ok, yup I'm calming down. I Just met with my LBS, and we are going 48-39-22 on the front, and 11-34 on the back. this gives a high end of 117.8 gear inches, and a low of 17.5 running 770c 32's and a 172.5 crank. nice and low at the bottom, still have some top. it looks like I'll be on the middle ring most of the time, which is fine.

seems to me to be big drop between middle and small chainrings tho.
comments appreciated?

OK ok, no trailer. thats settled.

decided on Large Mountain Panniers on the back,
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FLMP
regular Mountain Pannier on the front
http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMP
bringing the rain covers.

brooks b17. i've got about 60 miles on it so unfortunately its not broken in.

what about fenders on the bike. i expect some rain. maybe a lot this time of year. things get pretty messy on the road rides I've done with no fenders. nasty. shoes get pretty wet too.

thanks for all the help - feel the open issues are controllable now. I'll try to stop obsessing. its just that to make a proper shakedown trip, I need the bike together by thursday.