Is this the touring rig, with bar end shifters (that switch from indexed to friction at the flip of a lever? I thought that was pretty cool!)?

I don't have much more concrete information than MRSR500 (did I get that right?), but I concur with his opinion. I was shown this bike while looking for a commuter in December 2006. (Ended up with Bianchi Axis). I didn't ride it because it was heavier than I wanted (26-27ish I think?). But pretty, functional, comfortable looking geometry, steel... a nice bike. I would totally test ride it.