The 2009 Trek 520, shipping later this month, has an MSRP of $1319.99, but you should be able to find it under $1200. It already has the lower gearing you need for loaded hilly touring (48/36/26), so it would probably require no swap. The 2009 also comes with fenders (well, half fenders), which the 2006 did not. Other than that, it's much the same. So if the 2006 doesn't fit, you might consider spending a bit more for a 2009. The 2009 comes in centimeter sizes: 48, 51, 54, 57, 60.