Originally Posted by LeeG

it's good that it can take 35mm tires but it's essentially a road bike with 120mm rear spacing. The 15.7" chainstays are 1" shorter than the CrossCheck at it's most forward position, if you shove the rear wheel to the back of the dropouts on the CC you have an effective chainstay length of 17.7". If you're of average weight I'm sure the frame and wheels could carry 30lbs but the important thing would be to distribute the weight towards the center/front of the bike and not cantilevered off the back end with conventional panniers.
I'd use it with the idea of light weight touring. If you use a rear rack don't use conventional panniers, stack the gear in compression sacks as close to the underside of your saddle without interfering with thighs. Attach compression bag holding sleeping bag under bars, not cantilevered out with a bar bag. Search around for a minimal front minirack to put a compression bag on top of or spring for a lowrider and small front panniers for bigger loads. Basically the less gear you carry that's well secured to the bike and close to your mass the more you get to enjoy a quick handling road bike, the more you cantilever weight far from your mass (w. rear panniers) the worse the handling will get and the farther you take the bike from its intended use.
When I did tours up and down the coast of Ca. it was with a road bike with similar geometry, since it wasn't raining and I wasn't carrying a tent or cooking gear my total load was less than 15lbs. Blackburn rack on the rear with sleeping bag, army surplus poncho and camppad. Front bag had a few spare clothes. Wallet in sandwich bag and food in jersey pockets.