I'm wanting to use the bike for touring and daily commuting. I have been looking at bikes like the Novara Randonne, Jamis Aurora, Surly Long Hual Trucker, fuji tourer, etc. Apparently I like steel.

I'd like your opinoins on the best value for a complete steel frame bike in the $1,000 price range.
Variables that have me hung up include weight, tubing materials, drive train components, chain-stay length, and geometry.

What do you guys have? How hard do you ride them? what would you change about the factory setup?

FYI Im 5'10 with a 33' inseam and wear a 12D shoe since I know those factors have an effect on frame size, wheel size on bikes like the surly, likelyhood of heel strike, and front-wheel to foot overlap on tight turns.

Have fun schooling a newb on a newb thread.