Originally Posted by
Steve B.
It's not the frame, though a carbon "racing" bike might have insufficient low gearing to get the rider plus a load through Pennsylvania, it's really all about the wheels. I'd want a 32 spoke, double butted hand built wheel set as minimum. And I would not want to carry the load I'd put on a real touring bike.
Mines a triple with a nice range gearing for hills. Also the wheels are hand built with double butted spokes but they are 28 hole (I would agree that more is better, it’s just the rims that came with the bike). I’m doing lightweight bike packing. Less than 20lbs of gear. I weigh 150lbs so I don’t think the bike will be stressed much