Originally Posted by sophisticado
Thanks for the replies, guys.
The Litespeed looks great but I would like something with rack mounts on the forks for front panniers. Also, I would like to avoid the hefty price tag with Ti (I already have a Merlin) and flash (I plan to go to eastern Europe.) Are there any good cross bikes sturdy enough for touring that are worth a glance?
If something is set up as a true cross bike it will not have a triple or the low gears you need for loaded touring.
The cost of converting to a triple makes that a more expensive choice. Most bike companies, if not all make touring bikes. My steel Jamis Aurora Touring bike is 26 lbs. stripped and handles a load well. It handles very well.