Originally Posted by cyccommute
I'm not a big fan of the "one bike to rule them all" idea. There is no one bike that will do all things well. If you want to ride dirt trails, get a mountain bike. If you want to ride fast on the road, get a road bike. If you want to pack all your stuff up and go for a ride that lasts a week, get a touring bike. If you try to make a bike do something it's not designed for, you'll probably be unhappy with the result.
Let's start with the Soho. That's a lot of money to pay for a bike without a better drivetrain. Some people like simplicity but it should come at a reduced price not a premium. You may be getting a great frame but $1200 is a lot to pay for a 9 speed bike. Look elsewhere, you can do better.
The Trek SU's are kinda weird. I'm not sure who they are for or what they are for. Mountain bike - no. Road bike - no. Commuter - there's better. They are too much like a platypus for my taste.
Cutting to the chase, why not use the touring bike? I pulled a trailer for many, many miles with touring bikes and tandems. They do a great job. The bike is built to take a beating and it will carry just about any thing you care to put on it. I'm not sure how your trailer will fit with the discs (you'll want to check the fit before you buy) which is another strike against discs in my eyes. It will do the job very well and be fun to ride. I'd go for it over a cross bike or a hybrid.
Good point about the disc's. From what I can tell it shouldn't be a problem.
Okay so the SOHO is expensive, but what's a good alternative? I know you mention you can do better, exactly what would be better? This is where I need help. There is just too many...
I notice the Cannondale avoided your wrath. Does this mean it's a good choice? It seems to be able to take a wider tire, so I could always fit wider wheels. It is actually pretty high on my list. I think it has pannier mounts too.
I'm open to any suggestion for touring bikes.