I'm looking to buy a new bike (budget of around £1200) for day rides of about 45-50 miles, and the occasional weekend two/three-day ride along NCN routes, etc.

The bike will need to take two loaded Karrimor rear panniers.

I currently use a Trek 7300FX (2004 model) and find it good as a hybrid, but a little 'heavy' and not particularly responsive towards the end of long days.

I'd like a bike that can be used exclusively on road to avoid the usual trade-off between touring capability against all-terrain use.

I guess I'm looking for a road bike that can also take some loaded weight. I'm looking at the Dawes Super Galaxy and some of the Thorn models.

Any advice regarding these - and indeed other models that fit my requirements - will be gratefully received!

the dawes seems to have a pretty good rep, i was going to suggest that. thorn are also pretty good. if it was me though, i'd look at cannondale ones though...

Aren't the Cannondales Alu - personally I would stick to steel for touring. Email SJS with your query - they have some nice light touring bikes which will probably fit the bill. The Galaxies have a good rep too. Also look at Orbit. Trek 520 is a good tourer and considerably under budget.

The Kona Sutra is the bike to get It is designed exactly for what you are looking for.