did i accidentally click on the wrong button? there is nothing here but consensus. unheard of!!!

Both times we had a chase vehicle that carried our clothes, food, etc. We just carried a couple water bottles, some energy bars, and enough tools to fix a flat or complete any minor repair. About every 20 miles or so, we met our chase vehicle to eat and resupply as needed. We also carried our wallets and phones ... just in case.

Oh, no, we can't have that! Buy the LHT, immediately! It'll inspire you to load it up with 50 pounds of gear and head for the opposite coast!

(And if it doesn't, the Roubaix is going to feel light and twitchy, er, I mean responsive, when you take it out the next day.)

You've already made your choice, but I figured I'd chime in since I have both a roubaix and a LHT. First, you made the right choice. Never buy a new bike right before a 500 mile trip. You would regret it unless you got it dialed in perfectly. In my experience, the LHT is perfect for me for riding fat studded tires in winter, and for hauling a weeks worth of clothing, a laptop and lunch. The ride itself is very smooth and I enjoy it tremendously in all sorts of weather. I do not ride it for club rides or on supported rides unless its going to rain.

The roubaix is a much more fun bike to ride. It handles well, is comfortable over long distances and is significantly faster than the LHT. The only reason I'd suggest you buy a new LHT is if you want to do touring or commuting significant distances with lots of stuff. For your charity ride consider a really big seat-bag along with a handlebar bag. If the ride really is fully supported, you don't even need that.

I want to use my Scott CR1 for the VT, NH, ME trip. How do you recommend carrying changes of clothes for 4-5 days and food each day on the Scott? I plan to credit card it and stay in hotels. Any advice would be helpful - thanks.

A large seat bag?
Seat mounted rack with small bag?
Handlebar bag?
Backpack?

Old Man Mountain makes a rack that will work with any bike out there. I would use one of their racks and a small pannier or two.

Backpacks are tough mile after mile. Let the bike carry the load.

Thanks for the help and the link.

Just for argument, how much load would one think a Roubaix could stand? I love my Roubaix as well; but thinking about some 'non-supported' 2 or 3 day trips [inn to inn probably, but would want more self support with me]. I may even decide to do some camping or something. I also have a carbon 'hybrid' Trek FX, which actually has rear rack stays on the frame. I wince at putting a rack on a carbon frame though, much less any load of any size [though, the designers apparently seemed to think it was ok for the FX I have]. So, I"m like the OP, playing around with the idea of just getting a n+1 steel tour bike. It would be nice to ride the Roubaix though or even the FX and save the money for support items [like panniers etc]. Randonneurs go light; can a large saddle bag hold much?

I think it will be just what you make of it. If you were going to be loading up your bicycle then I would have definitely said, yes get the LHT, or even the cross check. But if all your gear is going elsewhere, why spend the extra money?