Thanks for your help so far everyone. In response:

1) I really like the CD coating with rim brakes when it gets wet. I only weigh 65kg, and travel really light (I travelled for 4 months out of a 15 litre daypack) Couldn't imagine i'd need more than 20-25kg of stuff, tent, camping gear and 3-4 litres of water included. I might go for a heavier rim on the rear.

2) Nothing against brifters. Trying to keep it light and simple, and save a bit of cash. I road race, and I feel pretty bad everytime I ditch it in a criterium and kill a $300-400 set of levers. It's not like i'll be needing to slam it into the 11t coming onto a straight. Simple = better.

3) Probably just use external bb cranks. They're fine, last a long time, I'm not gonna take a bb puller with me, nor a spare ST BB, but a small alloy external BB tool should pack pretty easily.

4) Thanks for the link to the book on bears. The idea of them scares me a lot, I guess.

Next question:

V-brakes or canti's? discuss please. Canti's just seem like outmoded technology, v-brakes somewhat less so, especially to me, having mostly ridden disc brake bikes. Other than being retro-tastic, why don't more people use v-brakes?