The Sherpa is the derailleur version of the Raven - essentially the same frame. They are true all-purpose touring bicycles, far more than just weekend tourers, and are capable of multi-month, self-supported, touring (based on the fact that my Raven has toured like that for most of the past two years). I'm no connoisseur of bicycles but I get the feeling my Raven rides better with a load on it.