Suggestions on a Touring bike for a ride from Ca to ID...?

I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and have owned both a Cannondale BT 1000 road/touring bike, and a Trek 930 mountain bike. Both frames have busted after 15 years due to fatigue.

Because of winters, rough roads, and gravel on highways, the best choice for a 1st bike, even for touring, is a mountain bike, but make sure the it will fit front and back racks and fenders no problem. I used 20 patches and blew a tire on a 1000 km trip through the Rockies with my touring bike because of the weight and the gravel on the roads. The road bike has quicker acceleration on the road, but the mountain bikes tougher wheels and more stable geometry make it a better all round choice. Road bike wheels get more flats and need more truing.

For these reasons my next bike will be a mountain bike, and probably a fold-up mountain bike because then you can take it on any bus or in any car without using a box. I have never ridden a fold-up bike, but Danon makes a lot of fold-up bikes, including ful-size moutain bikes.

Make sure you get 2 quick release wheels. You will rip yourself off if you don't, so avoid going to a department store. Sealed cartridge bearings are a good value too. I had them in my Cannondale's hubs, and never did an overhaul or even an adjustment in 15 years, and they were smooth. Amazing compared to my Trek 930 mountain hubs which needed to be overhauled every few years.

I wouldn't get hung up on brands. You generally get what you pay for regardless of the brand for up to about $1000. After that, you may be paying for luxuries and the risk of bike theft makes it not worth it.

You should buy a good U-lock and engrave your driver's license # on the frame and all components as soon as you get a new bike. Nobody likes defacing their property, but I've heard all the stories, and relying on an easily losable serial # hidden on the bottom of the frame is not going to help enough. The St. Albert, Alberta Neighborhood Watch program in Canada has created www.propertyregistry.com to register all property. Follow my links below for bike security information.

CA to ID? i can hardly ride for like 4 blocks up-hill

I tour on my Specialized tricross.

Specialized Globe City
fenders, racks, good geometry, good ride, maintanace friendly

A Trek 520 is a great touring bike for the money. They aren't particularly popular but among the touring crowd they are. Steel frame seems to be the key with touring bikes. Very strong and you really can't beat the ride of a steel frame (plus a longer wheelbase). Check one out. You'll probably buy one. There are others out there that are just as good (some better) but the Trek 520 is the most popular from what people have told me and they get the job done.