Re: Planning my first tour

I don't think you have to make that big of an investment.  There are
lots of $100.00 frames that are great for touring and you can spend
your money on all the bits that will make it comfortable to ride.

If you 70's steel bike is stiff enough you can use it no problem.
Have the rear drop outs spread to hold a 7 speed rear hub and put a
triple chain ring on the front.  Even 5 lbs on the bike are not going
to make a difference.  Not having things break and having enough
gearing and good breaks will.

If you want a new bike and you can't afford a Rivendell, then a Long
Haul Trucker is worth a look (this would be a near perfect bike if it
had a threaded headset).

Gloves, shoes, shorts, helmet, glasses, tent, sleeping pad and bag,
stove, mess kit. panniers, racks, fenders, saddle are just as
important as the bike.  If you are well feed and well rested and don't
have any blisters or boils you can put up with a lot of
unpleasantness.  If things are breaking, bugs are biting, you get a
sun burn, a wheel keeps going out of true, or your hips hurt because
your sleep pad is too thin, the best bike in the world will not help.

I build my son a touring bike out of a Trek 820 that cost $100.00.
His whole setup was under $700.00 with almost half of the cost in the
sleeping gear.

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