Touring - Long Haul Trucker buying help... where to buy

I am getting back into bicycle touring and a interested in the lht 58cm.

Does anyone know of a store in the US that sells the lht as a kit with some add ons? i.e. fenders, brooks saddle, panniers

The best price I can find here in Toronto is $1570 completely stock.

I am willing to drive into the states to pick one up if I can find a reasonable deal.

Also, does anyone have experience with purchasing a bike in the US and bringing it back into Canada? I realize that if the product is manufactured in the country it was purchased in one can avoid duty costs, but I don't believe Surly manufactures their bikes in the US.

Thanks in advance.

I had a very good exerience buying a complete Surly Long Haul Trucker back in 2007 from Tobie DePauw at North Central Cyclery in DeKalb, Illinois (just to the left of Chicago). He was most patient and helpful, building up two different frame sizes for me to try out. Maybe worth giving him a call, I don't know if he still keeps the LHT in stock in various sizes, but he used to... very nice guy, too.

http://www.northcentralcyclery.com/

Neil

I bought my LHT last fall from Peddler's in Rochester. It was a good experience, I'd recommend them to anyone shopping for a bike. If I recall it was about $1,200 USD, plus 8.25% sales tax. For your money you get a professional fitting, 10% off any accessories, a free water bottle and a three(?) year warrantee extension on the frame. They carry a limited selection of panniers, racks and fenders. Nothing really high end like Tubus or Ortlieb, but outside of Portland I haven't seen any shop that does.

They're a small shop, but out of all the shops in the area their staff have the best vibe. They keep a couple LHT'ers in stock, but if you go call ahead to make sure they have the right frame size, wheels and color you want.

Century Cycles,Cleveland area.Centurycycles.com

Thanks very much guys, these stores in the northern states are perfect for me as I would prefer to minimize the travel time. I guess it's pretty rare that a new lht goes on sale - especially in a sought-after size such as 58cm..

Yeah, you're close enough to the states. I'd say go down a pick up a LHT. I got mine here in New York for $1,100.

I second Pedallers here in Rochester. They built mine and I'm very satisfied. Good people.
http://www.pedallers.com/

I can't answer your questions but I do have a suggestion - specify an uncut steerer tube in case you want to have the handlebars higher than you would otherwise get.

I second Pedallers here in Rochester. They built mine and I'm very satisfied. Good people.
http://www.pedallers.com/

Great, this sounds like the kind of place I could swap out a few of the stock parts upon purchase and have the price adjusted accordingly (i.e. stock tires for marathons and stock seat of a Brooks)


I can't answer your questions but I do have a suggestion - specify an uncut steerer tube in case you want to have the handlebars higher than you would otherwise get.

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely do this.

I'm still worried about duty charges upon reentering Canada with the bike. I will call customs today.

Great, this sounds like the kind of place I could swap out a few of the stock parts upon purchase and have the price adjusted accordingly (i.e. stock tires for marathons and stock seat of a Brooks)



Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely do this.

I'm still worried about duty charges upon reentering Canada with the bike. I will call customs today.

Could you let us Canadians know what Customs told you?

Ride bicycle back to Canada?

Ride bicycle back to Canada?

Haha, I thought about this but read somewhere online that the consequences are pretty steep for fraudulent declaration at the border.

According the this (http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=609937) thread, it seems as if a Canadian bringing a new bicycle over the border into Canada will only have to pay 13% taxes on the value of the bike and no duty.

Surly is a QBP brand , so widely distributed.
the issue of VAT , and sales taxes ,
varies by state in the US.
New Hampshire and Oregon
tax other things than each retail sale.
above thread suggests ride it around a while, beat it up,
and Used condition may let it in again cheaper.

UK gave VAT refunds for Goods Bought there and exported, out of UK ,
A fellow passenger was taking advantage of that on the Newcastle Ferry
to Norway .

I bought mine for $900 shipped from Jenson USA in Jan '08. I've never seen a package deal on the LHT with all the accessories you'd want, but everyone has different desires. I got SKS fenders from Jenson, Brooks saddle from Wall Bikes (later replaced with Selle Anatomica), Tubus racks & Ortlieb bags from Wayne at The Touring Shop. All pretty easy to put on, but obviously shipping costs from different sellers would get pricey.

BTW, have you tried out a 58? The LHT's top tube is long, I bought my 60 without trying one out first, and I wish I'd at least tried a 58 first. I've seen them for sale in REIs recently, if there's one near the border by you.

Thanks all for your advice. I ended up buying the lht from Century Cycles in Peninsula, Ohio. Had a great experience there. Thanks for the recommendation on that one.

As far as getting the bike back over the border goes, I declared it at the border at the value of about 1300 dollars American (that is including a Brooks Flyer and fatter Conti's purchased at Century) and was charged only the HST. $160 (13%) and I was on my way. Somehow I got away without paying duty. They never asked me where the bike was manufactured and never came out to the car to look at the bike.

The cheapest LHT I could find here in Canada was $1570. At Century, I payed a total of $1334 including taxes and upgraded tires and a Brooks Flyer. Plus the $160 in HST brings the grand total to about 1500 American.

Buying the Brooks and Contis along with the stock LHT would have brought the total to close to $2000 Canadian here in Toronto.

So my little weekend trip turned into a money saver after all. AND I really enjoyed my night in Cleveland eating at Geraci's (http://www.geracisrestaurant.net/) (Featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives) and some nice IPA's at The Winking Lizard Tavern in downtown Cleveland.

That's a nice looking steed. Now get out and ride her.