So, I am in the same boat as the OP right now.. I am going to build up a commuter that I might one day do some touring with. I will be starting from the frame, so how much are the ride/handling characteristics described by everyone results from the build kits and components used? I just checked the surly site and the geometries of the two frames dont seem to be very different at all... In most comparisons one measurement might be 1 degree or 1 cm longer, but that would be the most. Do those minor size differences make a big change in the ride, or is it more of the build setup that surly provides with the stock bikes?