(above) Rene Herse: I read Bicycle Quarterly for free at my local library; full-page Rene Herse ads (same company) are quite prominent.

Gear inches: A blog online, crazyguyonabike, tours worldwide on a BF NWT, started in the low 20"s and later upgraded to 15" for the steepest areas he traversed. Also upgraded to disc brakes, trandem fork, and heavier rear triangle, I don't think he had any failures, but while he was upgrading to discs, he figured might as well go heavier duty. But his loads and most especially his weight (slender) were not at all unusual for loaded touring NWTs.