I want to ride from SF to LA and am thinking of using my IRO. I was thinking of just using my Scott Addict R3, but don't think that is wise for such a distance when I have such a sturdy, simple, sweet Angus. Any advice on how I can set this up for long distance touring? Looking for advice on set-up, gear, gears. Any pics or websites would be cool too. Anything really.

Bike Set-Up: I am thinking of going light. Just a handlebar bag up front with food, maps etc; a rear saddlebag and then maybe a rear rack with sleeping bag/tent. Not thining panniers or anything like that I will use a hydration pack too. I can't run bottles on the frame, so I have to think up some ideas on carrying water on the bike.

GEARS: Mostly, I am concerned with gearing and climbing. I am not good enough to do this fixed. I would definately use freewheels to coast down the hills. I am more concerned with climbing. Any advice on magic ratios? I read that I could just use the flip/flop to my advantage by sticking on a climbing specific cog, but what would be a good combo for spinning? I run 165mm cranks with 46 or 48 up front. I have also read that I could just take a few different chain rings with me on the trip and just swap out when necessary. I love climbing, so really want someting I can spin and I want to maximze the flats.

Any ideas?

I'd use the Scott with a set of 36 spoke, 3 cross wheels.

Ask the "touring" forum. They're actually -knowledgeable- over there.

Repeatedly swapping cogs/chainrings/chains is gonna take you forever. I'd say either pick a gear that you can rock the whole way or ride a geared bike and save yourself a ton of unnecessary extra work. I have toured in central/eastern virginia on my steamroller running 42x16 and it worked pretty well. I was confident in that gear because i took a few 30-60+ mile practice rides along my planned route to see how well it would work.

Also its not essential but its way more comfortable to tour on wider tires like 28-32cm.

Racks are great, it feels nicer to carry things on a rack than on your back, and the reduced manuverability isnt an issue since you wont really be dodging through traffic.

If it means anything, when i do the hilly tour over again it will be on a geared bike.

Have you toured before? If not, this sounds ill-advised. Work with a setup actually amenable to touring (rack/fender mounts, water bottle bosses, and *gears*) before upping the ante. Riding a loaded bike (no matter how "light" you envision going) is a whole different beast than riding with lighter loads.

+1 on checking in the touring forum.

Double chainrings up front, white industries Dos Eno freewheel on the back. You do not want to be actually having to flip the wheel over with a touring setup, and this will give you very wide gearing anyway if you do it right.

Leave the tent at home if you think there's any chance you can get away with it.

Zip tie some bottle cages on, riding with a camelback sucks and the water gets hot quick.

He'll be fine, this is 400 miles in Cali, not some transcontinental, let's ride across Nebraska just because it's there BS. Big handlebar bag with food, maps, toothbrush, flat kit, tools, light jacket; bungee a sleeping bag, foam pad, and maybe a light tarp on the back. Done, 12lbs max. Easy. I carry more going to work most days.

Maybe, but 400 mi is still no picnic. I don't know the terrain out there; if it's flat enough, maybe not too bad. Having done lightly loaded days in the NE, no way would I do it fixed/single unless accustomed to high mileage trips back-to-back on that setup.

I would not want to tour fixed without a rear brake.