I can hop on it, ride down my driveway, cut across the lawn, hop the curb and shoot down the road like I'd been riding it for weeks on end - it just feels perfect. I think it will be a fantastic bike for touring. I don't really like the color. I now ride it more than any others. It is an all around fun bike.
Handles singltrack, gravel roads, or curb hops in the city without complaint.
Is a cross race ready machine right out of the box, and definitely has a cross geometry with a high bottom bracket. I'd like longer crank arms, but this is a minor complaint. Really is not as harsh a ride as I expected from an aluminum frame and fork. The 105 shifters work well with the XT derailler and Avid shorty brakes. I weighed this bike at 22.5 lbs stock with pedals, and the wheelset and tires are fairly beefy.