Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,254
Likes: 6,627
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
I would vote disc brakes and against the 520 or any Treks. The AWOL is nice but am personally not a fan of STI levers though the Comp is decently spec'd for touring minus maybe the cranks which could use some different gearing. It has a Tubus rack at the rear, Supernova lights and charger and Shimano Dynamo as well as some other great stuff.
Getting an old bike and fixing it up can be fun but I would rather go for a modern touring bike and put money into that and make it mine. If you want to build something a little nicer check out someone like Co-Motion or maybe Tout-Terrain or one of the multitudes of custom builders out there. They can build something to your exacting specifications or at least you can buy something off the peg that is pretty nice.