Originally Posted by
evand
I am 250lb's 6'3
The only real must haves are a triple crank, relaxed geometry, drop bars and a smooth ride.
2=Surley long haul trucker disc I saw one in REI bar end shifters would need to be changed and it's really heavy
didn't notice this, kinda funny comment from a 250lb person. Yeah, it is heavy, with heavy wheels. About an extra 1% of total weight compared to a sport bike made up of rider, bike and touring rig w. 5lbs of racks and fenders but it's not designed to be a semi-touring machine. It's meant to be a heavy touring machine. The issue with it is more of handling, the 700c version really isn't in the sport/tour category, it likes to go straight. The 26" wheeled version handles like a sport bike but carries weight like a truck. It's a funny mix but it works.
The 520 fits the category of sport/tour bike better for a big person than the LHT. You should test ride it.
The Gunnar Fastlane looks like a great choice.