Originally Posted by
headwind15
Note: All of this lower gears/ lighter bike discussion classifies as "defensive thinking". If you go to a gym and do the leg press 3 x a week, you will end up in a much better place for bike touring.
i would suggest the lower gears/lighter bike discussion classifies as "realistic thinking."
going to a gym and doing the leg pressers 3 x a week won't do squats getting you up a 10km long 8% grade with a fully loaded (50kg in four panniers) 90 gear inch fixie......nor even a 28gi gravel bike.
cut that weight in half, add in some decent gearing with a 16 or 17" low gear, and..........