Cyclocross Bike as a Touring Bike

[Dean]

I am fairly new to touring and have been using an old mountain bike (no suspension, 1 1/8 slicks), which works OK, but is heavy and lacks varied hand positions. I am considering a cyclocross bike as a combination touring, early season and travel bike (geared to my specs). I am not a hard core tourist. Any thoughts, as long as the chain stays are long enough. The bike I am looking at (Trek XO1) does NOT have a higher bottom bracket than a Trek 520 touring bike.

[OmahaNeb]

You could use a bike trailer (B.O.B.) and avoid any concerns about pannier issues.  This way you can have a bike that is meeting your needs for the things you will be doing most of the time with your bike.  From a cost standpoint, good quality front & rear panniers and racks, will cost the same as a trailer.

[wanderingwheel]

A cyclocross bike will do just fine as a light-duty tour bike.  You may have to do some jerry-rigging to get racks on it if there are no braze-ons, but it will still work.  The paired-spoke wheels would make me a little nervous about heavy loads, but that's the only critique I can find.

Sean

[jackkessler]

I disagree with 'Who?'.  A bob trailer is a terrible idea.  If you have too much luggage for four panniers, you have too much luggage.  Add a bob and now you have too much luggage plus a trailer.  If you are considering a bob, you should start considering whether you are bringing too much stuff.  A long trip requires no more luggage than a short one.  If you have enough gear for one day, you have enough for the next day too.

All bicycles are strong enough for touring.  The only things that needs to be stronger for touring than for going down the block are the wheels and the racks.  The issue is not whether the frame is strong enough but always whether it is comfortable enough.