Hey everyone,

I’m planning a long-distance cycling journey across India (starting from Kolkata), and I’m trying to choose the right bicycle under a budget of ₹20,000.

This is not just casual riding — I’m planning:

• Multi-day / multi-week rides
• Possibly a Northeast expedition first
• Carrying luggage (minimal camping gear + essentials)
• Riding on mixed Indian terrain (highways, broken roads, hills, some off-road)

What I’m Looking For

From my research, I think these matter most:

• Comfort for long hours (6–8 hrs/day)
• Ability to handle bad Indian roads
• Mounting options for carrier/panniers
• Reliable gears (for climbs)
• Low maintenance (since I’ll be remote sometimes)

From what I’ve read, hybrid bikes seem more suitable since they balance speed + comfort + rough road capability