Originally Posted by
pataspen
One other thought on cost... if going lighter means you can increase your speed from 12 to 15 mph (as in your example) that theoretically means you could do a 1500 mile tour in the same time it would take you to do a 1200 mile tour. What cool things might you see in those extra 300 miles? What's the cost of missing those extra 300 miles with no increase in effort?
I know that's only theoretical and probably wouldn't work out exactly that way in the real world, but if cutting your gear means you can ride easier, faster, smoother, etc., it's worth considering.
The alternative outlook is to ask how much could you do on the 1200-mile tour? Linger longer to see the sights in a national park? Make new friends and spend more time with them rather than dashing off? Kicking back and relaxing by a river, or even canoeing around a lake for a day? Get up later, arrive earlier, or splurge on lunch?
Yes, it does depend on what you are touring for... the journey, the destination, or what's in between.