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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: College Park, MD
Posts: 232
Bikes: Cyclocross tourer, Redline Monofixie, Lemond Buenos Aires, surly KM, haro x3
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ergon grips with bar ends would help solve your hand position problems. they do a lot to alleviate ulnar nerve compression.
your crankset is probably fine. i would look into upgrading the bottom bracket though.
if you are cash strapped, forget the brooks saddle and only upgrade the rear wheel. A stock 7.3fx should be able to make it across the country. I've seen a bone-stock 7100 multitrack make it. Think long and hard about what you need and what you want -- keeping in mind a buying a quick to set up tent, comfortable, light, compressible sleeping bag, and nice sleeping mat will improve the quality of your trip more than going from lx to xt or from a perfectly good traditional saddle to a brooks.