Hi.does anyone here have experience / feedback about using a Rocky Mountain Fiuson bike for bike touring? Looking to do some long distance travel with rear rack and panniers. Am thinking of swapping out the suspension fork for a rigid fork so I can put a front rack for panniers. A guy at bike shop advised morn to use it at all for touring because it is aluminum and that weight might put stress on frame. Is that a deal breaker
? Or, is he Jut trying to get me to buy another bike? I would like to use the RM Fusion 28er as I will hit gravel and dirt roads as well. It now is kitted out with Deore 10 speed and hydraulic discover brakes.

Looking forward to hearing anyone's feedback or experience with this kind of bike for this purpose.

Thank you.

I do not have any experience with that bike. I would recommend checking into the availability on the specific axle to crown measurement on a suspension corrected rigid fork with eyelets. Assuming that you have not bought it yet, it might be easier to shop for a bike already spec'd with a rigid fork. Nothing wrong with an aluminum frame unless you pile it high with bowling balls.