kuzuchi

I have posted earlier about my cross country bike ride from Carsbad, CA to Yorktown, VA beginning July 1. Again, trying to do this ride in the minimal amount of time possible. Been training consistently since January and presently riding about 300 miles a week right now and will hit 500 miles in early June. I have a question in regards to my bike. My Trek 2300 is more of a Tri-Bike and I have used it in one Ironman and love the bike. In talking to my bike shop, they feel I have the option of modifying the bike slightly or buying a touring bike similar to the Trek 520. In modifying in, they are recommending that I go with a different wheel set like the Mavic CXP 700 with 32 spokes. The wheels I have on the bike presently are more like a 16 spoke racing set. I am only carrying 20 lbs of gear with me and the ride will be more of a credit card tour. Questions you guys and gals can help me out with. Do you really feel I need to go with a 32 spoke design or could I just carrying additional spokes with me and install them on my 16 spoke wheels if the are damaged? A new wheel set will cost me over $500, which I would prefer to not spend unless I have to. Also, I am thinking of using a cantilevered seat post rack, since I will only have 20 lbs of gear. What do you think of seat post racks? I am not going to drill holes in bike frame to mount a standard rack.

kayakdiver

Do you weigh 120lbs or 220?

kuzuchi

I weigh 180 lbs