Other people knowing better than you does seem to be a constant with overland travel. I was getting it all the time when I first started over 50yrs ago and (in a slightly different context) it continues right up to the present. And almost without exception it comes from people with no experience of what you're doing and who know less than you do.

There is something to be said for taking a less valuable bike on a long trip, but it's not because a new one will stand out like a island of wealth in a sea of poverty. It's because long trips are hard on machinery, and no matter how glossy the paintwork or how careful you've been with servicing etc it'll come back looking somewhat secondhand - particularly if there's any off road riding involved. My rule of thumb way back used to be that I'd write the bike off afterwards. Its job was done. Bikes are better these days but it only takes a few spills on gravel or someone knocking it over in a car park or grit on your trousers scratching the tank (one of my recent problems) or anything like that and the shine rapidly goes. On the other hand using what you have is not a bad principle. If it's a bike you like you'll put up with niggles that would have you cursing something you bought because it seemed like a better choice but you don't get on with.

I keep hearing about piano wire strung across roads; in fact I've been hearing about it periodically for over 50yrs. Back then it was 'common' (I was told) in the more remote parts of Spain or the Balkans, but I've never come across it or heard directly from someone who has. Anyone know it as more than an 'urban' myth? I'd have thought it wouldn't be much use against slow traffic (on foot or donkeys etc) or against cars / trucks who would go straight through it, so only bicycles, horses (if going fast enough) or motorcycles. That seems a bit of a specialist target down some random back road.