Nope, not going with a 29er frame. It's 26inches, which I'm committed to. As for the bars... I like them. One thing that seems interesting to me is that they are not very popular in the USA, yet around the world, they are one of the most common touring options.

On that account, I was recently in Asia and am doing this build akin to what I saw many tourists using and enjoying. Seems to me that amongst third world touring, mountain bikes with disk brakes, front suspension and trekking bars are strongly represented. This goes against most advice that I receive in the States though. I met the Barkleys (link below) who are riding some rough stuff. They were on 29ers and commented about how suspension was something to strongly consider and that people on conventional 26ers with no suspension were having a very difficult time on rough stuff and that such a setup was a poor choice. Now I know that some people do ride the dirt of Central Asia on rigid forks, but I wonder if that's because they spend significant time on the tarmac more than for weight and durability reasons.

You've all got me really thinking about the drive train. The advantage of 8spd is that the chain is tougher and more replaceable? Anyone know what type of stuff is available in the "good" bike stores in cities like Urumqui, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Islamabad?

FKS, good advice all around. You're right about the Dyads being the wrong rim. Thanks for the link to the hub. I really appreciate links to good deals.


http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...ey&context=all