Originally Posted by Al.canoe
There's different kinds of touring. If you plan on doing loaded touring then get a Trek 520 touring bike. It's likely obtainable for $1000, a hundred under list I think. My wife uses one for general road riding and loves it. However, it's geared way to high for touring or even road riding for non-jocks as it comes, so we got our lbs to change out the drive train to an LX mountain bike crankset (22/32/44), 11/32 cassette and LX derailleur at no additional charge.
Road bikes today have no attachment points for racks or fenders and the chain stays are too short for panniers. Some cyclocross bikes do have longer chain stays and have the attachment points. My Airborne Carpe Diem is an expensive example of one. Road bikes generally have steeper head tube angles that makes the bike require more attention to steer than either touring bikes or cyclocross bikes.
Al
I bought a Bianchi Strada which has a road-configured steel frame and carbon forks and road tires. I found this the best combo for the types of rides I do - short (100 miles or less) tours on sometimes crappy roads will a good amount of hills. I thought that aluminum frames were a bit harsh for long rides. Even the Lemond Wayzata (or Poprad - same frame) was too stiff with its aluminum fork.
The Strada has great gearing - 11-32 with a triple. And if you're used to straight bars - that's what it comes with. If you're not sure about drop bars (I don't care for them), you may want to be careful before going for the Trek 520. And while some of the components aren't totally first class (Tiagra front d/r and hubs), it's a pretty good value. Check it out:
http://www.bianchiusa.com/strada.html