Cannondale CAAD 8 Ultralight Touring Bike.

It's none of my business of course, but this just seems an idiosyncratic choice of bike for the job at hand. I generally applaud idiosyncrasies in bike choice but this seems a bit left field for the sake of it.

You seem to be looking for logic in the decisions of Scoble. Basic LFGSS error ;)

Neither is this (slightly more suited thought), but it work;

Why not? Mike has explained very clearly exactly why it is: he broke alu and steel frames, and the carbon gives durability and comfort.

That's the biggest problem you have with choosing an aluminium race worthy frame for touring, it just isn't going to be that comfortable. You're going to have to make changes/compromises or whatever you want to call them, as christianSpaceman points out, to make it comfortable.

You may like to hold out for the HED Ardennes+ .. supposed to be a 25mm wide rim 21mm inner weighing in at 435g when it's released

Will wait for that one, cheer.

I thought Ardennes were too pricey for you?!

Alternatively, instead of waiting for the not doubt more expensive Ardennes+ to come out, why not just buy a set of the Ardennes Hope SE while they are crazy cheap?

http://www.hedwheels.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HopeArd

Also, what is this about? Why not?

Obviously HED being HED, it's pretty much a straighforward choice, the only downside is that the spokes aren't as easily replacable.