Re: commuting and touring on a Lightning Phantom

>Does anybody use a Lightning Phantom as a commuting or loaded touring
bike? How do you have it set up? Is it very stable with a heavy load?
.....Jeff. I have done a hell of a lot of touring on a P-38. It's excellent for touring. 
I put the tent and poles  in the space frame (area in front of the seat to the head tube). 
You could tie your tent on the single tube frame on the Phantom in the same way.  
 This puts some of the weight forward. 

I built a narrow luggage rack on the back for the panniers (to fit inside the F-40 shell - also a terrific way to
tour). The  P-38 seat struts are only 2 inches apart at the back of the seat brace. The panniers can actually
lay outside those struts. Not sure how the Phantom struts look like. 

Above the panniers I carried things like  the sleeping bag, rain gear, ground cloth (for the tent) and a small
self inflating air mattress. 

In the triangular space between the front of the panniers and the frame of the seat I tied small stuff bags (to
the frame) to carry things like dress shoes and any extras.  

The stability of the bike was not impaired with all this added. 
I would think the large diameter single tube Phantom would do the same.  

I hope you put fenders on it. 

John Tetz 
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