Originally Posted by zoopants
So it looks like the LHT will take v brakes without too much hassle?
Also the xtr crank is just straight MTB gearing. Is this normal/preferred for long tours?
I remember being short of gears on the downhills or even flats and wished for more.
But at the same time, on the ups all I wanted was a smaller gear
Nashbar has a 'tour specific' crank thats 28-38-48. That sounds good, but who knows...
Anyone with more gearing advice?
Right. As long as the frame has the correct bosses, as has the LHT, they should work fine. Some may argue this, but the better end linears provide for much stronger braking, which I feel is necessary when trying to stop a fully loaded touring bike.
MTB gearing seems to be the preferred components to use. This is so because they seem to allow for easier pedalling when one is travelling with a fully loaded bike that can get to be rather heavy. The rear cassette can also be an interesting thing to play with as well. My cassette is a Harris Cyclery 14 -34 9spd set up. In combination with the gearing of my front rings and the rear cassette, I can usually find a good combination that can make climbing a tad easier. However, there are the odd cycle tourists that prefer the roadie gear setup.