45 year pro bike mechanic here. Your video and advice are spot on. A wealth of knowledge. 👍

This video is such a breath of fresh air. I love this kind of bike mechanic philosophy. Not going for the latest stuff, but just using what works, what's abundant, what's serviceable. Additionally, focusing on budget is just so nice to see. I hate getting into a new hobby and having people tell me it's only for people who can afford it. This video is an absolute gem!

It´s so nice to see that people emphasize a lower budget way in this world of shiny carbon and titanium ;-)

There is huge cycling wisdom in this video. So nice to see and hear, when most young folk seem obsessed with "tech" must be "best thinking". The aim of cycling anywhere is to HAVE FUN, not to have pricey possessions!

The way you presented this build made it look so simple yet so rugged and ready to take on the world. Loving this build guys! 😎👍

I've been stuck at home for 4 months now and watching you travel is very therapeutic to me! Stay healthy and stay strong, looking forward to you guys getting on the road again!

In 1993 me and my girl friend bought new but cheap steel Marin mountain bikes. In 96 We up graded some worn components and had extra bosses for front rack and down tube bottle then a respray. New hand built wheels and in 97 we set off around the world on converted £250 mtbs. 3 years on the road and the only major issue was racks failing so we had new steel ones made in Nepal. We still have the bikes and there still usable. To be honest they've faired better than me. You don't need or want a flashy bike to tour or travel. This is a brilliant video

Hello you two - my huge compliments to your journey. I am now an avid follower and am in awe of your great spirit and devotion to the adventure. I cycled along the Iberian coastline this 2020 year - had a blast while discovering a passion and love for bike touring. COVID-19 had nothing on me !! What I did was pretty raw. With a 650€ budget I went to good old decathlon and purchased their budget Riverside Btwin bike (260€). From there, i equipped it with similar budget decathlon products - saddles, rack, lights, camping gear - not changing anything on the bike. It was scary but it worked. Nothing broke, I cycled on terrains no one should ever even following the hiking trail of Compostela de Santiago. I got to France on the expected date to start working on the vineyards. All this to say is that I know nothing about bikes and their components and am very grateful for decathlon cheap products. With you two in sight my project is to build a bike as you did. It would be fantastic ! My question is this : do you think that the Btwin riverside 500 bike - link here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rq-kmrt9rJq8qIk.html Labeled as a hybrid or gravel bike could be a frame you would recommend ? Again thanks for showing up and being an inspiration ! Greetings from South Africa - I’d be happy to host you ! @cam_acacia

Love that you guys accounted for bike mechanic services in the total cost! Very realistic and helpful

Great video. I purchased 2 Steel bikes for my kids, just before lock down 1990s mtbs/hybrids. I fixed them up and they are great. Just showed them the video - "see! You can go around the world in these bikes if you want!!"

One thing that might be well worth the weight of carrying is a cassette spacer or three (of varying sizes). Then you can use any cassette you find that has less gears than what you normally use. They are usually aluminum, but they even make plastic ones which are probably a bit lighter. The shifter indexing has the same interval between the gears for 6, 7, & 8 speed. I can't recall if 9-speed is compatible, but even if it's not, it will work to get you to the next city or town with a supply of bicycle parts. ...actually, as I write this, I realize that you could use a cog off your bad cassette as a spacer for a new cassette with less gears. Use an appropriate width cog, or spacer from in-between your old cogs to act as a spacer. There's almost always a few individual cogs, although often times the larger ones are a single piece. I would recommend volunteering, or working part-time at a bikeshop for a period of time before starting a long tour. You can learn so much and ask an experienced mechanic for guidance as you work on bikes and think of potential failures and see many yourself. Plus + you might get cheaper parts and accessories if you are employed by a bicycle shop!!! The knowledge you can attain working in a shop is priceless. Okay, I feel like I'm rambling. Search "Sheldon Brown" and read and learn as much as you can from there. He wrote 'the bible' on bicycle maintenance. Unfortunately he has passed on...but his knowledge has been catalogued and is still being maintained. His website has THE BEST information I've ever found in one place regarding bicycle maintenance. Edit: One last thing. Every bolt (every part) needs grease or thread-lock! And bring some thread-locking product on your tour. For your wheel nipples you can use boiled linseed oil. It acts as a grease and a thread-locker. If I ever go on a long tour I would probably carry a small container holding about 1/2 ounce of boiled linseed oil to use on any threads I undo and retighten. Boiled linseed oil is also used as a metal preservative for shovels and axes, so I trust it. I LOVE YOU TWO!!! You're such lovely people. If you come to Texas I hope to meet you and ride with you. I will feed you and check your bikes for maintenance issues if you allow me to. You could even make a video of me describing what I check on a bicycle tourists bike. Headset, bottom bracket, hub, and pedal free-play is what I start with. Then checking all bolts for torque (by hand). Then derailleur limits. And finally spoke tension and wheel trueness. Sometimes it's difficult for the rider of the bicycle to recognize minor problems. Any shop I've ever worked at will give a tourist a free bike exam and do a quick adjustment for free. With luck and regular maintenance, that's all that is needed. And sometimes with luck a good mechanic will recognize a problem and be able to fix it before a failure. Any good shop in the U.S. will also troubleshoot problems and relay the information to another shop down the road so that you can have a part waiting for you when you arrive. No good shop wants you to have to postpone your tour and will happily trade loss of revenue for free word-of-mouth (or internet) advertising. And if you ever do have to wait for a part, the shop will probably be able to take care of tour accommodations (free camping or a bed sometimes) if you have to wait for a part that the mechanic doesn't want you to travel with before being replaced. The first bikeshop that I was employed at was on a very popular U.S. bike-touring route that didn't have another shop for 180 miles in any direction. We often had tourists spend a few days with us. One tourist never finished his trip and stayed at the shop for over a decade (by choice). ...rambling again...

This was already my plan to use a full sized mountain bike that folds and upgrade all the components. Folding for worldwide travel. Your previous video was very helpful for me and I wrote down all your components. But this video is even better. Thank you for your hard work at putting this together. Ride safe.

Great video as always guys! a lot of information in here. My current expedition bike is also built from an old styled mtb frame, suspension was substituted by a nice steel rigid fork for simplicity. It's amazing the sense of freedom it gives, knowing that you can go everywhere with it, roads... mountains... trails...

Great video, so useful for many people! I started touring this way, really helps reduce the friction of going on a tour when your bike doesn't cost too much.

Thank you for explanation on how to build a touring bicycle that people can afford! Reusing older steel frames is awesome!! Also so many pragmatic componets. Love it!

Probably the best and most honest video on bicycle components on KZfaq. Just great! I've been going with Shimano Altus, Acera or Alivio for years, riding a lot and have never had any issues. There are cheap non-friction shifters also from Sun-Race. I prefer 7-speed cassettes up to 34 teeth. They last longer than 9-speed, but they are hard to get with 34 teeth. 7-speed one can also get flywheels up to 34 teeth. For flywheel it's another hub. But: No worries, of course 8- and 9-speed are also existing. With a Shadow rear derailleur like for example the Shimano Altus it goes up to 36 teeth on a 9-speed cassette. Chain: The KMC 7-speed, not the very basic one, 9-speed Shimano XT = CN-HG93 or a KMC. I like the Shimano MT-300 crankset, which is a Hollowtech II one. 44/32/22 teeth, steel chainrings. Hollowtech II is stiffer than the squared one, but the bottom bracket must be from Hope or Chris King to be long-lasting and not having any issues. Shimano has many very great parts, but the Hollowtech II bottom brackets do not last very long. For squared Shimano bottom brackets I have made better experiences with the BB-UN26 than the 55. The best was the old XT 72, but they no longer produce it. Hubs: Shimano Acera are also not bad. V-Brakes: Shimano Alivio or Deore with cartridge brake pads are good. Everybody knows that Shimano XT is a good riding experience and has cult status for a relatively high price, but Shimano Altus is even better, because it works good and lasts long for a low price.

So refreshing to see that you are making common sense recommendations based on durability, serviceability, availability, compatibility, and budget. Yeah, you can find a square taper BB practically anywhere; try doing that with a Hollowtech or whatever. May I share a story? My friend's grandfather was pretty big in the cycling scene in Chile (certainly this was the early days). He was on a long ride through Patagonia when he encountered a flat. Having no spare tube or patch kit, he was faced with a very long walk back to anywhere he could properly service his bike. But he came up with an idea. He cut a small hole in his tube and began stuffing dry grass, which he had rubbed into very small pieces, into the tube. Next he found a water source and put the water in the tube as well. He tied off the area so that it wouldn't bulge, and put it all back together. The water caused the dry grass to swell and fill out the tube/tire, and he was able to ride back with his clever fix! Moral of the story? Common sense and cleverness are the best tools to have along on a ride.... well, and good preparation! Thanks for sharing all three with us in spades. :)

While I was searching for Cycle touring Channel....I found you... And all your videos are looks very naturally ......Loved Your Videos...Still waiting more Videos......Love From INDIA...

I have never seen such a brilliant video explaining a budget build. Great job

I love that I found your channel, keep up the good authentic work. Your joy shines through every video! Love it!

Today i bought a 30 yr old steel mtb Giant Gsr400 and hope to turn it into a decent travelbike. Your video’s where the inspiration to start the project. Thanks !

I'm only a few minutes in, and already applauding the know-how. :D Your choices are so schewd and logical. Sheldon-Brown type wisdom here. This is great advice for commuter bicycles too.

Amazing advice! I appreciate how thorough and clear you both are 👌

An education in a single video. Thank you 🙏

I have to thank you for the informative video. It’s wonderful how you’re living your lives, something that a lot of us only seem to dream about 👍

I was very pleased that your video popped up, especially as you encourage people to build their own bicycles and to learn how to maintain, service and repair the bicycle and it's component parts. Although I still have my 1989 Specialized Hard Rock I will be touring and camping using a tiny folding bicycle made by Brompton. That way I can benefit from multi modal travel, using trains, underground networks and buses, coaches and boats where applicable. On trains, underground networks and buses I can use my pass so travel is free and I will be bringing one of my Alpacka Raft Packrafts to take myself and the Brompton paddling. By building one's own bicycle you can have everything you prefer and be fully confident that you know exactly how your bicycle and it's components operate and are able to maintain and repair them without worrying about the quality or cost of having a stranger work on your bicycle. Subscribed.

It's good watching you guys after so long. Hope you are safe and healthy!!!

Loved your attitude and perspectives. Thanks for your details all around and Why!!

Wow what a refreshing terrific video, I spent my teens and twenties cycle camping all over the UK and Europe with the Cyclists Touring Club and its great to hear some good sensible advice about super strong utility machines from people that use them, I cant believe what expensive rubbish is for sale now, electronic gears, new fangled bottom brackets, all sorts of things that you will struggle to get replaced in many parts of the world loved your advice, you are my kind of cyclists and I will probably build a bike based on an old MTB now as I hadnt thought of doing it before....THANKS and happy travelling :-)

I love this. Building a bike with fancy, expensive parts is easy. You just write a big check. But being frugal takes a bit more creativity. I recently built a budget bike for riding in the rain and in the winter. It lacks the sophistication of my expensive stuff; but it works very well and is more durable. Good bikes do not have to be expensive.

Yep! You give me the spark to reignite my passion for bicycle.i am nearly to finish built my Hercules squadra bicycle steel frame and 26inch wheels, just need 1pair of tyres chambers, front brake pads and brakes cables or wires.Then the bicycle will be ready for trip.Your video is both inspirationaly and motivationaly mean mental issues Which can be useful in difficult situations. I don't like easy life know as"comfort zone " let difficulty be my teacher in this merciless world and face the toughest times like a warrior. Good trip and thank you for your video, God bless you both!

This is a excellent video, old mountain bikes are the perfect touting bikes, also make good gravel bikes. your component list is very comprehensive. very well thought out. thankyou

I appreciate your approach to traveling, and useful content. You are wonderful people )

Nice to hear from you again! All this technical bike stuff went over my head. But very useful for someone who wants to build a durable bicycle. Stay safe and hope you can change scenery very soon❣️🤗

I was looking eveyday for your video. Nice to have you back and keep safe 🤗

Excellent advice. I love your touring bike philosophy. It’s the best way to travel !

Knowledgeable and very entertaining to watch. Excellent video, thank you! My first touring bike (also self-built) was a little more expensive but it stayed under 1000 €, which I thought was very good for the components I used (used, older models, cheap but good no-name components where applicable) Well done, keep it up!

Working in a shop in Vienna... 26 and rim brakes rule... this video is just too good! anytime welcome, if you cross by.

Thank you for the new content, glad you guys are doing good thru all this . Can't wait for more travels. Take care and safe travels, maybe by the time you guys hit the states I will have my setup ready.

Thank goodness your back.. miss you guys! Thanks for sharing a good tip. keep safe guys as always, looking forward for more vlogs. All the love from Philippines.🥰

The world needs more of this 🙂

Two of you are really amazing and great thanks to your all kind efforts and sharing!

Very detailed and informative. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort in making and sharing this video. Best wishes on your future travels.

Very informative and well produced video for someone just getting into this! Thanks 👍

PERFECT EXPLANATION FRIENDS, just real info, Good and blessed travels in the world to you forever!!

Such a positive video, I loved it and can't wait to see more.

This was very good, informative and enjoyable, kudos, thanx.

This video helped me so much in building up my 90s mtb! Thanks so much!

I wish to travel around the world love your travel

Great video! Lots of clear concise information.

You guys are amazing, more power to your journey nd have a amazing life... 🙏🏼 Love from India

Excellent recommendations. You guys know what you are doing.

Lots of great advice here. Thanks for making this video.

Utmost respect to all who do this. At 63 I don't have the time left needed to find and figure out the needed skills. Good Luck to all.

Thanks for sharing another excellent video. Your zeal to share information and positive attitude is commendable!

Welcome back!! Great video friends! Thanks for the tip

finally Component Suggestions that work!

Hello, I hope you guys are safe where ever you guys are. You guys are really motivating :).

A very positive and cheerful girl. Your couple awakens a taste for life. All the best to you, Good luck in everything and mutual love for each other!

Finally your back. Waiting for your videos.

Hi guys, I used to check everyday for ur daily videos. Thank u guys soo much

Great video guys! Retro MTBs are the best budget tourers. This is full of great advice that isn't tainted by the marketing campaigns. The only thing I'd say is the headset suggestion. Although very cheap, those Ritchey Logic headsets suffer badly in wet weather as they have almost no weather sealing and do not last long! I'd recommend the Stronglight A9 headset. It's no Chris King, but a major step up from the Ritchey Logic. Although it is a 1" threaded headset, it uses cartridge bearings commonly found in 1 1/8" headsets. As a result, they need very little maintenance, replacement bearings are easy to source and offer great weather sealing if riding in poor conditions. A little more expensive, but worth it in my opinion. All your advice about choosing drive components and wheels and frame etc. Really well informed, put together and researched. I hope potential cycle tourists come cross this and are no longer intimidated at the price of high-end touring bikes and can put together a reliable inexpensive rig, just as your guide described. Great stuff!

Wow, I guess it was not easy to prepare such a good informative video. Thank you!

You 2 are a true blessing I hope some day my family and I will meet your path Tell then Blessed Be an peace and protection be with both of you

Excellent. And the materials list in the notes section is awesome.

Watching you guys is inspiring. Am taking a 6 day course on how to care and maintain your bike offered by my local bike store. Love from Washington

You guy's are great, God Bless and be safe.

Love from India ❤️. Stay safe and healthy.

Great video, very informative proving a good touring bike need not to be expensive but more on practicality and serves rhe purpose well, thank you very much and ride safe.

Love the channel and all the great advice. I'm currently building my own budget touring bike :)

hi guys and greetings from Ireland and thanks for the advice as a 58 year old I would love to go touring I love bikes and cycling wishing you two all the best on your touring adventures James

Very cool! Excellent recommendations,. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and enthousiasm.

Lots of good advice there guys. Thanks!

GREAT video! Thank you! I was looking at purchasing something to commute on, and instead of purchasing a new bike, I took my 1998 Gary Fisher mountain bike, swapped out the worn crank for an Alivio crank, installed a Wolf Tooth Components 34 tooth narrow-wide chainring, and coupled that to an 11-40 cassette with a Wolf Road Link and a Shimano 9-speed derailleur and shifter. I bought new 26" rim brake/disc brake wheels with Deore hubs for about $150 USD online. New V-brakes, which are very inexpensive, finished up the bike. I now have a decent bike with a simple 1x9 drivetrain. This is not a build for touring, but for running around a city, it's fine.

super ! well-done guys !

So much useful info! Thanks!

Great video. Thank you for making it. Very informative

I love your passion! You guys are an inspiration. I love bikes. And I love the whole lifestyle

I rebuild bicycles for a hobby.... usually fixing the abused Walmart models. .. I have one of these GTs and was debating how to rebuild it... this video inspired me. I'm not going all in with luggage mounts but can switch out some components.

Thanks for sharing your expertise and knowledge about building bikes and it’s important parts. Wish you always a good luck..

power to the people and the dumpsters they dive in. my first encounter with true compadres in humble living. where thank you, thank you!! is the highest currency. peace and love to you and those you encounter.

Excellent video Matilda & Peyman, thank you very much!

Thanks for posting this

You guys are real inspiration. Guess what during lockdown bought a new cycle watching your videos. Love from india

Seems like some great suggestions based on some great research and very valuable experience!

sure a great and practical video.

Very good video! 100% support the idea of 9 speed, more durable, affordable and easier to find!

you guys are the best!

happy to see anew vid was uploaded & u guys are still kicking strong! thanks for the advices, just got my marin muirwoods in march 2020. waiting for other parts (such as racks & bags) to built it for touring around malaysia... cheers & ride safe

Awesome video, such great detail and explained so well! Really inspiring!!

Nice video,, salute both of you guys.....

Great video. Basing your build on a retro steel frame mountain bike is spot on. Just change a few things and for a few hundred bucks you have a great bike. Good tyres, new bearing, a quality bottom bracket and dont forget the toe clips.

Thank you for your chairing the very good detail and very useful for us. f/c form Thailand.

The info on hubs, freewheels and cassettes was awesome.

What a lovely video 👍

I used one of those bikes up good ones like the green gt all terras are quickly disappearing. Good bike. I gave it to my friend. Still ran great. You know your stuff. Bri

really spectacular presentation, thanks so much!

Love u guys.....I was desperately waiting to see you......

Like very much the very detailed technical advice. Even if I wouldn’t do what you suggest, it is very interesting to watch. Have a suggestion you might find interesting: on my single speed touring bike I built up wheels on Sturmey Archer drum brake hubs. Completely weatherproof, very good cartridge bearings, and not expensive. Bulletproof. No need to adjust or to service. Roll really really well.

Brilliant video and so informative. Nice job guys and thanks for sharing your experience. Stay safe. ATVB from Malaysia 😎😷🇲🇾