Andrew R Stewart 

Wes- Don't rely on only a paint top coat for best protection. That top coat (and this means clear or any color) isn't formulated to adhere to raw steel very well, it wants a proper primer to stick to. That primer might also have a rust inhibiting aspect (beyond the coating/sealing of the steel's surface). While one could use a rattle can primer and top coat care needs to be taken with the rest of the adjacent painted surfaces to prevent over spray. In this case I would be tempted to use a brush on primer and paint, with a good fine bristled brush to limit the brush strokes from showing.

On top of whatever paint you do use I would then apply a chain stay protector to further reduce the chipping that chains make.

A touring bike with Campy? Which rear der and crankset does it have. The NR components are rather limited in gear range for loaded touring. Also are the bar end shifters also Campy? If so then don't expect great shifter control with them. Lacking a movement controlling added design (ratcheted friction pack or counter sprung lever) the Campy bar ends tend to either be too tight for ease of trimming after a shift or too loose to stay put over bumps and hard efforts. The SunTour or Shimano are generally regarded as being WAY better bar end levers. Andy