" butt-ugly beige"

Buck-up, ugly is traditional in LHT colors. The new black.

"I am THRILLED that Surley has figured out that not everybody who buys a bike in the US tours in the US!! "

700c is a much bigger seller, and world touring tourists isn't a very big market, and has it's name suppliers anyway, like Thorn, Miyata. Also, whatever buzz this creates, it only translates to frame sizes pretty much out to the right on the Bell curve. I wish them well, but I can see why they didn't rush into this. I'd buy one.

Spoke holders, and 26" wheels, there is something that will get worn out from all the use.