Just a word of warning, I guess. I bought a Fuji Touring bike this spring for a great price. It road and seemed to handle pretty well with a load, but the wheels were crap. They warranty replaced them and they still broke spokes with barely more than a harsh look. I returned the bike.

I lucked into a used 2009 Cannondale T1 a few months later and I am much happier with it. Did 250 miles on the Allegahny Passage and C & O Canal without an issue. The wheels (and the whole bike) are very solid and reassuring.

The only issue with the bike -- and this seems to be the case with a number of the touring models that use road rather then mountain drive trains components is the gearing does not go particularly low.

If I were you, I would plan out a few short mulit-day rides with the R50 and see how it does. If you need more space than the rack, maybe get a BOB. The two folks I just finished my trip with both have used BOB trailers for the last 15 years of touring (used to use panniers) and they love it.

Oh and I like the LHT (as do many here) but saw that the Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 is on sale for 25% off
http://www.realcyclist.com/roadbike/...041&mv_pc=r126