I would love to hear more discussion from you on the other kit. I am starting to look at buying some stuff and really like to hear peoples real world experience.

I am still mulling the 'convert an old mountain bike vs buy a new bike' and will then move onto the racks and bag stage. I am by nature sometimes too thrifty for my own good. I am assembling my kitty of cash for this stuff from some bike flips, and I could have upwards of $2-3 K before I am done. Don't want to spend that much, but I want to end up with something that doesn't just get the job done but is, as much as possible a pleasure to use (or in some cases somethings that just works and stays out of the way).