I ride a Felt V100 for daily commuting. I'm gearing up fort first tour (trying to acquire enough gear to get me started for shorter, 3-4 day tours) and not wanting to buy a second touring bike just yet, I'm wondering how much weight I can put on my current bike.

Felt Bicycles | V100

It has a rear rack but doesn't appear to have mounts for a front rack. Is that because the fork is too light to handle the load? Any other advice about loading this bike with gear? I know the V100 isn't a touring bike--aggressive geometry, a shorter chainstay, less than ideal gearing but it does have 3-position handlebars and gravel tires and I'm just wondering if it would make more sense to convert this bike into a touring bike or start from scratch. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have a bike with shorter chainstays and use an Axiom Streamliner rack that uses the QRs for the lower mount. It goes towards the rear and minimizes heel strike. The model for disc brakes has is wider at the top and actually be better than the one that I am happy with.

Fork tip eyelet is OK for Mudguards (I personally wont advise a Rack on a Carbon Fork)

Look at nun's Bike here https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/99...-couple-s.html NO racks are really Needed if you Pack Light.


Want to run a 4 pannier Rig with racks ? N+1 look for another bike and shop from the rack mounts outward ..

Get 1 Steel Trek 520 D and it should last for decades of loaded tours.. 520 - Trek Bicycle

Thanks for your input! I think I will start with a simple setup, maybe two large panniers and a handlebar bag and pack light. I'd love to invest in a good touring bike but want to hold off until I get some experience to inform my purchase. I also have limited bike storage in my small apartment.

Toured on my Felt F-80.

Nother tour.

Nice setup! Just curious--what's the max weight you can put on the rear rack before handling really falls off and you feel it's too much for the frame?

I'm thinking of distributing gear like this but worried it's too much weight on the back and/or I'm overestimating how much storage I will have. I also have rather large feet and probably need to be careful about going too large with the rear panniers.

Handlebar Bag
Snacks
Usb Battery
Bike Lights
Flashlight
Sunglasses
Ipad Mini
Maps
Wallet, etc.

Mounted to Frame
2 Bottles in Cages
iPhone
Micropump

Saddle Bag
Tubes
Tools
Foldable Tire
Patch Kit

Back Left Large Pannier
Ultralight 2-Person Tent w/footprint
Ultralight Sleeping Bag

Back Right Large Pannier
2-3 changes of clothes
Food
Toiletries
First Aid Kit

Top of Rear Rack
Lightweight Sleeping Pad

Down the road, I would love to add a small cooking kit as well as a dslr and laptop but that may be beyond the limit of what I could carry on this bike.