Hello, and welcome!!
How much gear are you carrying? Are you camping or hotels, guesthouses etc.? Are you an experienced, well conditioned rider? Do you prefer disc or rim brakes? Do you have big feet; the shorter chainstays on CX bikes can cause heel strike on the rear panniers?

I did do something similar, just a little different approach. My wife and I started a ride in Lisbon and we did eventually get to France. However, we headed east across Portugal and Spain then north along the Mediterranean Coast. Portugal is a great place to tour.

I have a Volpe, and it is a nice bike. I also have access to 2 other touring bikes, a LHT and a Cannondale T2; but I much rather ride the Volpe if I'm not too heavily loaded. I have ridden it across the U.S. and on a couple of other long tours. I'm planning on using it for my next tour this summer.

I can't tell you much about the Masi. However, just looking at the specs, the gearing is too high (IMO), and limited with a double crank. However, I'm not sure the gearing on the new Volpes are much better.

The new Volpes, mine is a 2007, make it even easier with fork blade eyelets for a front rack. I just picked up a 2014 fork, and plan on changing forks before the next trip. You can tell I'm biased, but it is my favorite bike. I use it for everything, and ride it almost every day.



There is a Volpe hiding somewhere under all that gear.


I did change the drive train to a 44/32/22 crank and an 11-34 rear cassette. It is not a big deal, and would have to be done on most touring bikes to get that gearing. I'm not sure what the options are with 10 speed drivetrains.


Good luck on your venture.