Originally Posted by
elcruxio
There's no denying that newer bike tech has benefited touring, much in the same way it has benefited essentially all other types of riding. Who wouldn't want better brakes or tires or such and such. But newer tech has also made reaching low gear ratios with drop bars a nightmare. I did a quick search and Shimano currently has no off the shelf approved combinations for low gearing. That means either going with SRAM (ew) or mixing and matching, which many bicycle tourists aren't comfortable doing, even if that simply means using an MTB crankset instead of the road/gravel one. And these days the only low gearing drop bar options are 1X, which means massive jumps at the low end and severely restricted high end, both of which make riding at one's own pace a bit of a bummer.
Triples were better than what we have now. Triples were even better than what can be customized. I've been riding a 2X with 46/30 and 11-46 (an impossible combination without some heavy customization or bar end shifters) for a while now and it's just not as good as my old Deore triple 22/34/44 and 11-36. For riding at my preferred pace that is. Low jumps between gears is better for maintaining steady power.
But the large panniers aren't going anywhere. Thinking that they are is youtube influence. Panniers haven't been the go-to choice of high performance long distance tourers for a long time, but for your average bike tourist on vacation, they still reign supreme. There simply isn't a better way to carry a lot of stuff. And if you want to go out to town in chinos and a button down shirt after a long day's ride, you're gonna need that space. Your average bike tourist is far more likely to ride a flat bar trekking bike with 20l panniers and a rack pack than a carbon drop bar bike with frame bags.
Debatable. Depends on how much of a hurry you're in. Also lots of small pouches, frame bags etc. is a hassle to take off compared to a couple of quick lock panniers. Being able to load/unload the bike quickly is a real benefit when using public transport or staying at a hotel that doesn't allow bikes in rooms.
Preferred pace is a power output, not speed. On a bike, it doesn't matter how much weight you're carrying when riding at preferred pace. The only variable is distance covered, which again is something that can be important to some and is of no importance to others. How long one can ride and at what comfort level relates to bike fit and ergonomics, which has nothing to do with weight or aerodynamics.
Modern gear can be lightweight but like you mentioned, that brings the cost up. And the cost does go up exponentially. Some would rather use that cash for the actual trip.
But lightweight gear is also fragile. For example one does need to evaluate whether the risk of sleeping pad punctures is worth the decreased weight. Same goes with rain gear, tents, etc.
I presently run a 2x 46-30 and an 11-42 (11-speed) and find the gearing appropriate, and although not approved by Shimano, it is a totally stock GRX system. Shifts well and functions well at both extremes. I agree that it would be nice to have factory-approved wide-range gearing available. However, since I am using lighter, modern gear, the extreme low gearing has not been necessary for me as it was in the past (I am older and less fit now). Most people would not agree with your view that past triples were ideal.
The huge panniers of the past, no longer necessary, are not a YouTube thing but rather the result of improvements across all aspects of touring gear. Travel clothing has improved substantially, becoming lighter and more compact. I would never pack a pair of cotton chinos anymore; instead, I would pack lightweight alternatives. I can easily get by for months with smaller, streamlined panniers. All my bags are easily removable, unlike the typical frame bags and seat packs used by adventure racers and backcountry riders.
If the bike and system are lighter and more streamlined, everything becomes easier and more enjoyable for most. I agree pace is determined by the rider; however the heavier the setup, the more problematic everything becomes.
Modern gear is more than durable enough for me and other lightweight activities that use the same gear, notably lightweight backpackers. As they say, light, durable, and cheap, pick two, but you can't have all three. Other items, such as replacing maps with digital sources, are huge weight and space savers. Cooking & Sleep systems are very lightweight and compact. But yes, this comes at a cost. Fortunately, bicycle touring has become an activity of more mature and established individuals, the most affluent demographic.
Regardless, traditional touring with bikes fully loaded with huge panniers, duffel bags, and bar bags is becoming increasingly rare, replaced by individuals using much more efficient systems.