REI's 'Smooth and Forgiving' Touring Bike That's 'a Lot of Fun to Ride' Is 40% Off and Selling Fast

"Steep climbs are easily accomplished with all the gearing."

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Touring bikes may seem like a niche category in the cycling world, but they're designed for long, multi-day cross-country adventures with the ability to carry heavy loads. The trouble is that touring bikes, while popular in Europe, can be hard to find stateside. Thankfully, REI has a great option in their popular, affordable Co-op Cycles line that's nearly $700 off ahead of summer.

The fully-loaded Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 Bike is now on sale for just $1,019—a 40% discount on the normal $1,699 price. It's currently a top five bestselling bike at REI despite not having received a ton of reviews, but of the six that exist, each has given it a five-star rating. It’s only available in one color, but the neutral Maritime Navy should suit most tastes. Best of all, it’s still available in a full run of sizes, and the listing includes a handy chart for choosing the best fit.

Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 Bike, $1,019 (was $1,699) at REI

The bike is made from heavy-duty chromoly steel, and at 30 pounds, it’s much heavier than most road bikes and gravel bikes. Despite that, its substantial weight gives it the advantage of durability when fully loaded, and the included front and rear racks make it easy to pack with touring or commuting pannier bags. The bike features drop handlebars for greater comfort across long distances, allowing you to switch hand positions. It has a 30-speed drivetrain that makes it easy to find the right gear, whether cruising over long smooth gravel or climbing steep hills and compensating for the bike’s hefty steel frame.

Shoppers appreciated the bike’s versatility, with one writing, “I intend to use it as a commuter to ride to work 15 miles one way daily and for longer tours on rail trails and for state park bike camping.” Another wrote, “I’ve used it a bit as a commuter, and it works well in that regard because I can use the low gears to spin up the hills to avoid getting too sweaty on the way to work. It is also good for grocery shopping because of the racks.”

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Other shoppers also appreciated the gearing, finding that it made up for the bike’s weight. “The bike is a lot of fun to ride," one shopper said. "It is very well built and has good components. The bike is not lightweight, but steep climbs are easily accomplished with all the gearing. Braking is very smooth, and I actually like the brakes more than those on one of my road bikes that costs about four times as much.”

Another shopper was impressed with the high-quality components. “The disc brakes are fast and effective," they noted. "The steel frame and large tires make for a smooth and forgiving ride. The racks are solid. The bike is impressively stable…Nothing fussy about this bike. Easy to adjust. The steel frame is robust and doesn't require the care (special lubricants, for example, or a torque wrench) that carbon or aluminum frames need.”

You don’t need to be planning a pan-European tour to take advantage of a touring bike; REI’s Co-op Cycles ADV 1.1 is simply a great option for commuters, weekend rides, and errands. Now that it's nearly $700 off, it’s a great value, but it’s worth acting fast because these bikes tend to sell out quickly.