And, I love riding this bike. (Did I give you that impression?)
I think that comes across clearly
Glad you're getting on so well with it. Your impressions are broadly in line with my own, I see it very much as a sports tourer, somewhere between a touring bike and an Audax, maybe slightly more towards the latter. That's how I feel about
mine anyway, other riders with different bike builds may come to different conclusions. I've used it a few times for short B&B type tours, but mine isn't suitable for a camping load, even with lightweight kit (15-18kg), I'd be at the top end of (or slightly over) the recommended weight limit. That doesn't make it unusable, but it exaggerates those handling characteristics that are a pleasure unloaded and it become less of a relaxing ride. The way to see how it suits you is of course to load it up and give it a go. Look forward to hearing about it.
I sometimes tour in a group, usually a club where the riders know each other, I enjoy the social side and the shared experience, but there are compromises on the riding and the route. Mostly I tour on my own, not often for longer than a couple of weeks, more likely ten days. My solo tours are mostly about the riding, sightseeing from the saddle rather than between the rides. I'm fine with my own company for a couple of weeks, though that's probably enough for me, I'm usually glad to get home. One thing I notice is that people are more comfortable talking to a solo traveler than a group, I'm more likely to have interesting conversations with strangers when alone. We're not all the same (Thank goodness!) I know people who won't ride solo even for a day and others who love their solitude.
