Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
Do you enjoy going fast or do you enjoy getting there? I know a couple people that refer to their touring bikes as the carbon or titanium bikes that they use for credit card touring. To them it is a touring bike because it has a rack and a rack top bag. They are shocked that I would tour on a bike that is 10 or more pounds heavier than theirs, even more shocked that I would carry a tent and sleeping bag and cooking gear. It becomes a factor of what type of touring you prefer.
Steel, Al, Ti and carbon are all reasonable materials for a credit card or loaded touring bike. A bike doesn't need to have a rack for you to use it as a loaded tourer because it's pretty easy to carry everything you need to be self supported without one. I carry tent, sleeping bag, mat, cooking gear clothes and everything else I need in a Carradice camper saddlebag and an Ortlieb Classic front bag on a carbon Cervelo RS. I've chosen my equipment to be light and so that I make few, if any, compromises on comfort when camping. The light bike and gear weight make the riding fun, climbing easier and dealing with the bike and baggage very easy if I have to lift them over obstacles or take them on trains, buses or planes. Easier riding means that I avoid excessive tiredness and I can enjoy more sightseeing. Fewer bags and volume of stuff makes camp setup and packing quick and easy. My bike and gear come in at 38lbs which is 1/5th of my body weight. I hope to get that up to approaching one quarter by reducing my body weight.