Originally Posted by
bikexcountry
So I could use some help picking a bike. The lbs has no touring bikes.
What the heck are you riding now?*
It's possible that you should make do with what you have and learn more about bikes before dumping money on something so quickly.
You might find, with more experience, that you'll pick a bike that will work better for you.
(* If you don't have any bicycle, you aren't riding, and the (old) idea of riding across country in a month makes even less sense!)