Recumbents

but then you can never really go off the beaten track on a recumbent. I just don't like the idea of giving up control of the bike but you seem set on one. Just let me have a go when you get one.

I wouldn't say set, just quite interested at the moment. I think the same thing about lack of control, although I'm sure that a seasoned user would say that they're fine for that sort of thing. Wouldn't fancy taking on some technical singletrack on one mind.

I've been looking at the Thorn tourers from SJS too, they look nice and would be well useful.

If I was touring it would be with my girlfriend so I was thinking that it would be pretty unfair to be on a recumbent anyway, being so much faster than ordinary bikes.

There are distinct disadvantages to recumbents for sure.