Surly Bikes for Touring?
Hi,
I'm looking into getting a touring worthy bike this summer. I've toured on serious touring bikes in the past and more recently on a moutain bike equipped with slicks. My next bike needs to be more efficicent and lighter than my MTB but also versatile enough to handle dirt roads one might encounter in less fortunate countries than Canada and the US.
I've been looking at Surly frames and I'm wondering if there are others who are using them.
My situation is thus:
I'm too vertically challenged to use the larger frames for the Long Haul Trucker. So I would have to use the smaller frame which only takes the 26" Wheels.
Any thoughts on the neverending debate/controversy of 26" versus 700c wheels?
The other option I've looked at is the Burly Cross Check frame. They can put a different fork on it for the front racks but the geometry is a bit different. With the Cross Check I'd be able to go to 700c wheels. I saw one all built up for a customer who was going touring in France.
Anyone out there who has toured on the Cross Check? If so what do you think of it? how did you outfit it? Flat bars? straight bars? what else?
Any advice on the Burly frames would be greatly appreciated.
...Thanks