Originally Posted by
hardtail
Hi,
I don't think that Cannondale is a good touring bike at all. No way I'd shell out 1000GBP on it. Typical example of a big manufacturer entering a niche market and spending most of their $$$ on marketing.
Except for the crankset, I disagree entirely. My first reaction was "why aren't US touring bikes spec'ed this way?" The saddle, racks, and fenders are included (see the "Extras" line) and they're all quality name-brand parts. Compare to the throwaway racks and fenders on the Trek 520. Not to mention the 26" 36h rims and Schwalbe Marathon tires. All you have to do is put on panniers and you're set.
The road crank is probably fine in the flat roads of the UK, but it would make sense to go lower if you were headed abroad.
To the OP, you don't
need that bike for what you want to do, but, assuming it fits you, the price is reasonable for what you get, and it should work well. You could also make the Raleigh work for a lot less money. It depends on your preferences.