Touring - Finished my LHT build!

The time it took to complete the build wouldn't qualify me for a job as a bike mechanic. But it will give me the honor of posting the first 06 LHT!! Thanks to everyone who followed along the last couple of weeks. The final tally was $937 (without tires and pedals). Lesson learned: If you build your own tourer, you will have the comfort of knowing how to fix "most" mechanical problems you may encounter on the road (so leave the bike repair book at home).

52cm
CC S3 Headset
Kalloy Stem
Nitto Randonneur 135
Shimano 8-spd barcons
Nashbar levers
Kalloy seatpost
Brooks B17 saddle
Shimano BR-R550 fr/rr cantilevers
SRAM 5.0 cassette (8-spd)
Shimano XT triple FD
Shimano XT long cage RD
Sugino XD600 triple crankset
Shimano UN-73 bottom bracket
XT/Rhyno Lite wheelset

Also, many thanks/blame to the sage green LHT owners who have posted their rigs on the forum. Without you, I would be $937 richer but without one terrific bike. So love you and hate you.

Are those Big Apple tires?

Great job on the build. Smart choice on the components, the bike looks awesome.

Your new ride is lovely. I hope mine comes out as good. (How much longer do I have to wait for a 62cm frame? :mad: )

Did you have to buy a front brake housing stop or did one come with the frame?

Lovely!

Congratulations :)

Well Done

Nicely done!
I have a 52 also, but in sage green. How do you like your Nitto bars so far and what racks are you planning on installing?...:)

Thanks for all the comments so far!

Are those Big Apple tires?
Seggypop - They're Marathon Plus. A pain to mount but less flats! Zero in my experience.

(How much longer do I have to wait for a 62cm frame?)
Did you have to buy a front brake housing stop or did one come with the frame?
wsexson - Another month according to their blog. :D As for the front brake stop, you'll have to buy your own. If you anticipate a short steerer tube, I recommend using a fork mount stop instead.

I have a 52 also, but in sage green. How do you like your Nitto bars so far and what racks are you planning on installing?
Fixer - Yes, I know about your trucker. It took alot of will power to resist routing my cables like you did. Anyways, my initial reaction to the bar was that it may be too narrow on the top/hoods. Although the tops indeed feel cramped, I actually enjoy the toe-in hoods. Perhaps, it's more ergonomically friendly. The drops are wide - very comfy. Will take a little getting use to the shifter cable when in the drops though. As for the rack, I intend to stick with the Blackburn EX-1 rack I have. My gear is average (two panniers, sleeping bag, pad, tent, and stuff sack), which the EX-1 handles nicely. I like that setup, but I can make room for a Barley bag. ;)

That is a nice build indeed! Much like on your many miles with the new bike.

As for the front brake stop, you'll have to buy your own.

Anyways, my initial reaction to the bar was that it may be too narrow on the top/hoods.
Thanks for the info on the cable stop. I will get one of those when I get my headset spacers. I considered getting that bar, but I had a feeling that the tops would be too narrow. I bought a Salsa Moto Ace Bell Lap instead which I think will work out fine.

I think the Marathons are 26 x 2.00, I was thinking about getting a pair of these, but kept thinking that they're a bit too wide for touring. Very nice bike, you got a name for this beauty?

Looks great!

But that pretty white bar tape won't stay white for very long... :)

Nice job! Your bike has a great retro look. Nice component choices. I am in the process of building my recently aquired LHT. I was curious, what spindle length did you use for your bottom bracket?

Yeah, nice buildup, nice flecco tires. Very well outfitted. What racks are you going with, or are you keeping it a light touring rig?

That color is more over the top than the sage green, is it like dark turquoise?

Beautiful bike!
I hope you have many wonderful miles on it!

I am awaiting the arrival of a Sugino XD600 triple crankset with 165mm arms.

I think the Marathons are 26 x 2.00, I was thinking about getting a pair of these, but kept thinking that they're a bit too wide for touring.
My tires are 1.75 which are relatively wide, but @70psi they're more than adequate for touring.
you got a name for this beauty?
No. If she gets one, the others may get jealous.

But that pretty white bar tape won't stay white for very long...
due to high usage? I hope so.

Nice job! Your bike has a great retro look. Nice component choices. I am in the process of building my recently aquired LHT. I was curious, what spindle length did you use for your bottom bracket?
Thanks. I'm running a 115 spindle. The chainline is ideal in large/3rd and small/6th. As you can see, the middle ring falls nicely between the cassette. I think 113 would be ok especially if you intend to use the lower gears extensively.

What racks are you going with, or are you keeping it a light touring rig? That color is more over the top than the sage green, is it like dark turquoise?
Blackburn EX-1. I use a rear rack only. This rack has performed well for me and my preferred load of <25lbs. As for the color, the blue/torquoise is a more muted than flashy. Great for stealth camping in the sky.

Beauty of a tourer man. I got some questions for you, considering you're doing what I am preparing to do. Are those 26" tires, and are you going to be doing off road touring? My first tour was on a stock hardrock classic, not the best choice. I want something for the offroad, yet is speedy for the the road itself. Bolivia aint' what I would call paved, especially from Potosi to Tupiza.

Later!

And beauty of a bike! You did an awesome job. Mind if I take her for spin?
I promise to return her. Really! ;)

Nice! I'm glad they started doing more colors, I think I'm going to end up getting one of the red ones when they come out.

Nice! I'm glad they started doing more colors, I think I'm going to end up getting one of the red ones when they come out.

yeah, but i wish the sage was still available. i fell in love the first time i saw it and now i haunt ebay trying to find one in my size... (56 is anyone has one they no longer want :D )

Joel, do a search in the for sale ads on LHT, I think I remember an ad I read yesterday that someone was wanting to trade for a 2cm smaller or larger frame, I'm not sure which it was, either a 56 or 58 not sure.

Found the link:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=173632

OBTW, it is a nice bike isn't it!

Rick

yeah, but i wish the sage was still available. i fell in love the first time i saw it and now i haunt ebay trying to find one in my size... (56 is anyone has one they no longer want :D )I'm fairly certain you can still get the green in just about every size. Check QBP. (http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=list&Category=629&Brand=405&type=T)

As Kris stated, do check. At least with your local dealer, I know when I found out they were coming out with new colors, I talked to Surly and found out when they would be here. Also they told me what green sizes they had in stock. When I went to order mine, My local dealer pulled up the actual inventory listing to find out if they had mine yet. I do remember Steve saying they had a lot of Sage in stock at that time.

Rick

Now that I've put some miles on the bike, the early review is a big thumbs up for the trucker. Amazingly comfortable so I look forward to some long days on this bike. As for the Nitto 135, the narrow top no longer bother me since I found my sweet spot in the drops. Heaven!

Neato, what do you mean by "narrow top"? the space between the brake levers? i'm looking for some drops for my lht, would you recommend the Nitto 135? oh, and are those 42cm or 45cm?

EVZ- the bars are 45cm but that's measured from the bottom of the bar. If you look at the photo from the front you can see that the top of the bar (distance to the left and right of where the stem is attached) measures much less. The 135 is a quality product but I think handlebars like many other bike parts depends on your personal taste and preference.

Thats's tight!

A few more questions on your LHT build. Did you have the crown race faced? Head tube reamed/ faced? I am building my LHT now and was wondering if it is really necessary. On the crown race, I have minor amounts of paint that I think I could sand or scrape off. I have read what surly has to say about it, and I really don't think it is needed, but I figured people who have built LHT's would have the best advice.

A few more questions on your LHT build. Did you have the crown race faced? Head tube reamed/ faced?

I did none of that on my recent LHT build. I didn't even chase the BB threads. In fact, I have never, ever done any of that with any new frame purchases I've ever made...:)

Did you have the crown race faced? Head tube reamed/ faced?

I did not chase nor face any part of the frame or fork. However, I did sand off some overspray on the fork crown to assure a proper seating of the race. This is very little work and may save you alot of time later. Also, I dry fitted the bottom bracket without any problems so I just put a wire brush through it before the install.