Originally Posted by
martianone
+1 for the SMGTe, I've ridden mine several thousand commuting & touring km. You sort of float along in an almost regal position. Have ridden is all sorts of road and trail surfaces with great success, have 47 mm Marathon tires on it; however it is not great on icy roads. Suggest disc brakes and the XT MTB gearing combination or Rohloff. Also suggest stiffer springs if you and your load are over 100 kg. Shorter cranks are a good option also.
Shorter cranks are a no-no for me. I have extenders on my upright bikes. My 7.5 would be unrideable without them, and my Navigator could only be ridden with difficulty. I assume longer crankarms or extenders won't be a problem on most 'bents.