Touring - Surly LHT - Frame/Wheel sizing ?

Hi all,

Comtemplating purchasing a Surly LHT frame and using most of the components from my '05 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo to do the initial buildup to save money.
My questions are these:

According to Surly you can make the jump from 26' to 700cc wheels at the 56cm frame size. The last time I got fitted for a road bike I was a 56cm, (I'm 5' 10", normal proportions). Can I still use 26" wheels on a 56cm LHT frame ?

My other question is regarding frame size itself. Like I said, the last time I got fitted for a road bike I was a 56cm. (on a '05 Felt). This would be my first touring bike and I realize the geometries are different than on a pure road bike. Could I just go ahead and order a 56cm frame or should I try and find a shop with a LHT in stock ?

Thanks !!!

Joe
Oxford, CT. USA.

According to Surly you can make the jump from 26' to 700cc wheels at the 56cm frame size. The last time I got fitted for a road bike I was a 56cm, (I'm 5' 10", normal proportions). Can I still use 26" wheels on a 56cm LHT frame ?


No, you can't. If the frame had had disc brake mounts, you would've had that option, but as it is now, you won't be able to fit any rim brakes.



My other question is regarding frame size itself. Like I said, the last time I got fitted for a road bike I was a 56cm. (on a '05 Felt). This would be my first touring bike and I realize the geometries are different than on a pure road bike. Could I just go ahead and order a 56cm frame or should I try and find a shop with a LHT in stock ?


I'm 5'10", 33.5" inseam, and I ride a 54 cm LHT without any problems. And I've even got a short stem (60 mm). The size difference between a 54 and a 56 is fully possible to negate using stem length, saddle position, saddle height and so on... And even if you were fitted to a 56 cm that one time, that doesn't mean that holds true for an LHT.

CdCf,

I understood your point regarding frame size but you lost me on the wheel size question I posted....can you still use 26" wheels on a 56cm frame ?

Joe

CdCf,

I understood your point regarding frame size but you lost me on the wheel size question I posted....can you still use 26" wheels on a 56cm frame ?

Joe

Sure, you can mount 26" wheels on 700c LHT's.....but you're have brake mounting problems.

Yes, the brake locations are rim-size specific. A 700C rim has its brake surface approximately 30-31 cm from the hub, while a 26" rim is smaller, and expects a brake pad at about 28 cm from the hub. If you mount 26" wheels with brakes mounted at the proper location for a 700C rim, the brake pads will end up scraping the top of the tyre, and miss the rim completely...

Disc brakes require only a disc brake mount on the fork (and a disc brake-compatible hub/wheel), so they're independent of wheel size. Too bad the LHT doesn't have them. Big mistake by the Surly guys, in my opinion. I guess that spare spoke holder made more sense to them... :p

Oh ! :o
Ok, now I understand....oh well...
I'd have to order a 54cm then to get it to work with my mtb components......
hmmm :mad:

Thanks guys !!

Joe


Yes, the brake locations are rim-size specific. A 700C rim has its brake surface approximately 30-31 cm from the hub, while a 26" rim is smaller, and expects a brake pad at about 28 cm from the hub. If you mount 26" wheels with brakes mounted at the proper location for a 700C rim, the brake pads will end up scraping the top of the tyre, and miss the rim completely...

Disc brakes require only a disc brake mount on the fork (and a disc brake-compatible hub/wheel), so they're independent of wheel size. Too bad the LHT doesn't have them. Big mistake by the Surly guys, in my opinion. I guess that spare spoke holder made more sense to them... :p

I'm 5'10", 33.5" inseam, and I ride a 54 cm LHT without any problems. And I've even got a short stem (60 mm). The size difference between a 54 and a 56 is fully possible to negate using stem length, saddle position, saddle height and so on... And even if you were fitted to a 56 cm that one time, that doesn't mean that holds true for an LHT.

CdCf, my measurements are similar to yours. I am 5'10", 34" inseam. I ride a 56cm road bike with a 110mm stem. I am considering a Surly LHT, and I really prefer 26" wheels. Would you say I can buy a 54cm frame and fine-tune the geometry and measurements with stem(s) to dial-in the fit, without feeling cramped on the bike or significantly impacting the bike's handling characteristics in a negative way?

This is gonna be my first touring-specific bike, and I understand that one really does want a little bit stretched out body position on a touring bike, as opposed to a racing bike. Or am I wrong?

I really prefer 26" wheels, otherwise I would go for the 56cm frame.

Thanks.

Regards,

I can't promise you that. All I know is that I'm comfortable. I imagine I'd feel really stretched out on your road bike.

My first (adult) bike was a 57 cm MTB frame (its geometry is quite similar to the LHT's), with a 90 or 100 mm stem. My back hurt, my hips hurt, my shoulders hurt, my elbows and my wrists hurt. I couldn't (well, I could, but only for a few seconds) bend over far enough to even flex my arms - they were locked straight out!

This LHT is only my second, so don't see me as an authority on bike fit...
BUT, I know about my experiences, and my LHT feels great to me.

This is my LHT in its current winter config:
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/9274/13hm2.jpg