Cross-USA touring bike choices

[CastAStone]

Thanks everyone for your input and I would definitely appreciate more if anyone has any other thoughts on the matter. My plan going forward is to use the 7.3, buy inexpensive drop handlebars, new brake levers (mine are integrated and new ones are like $12), buy the DA 9sp bar-ends, and buy the cassette (I want indexing and the PC-970 is only $34.99 at Performance right now) and of course a 9 speed chain.

As for the wheels, I'll buy some emergency spokes and get the wheels trued when I get my bike rebuilt in Oregon (shipping from Ohio) Any suggestions for bike shops at the start of the Louis and Clark trail? My Bontragers are 2009, so I don't know if that's past the problem years or not, but I used to weigh 50 pounds more than I do now and I broke just 1 spoke at that weight, which seems okay to me; that's the weight I'll probably be touring at once its loaded up. If I run into any real problems, I can just buy a new wheel somewhere, right? I assume that I'm never more than a day or two from a bike store and I'm touring with a friend if my bike becomes inoperable.

Thank you again everyone and please chime in if you have any more thoughts!

[Moondoggy]

You where going to spend $1000 and now your spending $200 to up grade your old bike right? You have $800 to play with to get a good set of wheels. Next to the frame, the most important part of the bike imo

[CastAStone]

You where going to spend $1000 and now your spending $200 to up grade your old bike right? You have $800 to play with to get a good set of wheels. Next to the frame, the most important part of the bike imo

I wish I had $800 to play with for the wheels. More like $200, and that's a maybe. Between the brake levers, cassette, chainrings, Rear Derailer, Stem, Handlebars, shifters, front derailer, grip tape, cables and chain, I'm at about $430, and that's after getting a great deal on a stem taken off of a floor bike and a "New" 2007 SRAM 9.0 FD ($40 total). I still want to add a tuneup to that before I go, which is another $100. If I wanted to spend $1000 I'd have bought the 520.

Unless you all are sure they're unsuitable I'm gonna go with the stock Bontrager Nebula rims and Altus hubs...I know they're not flashy but durability wise, I assume hubs are hubs, the Nebula rims are double walled and supposed to be commuter rims, and my Bontrager Hardcase tires are bulletproof. I'll get them trued before I go.

[whittierider]

You can get a pair of wheels from Peter White Cycles that's made specifically for your purpose and is outstanding in strength and durability for around $400, with Ultegra hubs.  They'll be much stronger than most of the boutique wheels without being heavy.  I and my family have bought a half-dozen of them and they've been totally trouble-free, unlike the half-dozen Bontragers we had which all broke down in just a few thousand miles, mostly cracking rims but a few also having hub problems.

[rvklassen]

If I run into any real problems, I can just buy a new wheel somewhere, right? I assume that I'm never more than a day or two from a bike store and I'm touring with a friend if my bike becomes inoperable.

My advice, if you run into trouble, is that since wheel failures tend not to be catastrophic but more in the line of causing one to gradually lose confidence, is that you order a fresh wheel from the aforementioned Peter White.   You order from him by calling on the 'phone.  So you can get a firm estimate of lead time.  Then you have the wheel sent somewhere you'll be in that many days.  Meantime you should still be able to travel.