Thanks for the advice.

About touring with my actual bike, well, I'll be building a new bike anyway, as my old Marin is my "beater": the wheels are so-so at best, gearing is a bunch of 12 years old SRAM 5, Victoria tires only roll well when inflated to hell, it needs a new seatpost etc... It rides, but I wouldn't really rely on it, much less loaded and long distance. And as I find it a size too large, I'd better rebuild a new bike, would it be on the exact same frame just a size smaller. An Inbred or used Marin is between 100€ and 175€, which is not much compared to the racks, panniers and camping gear - and I think the correct size frame is important. Will just keep my saddle .

I don't doubt any bike can be used for touring per se, i'll try reformulating my questions without drowning them in text:

- How does suspension fork affect steering given you can't have low rider panniers, and that It'd be put (anyway) on 68-70° tube angles? How would it compare to the handling of a Surly LHT with its rigid fork, and load placed low? I'm looking at less responsive than my actual Marin .

- Is there a definite advantage to the Surly LHT as far as rear triangle stiffness vs an Inbred or Marin steel hardtail MTB? (and is the 425mm chainstay lenghts enough, given the LHT is 460, re. heel clearance?).

- Who did fit drops on an Inbred or similar bike and what is your opinion re. installation and handling?

I might have better put it this way first rather than the other way around xD

Bradtx, could you explain more what you liked about having a suspension fork, and what you didn't like?

Thanks,
Nicolas