??? I use the long Jannd rack, you can get your bags pretty far back. I have size 11 feet, never a heelstrike. I have two Trek 7000zx MTB, '96 and '00 if I remember correctly. Older one is dedicated to touring, looks like a Koga W-Traveller, newer one is 50/50 with MTB bars and raptor tires, both excellent platforms assuming you like the easton alpha alumn., which I obviously do. '00 model is disk or v brake, but I find v brakes outperform disc brakes for my purposes, less finicky. The 7000zx frames are fairly easy to find on eBay.