Carbon Touring Bike!?!

Carbon and a cross country tour are two things that are very rarely uttered in the same sentence. I came in the other day to work and there was a Cannondale Synapse carbon frame bike sitting on the wall. I asked where it came from, because I didn't remember us selling one with that groupo last year ( it was a 2011 model). They said it had been dropped off by a gentleman who was touring on it. Touring!!! I exclaimed, on a carbon bike with no rack mounts or fender eyelets!?!? I was informed that he was carrying all of his necessities in a plethora of Revelate Bags right on the frame. He had also switched out the 700x23 stock tires for some Continental 700x28 Gatorskins. A nice, smooth rolling, pretty much bombproof tire. I had not even realized that the Synapse could run a tire that wide. Well the bike got its needed repairs and was out the door, but here is what it looked like all loaded up.

  Now That is a lightweight touring rig!