I bought this Surly Long Haul Trucker in late 2009 with the intention of doing a tour during the summer of 2010 (obviously that didn't happen). Everything is stock but the saddle, a Brooks B17, and the rack, a Tubus Logo, both of which I added very soon after getting the bike. The crate is zip-tied on the rack for transporting our dog Charlie to the beach, but it's not normally attached. So far my bike has been primarily used for commuting when I lived in New York, from Hell's Kitchen to the Google office in Chelsea. I did a few long rides when I lived out there, mostly up the West Side Highway and across the GW bridge. I also the Five Borough Bike Tour:
My Mom got me rear panniers (Arkel GT 54) for Christmas a few years back, which I've used a handful of times. They came in handy lugging wine around Napa.
Overall I like the Arkel panniers. The construction seems really great, and I like the fact there are lots of pockets to separate the storage. The one complaint I have is that the latches are just barely narrow enough to fit the rack, they take some manual coaxing to lock into a secure position. Now that I think about it they may be adjustable, so I'll have to look into that.
I've got a pair of Sidi Domintators (bike shoes). I chose them based on the recommendation that mountain bike shoes are better suited for touring as they are much more comfortable than traditional road bike shoes to walk around in. My pedals are they type that have clips on only one side, so you can ride in normal shoes, which has been pretty useful for put-putting around town.
That's just about the current state of things. I actually got front rack and panniers in the mail last week, but I'm waiting on fenders to arrive first, since installing those beforehand seems to make the most sense. Will update on how that goes once it does.
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