Originally Posted by
531phile
If you want to go fast and don't need to haul so much stuff, get the Crosscheck.
If you don't mind going slower but want to haul everything and the kitchen sink, get the LHT. It has all the braze-ons like for rear rack AND front low rider rack. Putting stuff on the front and low really helps with balancing out a loaded bike. This bike is designed to handle well with a load. Long wheelbase. LOOOOONNNNGGG chainstay to help with heelstrike.
For commuting LHT is overkill. Get the Crosscheck. A more versatile bike. I've read a lot of post and Craigslist ads that say they regretted getting the LHT since it is so heavy and slow. If you were a size 14 shoe, I'd get the LHT though, with it's 18in chainstay.
People still can do a tour on a Crosscheck, You can get attachment kits to install a low rider rack, but the CC's higher bottom bracket and tighter geometry won't handle as well as the LHT under heavy load. But how many times are you going to haul 60lbs of cargo to work and back**********? This kind of riding is what the LHT was designed for.
I had my headset on a LHT myself, but it doesn't make sense to me since I don't see myself doing a self supported tour anytime soon.
If you are on the shorter side and the only LHT models that fits you come with 26" wheels. This would be another good reason to get the CC. The Cross check's 700c is more versatile in this regard. You can mount a WIDE variety of fast 700 x 23, 25, 28 tires. If you wanted to get a narrow 26" tire, you would not have as many options. The meat of 26" tires is 26 x 1.5 and up. There's only a handful of options in a 26 x 1.25. Like Ritchey Tom Slicks or Specialized Fatboys. Both of which has less than stellar puncture resistance.
FYI a touring bicycle isn't "slow", but then you got that information from craigslist... Those touring bicycles still have drops and you can get significantly aerodynamic for commuting. No, I wouldn't time-trial on it, but then i wouldn't time trial on a cross-check either. An 8" DH bicycle is overkill, but a touring frame is a great commuter and in terms of versatility it is one of the bests option because of all those eyelets and designed in features for carrying your loads.
Yes 26" LHT do have less of an option for skinny tires. Saying that, cross-checks probably won't fit studded 35s and fenders and the sharper head angle and short wheel-base will make it sketchy in the snow when compared to a more relaxed and longer framed bicycle like a LHT.
I would only get a cross-check if I could fit everything i needed into a back-pack because, after slapping 20lbs on the rack I really doubt one notices the extra 1.5lbs of steel used in the LHT frame, but they might notice how well a touring frame rides loaded compared to other frames.