Love my Surly Karate Monkey. 29 x 35 mm rims, 3.0 front, 2.6 tire rear. A 29er plus bike, with or without front sus fork is a do all kind of ride. More pave? Run some 2.4 or so race slicks. Singletrack, dirt roads gravel? Use 3.0 tires tubeless run softer. I have 3 x9 drivetrain with great range, plus some many ways to run bags. Salsa, Trek Stashe also are options. Cheers.