Originally Posted by
Barrettscv
That's interesting. I came to the same conclusion about loading up a rear rack. 10 or 15 lbs was OK, but the bike no longer felt nimble or fun to ride if I put too much weight on the shelf of the rear rack.
I would be happy to use the bike for credit card touring, but it's less than ideal for loaded touring.
Michael
Yeah, it's not really designed for loaded touring with it's shorter chainstays, wheelbase and higher bottom bracket. Of course, these are all design features that I wanted in a commuter (as opposed to using a touring bike as a commuter).
You might want to try some low-riders on the front. I think you'll find it handles better and this might let you use it for shorter tours if you're not carrying a lot of gear.