Originally Posted by
J.C. Koto
For the first part, you don't need a bike with longer chainstays, but you might need a longer rack that works with your panniers. Although I have an LHT with the long chainstays, I still had problems with heel strike with my old trek rack. Now, the new
bontrager backrack deluxe I have allows me to put the load waaaayy back. The
Jandd Expedition rack also has a long top rails to allow the panniers to sit way back but it's a pricier rack than the bontrager I have.
^^^^^ This ^^^^^
I have a bike with 410mm chainstays, 175mm cranks, and I wear a size 48 (13½) cycling shoe. Even with my Arkel Shopper grocery panniers, no heel strike.
It's all in the rack. I've run a Jandd Expedition and currently have the Bontrager Backrack Deluxe.
But if you want a new bike, buy a new bike. There's no need to make justifications.