Touring - pacific coast bike suggestions

I'm planning a trip down the coast this summer, but I'll need a new bike and don't know which to get. The trip is from Seattle to San Francisco...I'm by no means an experienced cyclist, but have been training and should be ready to go physically. I don't know much about bikes though, and I've gotten conflicting advice about road bikes v. touring bikes. I'll be camping out for much of the trip, so I need to be able to pack the bike...I'd like to avoid pulling a trailer if possible (although that was the direction one salesman tried to push me).

My price range is probably $800-1400...I want a decent bike that will last and won't need much in the way of repairs, but I'm not looking to spend thousands of dollars either. Any suggestions would be most appreciated...I'm sure there are many of you out there who've probably made this trip before, so feel free to share your experience too. Thanks!

JJ

Welcome to the forums. There have been several threads about the coast tour that you might want to look up in the archives. I think Catfish --among others-- had an interesting comment. Lotta good info stored away.

As for a bike, I prefer a touring or Hybrid because they have a longer wheel base and allow you to carry panniers without your heels hitting them as you pedal. Also a longer wheel base is much more comfortable to ride by absorbing road shock. I would also use wider tires. (If the bike comes with 700 wheels then 35mm wide tires would be OK. If it comes with 27" wheels, then 1 3/8 would be good. --It's not likely that you will get 27' tires on a new bike though. You might find a quality used bike that would serve you well and it might have 27" wheels.)What ever kind of bike you decide upon, make sure it FITS YOU.

I hope you'll make comments and ask questions often. This is the place to get info.

as i see it there are 3 types of bikes that are good for this kind of touring and it depends mostly on you:
1) touring bike
2) hybrid
3) mountain bike

don't use a regular road-racing bike - the gears are too high, the tires too thin, the ride position too agressive --- everything is set up for light weight and high speed which is not what you need --- comfort, reliability, durability and flexibility

i personally take my mountain bike, put on a rack and thinner (1.5") high pressure slicks and bar ends... has the low gearing you need, the durability, good ride position and with bar-ends multiple hand positions... (you don't need a suspension fork, so you could buy a good rigid bike)

i'd really recommend looking at used bikes --- for touring you don't need the latest greatest, just something with good components that's reliable...

i also have had great experience with the BOB trailer (search the forum for info)

the Seattle-San Fran is a great route - enjoy (i rode Vancouver through Oregon summer '99)