Originally Posted by
rothenfield1
Wheelset: Dyad 36H laced to XT M760 hubs. (Looking for a spoke that is strong, but not as expensive as the Alpine III)
Shifters: I was beginning to get turned around about using brifter, but the cost is well over that of barcons and levers.
Brakes: Still looking at linear pulls but concerned about rack clearance issues.
Cranks: Still looking at Sugino XD 500T & IRD QB75 BB.
Other: This is the most complicated bike I have ever had to consider. Every component seems to have its' unique issues.
A couple of points:
Alpine III might be a little more expensive but they more than make up for it in durability. I use them for touring, commuting (which is harder on equipment than tour) and mountain biking (way harder on equipment). I just don't worry about broken spokes anymore.
Cranks. You can get a Deore external bottom bracket trekking (48/36/26) crank for $90 from
Chainreaction as well as other places. That's less than the Sugino and it's a much better, i.e. easier to install, crank than the Sugino for much less. You can also run a 22 tooth inner chainwheel which gives you a much lower gear than the Sugino. It can only go down to 24 teeth.