Originally Posted by
Ciufalon
Glad you're not giving the presentation BBT. With a $2,000 price tag on the cost of entry you would probably dissuade a lot of potential tourers. As has been mention many times on this forum, a touring bike is one you tour on. It can be any bike and absolutely does not have to be a $1200 bike. A person can make a pair of kitty litter bucket panniers for about $10 and tour with those. My point is that all options are on the table and one of the beautiful things about touring is that each can do it their own way. No one is judging anyone on style, coolness of gear, etc. If you are having a good time and getting from it what you want to or feel you need to, then you are touring correctly. One might tour ultra light. Another might tour ultra heavy. But if they are enjoying themselves is all that really matters.
I agree completely. Earlier in my post I wrote "you can tour on almost any bike." My $2000 was trying to show that, even if you went for good-quality, durable stuff, it still wouldn't be that expensive compared to other modes of recreational travel. My first tours were on a 1971 Raleigh Gran Prix 10-speed. I sewed a set of panniers myself using pack cloth, and needle, and thread. I slung my sleeping bag between the curves of my handlebars with nylon string. My rack was a Pletscher from Fred Meyer. I carried an antique floor pump from a thrift store. The bike had rims that were always getting dented, and I broke spokes fairly regularly. I had some great tours on that old bike, but I'm sure glad I've moved beyond it. Now I have an LHT that's properly geared, Ortlieb panniers, Road Morph pump, etc. I have what I consider to be excellent stuff. And it's still inexpensive compared to other modes of recreational travel, especially if prorated over its expected service life.