New build: on- and off-road touring

Hey everyone, first of all thank you for keeping this resourceful website going. It's massive.

I am Alberto, italian based in Amsterdam, student making a living as a bicycle mechanic.

Down to the point. I am thinking about a bike trip for next summer. Still don't know where to, but I know I would like it to be fast, lightweight and to involve some road cycling as well as some dirt trails. Mixing civilization and wilderness.

Steel, hand-built frame and fork might appear through a sponsorship by a young frame builder (will be able to say more when things get real). I am asking you guys some creativity. Which components would you throw in, which:

• are tough
  
• are cheap(ish)
  
• allow you to cycle both a road and a dirt track at a reasonably high pace
  
  

I currently own a 1994 Giant Cadex full Shimano 105. Wondering about recycling? Second hand stuff advice is very much appreciated.

I will keep you posted through time if you're interested.

thank you, and ride in peace (or anger)

Have a look through some of @Hulsroy s projects and postings. He's an aspiring danish frame builder with a taste for cyclocross and touring. He has done a lot of research and development on componentry, geometry, racks and stuff. Everything on the cheap.

loaded touring? steep mountains?

i'd go soma saga (disc version, so you can have a hydro converter and disk brakes), shimano 5703 triple group, slx 9speed rear derailleur, some racks.. and you are set. every small bike shop no matter how hidden should have shimano components, so it is serviceable. second hand parts shouldn't be to expensive and you've got an integrated chainset + mtb rear mech for toughness, hydraulic disks for stopping packed up and a frame that has everything

Thank y'all!

@drøn thanks for posting, his work is inspiring. Didn't manage to get into the specifics of the componentry he uses though..

@hma touring will be very lightly packed. I travel without a tent and my kit is really stripped to the minimum. I will try to fit everything into a handlebar bag and a saddle bag. Steep mountains, yeah, probably. The most recent idea is to travel from Bastia (Corse) to Cagliari (Sardinia). Corsica is pretty tough I heard. As I posted, frame is already chosen. Aren't all these gears too much? (weight, choice..)