Thinking about touring
 

I'm cross posting this from C&V at their suggestion. Most of what I ride are 80's vintage road bikes with a few from the 60's and 70's.

Not sure why but I've recently started thinking about looking for a touring bike. I'd like to raise some money in the next year or so to send back to our adopted children's home countries via our adoption agency and it struck me that maybe I could do a longer distance tour/ride as a fundraiser.

It's just the beginning stages (no budget and just research for now) but I thought I'd ask what some of the decent C&V touring bikes are. I've looked at a 1981 Trek 510 with Ishiwata 022 tubing but I don't know if that's classified as a true tourer. It had half step gearing with a granny on the triple. What other decent (and not astronomically) expensive bikes would I look at? I'm sure Miyata would be one and I've read a little about Fuji's.

Someone suggested old rigid mtb's make sturdy touring rigs. I have an '87 Trek Antelope (a heavy beast) and a couple or rear racks (I'm assuming front racks are different).

What advice can you provide as I start this search?

I toured on a 1981 Nishiki Olympic. I think it was a 12 speed. Walked up a few hills, had a great time.

I've got a 82 Nishiki Marina 12 with a rear rack right now. Not sure I'd want to do a tour fully loaded, though. The chainstays are a little short because my heel barely scrapes the pannier when I have it on. It's a Pletscher rack. It's set up with a 53-39 / 12-28 combo. I have the original bb that is for a triple chainring so I could go with that if needed.

Thanks for the info especially since I'm in the research mode right now.

a lot of it is just going on a trip with a small tent and sleeping bag , On what you have ..
Irish writer Dervla Murphy wrote about her trip from Ireland to India overland
for reliability She made the bike into a single speed , from what I expect was a common British 3 speed .