Touring - Would my bike work as a touring bike?

I really want to try touring, but I don't want to spend $$$ on a brand new bike, so I'm gonna ask: could I do tours with my current bike?

I have a 1998 Raleigh SC-200. Here is a link to what I can find on the geometry:

http://www.epinions.com/bike-Bicycles-All-74405-Raleigh_SC_200_NX__1998

It's comfortable for me, but it's not fast, and it's heavy and built like a tank. I use it for pretty much everything at this point, commuting, utility, groomed trail riding (I don't do hardcore trail riding).

I have changed out the original saddle (it was horrible) and I switched to trekking bars two summers ago with Ergon grips, and I just switched to clipless pedals.

I guess my question is this: will my bike geometry work for touring? I figure I can give it a try and if I really enjoy touring I can put some money into an actual touring bike, but for the moment I'd like to know if what I have will work ok?

My bike, click for bigger.
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j461/meigzilla/th_bike051711bsmall.jpg (http://s1087.photobucket.com/albums/j461/meigzilla/?action=view&current=bike051711bsmall.jpg)

Thanks.

Lesa

Go for it! Why not?

Your bike looks fine to me. Go for it.

You already got an 'actual touring bike'....if you can ride the Raleigh 5-6 hrs/day, day after day.

If a guy can ride across the US with a used Walmart bike and a backpack, I'm sure you could use the bike you already have.

Mountain bikes make awesome tourers. Don't worry about speed, weight, get some good flatproof slick tires and some extra spokes. Worry more about your loading techniques, esp. if you get into front racks. My tourer is an 80's Bridgstone MB-4. One thing you will love is that you will survive being blown off the road by a semi, you can ride it out, and you can go on dirt roads to escape the populace. Yeah you can do that on 700c, but not as easily.

GET GOOD RACKS!!! esp the front rack, if you do that.

By all means, Go for it.

Pick a park or campsite 30 to 50 miles from home with a safe, relatively flat road to it.

Get your stuff together and go for an overnight weekender. A great experiment to find out if you like touring, and figure out how to go about it.

If possible, talk a friend into going with you. Hopefully you are compatible and can laugh through all the lessons along the way.

If that works, plan a longer trip. Maybe a week or 10 days. Still flat country.

you will learn on the hills why mountain bike gearing is particularly favored among bike tourists. If the idea of touring still turns your crank, then think about a touring bike.
But not before you have completed a trip or two on what you have got.

Good Luck, and have fun.

Yes, like skilsaw and the others say! Specs not bad, looks like a good sturdy bike, similar to my C-40 but more beefed up. Do a shake down ride or two, if you are comfortable and it makes you smile, then I say, you already have a touring bike. Ride on!

Pick a park or campsite 30 to 50 miles from home with a safe, relatively flat road to it.

Sure, and get the Easter Bunny to tow you part way while you're at it.

For perspective, I just hosted a french kid that toured on a front suspension mtn bike. For this tour he was traveling from Atlanta GA to Chicago via the east coast, going into Maine. His previous tour was from the southern part of South America to Seattle, WA.

get the Easter Bunny to tow you part way while you're at it.

Pull that off, and you know you're good for pretty much anything.

Sure, and get the Easter Bunny to tow you part way while you're at it.

Well, I do live in the midwest. It's pretty flat here, but there are some hills :)