Touring - planning a 1000 mile + tour, need help.

I am planning to do the "TransAmerica" tour in mid April. Now i was going to load up one of the bikes that I already own and I was wondering if I should do that or buy a completely new rig?

I own:

2005 Trek Madone 5.2 full Ultegra &
1993 Trek 2300 composite

I really want to avoid buying a touring bike, so I was wondering if anyone out there would be crazy enough to take either of these two bikes across country. Or would you just spring for a new or used touring bike?
any help would be greatly appreciated.

I wouldn't.

1-2 week tour, not a big deal. 10 weeks, you need a bike that has low gearing, wide tires, fenders, heavy loads, rough pavement etc. (A typical TransAm is more like 3,000 - 4,000 miles btw)

You can get many brand-new touring bikes for $1000 or less; you can always sell it after the tour is over. Surly LHT, Jamis Aurora, Trek 520, REI Novara Randonee, etc are well-regarded and affordable bikes.

I'd go used if a) you're a decent mechanic and b) know what to look for in a touring frame.

I am planning to do the "TransAmerica" tour in mid April. Now i was going to load up one of the bikes that I already own and I was wondering if I should do that or buy a completely new rig?

I own:

2005 Trek Madone 5.2 full Ultegra &
1993 Trek 2300 composite

I really want to avoid buying a touring bike, so I was wondering if anyone out there would be crazy enough to take either of these two bikes across country. Or would you just spring for a new or used touring bike?
any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you plan to stay in motels all the way or have a support vehicle you might be able to do it, however, if your load will be more than 20lbs I'd be very concerned about your bikes' wheels and short wheelbases. It might be possible if you go ultralight, but even then I think its risky. You don't have to get a heavy long wheelbase tourer to do this, why not look out for an old sport tourer or get something like a Riv Rambouillet, Waterford, Litespeed Blue Ridge etc that you will want to ride for years to come.

Maybe with a trailer and different gearing or with a sag vehicle. Low spoke count road wheels would be unreliable with panniers full of gear.

If loaded I wouldn't go with out a 32 or larger sprocket on the back and a 26 or smaller chainring on the front. If unloaded a bit higher gearing would maybe be OK but not normal road gearing. The climbs are too long to deal with high gearing. A fit young guy we met on the TA this year tried it and went home needing knee surgery 1200 miles into the trip.

BTW: The TransAmerica is over 4200 miles. Figure about 10 weeks at 60 miles per day as a "normal" TA.

I think it probably isn't worth all of the trouble to tour on either of my current rigs. I will probably go with a used Jamis Aurora the reviews seem to be pretty good. I am actually going to cheat a little on the TransAm I will be starting in Kentucky. But thanks for all of the input I really appreciate it you probably saved me from a grave mistake.

I think it probably isn't worth all of the trouble to tour on either of my current rigs. I will probably go with a used Jamis Aurora the reviews seem to be pretty good. I am actually going to cheat a little on the TransAm I will be starting in Kentucky. But thanks for all of the input I really appreciate it you probably saved me from a grave mistake.

Why Kentucky?, is that home for you? It will allow you to avoid the toughest climbs of the trip (in Virginia) IMO. Anyway good luck and keep us posted on the trip.

It's a Redline Conquest.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/bik/448881203.html

Just curious should I go aluminum or steel?