I have tried both the Volpe and the Axis -- and took the Axis home. Mind you, I bought it primarily for commuting and also harbored wild thoughts of actually trying cyclocross (I actually really want to) -- so I'm sure my needs and criteria were different from yours.

My two cents, though, are that the Axis is lighter and snappier -- the aluminum is noticeably stiffer while not seeming much harsher because of the wide tires, and I believe there's nearly a four to five lb difference between the bikes, which I definitely felt.

What really stood out though -- aside from the Axis feeling much "faster" and accelerating more responsively -- was that it has zippier handling -- it's quick but stable, it wants to dive into corners, it makes you feel like a better rider. At the same time I was testing cross bikes for me, I was "helping" my boyfriend test carbon bikes (Trek Madone, Cervelo R3, Cannondale Six13, other bikes way out of my price range) -- and the Axis had some of the handling characteristics that made the best of those bikes stand out from the rest, while the Volpe felt pretty pedestrian by comparison. And I went in wanting steel, and just tried the Axis on a lark, as due diligence.

They're both very comfortable bikes (for me at least). And while I was skeptical of the low-low gearing at first, it's actually nice when riding with a heavy pack as I often do.

Again, though, I'm not offering an opinion on the merits of either bike as a touring bike -- just on their respective ride differences.

Hope it's a little helpful -- if you decide either of these will suit your needs I would definitely recommend riding both.