OR!!!
I suppose the other thing I could do in order to avoid buying all sorts of new components is...
Use the SRAM Red stuff I have (compact crank, shifters, front derailleur)....but replace the rear derailleur with a SRAM mountain derailleur (probably SRAM X0) and get a SRAM 11-36 cassette. That would give me a 34 ring up front and the 36 cog in the back.
Thoughts?