Recommend a bicycle for travelling round the world

[zummcreative]

My Friend and I are looking to go cycling around the world in about 6 months time. Can anyone recommend a decent brand of bicycle that will be up for the task? I've got a Claud Butler at the moment, but was wondering if there are better types.

Kind Regards
http://www.zumm-creative.com
Manchester Web Design

[Galloper]

Lots of choice.   As you're in the UK, first stop I'd suggest would be SJS cycles

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/

Also have a look at Koga Miyata and Dawes. 

[DaveB]

By "traveling around the world" do you plan to stay pretty much in mechanically advanced areas like Europe, America, Australia, etc. or go through some pretty mechanically "primitive" areas like Africa, SE Asia, etc.? 

If the later, get bikes that are easy to repair under "field" conditions.  That means steel frames, heavy duty 26" (ISO 559) wheels and tires, barend or downtube shifters, and lots of spares and tools.   

[Awf Hand]

Visit downtheroad.org for some good round-the-world biking tips.  There's a lot of commercial crap there, but plenty of substance too.

[waynemyer]

Need more context.

That said, my first choices would be:
Koga Miyata
Tout Terrain Silkroad
Co-Motion Pangea

[Trek950]

I would definitely recommend a bike fitted with a rohloff hub.  It would be cheaper in the long run than derailleurs, and much less agro.
Santos, Tout Terrain and Thorn make excellent machines.

[tonythomson]

If you can't run to a custom build I'd go for a Surley LHT frame as it has a long chain stay giving better clearance for heals to panniers.  Steel racks - easy to weld.  But spend your money on having the wheels built!!!!! and use even bigger gauge ss spokes than you might normally use. 

Fit MTB gearing 'cos loaded up some of those mountain passes you need the  biggest Granny you can get.

Now just go and have fun.

[whittierider]

or go through some pretty mechanically "primitive" areas like Africa, SE Asia, etc.?

If the later, get bikes that are easy to repair under "field" conditions.  That means steel frames

Don't bet on steel being field-repairable.  We have a neighbor who has been welding for decades and has quite a list of NASA and aircraft certifications, and when I told him how thin the bicycle tubing wall thickness is, he said he wouldn't touch it.  However most touring bikes are steel anyway.  Carbon fiber does not fatigue like the metals do, but there are almost no carbon fiber frames offered with the eyelets for touring.

[waynemyer]

and use even bigger gauge ss spokes than you might normally use. 

This is a guideline to be avoided.  Increased spoke diameter does not translate to a more durable wheel.  Specifically double- or triple-butted spokes make for a more resilient, and ultimately more durable, wheel.  The greater elasticity of the swaged portion of the spoke allows the spoke to absorb stresses in the body rather than overload the weakest portions, the J-bend and threads.  Ref: Schraner, The Art of Wheelbuilding.

Now just go and have fun.

Now this is a guideline to which one should strongly adhere.

[DaveB]

Thin wall steel may not be field repairable by welding, at least not welded properly, but it can be brazed and/or a sleeve can be brazed over the broken part even under third world conditions.  It's crude and won't look pretty but will let you keep riding.  You can't do anything like that with aluminum, Ti and certainly not with carbon.