Originally Posted by Bacciagalupe

There are lots of good touring bikes out there. LHT is very good, the full bike is pretty much set for touring & commuting - no need to change the gears. You won't get a much better deal than the LHT overall.

The 520 is also an excellent bike, though some folks like to lower the gearing.

What else do you plan to do with the bike? Commute? Recreational rides? Club rides? Centuries? Off-road? Haul 50 pounds of stuff? Also, do you prefer bar-end or STI shifters?

By the way, if money is tight and you don't need drop bars, you could also tour on a hybrid bike. I'd look for one that does not have suspension, has rack eyelets, and can take wide tires.