Originally Posted by mishathepenguin

Thanks for your input, everyone.

I'm doing my research over the net as my LBS is roadie-centric with a side business in "tuning" neglected hybrids.

All the bikes I've had (aside from my fixed and MTB) have had friction shifters, but none beyond 8-speed. Good to hear that 9-10-11 don't pose any additional problems beyond the need for finesse.

Within the touring context, are there weight ranges people generally assume when talking about "loaded" vs. "medium" vs. "light"? I intend to carry a similar load to what I hike with on foot (about 35 pounds), plus me (about 160), and the weight of the bike itself.

I've picked up on the Cross-Check because of it's adaptability. I'm not looking for a dedicated touring frame at this time; I intend to spend a not insignificant amount time riding it unloaded in the guise of a road-ish bike.

I'm not particularly dazzled by the marketing hype and have been led to 2x10 more by... chance? I've understood the (now 10-speed) Deore to be a favored workhorse and picked it accordingly. I'm not wild about triple cranks, hence 2x10. I see the general consensus is that that is not low enough. I am also in hilly New England. Perhaps the only way to get an appropriately low gear out of compact double is a too-pricey-for-me boutique item from the likes of IRD or VO.

The affordable XD 46/36/26 brings me back to 9-speed country, and hence my next question: is the current-generation Shimano 9-speed group ("Alivio") any "worse" than the Deore in terms of materials or manufacturing, since it's positioned as a "lower-end" group set? Or would a properly assembled and well-maintained bike built around those parts work just as well as another?

And thanks for the offer, robow, but I see I have some things to iron out first.