Re:
If I needed to carry that much, I'd hire a car.
Seriously though, I want to keep the whole thing fairly light so that it doesn't feel like I'm pedalling a freight train. Not having 4 large panniers forces you to keep things to a minimum.
I've done a bit of backpacking in the past, and if you have a large 65 litre rucksack, it's tempting to fill it and then have a miserable time lugging it around. Whereas, if you have a 40 litre rucksack, you'll take what you can fit in it and make do, even if it means doing a bit of laundry during your trip.
Modern synthetic clothes are really good, they hold so little moisture and dry really quickly. At a pinch you can put them on damp and they'll dry while you wear them.
If I needed to carry that much, I'd hire a car.
Seriously though, I want to keep the whole thing fairly light so that it doesn't feel like I'm pedalling a freight train. Not having 4 large panniers forces you to keep things to a minimum.
I've done a bit of backpacking in the past, and if you have a large 65 litre rucksack, it's tempting to fill it and then have a miserable time lugging it around. Whereas, if you have a 40 litre rucksack, you'll take what you can fit in it and make do, even if it means doing a bit of laundry during your trip.
Modern synthetic clothes are really good, they hold so little moisture and dry really quickly. At a pinch you can put them on damp and they'll dry while you wear them.