Touring - Racks and Panniers

Looking for someone with experience with the following combo:

Arkel GT 18 (one BP one regular) Front Panniers
Arkel GT 54 Rear Panniers
Old Man Mountain AC Low Rider Front Rack
Old Man Mountain Red Rock Rear Rack
Surly Long Haul Trucker

I'm about to plunk down some serious loot and I wanted to make sure there isn't something I'm missing with the overall combination.

Thanks,

monkd

A very nice set of panniers! Make sure to get also the optional matching rain covers and shoulder straps for them.

You may also want to consider the Arkel small bar bag. I own the large one, but I don't have a front rack and panniers.

Sounds like you're going to be one very happy touring cyclist.

Ken

That's a heavy setup, and presumably you are planing on running it hard. The OMM racks have a great reputation, but the aluminum they are made of does not. Perfectly acceptible for some heavy mileage, but not up to the performance of Chromo. I'd go for the Surly racks, but they are really heavy so it's all trade-offs you may already have considered. I also like a front rack with a top ledge.

I don't see how you can go wrong with Arkels if you like complex bags, or the LHT if it fits you. There isn't any guarantee everything fits though, be aware you could have interferance, make sure you can return stuff if it doesn't fit.

Can you mount the Red Rock rack using the seatstay brazeons?

Just wondering what the pros/cons are to mounting the rear rack using the brake bosses as opposed to the standard brazeons on the Surly.

Can you mount the Red Rock rack using the seatstay brazeons?

Just wondering what the pros/cons are to mounting the rear rack using the brake bosses as opposed to the standard brazeons on the Surly.
OMM racks are generally useful for bikes with no rack bosses, utilizing axle/brake bosses instead. Some owners of the sherpa type models have reported them to be a little wobbly, perhaps due to lower mounting point and long run of flat steel stays to the brake bosses, as opposed to more rigid tubing used the horizontal run on std. racks.

OMM sherpa/cold springs racks makes no sense to me for the LHT, since you've paid for (and pedaling more weight) for a dedicated tourer, then using a slightly inferior, and in many cases, more expensive rack. For the price of OMMs, you can get Tubus or almost Surly racks. The axle mount/special skewer makes tire changes a little more troublesome and now you're carrying an odd part into the field.

OMMs are great choice for MTBs or other bikes missing rack bosses.

The red rock is a plain vanilla aluminum rack.

http://www.oldmanmountain.com/rear_rack_page.htm

I use an OMM AC lowrider (mounted with U bolts) with Arkel GT-30. I had to cut the aluminium bar so the Arkel swivel lock would turn more easily but the newer Arkels don't have the swivel lock. Nothing bad to say except it's un ugly rack when there are no panniers. I had GT-54 but they were too big/complex and changed them for T-42. I prefer simple bags in the rear for clothes/tent/pad/sleeping bags. The pockets are handy up front for smaller/denser/heavier/need-often stuff like tools and toileteries. Still, I wouldn't mind changing my GT-30 for T-28 and save a pound and a half.

If you want a backpack, I'd suggest is using smaller/simpler panniers and use a day pack on top of the rear rack. Example (http://www.borealphoto.com/articles/plein-air/velo/laurentides/0504.jpg).

EDIT: The panniers sit a little higher on the AC lowrider than on most lowrider racks. A good thing IMO.

I appreciate everyone's advice. I'm going to take a look at the surly rack and the t-42 and t-28's.

Thanks Again,

monk