Free: Contests & Raffles.
Your local bike shop is a great place to get info- just like a local sporting goods store those are people who live their hobby.As far as online sources of info, I have been a member of bikeforums.com for over 10 years and is a wealth of information. For your needs, I would take a look at the touring section. Careful on there though...imagine hunt-wa but instead full of cyclists. I'm also a few years behind the curve on tech, but I worked a couple years in a bike shop and would be happy to offer any info if you have specific questions.
Was checking out Rad Rover, not quite as expensive as the others.