Hiya everyone,

Though I've been riding bikes for years and have been *thinking* about cycle touring for a long time, I've never actually been able to get out there and do it. Now that work and living circumstances are making it more feasible, I've begun planning a flexible "do-it-all" Surly Cross-Check build.

I have no interest in racing and (for now) am not ready for a Panamerican tour, though I would like to be able to handle much of what lies between those extremes. I'm thinking low front bags, a randonneur-type bar bag, and maybe a large saddle bag for fair-weather "ultralight" camping -- a few days max -- at the moment.

I've nailed down most of the components but the drivetrain is giving me a headache.

I want to use a newer 10-speed Sugino XD compact double (48-34T) with an 11-36T MTB cassette.

The Shimano parts lineup and compatibility charts are pretty confusing, but I *think* I can use a Deore "Trekking" FD (FD-T611-3) to accomodate the 48T chainring and a Deore "MTB" RD (RD-MT610-SGS) for the 36T cassette.

For cost and simplicity I like the Dia-Compe 10-speed friction shifters, but then I read about Shimano recently altering the cable pull ratios (I don't quite understand the implications, if any, for friction shifting) and I'm not sure all those parts will play nice. Does anybody have reason to believe such a setup will not work or, better yet, has anyone built/used a similar setup?

I'm not really interested in a triple or an MTB-specific crank since I will probably not be touring as often as I will be riding on the road for commuting/fitness/utility, and I'd prefer to use widely available contemporary parts (hence, 10-speed) rather than searching for NOS 9-speed bits.

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!