Originally Posted by
staehpj1
I think of the option of riding a lighter bike as one of the benefits of carrying a lighter gear load. I think folks mostly get the choices backwards. To me it makes sense to decide what gear you need to carry to be happy, safe, and as comfortable as you require. In my opinion only then should you pick a bike and baggage scheme that support those choices. People lose sight of the fact that the bike is only the means to an end and not the goal itself. Then again for some maybe it actually is the goal itself.
The bike has to be right for the route too. bmike's Fargo rocks for his trail riding, my Cervelo would not work so well on those.
You make a great observation. People decide to go touring usually start by choosing a bike and buying their luggage and then set about filling it with stuff. This is the wrong way round. They should get their gear together and then think about what bike and baggage they need. If you start out with a common set up like a LHT with 4 x panniers and a handlebar bag and then fill them up with gear, you are bound to finish with a heavy set up.
Of course maybe without the bike in their minds it would be even worse and they'd have all manner of big heavy stuff.