Touring - My Tiny Touring Bike - LHT

I've had the bike for 6 months now, but we finally got it configured just the way I want it.


Here's the build:

2005 Surly Long Haul Trucker, size 42cm frame
Sage Green
Shimano XT Crankset, 165mm arms
Shimano M-324 SPD pedals
XT rear der., LX front der.
9 speed XT 11-34 cassette
Dura Ace 9 sp down tube shifters
Terry Liberator Ti-Race saddle
XT seatpost
Cane Creek S3 headset
Bontrager stem and handlebars
Diacomp Aero Brake Levers
Specialized Cross Levers
Avid Single Digit 5 V-Brakes
Sun Rynolite 36h rims, DT Spokes, XT hubs
Continental Top Touring 2000 tires, 26x1.75
Planet Bike Freddy Fenders
Delta Sherpa Rack (I plan on touring with a Bob Trailer and 2 small panniers)

http://thumb15.webshots.com/t/42/42/0/38/22/2579038220046505395DGCgMM_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2579038220046505395DGCgMM)

click on photo for larger image

Here's a couple more photos:

http://thumb15.webshots.com/t/60/60/4/72/92/2696472920046505395lvqdPN_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2696472920046505395lvqdPN)


http://thumb15.webshots.com/t/59/59/4/53/51/2398453510046505395CGIaQJ_th.jpg (http://community.webshots.com/photo/2398453510046505395CGIaQJ)

That's so damn cute and tough at the same time - my wife has a 46cm and it feels like a toy whenever I move it around.

Good job!

[QUOTE=kesroberts]That's so damn cute and tough at the same time/QUOTE]

+1. And intelligently configured.

Anybody know if you can get a Surly with couplers? Those are fine looking touring bikes.

I've seen pics of Surly's and Soma's, both steel frames, with S&S couplers. Bilenky does them, I think.

That is really well done. Did you buy the wheels pre-built through one of the mail order stores or have them built? I guess with XT hubs you probably had them built. I had heard the Rhynolites were the hot setup for 26". Very nice.

Great bike. :beer:

Let us know how the 26 x 1.75 tires perform.

Right size? or would 1.5 suit better?

That is really well done. Did you buy the wheels pre-built through one of the mail order stores or have them built? I guess with XT hubs you probably had them built. I had heard the Rhynolites were the hot setup for 26". Very nice.

The original plan was to build up a set of nice wheels for me. My bf likes to build a set of wheels every now and then. We were thinking Bontrager Mustangs on XT hubs, 32 or 36h. We hadn't seen any good deals on the parts as yet.

These Sun wheels I saw in a Nashbar catalog for $119, after 10% off they were $109. Way too good to pass up. Cheaper than the parts for the originally planned wheels too. So I got them.

These wheels are probably way overkill for my 105 lbs, pulling a Bob trailer. But I like having a sturdy bike.

Great bike. :beer:

Let us know how the 26 x 1.75 tires perform.

Right size? or would 1.5 suit better?

So far, I like the tires. They seem to work out well. The rims I have on it are so wide that I don't think a 1.5 would work too well anyway.

Thanks to everyone for the compliments on this bike. We spent a lot of time thinking about how to set this up, and I'm quite pleased with it now.

It is a very sturdy and tough bike. I really think of it more as a vehicle than a bike. For such a small bike, it's no lighweight, it's about 30 lbs unloaded! I like to say that it is as comfortable as a couch, and almost as fast! It will carry anything I can strap onto it though. It's a real workhorse.