Originally Posted by kateonmars
Hey again,
Thanks for all the tips so far! A few of you have mentioned hardtail frames as a possibility; what do you think of the Trek 820?
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Moun.../820/index.php
What modifications to this bike would you suggest to improve it for the purpose of expedition touring in northwestern China?
peace,
Kate
For the type of touring you're planning to do, this bike is not what you should be looking at. The components, in a word, are junk. Short of building up from a bare frame, a good used older mountain bike with a longish chainstay if at all possible, with a few upgrades, should serve you well.