Credit Card or Self-contained touring and my budget

[Nyimbo]

My low gearing 26x26 is fine on everything I ride here at home. (Live in the Sierra Nevada Foothills) but from my reading of the journals I'll be happier with something extra on the east coast.  I took my bike in this morning to my bike store.  Mechanic said he will swap my 11/26 cassette with a 11/34 for $34 plus a bit for installing  and I can watch.

Bobby I'm Not interested in camping without a sleeping pad.  I am interested in trying to keep it light especially if I try to use the Trek FX but not without pad and pillow.

I google searched touring with Trek Fx and the bikeforums discussion I found seemed to feel strongly that the Trek FX spokes were not up to the challenge but I'm not sure of the posters expertise - but maybe I shouldn't???


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[bobbys beard]

If you're worried about the spokes, then change the wheels. but before you do, why not go out for a few rides fully loaded and see for yourself if they're up to the job?  I bet they're fine.

I ride my giant escape with as much load as my old surly LHT and it has never looked like breaking. And the same with a Claud butler urban hybrid, which was a really terrible bike, but never broke under weight.

My advice is go out and test people's theories and then you can base your decision on your own experience

[RussSeaton]

My low gearing 26x26 is fine on everything I ride here at home. (Live in the Sierra Nevada Foothills)  I took my bike in this morning to my bike store.  Mechanic said he will swap my 11/26 cassette with a 11/34 for $34 plus a bit for installing

While you are getting your rear cassette replaced, have the mechanic look at changing the inner chainring on the crankset.  There is no reason to have an inner chainring that is bigger than the absolute minimum.

[Pat Lamb]

I google searched touring with Trek Fx and the bikeforums discussion I found seemed to feel strongly that the Trek FX spokes were not up to the challenge but I'm not sure of the posters expertise - but maybe I shouldn't???

If that's the one with 24 spokes per wheel, I'd be concerned about loading it up.  If you're touring with a full load, you'll probably want 32 spoke wheels.  Lower than that, and you'll see how fatigue affects spoke life.  The wheels might be OK for a couple of weekend trips, and then start breaking 100 miles from the nearest bike shop.