Long Distance Cycling - Sequoia for Cross Country Trip

I have a Specialized Sequoia Elite 2005. I am planning a cross country trip this summer. Currently, I plan to carry my gear in a Burley Nomad trailer. I love riding this bicycle but I have some concerns about whether it is the right bike for a long distance camping tour.

I have a few questions. First, does anyone have any recommendations for modifications/upgrades I should make to help get this bike ready for long distance loaded touring? Second, does anyone think that even with some modifications the Sequoia is not the right bike for a long distance tour? Third, has anyone actually used the Sequoia for long distance loaded touring and if so how was your experience?

Thanks for your thoughts.

I have a Specialized Sequoia Elite 2005. I am planning a cross country trip this summer. Currently, I plan to carry my gear in a Burley Nomad trailer. I love riding this bicycle but I have some concerns about whether it is the right bike for a long distance camping tour.

I have a few questions. First, does anyone have any recommendations for modifications/upgrades I should make to help get this bike ready for long distance loaded touring? Second, does anyone think that even with some modifications the Sequoia is not the right bike for a long distance tour? Third, has anyone actually used the Sequoia for long distance loaded touring and if so how was your experience?

Thanks for your thoughts.

I have an '06 Sequoia Elite.
I haven't toured with it, but I've ridden loaded with panniers, and the bike handles fairly well with them. I'm also planning a 400-500 mi tour this summer, and I'd like to hear from anyone else who has used this bike(or something similar) for touring. Specialized says that the Sequoia can handle a trailer. The Sequoia Elite has carbon seatstays and fork, mounting points for a front and rear pannier, and 3 mounting points for bottle cages. However, the stock tires are 25mm, and I'd like to know if anyone has mounted wider tires on it.

I also have an '06 Elite. And, also, I haven't toured on it, but I've been on some very long day trips to check out the comfort level in comparison to my Trek 520. Being a recreational road bike, as opposed to a competition type, it is very comfortable, having a posture similar to the 520. It's fairly fast and alot of fun. So, that part works.

My theoretical concern would be the wheels over the long haul, not the tires. I'd want more spokes if I were out there for any length of time away from a shop. A couple loose spokes can cause problems when you don't have very many. They are not the top-o-the-line, but not crap, either. Just like the bike.

And, I don't yet trust brifters. Most tour bikes seem to have barcons or, if a modified MTB, they have the old dependable thumbies - which are the same thing as barcons, really.

My suggestion would be to put on alot of miles in rehearsal, and see what happens.

However, the stock tires are 25mm, and I'd like to know if anyone has mounted wider tires on it.

I am using 28 mm Continental 4 Season, and SKS P45 fenders, on my '06 Sequoia Elite. I am very happy with this setup.

The wheels on the 2005 had relatively low spoke count, if I remember correctly. Personally I would like something more reliable for loaded (pannier) touring.

The other concern would be the gearing, which is a little too high for my tastes for loaded touring. I swapped the stock cassette with a 12-27 to make it slightly easier to climb, but for long distance loaded touring you may want to go with something even lower.

i've done 2 short 4 day tours on my sequoia elite. Worked great. The first tour was rear panniers only, approx 30lbs of gear. The bike got a little scary at speeds over 35mph or when I would sit up and ride with no hands. Second tour I put a small handlebar bag on it and it helped stabilize the bike at higher speeds. Also I packed less for the second tour.

It's a comfortable bike, but if I were taking it cross country, I'd probably get a bigger cassette than the stock 12-25 and probably new wheels too. I've had good luck with the wheels, only broken 3 front spokes in 2 yrs, but I'd want some 32 spoke wheels. I've had wheel envy since a friend bought some Mavic open pros with ultegra hubs.

Very helpful comments. Thanks. I am thinking about keeping the Specialized for weekend rides and about getting an REI Novara Randonee or Trek 520 for the cross country trip.