Originally Posted by well biked

In the near future, or maybe already available, SRAM and Shimano both will offer reasonably priced (less than $100 retail) 10 speed "mountain" cassettes in configurations like 11 x 32, 11 x 34, 11 x 36, etc. One of these cassettes, a mtb rear derailleur and a longer chain will be the necessary items to convert to much lower gearing for 10 speed drivetrains. I expect stock 10 speed touring bikes with real touring gear ratios to be fairly common by 2011. Not that tourists need ten cogs, and not that 8 and 9 nine speed chains aren't more durable, but with these new offerings, that's the nature of the industry.