Originally Posted by
fmarchetti4
Thank you everyone for your useful comments. In the end, I took the bike back to the shop, and seeing that it was still in mint condition, they accepted it back and I have a Trek 520 on order. The 2008 version is an improvement over previous models, as now the BB is external. It has everything on my checklist, and you can't beat the lifetime guarantee. I also like that it is built on the same land mass as me!
I'm not familiar with the stock wheels on the 520. At the very least get them re-tensioned by a good mechanic. Consider how much you'll be carrying and what the road surfaces will be like where you intend to tour in SA. You won't be able to get replacement 700c touring rims or tires so I'd err on the side of caution with your wheels.