Originally Posted by
Cyclebum
I'm with fit is first crowd. After that is settled, then start splitting hairs about the rest. Throw into the mix the main use for this bike. Will it be for touring only, or also your general runabout bike.
Really, until you've done some touring and find out if it's 'your thing,' no way to know for sure exactly what will work for YOU and under what conditions. That's why most on this site have 3 or 4 or 10 different bikes.
Yes, I have no problem with having more bikes and/or trying things out to find what I like. I don't know how much heavy touring I would do. I have no interest in camping, so I would probably never be too heavily loaded, though I am a heavy load myself (thought shrinking through cycling).