$1300 will not get you a carbon bike. It will get you a new Trek Domane AL3 which is aluminum. Carbon is usually an option on prebuilt bikes starting in the $20

$1300 will not get you a carbon bike. It will get you a new Trek Domane AL3 which is aluminum. Carbon is usually an option on prebuilt bikes starting in the $2000-$3000 range. You don't need carbon to workout or bikepack, but your comfort level increases. I love SPD, but that's because I have had my feet slip on flat pedals and seen how close I was to getting injured because of it If you're going bikepacking in a place where there's not going to be any high end mechanics then I agree that using the most common components makes sense because then anybody can help you. Although I've heard that to go bikepacking in China you need a local handler in a car following you, so I would probably just have them carry spare components there. And yeah, I don't lock my bike outside, only in groups where we can maintain eye contact with the bikes while sitting down. If I commuted by bike I would use something much much cheaper.