Touring - Typical price range to build a LHT

Kinda intrigued with the prospects of building an LHT with an assortment of parts. What is the typical price range for building one? I would most likely take my time getting deals on new and used componentry. Favourite recipes appreciated.

I basically purchased my 52cm LHT frameset and took most components from a mountain bike I seldom rode and used them to build up my LHT.

Surly sells a new complete LHT for $935 (increasing to $985 soon) msrp.

I built one up recently for about $1500. It's pretty much decked out. Let me know if you want the specs.

Sure, always interested in the specs people choose. How do you like it. I can buy a stock off the floor model locally for $1200 cdn or so.

I'm also getting a quote of 1200 cdn here in Ottawa,CAN.
I'm going to order the frame and let them put on most of the parts off an in stock bike thats one size too small for me.
They of course will let me switch out any parts along the way....

Who is selling them in Ottawa?

Go to Lick Bike....they have a build sheet you can use to add up all the parts. It's a cool printable tool for building a bike. Lick Bike also sells parts...often not the cheapest, but they are a quality shop and easy to deal with.

It will cost a lot more than you think it will.

Why on builds are all the parts different?

LHT...
Front Derailleur Shimano Tiagra
Rear Derailleur Shiamano Deore XT

I've looked at doing this myself, but they don't seem to sell a complete set that would work with a touring type set up (normally road or mtb) and trying to figure out what bits work with each other is a bit beyond me still. I've also wondered about starting to buy the parts and upgrading my current one, until I have the parts and can buy a frame. Just have no idea where to start.

This was my recent build (2 months ago)
It was one of the best times of my life planning it and building it (maybe an exageration, but you know..) :) A bit pricier then it needed to be though - but I like to overbuild.

Surly Long Haul Trucker 56cm
Tubus Cargo Rear Rack
Rear Derailur - Shimano XT M750 Series Rear Derailleur - Long cage (SGS)
Schwalbe Marathon 700x32 tire
Nitto Noodle 177 46cm Heat-treated
Cat Eye Micro Wireless Computer, Black
Cane Creek Interlok 1-1/8" spacer kit: 2x10mm, 4x5mm, 1x2mm black
Mr Tuffy 700x32-41
Jagwire Mtn/Road Brake Cable
SRAM PG-850 11-32, 8-Speed Cassette
Shimano XTR FD-M961 Trad Dual pull Multi clamp Frt Der - 46 T max ring, 22t capacity
Brooks B-17 Honey Brown
Brooks Proofide
Brooks Leather Bar Wrap
Phil Wood Bottom Bracket
Two Phil Mounting Rings - Stainless Steel
Sugino XD600 full-sized Triple Crank Sets 46-36-26 113/118 spindle length 6,7,8,9 speed compatible
Avid Single Digit 7 Front Brake
Avid Single Digit 7 Rear Brake
Dia-Compe 287-V, Linear-Pull Road Brake Levers
Pedal - Time ATAC Alium
ChrisKing No-Threadset, 1-1/8 Inch Cartridge Headset Black
Mavic A719 black
Mavic A719 black
Phil Wood hub - Front hub - 36 spoke
Phil Wood hub - Cassete Hub - 7/8/9 speed - 36 spoke
Rim Tape
DT 14/15g Double Butted Stainless Steel Spokes
SRAM PC-68, 7.1mm 6-7-8-Speed Chain
Shimano Dura-ace Bar End Shifters
Kore 1 1/8 Inch Threadless Road Bike Stem
FSA FR-230 Alloy Seatpost

This was my recent build (2 months ago)
It was one of the best times of my life planning it and building it (maybe an exageration, but you know..) :) A bit pricier then it needed to be though - but I like to overbuild.

Surly Long Haul Trucker 56cm
Tubus Cargo Rear Rack
Rear Derailur - Shimano XT M750 Series Rear Derailleur - Long cage (SGS)
Schwalbe Marathon 700x32 tire
Nitto Noodle 177 46cm Heat-treated
Cat Eye Micro Wireless Computer, Black
Cane Creek Interlok 1-1/8" spacer kit: 2x10mm, 4x5mm, 1x2mm black
Mr Tuffy 700x32-41
Jagwire Mtn/Road Brake Cable
SRAM PG-850 11-32, 8-Speed Cassette
Shimano XTR FD-M961 Trad Dual pull Multi clamp Frt Der - 46 T max ring, 22t capacity
Brooks B-17 Honey Brown
Brooks Proofide
Brooks Leather Bar Wrap
Phil Wood Bottom Bracket
Two Phil Mounting Rings - Stainless Steel
Sugino XD600 full-sized Triple Crank Sets 46-36-26 113/118 spindle length 6,7,8,9 speed compatible
Avid Single Digit 7 Front Brake
Avid Single Digit 7 Rear Brake
Dia-Compe 287-V, Linear-Pull Road Brake Levers
Pedal - Time ATAC Alium
ChrisKing No-Threadset, 1-1/8 Inch Cartridge Headset Black
Mavic A719 black
Mavic A719 black
Phil Wood hub - Front hub - 36 spoke
Phil Wood hub - Cassete Hub - 7/8/9 speed - 36 spoke
Rim Tape
DT 14/15g Double Butted Stainless Steel Spokes
SRAM PC-68, 7.1mm 6-7-8-Speed Chain
Shimano Dura-ace Bar End Shifters
Kore 1 1/8 Inch Threadless Road Bike Stem
FSA FR-230 Alloy Seatpost

Where do you generally purchase all your components? LBS, any one internet store in particular or a variety of outlets?

So now that the bike is done, does it meet or exceed expectations?

Where do you generally purchase all your components? LBS, any one internet store in particular or a variety of outlets?

Lots of internet stores - Lickbike.com is great for good prices on Phill parts.
Aebike and harris cyclery are two others, along with icebicycle (sp?) and pricepoint for deals. YOu just gotta balance out the shipping - I spent 2 months just looking for and jotting down websits with deals on shipping, etc. before I bought anything.

So now that the bike is done, does it meet or exceed expectations?

It COMPLETELY meets all expectaions (exceed - not sure, I won't know that for many years I imagine, when my expensive parts are still working great) - I love it to no end - but my fisrt 3 week tour is coming in 2 weeks, so that will be the big decider.

(Pre-racks, fenders etc)
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb265/natelutkjohn/IMG_0452.jpg

If you want to build all top end stuff then it gets really expensive, no way to put a price on it without going through a detailed sheet. If you want to do it economically with good parts but nothing fancy, then the Surly complete version looks unbeatable.

Who is selling them in Ottawa? Phat Moose Cycle on Hawthorne Ave. at the end of Elgin St.(613)231-2427....www.phatmoosecycles.com

Just bought the LHT complete and I am very happy with. It is an upgrade from my Bianchi Volpe which I took across the US a few summers ago. I will be taking the LHT on a 2 week tour in a few days.

I first found out the LHT from a buddy who owns a Co-Motion Americano and has worked in bike shops for years. He bought the Co-Motion a year ago and says that he would have bought the LHT complete if it was available at the time.

IMHO the value of the complete LHT is unbeatable. Sure building it up yourself is more fun but I'd save $$$ and upgrade anything when/if it brakes.