Originally Posted by gpsblake

Yup, touring is 90 percent mental. It doesn't matter if you tour on a $5,000 bike or a $100 bike like I did, it's all about the experience. Touring can be great and there are days when touring isn't (like riding in wind and rain). It's not going to matter if the bike is a Trek or a Giant or a Schwinn etc when you actually start touring.

I think the idea is just do it and stop worrying about the "right size of tire", "right bike" etc . Just do it.