Touring - Converting a hybrid

Not sure whether to post this here or in bicycle mechanics, but I figure I'm more likely to understand the answers here. I'm looking for advice...

I have a well-loved Rocky Mountain Whistler hybrid, which I use as my commuting/runaround bike, as well as a road bike, which is never going to be a good bike to tour because it's just too twitchy to take a load. So I've started wondering if I could (or should) convert the hybrid to a tourer. I'd want drop handlebars, because I find them more comfortable for distances, and I suppose I'd swap out the suspension fork for something else. But is this even a sensible idea? And what else would I need to change?

Right now I'm looking for a bike for week-long, motel-type tours, so all I'd need is rear panniers for some bike stuff and the clothes I'm wearing from day to day -- no tent, no sleeping bag, no cooking gear. The bike has a triple chain ring in the front and Deore/Acera, although I swapped out the rear cassette for one with somewhat smaller teeth as I never, ever, ever used the granny gear. I've done about 7,000 km on it, and it's still going strong.

Picture below, if I can remember how to post it....

And thanks for your insights.

I've done this (except for having to swap forks). Here's what you need:

Handlebars (Duh!)

New stem. Road bars are almost always 26.0 mm or larger. Your current stem is 25.4mm clamp. Need a stem to match the bars.

Brake levers/shifters. Shifters must match rear for number of cogs. Might be hard to find if you have 8-speed. You could use bar end shifters and non-shifter brake levers if you like to save money.

New Fork, of course. Try to match the geometry of the old fork or the bike handling will change.

Cables and housings if they don't come with the brake levers/shifters.

Travel Agent cable pull adapters so you can use road brake levers with your V-brakes.

Bar Tape.

Thanks, and really useful. Are you happy with the conversion? And yes, the rear cog is 8-speed. Major problem, or minor one?

You can get a set of Dia-Compe 287-V, aero levers that work with V-brakes. I think you can still find 8-speed bar-end shifters too, failing that 8 speed hubs also fit 9 speed cassettes.

Thanks, and really useful. Are you happy with the conversion? And yes, the rear cog is 8-speed. Major problem, or minor one?

I've ridden many thousands of miles on my conversion. The only drawback is that the bike is a bit heavier than the typical road bike.

New Fork, of course. Try to match the geometry of the old fork or the bike handling will change.

+1 Excellent advice supcom. The term is "suspension corrected fork" I believe. Alternatively to the travel agent/Dia Compe levers, you can get cantilever brakes. For light touring a range of gears from 25 or 30" to 100" should be ok.

I swapped out my suspension fork on my hybrid for Nashbars 700c chromoly touring fork. The bike shop did it actually and it is great. I saved about 5 pounds. I didn't mess with drop bars. What I chose to do instead is to attach some clip on aero bars. They are wonderful. I can get down out of the wind and have an alternate hand position. I commute and tour on it and it's great. However, I don't use panniers; I invested in a Burley Nomad to get the weight off the rear wheel. Works well for me.

Order nashbar trekking bars and your all set. Trekking bars allow you to keep your current shifters and brakes. I'm sort of neutral when it comes to suspension forks. If you got them, use them. Considering your not going to be using front mounted panniers anyway just leave the fork alone and enjoy it on bumpy back roads. Here is a photo of my Hybrid turned touring bike.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/touring.jpg