Originally Posted by RaiderInBlue47

After finishing my first tour earlier this week (which was fantastic, by the way!), it's easy to say I'm hooked! My next tour won't be until December and will probably be a 3 day tour but next summer I'm gearing up for a nice ride across Tennessee, East to West!

Anywho, I've been touring on an older steel bike (Ross frame) and it's holding up fine for me. However, I want to start looking into getting a dedicated touring + casual road day trip bike.

Here's the catch: I want it to be able to perform on gravel, mud, dirt, asphalt, concrete, anything I throw at it.

Basically, I'll pay anywhere up to $1200 for a bike that could ride PanAmerican Highway-type terrain, where it'll mostly be on normal roads but might find its way onto a gravel trail or really crappy concrete or a muddy dirt road in the pouring rain.

My first thought is maybe a Cyclocross bike? Or a hardtail 29 inch mountain bike? Or are there some dedicated touring bikes out there that'll ride well with knobby tires and can take that kind of beating? Or maybe I just need a LHT with some knobby tires?

What would you suggest? And, as far as cargo goes, I used an old military rucksack for my 3 day trip. I'm 17 so it didn't bother my back a bit, but I know I'll want something more...liberating in the future? For all-terrain touring, panniers or a BOB trailer?

Thanks!