maximum weight

[biker_james]

I have to agree-you don't see max weights listed on touring bikes generally. My Cannondale obviously doesn't fit the "light touring" category. It's been across Canada, and a lot of short trips carrying just about everything. At the end of one tour, I weighed it out of curiousity. Bike and its load totalled 100 pounds even.
I have fairly cheap racks on it ( Axiom on the front, and maybe a Blackburn or Blackburn copy on the back) that now have 10 years of service in with no issues. OK-I did break a couple bolts on the front rack, but the racks themselves are solid. I used to worry about the wheels, especially after havind ridden hundreds of miles of broken Ontario pavement, but Mavic Rims are pretty tough ( either the old T519 or the new A719)

[Spokey]

I think any decent rim is probably ok.  I think the crucial piece is the wheel builder.  The same hub, spokes & rim in the hands of an expert seems to last forever.

That being said, back in the late 80s, I tacoed my front wheel on my 12 speed.  I bought a wheel set from Nashbar for $40.  It hasn't needed truing yet.  My daughter has it now and commutes most days in the summer from brooklyn to lower manhattan.

I've always been partial to lots of spokes.  That nashbar wheelset was a 36x40.  I've never understood why someone would buy a radial laced bike with 1/2 that number of spokes for riding around town.  I'll buy it that Lance needs that, but then if he wants a new wheel, they pull one off the roof.  We mere mortals don't have that sort of luxury.