Alright, hoping I can shed some light from both sides. I sell both Surly and Jamis. I sell a ton of Long Haul Truckers and a ton of Jamis Aurora's. They are both basically the same frame material, chromoly steel. Surly buys one person's version and Jamis another person's version. Same steel properties though. Both cheap, but ride amazingly well.

Geometry is where it makes it's mark. The LHT has a lower bottom bracket and a longer wheelbase. This makes the bike more stable, but slower in handling. The ride of the Aurora feels the same, just with sportier abilities. It sits higher so can corner harder while pedaling. The Long Haul Trucker, on the other hand, cannot corner too fast while pedaling, but at the same time, feels like you couldn't tip the thing over even if you were trying to do so. It wants to stay upright and stable, that's what it's designed for.

The LHT feels great when cruising and not getting to the point of huffing and puffing. The Aurora feels a little better when you are giving it a little more.

As far as cult followings, I like them both. Both companies just enjoy riding their bikes, which is why Jamis still sells so many steel frames. Everyone knows Surly likes to have fun and ride, so do the people I have met from Jamis. Basically, after hanging out with the people from Jamis I would not think they would question me drinking wine while riding an Aurora on a tour any more than Surly. And we all know Surly wouldn't question it.

Personally, I ride a LHT, and this is the point where I will get passionate about why. I like the 26" wheels. Never have I been stopped by a gravel road anywhere, or even going through grass fields just to see whats at the top of the hill. A few days ago I was riding 20 mph on an unloaded LHT on a gravel road downhill and felt way too comfortable for my own good. From my rides on an Aurora, I wouldn't feel so stable sitting an inch higher with an inch less of wheelbase and a skinnier tire. While I could cruise a little faster, that is none of my concern. I want to go wherever, whenever, and try to run over turkeys only to learn that they can actually fly very well when they are scared.

As far as the Surly cult, I think their following has to do more with their emphasis on the fun of riding and nothing else. They design their bikes for as many uses as possible as long as that use doesn't include getting too serious about anything. Someone said that they are overpriced and I see that as ignorance. Their frames are $400, and I would pay that for the ride even they actually only cost $100 to manufacture. Surly has got something going for them and I would be willing to support their ideas and future influence on the cycling world. But their frames are worth every penny, just to be clear.

I think it is important to be proud of what you ride, and feel that you are using the product how the person who designed it intends. It is almost a way to feel like you are thanking them for their product, and if you ever run into the person who designed it, you want to know that they would be excited to know how you were using it. Like I already said, both Jamis and Surly would be happy that you were using it for however you wanted. The only other thing I will say about it is buying a Surly kind of gives you the feeling that you should have more fun riding than you used to, simply because we have seen all the things Surly themself does with them...you almost have the feeling of trying to live up to the expectations from the company. The Aurora can do the same things, there just aren't those expectations.

For commuting or group rides I would probably have chosen the Aurora. But for doing anything that I could possibly have, or want to do, albeit it a little slower, I chose the LHT.

Hope that helps. And it was fun to write anyway.