the only thing i don't like about my sherpa it's sluggish when it comes to hill's >:(as long as your prepaired to take it easy and remember your on a touring bike that weigh's a bit ;)all will be rosy in the garden.
as for comfort it's brilliant ,i doubled the bartape on mine put a gel tape on first and over that i used fizik bartape very hard wearing,only last week a friend gave me a pair of 20 year old slicks( i kid you not in perfect nick )the difference is unbelivable i had only put on schwalble marathon supreams great tires but one of them split when i hit a stone on the road so a bit on the dodgy side for touring
i put shimano xt m770 groopset on mine got sjs to build me a nice set of wheels .
so all in all the sherpa is a sweet bike strong as an old mule solid as a rock hang on hang on and lighting quick on decents
but next time round i'm buying a paul villiers dream machine
cheers
jags