Originally Posted by
rustguard
I just checked the surly website and the chain stays on lht are over an inch shorter than the km, thats a big difference for pannier strike yeah? also load spread? The OP specified "loaded" touring, Unless you get one dirt cheap I'd think you should just get the lht. I have only seen the thorns online but I cant see any similarities with geometry.
I would highly recommend the Karate Monkey for any tour. I have large feet 13, never had any heel strike, my last bike i had heel strike with every pedal, I just lived with it. using monkey nuts will also help with heel strike, I have run oem sized tires with a single/speed set up for a few months and recently have tried running 35mm schwalbe marathon mondials (noticed a small amount of self steer, don't want to take my hands off handlebars- loaded front panniers could be attributing to this though
), the bike is too fast now. I will have to install a gearset or a nuvinci n360. Although I like the speed of the 35mm tires... I am really missing the ability to hit the trails with ease using fatter tires. Oh can't we have it all
I think eventually I will use the fattest tires I can fit and use a nuvinci hub.
Hell yeah, go tour on the monkey!
