Its nice to see a Raleigh touring bike on the market. The gearing question seems to be an ongoing issue on this site. If you use the bike as a commuter/touring bike an ideal setup is hard to fathom. Try the stock gearing, ....should be perfect for commuting and flatland touring. For loaded touring switch out the 30 ring for a 26 and you are good to go. Yes it would be nice to have mid fork eyelets but most front racks come with the necessary, rubberized clamps to provide a clean and supportive setup. Enjoy your bike, only you can determine what works for you.
Hockey
