Test drive touring

Mariusroxana

I want to "test drive" self supported touring, and i do not want yet to go into the expense of buying a good touring bike. In addition to the financial side, if I discover touring is not for me, I do not want to end up with another useless bike in my garaj. You know what I mean, "Sell 10 year old bike with 100 miles on it!"

I am left with two options:
1. Add panniers, etc. to my old road bike. It has a good quality steel frame, and good 32 spokes wheels. The problem is that I can fit max 700x25 tires.
It has enough low speeds, and as I live in Southwestern Ontario, there are no hills around, just winds.

2. Adapt my good mountain bike: panniers, slicks, bar ends, etc. Problem with adding panniers, due to compact frame, and front suspension. May not take big panniers.

3. Buy a cheap hybrid bike /panniers etc. After test drive, keep panniers and give it away.

I intend to do just few days self supported trips not far from home. I do not mind a "low" probability of something going really bad. In extreme case I can use the best repair tool: a cell phone, and my wife can get me.

Both optios have pros and cons. I used both bikes for day long trips, but without any load. I am not able to make a decision which way to go.

Any help and opinion will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Cyclesafe

Get a BOB trailer. It is cheaper and lighter than good panniers / racks and you can use any of your bikes. That way you can tour on paved roads with your low gear road bike (25mm tires are OK if you will not run into any gravel) and tour on dirt with your mountain bike. Besides, a trailer is more aerodynamic than panniers.

BOB forum:

http://www.bobgear.com/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi

Mtnroads

Also consider buying a clean, used touring bike (Trek 520, Cannondale T800, etc) and some panniers off Ebay and give it a shot. If you like it, keep it, If you don't the bike will sell for the same or close to what you paid. Five year old touring bikes like those mentioned are $5-600 on Craigslist around here (US west coast).

cheers