Originally Posted by Blackberry
If you're going to be doing loaded touring, why not go with a triple chainring? It's not hard to master. It's much easier to find then the setup you're trying to put together. Any extra weight would be of little concern. And that granny gear is there for a reason.
Second this.
You may not need it now, but you'll realize that 50lbs of stuff makes those hills much bigger.
Its really nice to have a granny gear.