Originally Posted by
mstateglfr
Basically, you picked an outlier model and year(and I didnt think the year you mention is correct, but that isnt critical to the discussion). Univega, Nishiki, Bridgestone, Panasonic, Lotus, Schwinn, Cannondale, Miyata and more all used longer chainstays for touring bikes.
I made this chart from the 1990 Trek catalog awhile ago when I was curious about the difference between the 520 and 750/790 of that year. E is the chainstay measurement. 1990 was also the first year they went to 700c (I have one).
The head tube angles are different between the two categories, at least the ones I have been comparing, so I agree with you there. My whole point is that there is a lot of overlap in the categories used by marketing, which I think you are saying, so we are also in agreement.