Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,392
Bikes: Surly LHT, Specialized Rockhopper, Nashbar Touring (old), Specialized Stumpjumper (older), Nishiki Tourer (model unknown)
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The Surly LHT Complete is supposed to be an excellent touring bike just as it comes. I have an LHT I built up from a frame - I love it, but spent much more than if I'd bought the complete. I've never heard of a Devinci Caribou. I just checked it out. It looked pretty good, although I think the crankset is unacceptable. It would be good unloaded, but if you're going to pedal a load up hills you're going to want lower gears. I replaced my 28-tooth granny with a 26 last summer and still wished I had lower gears when I was climbing a pass. A 24 would have been nice, and lots of people go all the way down to 22. I think a 30-tooth granny doesn't belong on a tourer.