Touring - My New Surly Long Haul Trucker

Back in early June I ordered a Surly Long Haul Trucker from my LBS. This was originally supposed to be a complete bike from Surly. I guess Surly oversold the complete bikes because they were unable to furnish the bike complete. My LBS just went ahead and got the frame and fork from Surly, and built the bike themselves. As far as I can tell, they either matched Surly's specs, or in some cases upgraded the components one step.

The bike rides great! I was surprised at how lively it is compared to my other two bikes (a 30-year-old 10-speed Ross Gran Eurosport, and a TREK 820 mountain bike). The Surly actually feels lighter than the other two, although I haven't actually weighed any of them.

I had them put on MKS toe-clippable pedals with MKS size "LL" clips - I like riding in street shoes. I'm more of a casual rider, and will use the Surly mostly as a road bike. I wanted basically an updated version of my old Ross - steel frame, non-point-and-click shifters - but with a triple for the steep hills around my AO. The LBS put on thinner high-pressure tires - 700x28 - versus the 700x35's that Surly normally installs. This is great, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm also a big guy - 6' - 2-1/2", 255 lbs, with a 54" chest and 38" waist, 36" inseam, and size 14 feet. I wanted the Surly because I figure it would haul my lard butt around without folding up under me.

Anyway, here are some pics:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT001.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT002.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT018.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT011.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT005.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT004.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT012.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT007.jpg

It looks good with those 700c you have on it!

Can we all post ours? My 46cm complete just came in last week. Taking it from Cairns to Melbourne (2500+ miles) for my first tour.

Here's Mr. Right:

http://www.adventursaurus.com/gallery/d/43-3/SurlySideView.JPG

tpelle: What did your LBS charge you for building up your LHT? I know the going rate back in May was $930--did they charge you the same amount as if you would have bought a complete LHT at the time?

It looks good with those 700c you have on it!

Can we all post ours? My 46cm complete just came in last week. Taking it from Cairns to Melbourne (2500+ miles) for my first tour.

Here's Mr. Right:

http://www.adventursaurus.com/gallery/d/43-3/SurlySideView.JPG

Can you please post your inseam and hight.

Can you please post your inseam and hight.

5'3" height, My inseam is 29"-30"

tpelle: What did your LBS charge you for building up your LHT? I know the going rate back in May was $930--did they charge you the same amount as if you would have bought a complete LHT at the time?

The price had gone up since May - the quoted price was $985 plus $25 for some cheap pedals, for a total of $1010. By the time we were done, using my pedals but adding their bottle cages and bottles, the final price for the bike, less tax, was $1024.78. They didn't add anything for the upgrade in components or for the labor for the assembly - as I guess they figured if there was a long delivery delay I might cancel the order, and they had promised an early-July delivery, so they did what it took to meet their date. I admire that. They maintained that after all was said and done that they didn't really make anything on the bike. They're good people, though, so I'll be a repeat customer.

There are two bike shops convenient to me. The closest is part of a multi-store chain, but I didn't get along with their sales people - one of my bikes is nearly twice as old as most of their salespeople, and when I went in there looking for a bike, and made a remark comparing the bike that he was showing me to my old 10-speed, the kid remarked that they didn't make the components out of stone any more!

OK, so we'll go to the other bike shop.

The folks where I bought the Surly were great - and they are all old enough to buy an adult beverage without resorting to a false ID. They are also politically active in bicycle advocacy, which I admire.

The bikes look great! tpelle, what kind of pump is that you have in the first photo? I've been wanting something that just "slots onto" the frame like that, but haven't seen any around.

The pump is a fairly cheap Nashbar frame pump. The Surly has a little stud on the back side of the head tube that engages a hole on one end of the pump to hold it in place. The other end of the pump wedges into the angle between the seat tube and the top tube. The pump itself is spring-loaded so that you compress it a little to fit it in place, then the spring tension presses it out against the head tube stud and the seat tube.

There are a lot of pumps that work like this - make sure you measure the space where it's going to fit so that you buy the right size.

The key to making this work on the Surly is the little stud on the head tube. The angle between the top tube and the head tube is greater than 90 degrees, so the pump would tend to slip down without that stud. The pump comes with a little velcro strap to hold it up in that case.

that blue is hella betta then the yuk yuk green

tpelle: What did your LBS charge you for building up your LHT? I know the going rate back in May was $930--did they charge you the same amount as if you would have bought a complete LHT at the time?

My LBS said they'd build one up, but it would $200 - $300 more. Anyone know when the new completes will be coming out?

They arrived in stock on July 6th.

what type of headset is on your bike?

and stem

It's a Ritchey headset with a Salsa stem. Nitto bars.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT008.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c354/tpelle/Surly_LHT/Surly_LHT016.jpg

They arrived in stock on July 6th.

My understanding is that they are mostly sold out already. My LBS had a 56" in stock, in Austin, TX if anyone around here is looking.

My understanding is that they are mostly sold out already. My LBS had a 56" in stock, in Austin, TX if anyone around here is looking.

Yep! That's why my LBS did a custom build for me. Even though it had been ordered back in early-June, Surly couldn't fill the order with a ready-built complete bike.

if this is show-and-tell, here is my LHT in the stairwell at the dentist's this morning:

http://tinyurl.com/ys72nt

It's a 54cm frame, the largest w/ 26" wheels. I got it in the 1st batch of LHT completes, in April. I swapped out the saddle and tires from the get-go, added commuting paraphernalia (fenders rack etc...), and then later replaced the seatpost.

Lovely bikes!

and lol @ "Mr Right" -- so that's where he is! :)

Out of curiosity, did those of you who bought the completes frame save your frames? I completely disassembled mine and have one coat in it. Though I haven't too much of an idea what I'm doing, and I left the BB since it is sealed and such...

Out of curiosity, did those of you who bought the completes frame save your frames? I completely disassembled mine and have one coat in it. Though I haven't too much of an idea what I'm doing, and I left the BB since it is sealed and such...

Not specifically. The shop did a couple other thoughtful things not on surly's spec sheet (either one, the QBP and web site lists differed) so I wouldn't be surprised, if they thought it was important, that they would have done at least a partial job of it. The other bikes in the household are 8 and 20 year old steel frames w/ no meaningful rust (some surface rust here and there) on them despite pretty brutal environments (NE sea air, road salt) most of their lives, so I'm not too concerned about the LHT frame's life being measurably shortened. I have a nagging concern about it 'cause the bike came home so pretty, but I'm living with it for now.

that blue is hella betta then the yuk yuk green

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My LHT is blue, but I love the former olive/pea/avacado green color of the LHT (which I've seen only in pictures) that I'm seriously thinking of paying to have my Feb '07 LHT repainted this winter in that shade of green.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My LHT is blue, but I love the former olive/pea/avacado green color of the LHT (which I've seen only in pictures) that I'm seriously thinking of paying to have my Feb '07 LHT repainted this winter in that shade of green.

Personally, I really like that new Black Cherry color. The "completes" are only available in the Blue, but when my LBS had to switch me over to a frame/fork kit I wish they had gone for the Black Cherry. On the other hand, the color (as long as it's not Pink) isn't that important to me, the Blue looks good, and I've gotten compliments on it, so I'm happy.

I like this color best
http://www.surlybikes.com/frames/images/truckerStreet.jpg
but why is this jerk wearing a full face helmet... like he's gonna race his LHT -- bmx style -- to the air guitar festival?

Personally, I really like that new Black Cherry color. The "completes" are only available in the Blue, but when my LBS had to switch me over to a frame/fork kit I wish they had gone for the Black Cherry. On the other hand, the color (as long as it's not Pink) isn't that important to me, the Blue looks good, and I've gotten compliments on it, so I'm happy.

I would so very much prefer the red color. Blue is the one color I will always reflexively avoid, given a choice. And I do like the previous green OK too. Not that I'm going to repaint mine. That said, it does look nice, or at least 'huh, doesn't annoy me like I thought it would'

I was hanging w/ my 6 yr old at his school playground last night, found myself dangling from monkey bars that were pugsley purple. I thought a) the color aged really well and b) for all the paint rubbed off, in a rainy clime, the bars themselves were doing well too, but maybe they get so much palm grease from kids spinning around on them that they never have a chance to rust.

(as long as it's not Pink) .

I prefer the Blue, but am dreaming of the day when I can paint it sparkly pink. On the other hand, my bike is a boy, so maybe he wouldn't like it that much :(

bump...nice Bike!

How much is a long haul trucker?

Mine was $1080 including tax. (for the Complete)

bump...nice Bike!

How much is a long haul trucker?

Free... if you have a wonderful wife and a great best friend. My wonderful wife bought the frame and components and my buddy built me a custom LHT... for my birthday last Feb. Best damned present I've received since... hmm... well, I suppose having children was cooler, but not exactly a present... since... heck I can't remember a better present.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/hulahoopdancedeathsquad/Longhaultrucker.jpg


I got mine for 1069 with pedals and tax included. I just frame saved it and threw it together again and it started down pouring. :( I guess I will just have to wait until tomorrow...

Not new, but in the same vein....

I wanted to get in on this, too. Nice Racks, homemade saddle bag, high class Nashbar waterproofs. This is the commuter arrangement.

if this is show-and-tell, here is my LHT in the stairwell at the dentist's this morning:

http://tinyurl.com/ys72nt

It's a 54cm frame, the largest w/ 26" wheels. I got it in the 1st batch of LHT completes, in April. I swapped out the saddle and tires from the get-go, added commuting paraphernalia (fenders rack etc...), and then later replaced the seatpost.

What kind of rack is that? How do you like it? (I'm trying to get all the information on racks I can before I buy one for my new LHT.)

It's a tubus cargo. I love it. Carry anything! Not much burden to an already pretty chunky bike.

Are those Nice Racks front/back symmetrical/ambidextrous? Nice saddle bag e686!

Mine was $1080 including tax. (for the Complete)

I paid $1024.78 for the bike, built up with Shimano Deore components, out the door with the two cages and bottles and two spare spokes clipped to the left chainstay. Since, I've added a CatEye Astrale 8 cyclocomputer.

I have a TREK 820 mountain bike as well, and after a week of riding the Surly I've concluded that my LBS has the bars set too high. By coincidence I think the bars on the TREK are too low. The Salsa stem on the Surly is, as you can see from the pictures, quite up-angled. I was thinking today, if everything is the same size, I'll swap the Bontrager stem from the TREK with the Salsa on the Surly. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

that blue is hella betta then the yuk yuk green

SACRILEGE

When I decided to get a LHT I had to hunt for someone selling a used frame in my size (got lucky with a guy who decided his was a size too small) so I could get the green. I loved it the first time I saw it.

That being said, I did notice there was a love/hate with the SAGE green (dunno about the yuk yuk, never saw that one...:D )

It looks good with those 700c you have on it!

Can we all post ours? My 46cm complete just came in last week. Taking it from Cairns to Melbourne (2500+ miles) for my first tour.

Here's Mr. Right:

http://www.adventursaurus.com/gallery/d/43-3/SurlySideView.JPG
Hi,
What tires are they? what size?
Can you measure the stand over hight?
Thanks

Hi,
What tires are they? what size?
Can you measure the stand over hight?
Thanks

It's a stock 46cm Complete. According to the website, WTB Slickasaurus tires, 26 x 1.5
Standover height is about 29"

Sorry to bump up an old thread, but I figured this would be a good place to show off my new LHT :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/carkmouch/DSC00273.jpg

That's the Mississippi River, with Missouri and Illinois in the background, Missouri in the foreground as well.

Carkmouch, what size frame is that?

Thanks,

Eric

Carkmouch, what size frame is that?


56cm

I had been talking to my LBS for a few months about one of the new color green LHT's that is about to come out this year. I wanted a 62cm frame or complete and they were waiting for the word from me to go ahead and order it. Someone else had ordered a blue 62cm complete and when it came in it ended up being too large a frame for the guy that ordered it. So, they offered it to me for 10% off the $930 MSRP. I wanted Albatross bars which also meant different hand brake levers. I also wanted to switch the 26t chainring for a 24t. They made all of the changes and didn't charge me anything extra, they just exchanged the parts even steven. I am very happy with my new LHT.

Fine looking bike you have there. Can't wait to see one in person some day. Not a single one of any size to be seen in the shops in my area.

My next upgrade will probably be getting a tan Brooks B17.

Back in early June I ordered a Surly Long Haul Trucker from my LBS. This was originally supposed to be a complete bike from Surly. I guess Surly oversold the complete bikes because they were unable to furnish the bike complete. My LBS just went ahead and got the frame and fork from Surly, and built the bike themselves. As far as I can tell, they either matched Surly's specs, or in some cases upgraded the components one step.

Congrats! Welcome to the fun world of LHT ownership...I hope your new bike gives you many years of pleasure.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2321776368_b9a340e82f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2321776048_a9f07bdc35_b.jpg

my semi-new surly lht. leaving in a few days for a 4 1/2 day tour.

Got my Brooks Flyer in today. I thought I was ordering a Honey colored one, but I can live with the black one they sent me. I also added a seatbag and an adjustable bottle cage today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/carkmouch/DSC00290.jpg

you need to put that 3rd can cage on.

my surly lht i recently built up: http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=396720&highlight=

what size tires are those 26"?

whoops never mind!
I think the 42 cm verions with 26" would fit me

I also think the wheel to frame ratio is propotioned just right too!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2321776368_b9a340e82f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2321776048_a9f07bdc35_b.jpg

my semi-new surly lht. leaving in a few days for a 4 1/2 day tour.

Nice...how do you like those bars for long days on the bike?