You actually can tour on a faster road bike if you can pare down the load, and if comfort is secondary to speed. One 2000 mile trip on a road bike convinced me that wasn't the best idea for me, but it works for others. I know a guy (in his seventies) who tours extensively on a CF frame while carrying minimal gear in a small backpack.
Last edited by andrewclaus; 08-02-20 at 01:51 PM.