Dudelsack 

I know, I know. This is like a "help me pick out my first bike" kind of thread. It's winter, we have the time, and if you link me to some good stuff I'm fine with it.

2015 was an off year and I'm out of shape. I was tentatively invited to ride from Pitt to DC via the GAP and B&O this summer. I will resume training this week. I own a Bacchetta ATT 26 but have no touring gear. I would like to try a couple of overnighters in the Louisville, KY area to get the hang of it.

Suggestions? I'm all ears.

bikemig 

What are you looking for? Panniers? Camping gear? Are you thinking of pulling a trailer?

Good looking bike, how do you get a rack on it?

Giro 26 ATT | Bacchetta Bikes

Johnny Mullet

Do the GAP! You will not regret it no matter how ill-prepared you are. You learn from this stuff and it becomes a life experience.

thumpism 

It's pretty easy to do a shakedown overnight or weekend trip. If you know someone who has panniers, see if you can borrow them and do a little trip of your own to a nearby destination. What's the nearest state park in KY or IN? You'll need a rack to hold the panniers, and I'd recommend a tent and sleeping bag this time of year.

Salamandrine 

Try the overnighters. I'm a little skeptical about loaded touring on a short wheel base recumbent, but it'd probably be just fine for credit card touring with a seat bag. I've never ridden a SWB more than a few blocks, but they seem pretty skittish especially at low speed, which is what you do when climbing mountains with a load of camping gears. I'd think a LWB would be a far better choice for touring if you're doing the fully loaded type.

Then again I'm no expert on 'bents. Apparently people do tour with SWB. Must take superhuman balance. You might try asking on the recumbent forum.

Doug64

This French couple was on a year-long tour from Quebec to Patagonia via of Vancouver, B.C. They both had panniers and were pulling trailers. The guy had 4 panniers, and hauled the gear trailer. The woman also had 4 panniers and pulled their 5-year old daughter in the trailer. We camped and ran into them several times as we all headed down the coast from Powell River, BC.

The woman was amazing! I slowly followed her up a fairly steep hill one day, and while she had a heavier load than me, she hardly wobbled going up.

I thought you might get some ideas from their rigs.

goldleaf

Right now in winter is perfect for building stamina.