Originally Posted by
CliffordK
I don't know how much use my rough touring bike will get in the end, but you may consider multiple styles of touring before you dump a lot of dough into a touring bike build. Other trips you'd like to do? Non-paved surfaces?
This. Probably anathema on a cycling forum, but before you buy a new bike for a specific trip, think about what options you may want in the future for other trips.
Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
Some people travel very lightly, some more heavily. If you can put your gear together into one pile so you can figure out weight and volume, that would give you an idea of if you could do it with a couple panniers or not. But make sure you save enough room for a couple days of groceries for when you stock up at a Safeway.
Great advice! I'd suggest that this is the first thing you should do!
Originally Posted by
indyfabz
What type of tour? If the usual credit card, don't see why you need to change a thing. Just because the trip will be longer doesn't mean you need more stuff.
Simple & to the point.
Originally Posted by
mtnbud
I just tried one of these out over the weekend. My interest was in taking the weight off the front of the bike to allow me more comfort doing some off-road touring. It's a great piece of kit. Not cheap, but a very effective way of getting a taste for touring without changing a bike or getting a new one. You'd be able to carry all your gear on the trailer and have the bike as you normally do. Check your gearing, though, for those hills!