Loaded Surly

I took Surly out for a little ride yesterday to see how she handled under load.
The verdict. She loves it.
The bags weren't as heavy as they are going  to be in a few weeks time but she certainly performed as expected; comfortable in a straight line. Cornering under load changes the handling somewhat, but that was expected and is nothing that I cannot get used to.

Taking her for a ride also identifies all the little rattles and noises that she is going to be making for a month. I will need to get those silenced before I leave.
The list of things that need completing grows.

Music to keep the pedals turning

This is your chance to have some impact on my ride.
What I would like to do in the coming weeks is compile a playlist containing music that is completely submitted by you.
I need music with beats serious enough to get me over 1700m-plus mountains, I need music that will make the long roads shorten, and I need new music in order to update my iPod, as I think it has remained in the 90s!

Leave your recommended track(s), with a link to the video if possible, in the comments below, and I will make sure that it gets added to the playlist.

Packing, or preparing to pack

The bike is ready to roll, now comes the time to put all the bags on it and complete the puzzle that is planning a bike trip.
I will be riding with 2 rear panniers, 2 front panniers and a bar bag - all Ortlieb and all gaping at me like young birds waiting to be fed.
I have read that the weight balance between front and rear racks should ideally be split 40/60, and that each side of the bike should weigh the same in order to keep the bike stable.

With 1 month to go, I need to start getting my gear lined up, weed out the unrequired items of clothing, and get a basic idea of what I am going to be carrying.