Hey everyone! I just signed up for this forum and so far have read tons of great info. I have been road/mtb riding for 6 years and am really stoked to buy/build a touring bike so I can travel some REAL distance! I know a bit about bikes, sizing, etc., and know how important it is to have a quality bike that I can trust. I would love to find a bike for $700 or less, assuming I will need to put in another few hundred for part swaps, racks/panniers, etc.

I ride a 56cm frame. I'd really appreciate some help finding a bike online. I'm also keeping an eye on my local Craigslist and the nearby community bike shop. Here are a few that I am seeing on ebay... Am I even looking at the right kind of bikes??

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cannondale-T...item257e224cc5
and
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuji-Touring...item2ec82b2a3f

I would be forever grateful if any of you would be willing to help me find a bike online or make some recommendations. Neither of the bikes above have disc brakes- is it easy/possible to convert to disc?

Can't wait to get touring!! Thanks everyone!!

Emphatic No.. if you want a disc brake nice touring bike, buy one set up with them in the first place.

may not be able to do it on the cheap, and used, unless someone hated it .

Or got it for a trip, finished the trip and is reselling it..

Surly LHT Disc, people like theirs ,
just get the money together, and buy one, new, from a bike shop.

Thanks fietsbob. I guess I don't really need disc brakes, but you're right.. if I decide that's what I want then I should definitely just buy a frame/complete with disc brakes.

How does this bike look to you for a full beginners set-up??

Thanks everyone for helping!