Originally Posted by sstorkel

The real question is: who cares?

On my credit-card tour down the Pacific Coast, I averaged almost 15mph on an aluminum bike that weighed around 50lbs ready-to-ride (23lb base weight + luggage, spares, clothing, water, etc). Given my fitness level and the amount of climbing involved, I'm not sure that I could have gone much faster if I'd been riding my 17lb carbon fiber road bike and carrying nothing.

Other than being able to say you've ridden across the country on a 5lb bike, I'm not sure I see much point to an ultra-light touring bicycle. You'd likely save more weight for less money by leaving your stove, cookset, and fuel at home and eating cold sandwiches for dinner every night. Or do some training before you leave, lose the extra 5-10lbs of fat that many of us carry, and build some fitness so that you can go farther/faster/longer each day...