Originally Posted by
dwmckee
You just have to watch the rated weight these are designed for. Most mfrs will specify rated for a rack load xx pounds. Some of the "light touring" bikes like the Renegade are rated for racks but limited to a 25 - 35 pound load as compared to a full touring bike that might be rated for 50 pounds or even more on the rack in some cases. Supporting rack mounts does not mean rated for a 50 pound load. These new "light" touring bikes have opened up a great class of bikes for weekend credit card tourers that do not want to drag around a full on touring bike. They just are not necessarily designed for a full touring load.
If you are not sure what the limits of a fork or a frame are for touring loads, you should ask the manufacturer what thet are rated for and stay within those limits. There may be carbon forks and frames rated for touring loads, etc...
Everyone has different needs and wants to carry different loads. Those light touring models are fine for some folks needs for self supported touring even for long tours. Heck some folks manage with full on road race bikes.
On the trip length thing... I for one never found that I needed anything more for a long (even coast to coast) trip than I'd carry for a short trip. I pretty much carry the same stuff regardless of the trip length. My gear is very versatile and while I might be tempted to mail some things home or have some things mailed to me from home as the season changes I have not generally needed to do so. I typically don't do trips much under 1000 miles, but if I were to go for a week end I would carry the same stuff. I managed to do the ST from San Diego to Pensacola (mid Feb to mid March time frame) with 14# of camping and cooking gear and didn't change gear along the way. I did get a room now and then, but definitely had full camping and cooking capability and did so most of the time. I did wish I had swapped my bivy for a bug bivy when I got to Louisiana, if I had it to do over I'd make that swap.
Not everyone wants to travel that light, but it certainly wasn't "weekend touring" or "credit card touring". I carry everything I need to camp and cook so it is fully self supported touring. FWIW, I find it kind of offensive when folks call it "credit card touring" or otherwise imply it somehow isn't real "fully loaded" touring because I am not carrying enough stuff.
I find the same thing when backpacking. I was always amused when I was backpacking in the Sierras and I would be asked several times per day, "what are you carrying in that tiny backpack". I'd always answer "the same stuff you are carrying in that huge one". Then we would compare notes and I would generally have a smaller lighter but fully functional version of every item they said they were carrying.