woohoo...ordered my LHT...blue 56 - 700 tires...in stock..LBS says should have in 3 days...asked them top elave steere uncut until i come in...cant wait! think i am probably going to go the tubus cargo rear rack and Jannd front (I want shelf infront too)...cannot wait! now just need spring to get here sooner!

Congrats on the new ride. Post some pictures when you get a chance.

kyakdiver

What kind of touring are you planning? Rear panniers hold a lot of stuff, so if you have not toured before, it might not be a bad idea to do a tour and then see if you need a front rack at all.

as much as I like the Tubus Cargo I'd suggest a rear rack with lower rails. It makes a big difference for attaching/removing panniers or things sitting on the rack when the panniers can sit seperately from items tied on top of the rack. I'm not familiar with a Tubus Cosmo but Topeak makes a dual rail rear rack that works well. If I get groceries with the Cargo and Ortliebs and want to get a bag of charcoal I'll have to put some paper or cushion over the Ortlieb clips or they'll tear into the charcoal bag. Same thing with a rack trunk when I get to where I'm going I can't remove the panneirs until what's strapped on the rack is removed. With dual rail racks you can leave what's attached to the rack and remove the panniers

i would get the tubus logo for two reasons:

1) lower rails - not too big a deal, but it makes it easier to have a loaded top platform, and still access top load panniers....
2) No bend at the front of the rack... so you can load stuff under your saddle, which is a good place to carry weight.

I use a tubus duo on the front, and it rules.

As far as front panniers go: You don't NEED them for packable volume, but most bikes handle 100% better with a weighted front end.... My GF and I just got back from a dirt road tour over a mountain pass here in AZ, about 150 miles in three days ( avg temp 75 and sunny ) and I use four bags, front and rear. SHe uses only rear panniers and had a harder time on the climbs, where her front end would lift, preventing her from being able to stand and climb easily. On the descents her bike was a lot less stable than mine, i could ride one or no handed while she had to really hold her bike in line. On pavement its not as critical, but i would rather have four half full bags, than two stuffed back bags... I ride my loaded bike no handed all the time on pavement- which is only possible (in my case) with a loaded front end and the slower steering that comes along with that.

I also had the room to carry home a horse skull and a cow skull that we found up in a wash in the mountains... so it might be nice to have a little extra capacity

Congrats on the new bike, you'll love it . Granted that mine doesn't have a catastrophic accident, I don't foresee the need for any other bike for me.

It's a 60cm frame: I measured PBH - 90cm, and walk right at 6' tall. It fits like a glove, though I was initially worried since I had only ridden a 58cm frame prior to this one. I am extremely happy that I went up to the next size, so the seat post doesn't hang out of the frame obnoxiously.

Here is mine, set up with the SLX triple crankset, friction downtube shifers, and a brooks b17:

You and i have same height and PBH,every body suggested 58 for me, but like you 60 fits perfectly. 58 would have worked but I dont like my saddle post sticking out much either.