Originally Posted by
no1mad
Squash the touring talk for now. OP has stated he would like to do some travelling with the bike, not necessarily go touring with it. Also, touring covers a lot of different territory- we talking Credit Card, supported, or self contained? The LHT is going to be overkill for the commute and CC tours (this is assuming the OP can handle drop bars); a mtb w/ some less aggressive, but still dirt capable, tread or a dual sport should work for now.
Ultimately, it's the OP's decision. Given his uncertainity about a bunch of stuff, he really should be shopping for/at the LBS and doing test rides. We could make suggestions until the end of time, but in the end it doesn't really matter. How many times as something looked really sweet in a 2D representation on a computer screen- only to find out there's something revealed by the test ride that makes you stop and go "I ain't so sure this is the one afterall..."?
Hey there No1mad!
Listen, the LHT Deluxe can do it all! The 26er has clearance for 2.1" wide tires for god's sake! If it turns out that the OP likes the drops, the LHT Deluxe is a shoe-in! If he doesn't, then the list shrinks by at least 75-90%. If you rule out the hybrids, just a few will be remaining. Then he should at the very least, know what style he's looking for...
You can't do overkill on commutes! If Cyccomute says it's alright to ride dual suspension MTN bikes on urban commutes, then you can't possibly do overkill on any commutes. I see plenty of people commuting in downtown San Francisco with LHT's. It's like a trend or something!
Anyways, I think you're cool, guy!
