Yes 🙂

Do you mean exclusionary?

If you’re building a bike to your every specification (including racks), why build it to be more versatile? I do tend to agree that mass-produced bikes (like Koga) should be constructed to accomodate all standard accessories though.

I don’t think electronic shifting is as nonsensical as you may think. I have a bunch of friends who use electronic gearing on their touring and adventure bikes because they love how impervious the system is to mud, water and grit. My friend Jesse, who rides more than any other person that I know, even has his bike wired so that his dynamo hub can charge his Di2 battery if he needs. That said, the reality is that the batteries last a really long time between charges. Would I choose a Di2 system for touring? Probably not. Should other people? Definitely, as long as they’re aware of the risks.

well looking from this perspective you could do trail tricks on road bike (Martyn Ashton – Road Bike Party on youtube) etc etc. Is it practical? Is it makes sense? Specially when you are looking to buy a new one and you can choose! In the end your book should be all about it – an information guide helping to decide what you need and what will work for you. Sorry but I don’t see much of purpose for electronic shifting on touring bike. In my opinion, on the cover should be something classical, something what proved itself over years and a little, elegant touch of now days – but – it should make sense ___on touring bike___ . Titanium frame, belt drive or something like that. But no electronic shifting nonsense.

I’m not kidding! One thing that I really like about bike touring is that it isn’t inclusionary; you can tour on any bicycle. If you want to tour with electronic gearing, you can. If you don’t want to use a Rohloff hub, you don’t have to. 😉