Touring - Surly Long Haul Trucker

Anyone have any experience with these? I have been looking around at touring bikes and am trying to get a grasp on what I would like best. I have been mainly looking at some cyclocross bikes so I could also race on it (after remodifying it). The LHT came up and it looks like a good bike for the price.

Anyone?

Search here, there are a billion threads. We almost need a separate forum for the LHT. Everyone seems to like them if your needs are towards stout. A toruign bike doesn't have to be too heavy, though by the time you have added the racks and components it isn't any racer. A lighter loaded touring frame is the Urbanite, or should be based on dimensions.

http://ucycle.com/bikes/item.php?name=urbtour&cat=urbanite

I needed a good bike for touring, rain rides, but mainly commuting. There are lots of bike out there to meet my needs, but I decided on the LHT. I was going to go with a Rivendell Atlantis, but for the cost of the Atlantis frame, I will be able to build up a complete LHT with rack and Panniers.

I am not sure that the LHT would make for the ideal cross bike, but unless you see yourself up on the podium, the bike you choose is second to your overall conditioning for best results.

If your LBS is unable to get you a LHT, check out Spicer Cycles. I bought mine for around $350.

I will be building the bike up in the next couple of weeks and will be sure to post updates on my progress.

I am an idiot. There are some posts here about them that I missed because people were using the acronym (LHT). Since I hadn't heard it before, it didn't register. Then I went and shortened it myself and suddenly I am seeing all these posts.

Thanks for the help anyway. I would not be doing CX on the LHT. I would get another bike for that. But since I just sold my CX bike earlier this year, I don't know why I would be buying another... oh yeah, it is CX season!

I am in the process of getting the parts picked out and I have been deliberating on the cranks all day... double, or triple?

I am in the process of getting the parts picked out and I have been deliberating on the cranks all day... double, or triple?
You won't be disappointed with a triple. I'm in the process of building one up myself and will be installing an old LX 46/36/26 or 24 crankset on mine. Rear will be 12-32 8-speed. I need close to a 20" low gear to survive.

Go for the XD 600 Sugino. Less than $100, Ultegra quality crankset, and it's purty. I put one on my LHT, just about right gearing.

Get the LHT and add a Brooks saddle to it. Best combo one can get...

If you load a LHT lightly you get a very nimble touring bike. Fast as you need to make it. On my weekender tours I'll sometimes wind up pacing, catching or passing a few roadies even with both sets of panniers - It's a great feeling to catch a pack of roadies on your loaded bike, then pass on by when they stop for a break.

Being a division of QBP, ANY bike shop should be able to lay their hands on a LHT if there are any available.

How wide of a tire will the LHT accept w/wo fenders?

I have decided to go with the LHT, and I got her built up today.

I decided to go with a flat bar for starters and a triple crank.

Specs:

Shimano XT rear derailleur and cassette (12x34)
Ultegra front Derailleur
Ultegra Octalink Triple Crank and bottom bracket
Shimano XT shifters
Avid brake levers
Cane Creek S-3 headset
Thomson seatpost
Salsa Moto flat bar
Ritchey comp stem
Wheels are Delgado rims with Shimano XTR hubs (32 spoke)

I was checking out the Brooks saddles that everyone seems to like here, but have yet to make a decision. Right now I just have a spare saddle on there.

The rims are still in the works so I have a set on loan from a friend. The innagural trip will be an end to end on the Katy Trail in Missouri (www.bikekatytrail.com) the first weekend of November.

Thanks for eveyone's input.

blm

It will take up to 45 without fenders, 42 with. By the way, on the outside of the chainstay it reads, FFF, Fatties Fit Fine. For a minute I thought it meant fat people but then I realized it meant fat tires.

Here is a link to the picture. Since it is hunting season here in Missouri and I will be riding a 3 day rail to trails (Katy Trail) in a couple of days, I thought grip color would be very important for my safety.

http://www.brendenmcnamee.com/cm/displayimage.php?album=16&pos=2