im not an expert cyclist, but ive been reading a lot of threads comparing various touring bikes such as the trek 520, cannondale, jamis, surly, etc. generally they seem like good bikes but according to many reviews many of them have high gear issues in addition to costing a lot of money. ive read about people buying a trek 520 and then replacing half the parts, so i was wonder if there was a reason people dont just buy the frames and build up. i dont have 1000 dollars to buy a new touring bike, but if i can id like to buy a frame and add the parts that are suitable. the problem is i have no idea where to buy frames online or in stores, or if you can even buy just the touring bike frames such as the ones mentioned above. im a beginner, so any advice or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!