Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Long Haul Truckin'

I started to add this to bdinger's thread, but then I figured that a new bike deserved a new thread. As you can see, I went with the olive green. Those that have researched this bike know that it has great spec at a great value right out of the box. That said, I wanted to make a few changes to suit my needs and wants. I don't intend to do any touring or commuting, at least not initially. I ride for fun and fitness at distances ranging from 20-60 miles. Here is a list of the non-stock items:

Nitto Noodle handlebars
Shimano Ultegra Flight Deck brifters
Shimano R550 cantilever brakes (F and R)
Thompson Elite seat post
Brooks B-17 saddle
Panaracer Ruffy Tuffy tires (~28mm)

I took it for it's 33 mile maiden voyage this morning, and all I can say is "WOOO WOOO!" It's not a lightweight, but neither am I, and my 300lbs. felt very secure rolling down the street. The Ruffy Tuffys made for a plush ride, and what they didn't absorb, the Trucker consumed. It's a little lethargic if you like to climb standing, but that's not really what it was designed to do. What it does is smoothly gobble up the pavement, mile after mile. Great clyde bike.

I could go on and on, but I know you people only came her for the pr0n. Here it is.

Posing for pr0n pics after this morning's ride.
http://www.mateowilliams.org/images/lht1.jpg

The B-17 and Thompson Elite, up close and personal.
http://www.mateowilliams.org/images/lht2.jpg

The Noodle bars and Flight Deck.
http://www.mateowilliams.org/images/lht3.jpg

If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

Wow, Nice build! I'm still torn on brifters, I think I'd like them, but the barends have definitely grown on me. I really dig it, the green vs blue was my other huge concern :). I totally dig the setup, though, it just screams "big dude road rocketship". I agree with you, the stock build on the bike really makes it a excellent clyde roadie, hard to really argue against it.

But.. you need fenders! Racks!! Bigger touring tires!!! LOL

Speaking of, my LHT needs some abuse and a good bath.. time to hit the MUP!

Sweet. I like the color. I chose British Racing green for my bike:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2519575362_8d8a9057e0.jpg

The B-67 and Thomson Elite, up close and personal ;)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2233/2519575506_2ed101e433.jpg

No fenders for this clyde ride. I live in San Antonio. Once upon a time there was this place where it never ever rained. The end. While that's not exactly a true statement, it comes close. And you can keep the blue. The green makes it easy for my LHT to stealthily hide in a cactus patch and pounce on unsuspecting posers who happen by.

I really like the Mazama, and if Co-Motion wasn't so darned proud of the things, I probably would have gone that route. I have no complaints with the LHT, though. It got here just in time, as I was really starting to hate my Big Sur. It's not to blame; it's just not well designed for road riding.

Ahhh, in that case, I see the no fenders thing :). Truth be told, I may be a little jealous, that thing looks pretty danged sexy! :D

You'll have to stop buying Surly's until I can get one :D Beautiful build!

I got the red one, with a honey Brooks, and it's my favorite bike I've ever owned. I wasn't a big fan of the sage green, but that olive looks really sharp. My favorite part of the LHT is that I can just switch out tires and do anything with it, right now I've got some large knobbies for trails, some kushy slicks for commuting, and some 26x1.00 for fast road rides. Excellent bike.

Before I bought it, I was always chasing a new bike, the LHT put an end to that, and my wallet is glad.

I got the red one, with a honey Brooks, and it's my favorite bike I've ever owned. I wasn't a big fan of the sage green, but that olive looks really sharp. My favorite part of the LHT is that I can just switch out tires and do anything with it, right now I've got some large knobbies for trails, some kushy slicks for commuting, and some 26x1.00 for fast road rides. Excellent bike.

Before I bought it, I was always chasing a new bike, the LHT put an end to that, and my wallet is glad.

+1000

I'm pretty sure the LHT is the end of my bike purchases. I was just thinking today how I'll probably get a set of Deep-V's built and throw some lightweight 700x25's on 'em, then throw those on and take the fenders off for some fast road rides.

As it stands, though, it's no slouch. Went for a HOT (90 degrees + humid!) road run, averaged 18mph even battling a 15mph headwind for half those miles. She really will build the speed on you, some guy on a (VERY SEXY) Colnago wasn't a fan of the big dude on the big touring bike tailgating him, I think. Even worse was when the big dude dropped him on a hill :D

I am still too jealous of your surly.

+1000

I'm pretty sure the LHT is the end of my bike purchases.Someday I'll get an Atlantis, but I'm not in a hurry. :thumb:

I am still too jealous of your surly.

Yeah, but you have the Millennium Falcon, so I'd call it even.

Another day, another adventure of epic smoothness. I expect to hit the 100mi mark on the LHT tomorrow morning. We have a tasty route from our house that is exactly 33.3 miles. I'll have to squeeze in an extra .1 mi somewhere to get to the 100, but I think I'll manage. I'm still breaking in the B-17, or should I say it is still breaking in me. I have a 60 miler planned for Saturday. I hope the new saddle is good to go by then.

So is the new house bike the LHT? Sounds like we need to have house bike "1A" and "1B". You folks are making me want one ;)

More LHT praise:

I knew from the moment I saw the first advertisement in Bicycling magazine that I wanted one. This was the first I'd ever heard of Surly, by the way. For many of us who drooled over Rivendell's website this was the the first time a really well-thought-out frame like this was within our price range, and it has been gratifying to see how many they have sold since, especially if the amount of Cross-Check and LHT threads on BF are any indication. Also, it's pretty rare to read about someone who buys one and hates it, unless they got a frame that was way too small, or something.

It is ridiculously versatile. Want to put in some fast road miles? Skinny tires and go. Want to go off road? Knobbies and go. Want to tour? That's what it was built for. It is extremely well suited for clydes. This is obviously why it is getting so much love in this particular forum.

Wow, Nice build! I'm still torn on brifters, I think I'd like them, but the barends have definitely grown on me.

FWIW, I've been upgrading my old Trek 2120 road bike and one of the things I recently did was replace the bar-end shifters with Ultegra STi brake+shifter levers. Man, they are a nice change! I thought they might be a bit confusing, but I got used to them instantly and will never go back to bar-end shifters! The hoods on the Ultegras are much more comfortable than my old levers. Having the shifters at your finger tips is really nice! With the bar-end shifters, I found that I had a tendency not to shift if the road conditions were at all gnarly, because it required taking a hand off the bar. With the STi levers, I can shift whenever I want.

Highly recommended!

I like the bar-end shifters. :cry: