In reply to andy:
I've been running a Cotic Escapade (new one with wider dropouts) and I can honestly say it's the most fun bike I've owned. I run it as follows:
Suntour 11-46 10 speed cassette
42 tooth no drop Superstar components chainring on old middleburn cranks
Bar end shifter although this needs replacing with a Microshift unit as they do an MTB 10 speed which you can run shimano with.
Shimano 10 speed XT shadow rear derailleur.
Gusset Flat pedals
29er wheels (bought from Cotic) wit generic but good quality hubs and WTB rims
anything between 25mm slicks to Schwalbe Sam smarts, 1/75" front and back although I should be running smaller on the back - I had to take off the side knobs to get it to fit!
On One midge bar although I'd rather have Salsa Cowchippers
Tektro brake levers and Shimano Alivo mechanical discs.
The only thing I would change is the shifter, maybe drop two teeth off the chainring and change the brakes to Juin cable pull hydro units. Other than that it's my perfect bike. Build it yourself and it'll come in around 1500 with the hydro brakes. The advantage of the bar end shifter is that when you tweek your derailleuer or it get clogged with mud it still works fine.