I really didn't want to go back to 5 but would have if it meant I didn't have to go through the trouble of dishing and re-spacing the wheel. its a touring bike and already has a triple so 5 on the back is pleanty.

my concerns arose when I switched the screws for the rack and the chain got stuck on the screw. I noticed how small the clearance was between the cog and the dropout.

the frame is spaced to 126 so a 6 speed is right at home on this bike.