And accessories.

A riding buddy that has an older model LHT than mine did this with his - and when he got his bike the shop cut the fork tube where they sized up the bike for him. So he did not have the height there to really work with. When I got mine I went in to the purchase with this in mind so I had the bike shop purposely leave the fork tube nice and all. I added the 2nd stem about 3 years after and I have to say it really works well.

Pictures from a trip I did last Nov ('20).

For what it is worth - I prefer to carry any noticeable weight as low as I can get it. A lot of weight all on the rear, even down low, causes handling problems. So it is best to balance that with weight in the front. I have flipped this bike over with no panniers in the front and all the weight on the back going up a steep hill also... Not enough weight in the front to keep it down.

You can't see the right side very well, but there is a bell on the dummy bar. Putting things down there (like my handlebar bag and bell) keeps the handlebar more clear for my hands. I have circulation issues in my hands and being able to move my hands around to different positions is a necessity. I will move all over the bars all day long to keep my hands working.

I cut the dummy bar so it stuck out on the left side. When I first got the mirror and set things up I didn't have it wide enough. The first trip I did with the mirror and gear I realized I didn't have it out far enough to be of much use - the view was blocked by the gear. So I experimented with lengths and got it where it worked.

In any event, just ideas to toss around. I love the custom configurations on your pack rats. That is one of the more fun things with cycling - getting rides that actually do stuff, however unconventional it may be. That is in most cases quite opposite of the fast n' light road racers out there. Some of us do a lot more with our rides than just get from point A to point B quickly.