Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,798
Likes: 1
From: Highland Park, NJ, USA
Bikes: "Hildy", a Novara Randonee touring bike; a 16-speed Bike Friday Tikit; and a Specialized Stumpjumper frame-based built-up MTB, now serving as the kid-carrier, grocery-getter.
I think the front rack on the Fargo is meant to support a bag rather than hold pannier-style sidebags, no?
Yeah, 29" tires would be hard to replace on-tour. A 29" MTB touring frame would be great for a two or three-day rail-trail camping tour, but at a lower price point. The Novara Safari would be a much better choice for this kind of a tour, let along NZ.
Let's go there. Has the OP seriously considered a 26" frame? (Did I miss it skimming through the thread?)