Why not just stay with a mountain bike? I have a mid 90's mtb that I'm considering to use on a Canadian tour begining May of 2011. Is there a issue of fitting panniers on a mtb? I will replace it's front fork with shock to a rigid version if I stay with the mtb, but that is the only major revision I plan. There will be gravel roads on this tour and it seems to me a mtb will be the way to go. Any thougts.