Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25170
WHEN TRAVELING ON YOUR BIKE, FIRST DECIDE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE VEHICLE- SUPPORTED OR CARRYING ALL YOUR GEAR. HERE ARE THE TOP BIKES FOR EACH. SELF-SUPPORTED SYMPTOMS: Fear of not seeing a great portion of the world before it all ends. And you want to do it independently. CONDITIONS: Extended trips-self-supported or with an outfitter-on mostly paved routes across any of the six inhabitable continents. 1> Cannondale Adventure 2000 Cyclocross frames are one of the most versatile designs, combining the etticiency at a road bike WIHI the all-terrain resilience and handling of iJ mountain bike. Cannondale genetically engrneered the ultimate tounng tool using its CAAD3 cross frame with 25- millimeter HeadShok suspension fork. Adjustable tlandlebars and an upright stem tai- lor the fit for extended periods in the saddle. while accoutrements such as a rear rack, fenders, lights, and a generator hub make it world-ready right off the showroom floor. Cannondale, BOO-BIKE-USA, www.cannondale.com. $1,750 VEHICLE-SUPPORTED SYMPTOMS: Wanting ta tour comfortably while not carrying a lot of gear. Or, riding a multiday event or tour such os the California AIDS Ride (www.aidsride.org). CONDITIONS: Ride 575 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles over seven days in the company of 2,700 people. 2> Trek 7500 FX It's aggressive on the road ... not your body. This new breed of "event" bike parrs the efficiencies of a road bike (light frame. aerodynamic wheels. slick tires) with the comfort of a tlybrid (flat bar, upright riding position. wide gear range). Touting 24 speeds at less than 23 pounds, the 7500 FX is ciJpable of Ilandling the constant rolling of tile California coast with a mel- low flow akin to waves lapping tile beiJches at Santa Monica. For rnultiday event rides, however. we strongly suggest mak- ing Ule plunge into clipless pedals. Trek, 920-47B-467B, www.trekbikes.com. $770 YAKIMA BIGTOW CARGO TRAILER Realizing that the BOB-style trailer (www.bobtrailers.com) is generally supe- rior to panniers for touring, especially on rough terrain , it was only a matter of time before someone else leaped into the space. Behold the Yakima BigTow. Like the BOB, its basic chrome-moly frame tows up to 70 pounds of cargo--camping gear, dog food , furniture, what have you-and attaches to most bikes by way of a custom rear-wheel skewer while tracking independently behind like a shadow. Yakima's attachment mecha- nism is slightly more advanced and easy to use than the BOB's, and the trailer itself has nylon '''parking nubs" for easi- er loading and unloading. In either case, you'll love where they take you. Yakima, 888-925-0703, www.yakima.com. $300 MORE AFFORDABLE 1> LeMond Alpe d'Huez HIGH-END SYMPTOMS: A surplus of funds and two bike hooks. CONDITIONS: VVeekend get-together rides based around major urban cen- ters and a yearly century ride, often in an event format such as EI Tour de Tucson lwww.pbaa.coml. ---------------------------------------- 2> Specialized S-Works SL Road Ifs as if the United Nations of Cycling got together to create the ideal road weapon. Specialized of America crafted the frame using E5 aluminum, a mate- rial which is certifiably paranormal in feel and defies most of what we know about aluminum. Italy's Campagnolo Record 10-speed group and France's Mavlc Ksyrium wheels round out perhaps the highest level of fash ion and per- formance attainable. A compact frame design cuts down wind drag and later- al flex, creating an extremely fast and efficient machine. Available in 12 meas- urements between 46 and 62 centimeters, there's little chance any body type will fall through its sizing cracks. Specialized, 877-80B-8154, www.specialized.com. $4,300 The hardest stage of the Tour de France ends on a grueling. 21-hairpin climb up to the mountain village of Alpe d'Huez. It is a painful climt). The price of this bike IS not. The Alpe d'Huez gives you a top-shelf frame at a low price by using com-- ponentry such as Shima no's thil(j-tier, 105 drivetrain . It's OK, though. because you'lI benetit from the higll--tech aluminum platform while you are waiting for the tunds to upgrade components. With a longish top tube for like torsos, it pairs a stiff pedaling platform With supple slays tor the best of both worlds. leMond Bikes, www.lemondbikes.com. $1,750 64