I know this will just add to your problems but you might want to consider the Cannondale T800. I'm nearly as big as you and I used to ride a steel frame. Add the load of gear you need for touring and you can overwelm a steel frame pretty quickly. They ride nice without a load but loaded up mine tended to develop a high speed shimmy which it doesn't have unloaded. I also couldn't stand up to pedal because the bike tended to "noodle" down the road under load. The Cannondale is stiff as all get out unloaded but it is real smooth and stable with a load, even at high speeds and while standing. I can throw it around like a race bike under load without problems.