"A touring frame has a more ""relaxed"" geometry than a road frame so you tend to be a little more upright and comfortable. Also, a touring frame is built to accept wider tires, which will smooth out rough roads better than thin, high-pressure tires (and will be a little more stable). Touring frames tend to be steel, which many people find to be a more comfortable ride than, say, aluminum. However, touring bikes are not built for speed (not necessarily a bad thing, just something to keep in mind).

All that being said, the single most important factor in being comfortable on a bike is getting one that fits you properly. I used to have a carbon fiber road bike that I thought was the cat's meow. But I wanted to do loaded touring, so I eventually bought a custom steel touring bike. From the first time I rode it, I knew I would never ride the carbon bike again because I realized it didn't fit me and I had always been riding in pain. Having a properly fitted bike enabled me to ride faster, even though the touring frame should have been slower than the road frame. (Not that you have to go custom - just make sure the bike shop spends the time to fit you right. If something doesn't feel comfortable, go back and have them tweek it until it does.)"