Help me choose my next bike!
So, I've finally started biking to my other office location (7 miles one way) and love it. The converted Trek 4300 I'm currently riding looks like it's on the way to the glue factory. Both rims need to be replaced (they're out of true and the spokes are stripped) but really it's just too small for me (19.5" frame) and I want to get something faster. Here are the bikes I've zeroed in on as potential replacements:
- Surly CrossCheck (current top choice)
- Surly Long Haul Trucker
- Trek 520
- Specialized Tricross
Here's some background on me and what I'll be using said bike for:
- Height 6'2"
- Weight 380lbs
- Cycling at least 100 miles every week
- Laptop, water, and food (~10lbs) are only additional weight on bike
- In addition to daily commuting I need something I can do long distance tour rides with (rides >250 miles)
- Budget is around $1,250
Any and all information or opinions you can provide would be much appreciated. If this is any help, I also lift weights four to five days a week and lose about two pounds a week.