I have a short torso and arms, and my Crosscheck is right on the edge for me--- lately, I've been thinking of a shorter/higher stem as an adaptation for some reduced flexibility in the 10 years since I bought it, and I built it from the frame (no cutting of the fork, unless I've forgotten something I did to it.) I think it's worth checking whether the pre-built Crosscheck comes with its fork already cut down.
I've known people who've bought the Bianchi Volpe and loved it, but I'd trust it or the Trek 520 for what you're doing. Really, anything that's had its wheels broken in and retrued, with a recent tuneup and all needed parts replaced, ought to do fine.
Unsolicited gear suggestion: If you're willing to spend on a wheel upgrade, I'd recommend building a rear wheel with a ceramic braking surface. Rustem at Quad sold me a Mavic T520 ceramic rim before I left for my tour. I was a bit leery of the extra cost, but I built it into a rear wheel with my Deore LX hub which had already seen quite a bit of use. That wheel is *still* in good shape after ~4000 miles of fully loaded touring and 6 additional years of general-purpose commuting.
What are your plans for lighting? My experience was that having a generator hub came in handy for several different days when I either got a late start or wanted to avoid horrid heat. But I also found that it was easy to recharge electrical devices at campgrounds, usually on an AC outlet near an unused RV hookup. (Peeve: campground owners who want to charge a solo bike with a tent as if you're an air-conditioned RV with 6 adults.)
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I've known people who've bought the Bianchi Volpe and loved it, but I'd trust it or the Trek 520 for what you're doing. Really, anything that's had its wheels broken in and retrued, with a recent tuneup and all needed parts replaced, ought to do fine.
Unsolicited gear suggestion: If you're willing to spend on a wheel upgrade, I'd recommend building a rear wheel with a ceramic braking surface. Rustem at Quad sold me a Mavic T520 ceramic rim before I left for my tour. I was a bit leery of the extra cost, but I built it into a rear wheel with my Deore LX hub which had already seen quite a bit of use. That wheel is *still* in good shape after ~4000 miles of fully loaded touring and 6 additional years of general-purpose commuting.
What are your plans for lighting? My experience was that having a generator hub came in handy for several different days when I either got a late start or wanted to avoid horrid heat. But I also found that it was easy to recharge electrical devices at campgrounds, usually on an AC outlet near an unused RV hookup. (Peeve: campground owners who want to charge a solo bike with a tent as if you're an air-conditioned RV with 6 adults.)