Touring - MInimum Chainstay length?

I am ordering a custom frame for touring and centuries. as this will be a multi-purpose frameset I am asking what would be a good chainstay length to clear panniers for loaded touring? I see some touring bikes have 45,s but I am hoping to get by with 43 or 44 . My loaded touring will be only one or two trips a year. The rest will be club rides and comuting. I am thinking of building this all off of a cyclocross frameset to bring in another element. Am I asking to much or can this reasonably be accomplished?

Rough sizing of the bike will be 54 st c to c, 56.5 tt, 172.5 cranks.
Thanks in advance.
twilli

You can figure it out if you know what rack, panniers, crank length, and shoe size you're using. Otherwise, all anybody can tell you is "more is better." Some stuff you can fudge a little -- Jandd makes a rack that extends further to the rear, letting you move the panniers back, for example. Some panniers have more curvature in the bottom/front corner to give more clearance.

Just make sure the shorter stays don't impose more inflexible limitations, like tire size or fender clearance. And keep in mind that a bike with a higher bb shell and shorter chainstays, such as a cyclocross frame, will handle differently under full load at higher speeds than a bike with a longer wheelbase and a lower center of gravity, all other things being equal. You'll have to decide whether it's an important difference.

RichC

Based on the variety of riding you've described and assuming you'll be using one bike for all of them, then I think you'd be very pleased with a 'cross frame. There's quite a selection of such frames available and I'd suggest a quality steel or ti version. Plus, I'd recommend two sets of wheels (One for touring/commuting and the other for club rides). I've got a number of bikes but my all around favorite is my 'cross bike because it does everything plenty good enough, especially with wheel changes for specific rides (This allows you to easily change gearing and tires for specific needs).

One suggestion is that many folks do long distance tours on cross bikes and in my experience, those having the most fun were hauling BOB trailers rather than messing with racks and panniers. This alternative might solve many of your concerns.

Well to make a short story long, I think trying a 'cross frame is a good idea. Good luck!