wade wrote:
Thank you for those suggestions. I guess I'm looking for a starting
point in looking at other bicycles. Those 2 will be a great place to
start looking at and comparing. Like I've said I'm clueless to what is
out there these days, I've been far away from any cycling for 6 years
and haven't even looked at a LBS. I'll get the phone book out and see
what LBS's are in this area where I now live.

wade

Touring bikes have not really changed in 6 years. There are a few more
higher end bikes available now. But the basic bikes are still the same
now as in 1999 as in 1989. Trek 520, Cannondale T800 and T2000, Bruce
Gordon BLT, Fuji Touring. These are all competent bikes with a proven
record. All have been in production for many years and are still in
production. If Adventure Cycling keeps a record of bikes used by its
trans america riders, these five bikes would probably cover 75% of the
riders. Some of the newer higher priced models include Independent
Fabrications touring bike, Co-Motion Americana and Northwestern,
Rivendell models, Waterford AC1900.

As others have said, if your current bike works, keep on using it.
Unless you just want a prettier bike. I'd probably go for the
Waterford in a custom model with 26" wheels.