I'll roll another curve ball at your guys seeing that some discussion is centring on bike weights.

Go fixed gear or single speed. You save the weight of the shifters, convert the handlebars to bullhorns and use bar-end brake levers, there are no derailleur and cable weights. I've got no idea right now how much weigh that would save, but a pound or two, I would imagine.

FG touring is great fun (I've done it in Northern Europe with a relatively light load).

I noted in a thread in the Long Distance Forum that I am considering this route with a cheap but not Chinese CF frame when I get back to Australia.