From Athens to Barcelona: Franco’s Ultimate Self-Supported Bike Tour Build

Franco is a seasoned cyclist who puts down some serious mileage on his mountain bike turned all-terrain tourer. For his upcoming 3500km self-supported tour from Athens to Barcelona, he needed something more suitable for the diverse terrain he’ll encounter. After numerous video calls and discussions about his needs and packing style, we decided that the Polyvalent was his best bet. Make sure to give Franco a follow on Instagram! He's been posting some fantastic videos from his trip that you won't want to miss. Now, let’s dive into the build!

Franco brings a wealth of insight and passion from his background as an Ironman triathlete and cycle-tourist. While he had a clear idea of what he needed, our video conferences and messages helped us hammer out the specifics for his trip and future adventures. The journey features mostly paved roads with some gravel stretches, so he needed tires that are wide enough for comfort but not too heavy and sluggish. The Polyvalent is the perfect choice for this kind of ride. It’s versatile enough for training (he's a phenomenally strong rider) and can be loaded up at a whim for spontaneous detours.

We chose robust DT Swiss wheels paired with Ultradynamico 650bx48mm tires. This setup ensures durability without compromising on availability; the parts are standard enough to find replacements easily if needed.

The shifting is managed by Microshift's Sword group, which offers a wide range of gears perfect for the varied terrain. While most of the route is rolling, there are some challenging climbs where that low-end gear will be invaluable. Franco opted for a 1x setup for its simplicity and reliability.

For packing, Franco is going fully self-supported with camping gear, so we decided on a mix of bikepacking and “rack-packing” (more on this in a later post). He’s using our Campeur Rear Rack for his existing panniers, along with a Road Runner Frame Bag, Sleeper Saddle Bag, and RRB X VO Biggish Bag. This configuration gives him ample storage without feeling overloaded. Panniers are particularly handy as they allow for easy removal of gear when entering stores, restaurants, and museums. We always recommend reserving one pannier for essentials like cameras, passports, and wallets, so you can immerse yourself in the local culture instead of just passing through.

Overall, I love this build. It strikes the perfect balance of utility, practicality, and personal preference, making it an ideal touring bike. If you’re inspired to build your own, you can find a complete build list here.