re the gearing, cost me $11 for a 13-26 8-speed cluster to replace the insane 11-34t that came on my hybrid, and the local shop charged me $5 to install it when I brought them the naked wheel. 48:13 is plenty tall enough of a gear (ok, I'm spun out going down a steep hill at 35mph) and 28:26 is plenty low enough for me to climb my fatt butt up back that same hill (I live on it)

I do hope eventually to find a 48-36-26 front to replace my 48-38-28, mostly for weight and rigidity, stock crankset is a cheap shimano M191, and has a riveted steel chainrings), but also for looks (M191 is fugly cheap looking).

re: discs vs rim brakes in the rain... long as you have good brake pads, rim brakes work just fine in the rain, just remember to lightly apply them every couple minutes or right after going through a deep puddle to keep the rim semi dry, or you'll have a 1 full wheel turn delay before maximum braking (which is about 6 feet). keep your rims clean of rubber build up and such, and your brake well adjusted. disks are great on a fat tire knobby bike in the dirt, coming down a steep hill in mud and muck, but IMHO total overkill for a 700x35-ish hybrid wheel. disks require the bike to have much stiffer forks and chainstays which ruin the ride and are heavier.