Do I need a tourer or can I get away with a road bike & backpack for a week away?

Hi, my sister is cycling from Lisbon to Greece this summer and I plan on joining her for the Croatia leg - roughly 600km over 6 days. Trouble is, I don;t necessarily want a touring bike with panniers etc as I want to use the bike for racing and longer rides at home.

With that in mind, I was looking at something like this Pinarello Wiggle | Pinarello FP1 Tiagra 2011 Road Bikes

Could I use something like this with a backpack for the week or am I being unrealistic? What other options are out there for a good road/race bike with some storage options? Options and thoughts more than welcome.

cheers

Never really liked back packs as they make you sweaty etc.
Road bikes, sort of by definition, don't have rack mounts.
Touring bikes are, almost by definition, quite sturdy/heavy, so great for gentle touring rides, but not so good for roadie-ing.
I've just discovered this bike which weighs in at 9.4kgs, has rack and mudguards mounts, but despite it's slightly racy geometry has flat bars.
Stem up for touring, stem down for road riding? It's about the most versatlile bike I've ever seen. I'm thinking of getting one as a cummuter/tourer/winter trainer, although I'd want a test ride first. It had a great review in the commuting supplememt that came with Cycling Plus, and they said it would be ideal for audax events or even sportives.
It'd be a way of keeping the peace at home for me possiby - bike number reduction!
If roadie-ing comes first then you might be put off by the flat bars? I prefer flat bars for my London commute so this looks tailor made for me.
Wilier Triestina Weekend Bassano

I think it depends on what you are planning to take with you. Travel light with a small bag (like the Alpkits: http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16268&category_id=295 ) and buy things along the way and you should be fine. I travelled in New Zealand doing about 60K a day with a bag on my bag. Are you camping?

Should have mentioned that I'll be staying in B&Bs/hostels so no camping equipment needed. Shoes, underwear, toothbrush, a few tops and some other clothes and tools is the minimum I'd need so I guess this could all go in a backpack.

A good audax bike will do everything you need and more. If the pinarello you linked to above is about your budget then a higer spec audax bike could easily be had second hand. Given how light you are planning on travelling, a carradice would fit the bill as well to carry your stuff.

Have you considered titanium? It would be ideal, given your criteria. Team it with a lightweight titanium rack from Tubus, a smallish pannier, and a strong set of wheels and you're set for both light touring and commuting. For racing, remove the rack, fit some fast wheels, and you're equally well equipped.

I'd buy the road bike, but fit a beam rack and pack to the seatpost. Job done.

I only had one bike for years, it was a steel Audax bike which i set up with quite a racy position and used it for touring, training, and racing.

There is no reason why one bike won't do it all, if you choose the right frame. Get a bike with a racing geometry and rack mounts then all you need to do is strip it down to race or load it up to tour. A steel or alu frame with carbon forks can be plenty fast enough to race on and sturdy enough to tour on. I've always thought that when it comes to racing good wheels are the key so buy a pair of speedy hoops to use on race day.

check ebay and get yourself a nice steel frame then build it up with modern race parts, for the price of the Pinarello you'll get a classy bike that's unique and versatile.

...

OR do what General Lucifer said but be carful if your clamping a rack to a carbon frame or seat post.

Backpacks make me sweat and Croatia's summers are HOT.

Maybe something that sits more on your hips like a bumbag? I'm not sure if this will be big enough. I have a £10 one from Decathlon that would be about 10l. I use it pretty often to carry my entire football kit in while cycling.[

Don't clamp anything to carbon tubes, they have no lateral load bearing capability. The seat post is fine as long as it is alu or carbon wrapped alu. If it is true carbon then this is also a no, no. Sorry to spoil the fun ;-)

Buy this?

It's about your size

https://www.lfgss.com/thread82941.html

Has rack mounts and a super fun bike.

A good audax bike will do everything you need and more. If the pinarello you linked to above is about your budget then a higer spec audax bike could easily be had second hand. Given how light you are planning on travelling, a carradice would fit the bill as well to carry your stuff.

This. Definitely.

I would (and did) look at Kinesis. They have a good rep, a few on here have used them for racing, very practical.

If you're touring in the summer, you can use 28c without mudgaurds (or maybe clip-on's), plus a rack.

~~A older 105 tripple groupset: ~~

^^ cx is another option. But it sounds like you want a road bike, but also want to do touring this summer... in which case go for the thing you'll get most use from.

A older 105 tripple groupset: Campagnolo, Shimano and Sram Groupsets - Merlin Cycles[/QUOTE]

Link ng

This. Definitely.

I would (and did) look at Kinesis. They have a good rep, a few on here have used them for racing, very practical.

If you're touring in the summer, you can use 28c without mudgaurds (or maybe clip-on's), plus a rack.

A older 105 tripple groupset: Campagnolo, Shimano and Sram Groupsets - Merlin Cycles

This.

A couple front pannier bags on a small rack, together with a stuff bag strapped to the top, will give a nice amount of load capacity.

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/5789/products/kinesis-racelight-tk2-road--aduax-bike.aspx

I have been lusting after this Spa cycle Ti Audax for quite some time. If you're not camping this thing will do everything.

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p2573

BTW. I an recommend Overboard front pannier bags. Solid, waterproof, 12 Ltr,and cheap.

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/OverBoard_12_Ltr_Waterproof_Front_Wheel_Pannier_OB1076BLK/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=directory&utm_content=GBR&currency=GBP&country=GBR&SelectedBundle=171854

Combine with a barbag for snacks and valubles.

http://www.welovetech.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=364468461

read this thread http://www.lfgss.com/thread17964.html there are loads of options for touring. but for such a short tour you shouldn't need a new bike. If you're thinking of racing then get an alu something..

don't use a backpack, just get your bike, and strap a compression bag to the seat (you can do this with any bike).

alternatively you can get a heavy audax bike + carrdice + reto jersey + some old campy groupsets and join the ctc.

Maybe some more details, on what you ride now (if any) and what you would like to use the bike for after?
what type of racing ?

a) audax (ribble) ?
b) used tourer, then sell it after

Both spring to mind.

Deffo no backpacks, as anyone who cycles would say...

I'd get the Audx,cuz I'm a certain age, and at a certain age. Racks ad mudguards become attractive. ;)

You can get a similar load on a road bike. With the use of some lever bags. But you wont have anywhere to strap bulky items.

http://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm

Thanks for the response, some interesting points to dwell on.

Currently riding fixed thus the need for a new bike for this trip. I will be getting it though cycle to work scheme so second hand is off the table. I guess I don't really like the look of Audax/touring bikes and prefer something fast. As the trip is only one week whereas I'll have the bike for the next few years I might investigate the seatpost bag idea a little further - although it might look a little ridiculous.

http://bikepack.pl/

go for them, cheaper and easier way to tour, helped keep the bike feel lively without getting bogged down by panniers and rack.

I now swear by them, Scott do too;

Bikepacking gear like that is my preferred method for carrying stuff as it doesn't add to the width of the bike, doesn't rattle about like panniers often do, and is way more stable than a lot of traditionalists would have you believe.
I've had mine fully loaded with huge saddlebag, frame bag, and handlebar harness and never once felt unstable on the bike.
There is also the added benefit of being able to use the kit on pretty much any bike whether you have rack mounts or not.

edit - here's someone else "touring" bike;

Might be worth looking at the blogger who surfaced on this forum, touring east asia I think at the time. He shows his 'minimal' kit, and boy is it minimal. Maybe the 'where did I see this...?' thread could provide a link.

Regarding the Pinarello FP1, you're not being unrealistic, this is Dan's 3 days 600km "touring" set-up;

He managed pretty well with a compact and 11-25t cassette, I'd recommended a slightly wider ratios to make the most of it (11-28t), combine a proper seatbag rather than a carradice and you'll have a great bike that doesn't feel bogged down and dull as a touring bike.

http://bikepack.pl/

go for them, cheaper and easier way to tour, helped keep the bike feel lively without getting bogged down by panniers and rack.

I now swear by them.

Nice link Ed.

Osh. A modern Audax bike will feel as fast as a road bike if set up the same. It just has more clearance. But I see where yo're coming from. We all like our road bikes to look like pocket rockets ;)

Bags like those from Revalate designs, and the ones Ed linked to, will last a life time of abuse. They carry less weight than panners. But then with road bike gearing, I'd keep things lght anyway.