I've toured for thousands of miles on an upright (Trek 720) bike and for thousands of miles on a 'bent (Rans Stratus XP). I find the recumbent to be the ultimate Touring bike. None of the butt/neck/wrist/hand pain on the bent, you get on an upright/diamond frame. Also, the view is better: You sit in a position that is facing forward (like in a car), as opposed to looking down at the road. I really don't understand why there aren't more folks touring on bents. Even the OP of the "TM list of Touring Bikes" thread that is stickied on this forum refuses to include touring 'bents. I think more folks would choose the long miles of touring if they took the time to find out how comfortable a bent really is.