Tom,

You make an excellent point and something I have really had to deal when buying everything. It can be a tough call because, for example, if you do not have the right stuff you could ruin any experience that might be a positive one that comes with touring. I use the example of people who buy a bike and ride it and think it hurts. They do not know that the bike must fit and many manipulations can be made to make it fit yet it sits in the garage collecting dust.

I always ask myself what would happen if I hated to tour. It crosses my mind. I am basing the hope I love it on the fact that I love riding my bike, love riding alone, love wondering and enjoying the peace of it. The big questions I have is do I have what it takes? Will I enjoy camping? Will I be able to ride with all the gear for touring? I have no flippin' clue but we will soon find out!

Thats why its important, to me at least, to be able to ask questions, learn from your experiences, and gain as my knowledge as I can before getting something. Yes, some things are a "jump in with both feet" sorta thing like my touring bike is but I did consider an off the shelf bike. The tent took a long time to figure out and so did the a few other things. Will it change someday? It might. Will I hate my tent? Perhaps. But you gotta start somewhere.