Originally Posted by CommuterKat
As for a new bike, I am looking into getting a cyclocross. I like the idea of a road bike that I can take in the woods once in a while on light trails. I don't do any big trail rides anymore, and if I did, I could always take the one I have now, and use the cyclocross as my commuter and road trip bike.
Kat
I have a cross check, which works great for my 8 mile-each-way commute. But Surly has a new bike, The Long Haul Trucker, which I think might do better. It's about an inch and a half longer, which will make the long rides more bearable. It has room for three water bottle mounts and can handle fatter tires. If I were buying today, I'd probably buy the Long Haul. The biggest disadvantage is cosmetic--from what I can tell, it only comes in puke green. It also appears to only come as a frame and fork, which is either good or bad depending on whether you like to build your own.
www.surlybikes.com