europe or take ours and buy some of the equipment you mention on the video…. Not sure if you guys are on the road, but it would be great to have even more tips from you! Thank you ❤

Me gustaría saber cómo distribuyes la carga en tus alforjas…. En qué parte del mundo están ahora.

Have you guys thought about switching from 26 inch wheels? Several other bike touring channels I follow say they had trouble finding 26” components due to that size being phased out. The owner of my local bike shop says he has to special order 26” wheels and accessories for them from now on, increasing the price.

Thanks for the video! I'm thinking of doing something like this as well. What wheels did you use for the bicycle?

Great uplifting video with excellent ideas Would you be good enough to elucidate further on the different items you used to build your off hybrid bike. The handle bars The gears and drive train The saddle The brakes Wheels and tyres Names and sizes and where they can be obtained. I live in the UK. Also the tools that I need to take with me. Etc

Hi i have a hybrid bicycle steel frame 26" size 36 spokes 6x3 speed but mounting screw not available. There are no skilled welders to make dril make mounting. How to convert this into touring bicycle

Great video! I love seeing these heavy duty touring builds. It looks like you put a lot of work into that frame. Has anyone ever diagnosed your frame as having bad wheel alignment? The reason I ask is because at 5:53 it looks like very uneven tire wear.

for tires what about putting in tanus armor or mr tuffy inserts to help prevent punctures ?

I might be interested in your buddy's pedals, but the contact on his website doesn't work for me. Capcha says: ERROR for site owner: Invalid key type.

Id like to know about the SEAT in The future.

I know some people who turn their noses up at old bikes. Nicely restored. What about your partner's bike?

what about putting Tanus armor inserts in the tires?

Do I see correctly that you have a 3x8 drive? Didn't you want to build a 3x9 or 3x10 drive? You would have a wider choice of drives.

Hi what is that?? 8:16 above the ass saver like a spring...

Good project and tips! How tall are you and would you? Just to compare frame size.

How exactly would rate the stopping capacities of these brakes? I'm considering a similar build, but I'm a big fan of disc brakes. I don't need fancy hydraulics or anything, just curious how yours performed. Nice build though!

What is the common size of the tyre that easy to find everywhere while we are on tour...?..

I think Steel frame is clearly easier to repair than an alloy framed bike. Just steel, is it worth the weight.

I don't think there is any tyre out there to even compete with schwalbe

What is the part that converts the bar end shifters to thumb shifters? Looking to do the same on my bike. Thank you for all the great content

Impressive. Such a nice job. Would you mind telling me which size of frame are you using and your size aprox. It seems most of these bikes comes in M frame size. Would it be uncomfortable to use them? I´m planning to get one to make a similar project but not sure if an M size would be too small for long journeys.

What shifter do you use?

amazing. how did you turn the bike into aheadset?

could u tell us where to buy the water bottle cage?

can you set up a cruiser bike for touring ?

Hi Eric, this was a verry interesting video! I have an old 90´s steel frame, but it is lugged. I am not sure about stability of this frame with touring load on rugged roads. My second question: what do you think about front panniers compared to extra load on top of the rear luggage rack. Sometimes, I feel a negative impact on the steering quality with front panniers. What is your experience with front panniers?

👍

What did you use to secure the trunk bag? (above the two rear panniers). I'm heading to Iceland in a few weeks so scrambling for some last minute ideas/tips!

How are your rims holding up? My Ryde Andra 30s are already showing some wear from the rim brakes after a couple hundred Km...

Hi guys what a great video, definitely interested in how you get on with the pedals , I am still modifying my surly and will put out another video soon don't want to flood the market so I do one a year l😀l , I have a pomchi so honestly haven't done a lot of cycling, so you need to do it for me Dave x soz Eric that's for maudi he he .

Isn't 22.5 inches too big? How tall are you? And what is your inseam length?

What type of bike stand @4:35? Any good?

I see you don’t use clipless/step-in pedals. Why is that?

Hi! What clamp do you use for the shimano ultegra sl 6480? Is there a model with 10v intead 8v? Thanks!!!

What bar ends is it?

Do u still use infinity saddle?

Have you ever tried a 29er? If so, your thoughts?

🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸😊👍🌻

no suspension on touring bike? good luck with bumps all over the earth