Where to Get a Bike.

As I see it, there are really three options when deciding on a bike for mixed mountain bike touring (MMBT). 

You can:

1) Rent a bike.

2) Buy a new complete bike.

3) Buy a used complete bike.

4) Build (or modify) your own bike.

Option one is not my favorite. But it may be the best for those who have no bike, are on a budget, and/or are riding shorter durations or over more forgiving terrain. There is an elegance in meeting your bike in-country and then leaving it there, but there are drawbacks as well. 

Most bikes I have come across from rental companies are entry-level, older, with mixed components of questionable quality. Check before your trip with bike tour companies or local shops that have an online presence and see what is available. I don't think this is a real option for those who want to race competitively on their bike or enjoy a bit more "involved" trail riding.

If you do not currently own an appropriate bike and money is no great impediment, option two can really be the easiest. It also provides that “new bike rush”!

There are a number of big manufacturers who offer entry-level to higher-end bikes at a very good price point that will be able to meet the particular needs of your adventure. And buying a new bike means it will roll out of the shop in pristine working condition; a quality that any bike you travel with should have.

The top three most globally recognised brands are Giant, Trek, and Specialized. Often, service and parts for these brands can be found in surprising places around the world. At the time of my writing this post, Giant’s XTC hardtail can be purchased for $2000-$4000usd with a varying range of capable components included. Giant’s full suspension Stance/Trance and Anthem bikes begin under and above $2000 and can run as high as $9500 with the inclusion of the lightest and best materials and components (This is not an endorsement of Giant over any other brands, but just a quick comparison).

Due to the high volume sold by many manufacturers and the almost constant changes in the industry, bikes have a relatively poor resale value. For this reason, option three could very well be the best balance in terms of price and effort put into obtaining a bike. With the money saved on a used bike, you will be able to have the bike serviced (or do this yourself) and still come out ahead. Some of the best places to buy a used bike in North America, Australia/NZ, or the UK are eBay, Pinkbike, Gumtree, VitalMTB, and Bikesoup. As always when buying used, do your research first.

Option four is very likely to be the most rewarding option, but also potentially the most expensive if starting from scratch. There are many considerations to make when building from the ground up or modifying a bike, but for those who already have the know-how or would be keen to research and learn how, I will be the first to advocate this option. There is nothing like the intimate feeling of riding a bike you know every millimeter of.

The "shop" floor.

While living in Sydney, I bought an old 1998 Cannondale M400 from a seller on Gumtree and rebuilt it in old-school fashion (with XT v-brakes and a Judy TT fork). This was the bike I was originally going to take with me to tour Cambodia in 2013. I had been putting it through its paces around New South Wales for a month or so when I met a bloke who was planning the very same kind of trip as me, and coincidentally wanted to build a bike from the very same frame as mine... but he had run out of time to do so as departure neared.

Rebuilt.

…And so I sold it to him and took my Yeti instead.

Which leads us to a final option: buy a used complete bike that has been built (or modified) by someone else.