I've never toured on mine, but I wouldn't hesitate to. Depending on your shoe size and the size and position of your panniers, you might get some heal-strike, though. And if I were carrying a good load and touring a hilly area, I might want to put on a slightly "grannier" low gear (a bit bigger in the back or smaller in the front).

I've never put a front rack on mine, but it would take one. I'm not sure how it would affect stability.