Hi Jeffrey, I think that you have very good but expensive taste in bicycle components. The AX Lightness Orion Brake Calipers are close to top of the line in CF parts. I would pick the Zipp Bars over the 3T Vetus just because I hate straight aero bars, but they are both fairly equal in performance and price. You can't go wrong with Lew wheels ever, but I am not 100% sold on ceramic bearings. I can't comment on the Conti Olympic Tubulars....I've never ridden them, I've never even seen them, but at US$500 I don't think that there are too many non-race riders that have. The SRM Ergometer......just the piece of equipment that every rider wishes they had in their rec room for the off season, especially in colder climates.
I'm sorry that I can't help you with your questions concerning your rides in South America. Although I have been to Columbia and Venezuela, I never had the chance to ride there. Unfortunately we don't seem to have many members from South America. We did have a member from Peru(if I remember right) who went by the name Solonog, but I haven't seen any posts from him for awhile. Good luck on your rides and let us know how they went.