Hi everyone,

I'm starting to plan the first of many long distance bike trips and am not sure what kind of bike I want to get.

First off, I will be taking my 60lb dog with me where ever I go so a trailer is a given. I'm thinking the dog trailer with automatic brakes from https://cycletote.com/

Second, I'll be adapting my backpacking gear to this trip so I'm confident I can keep my cargo small and light: 35-45lbs of cargo would include EVERYTHING my pup and I would need on a 5 day stretch, including food and 2L of water.

Third, I want my bike to be versatile enough to be able to handle some light duty off road use and medium-fast paced road rides.

Last, I'm aiming to pick a bike with relatively familiar geometry. I used to ride a Surly Steamroller and regularly did 60+ mile rides on it with 1 or 2 centuries mixed in there and was NEVER uncomfortable.

I figure since I'm going to have a small load and a trailer I shouldn't have to put much if anything on the bike itself. I'm thinking a minimal handlebar bag so I have somewhere to keep my itinerary/map visible, and frame bag with a water bladder and whatever spill over I might have with the handlebar bag.

In your opinion, would I need a heavy duty steel frame? Could I get away with carbon fiber? I was thinking of the Surly Cross Check and the Trek Cronus CX Pro specifically, both of which I could get through the bike shop I work at at discount, and we're talking a 9lb dif between the bikes.

If the weight is on a trailer with its own brakes do you think I need to worry about it? Should I go CF or steel?

Thanks,
Nick

Me : 150lb
Dog: 60lb
Trailer: 25lb
Cargo: 35lb
Subtotal minus bike: 270lbs