What are some good bikes for a cross country tour?

Question

What are some good bikes for a cross country tour?

Answer 1

Best is a "touring bike", which has a long wheelbase for stability when carrying loaded panniers.  But really any bike which can support racks and panniers will do.  If you use a mountain bike, a hardtail is better than a full-suspension, with a rigid front fork better than a suspension fork (lighter, less energy loss in a rigid fork).  But people cross the country on all sorts of bikes, from recumbents to ordinaries to unicycles.  The key is that you're comfortable riding it, and comfortable repairing it on the road, and preferably that you have low gears for hauling your loaded bike up hills.  For example, a triple chainring is probably a good idea.  It's best to have weight both on the front and the rear, preferably with low-mounted front racks for better stability.  Make sure to do some trial rides with loaded panniers before starting your big adventure to iron out the bugs.