Touring - My LHT frame is being shipped today

So I thought this would make a pretty nice first post. I ordered my Velvet Blue 54cm LHT frame the other day and will be at my house Monday for the building to begin. I have a few new parts (derailleur, chain, cranks) I can use from the plethora of other bikes I have and so far have settled on a Brooks B17 saddle and everything else is up in the air.

Currently looking for a 26" / 36 spoke rim brake wheel set. For the price and durability I've had great luck with XT hubs and DT spokes so I figured I stick with a triple butted spoke.

For the handle bars I'm not sure if I'm going with drop bars or maybe the Titec H bar (or something similar).

For brakes, what's the way to go with these. Should I go with the cantilever brake, V - style or??? Most of my riding with this bike will be loaded down with gear on the Northeast (USA) to start off.

Tires I'm going with the Shwalbe Marathon 2.0, lots of good write ups on this site for those.

For the racks and panniers, that's all up in the air as well, more reading to do on this site and others to get more info.

Well hopefully I'll have the bike together in a few months and take a little trip this fall.

Thanks in advance for the advice I get here.

Enjoy!!

How about contacting Peter White Cycles , he is in NH, and is a excellent wheel builder.
guarantees his work , which since you live there can take him up on it, unlike all the people that have them shipped to them ..
Also is the Importing Distribuitor for Schmidt Hub Dynamos , To lace up in the front wheel
all weather lighting is great, no dead batteries.

If you are using a non road bar , IE a straight type or trekking bar , 22.2 tube.

Magura HS33 is the best rim brake I have ever used ,
and the Only Hydraulic rim brake,
it fits on V /Cantilever Bosses...

now in it's 20th year of production, in Germany.

Brake type depends on brake lever type. If you're using brifters, you need cantilevers. If not, V-brakes are easiler to deal with.

You're not going to get DT spokes in a Peter White wheel, but if Peter White builds it for you, he'll guarantee the wheel, and you likely won't care.

Do you have a parts budget for this thing?

I checked out Peter White but the wheels are a bit on the expensive side, wanted to say under $300 for the wheel set but also don't want to skimp out so if I need to spend a bit more I may have to. I'd rather not go with any hydraulic rim brakes, would like to stick with cable action for ease of fixing if I'm in the middle on nowhere.

I like the bar end shifters but may go with a stem or down tube set up. My only fear with the bar end shifters is if the bike tips over, how easily will they break.

As for the budget well..... I want a nice bike that the parts aren't going to break any time soon but don't want to spend 5k... So I guess the budget is up in the air.

I was reading about road bike brakes like the The Dura-Ace 7900 that have pretty good stopping power when wet, that could be an option.

http://www.everybicycletire.com/Shopping/pc-1598-55-26-velocity-triple-v-all-purpose-wheelset-559.aspx

You cannot use Dura Ace 7900 brakes on a touring bike because they do not have enough clearance for wide tires and fenders. Bar end shifters will not break when your bike tips over. They are far more durable than integrated shifters. You can get a good touring wheelset for $300 if you build it yourself. It's much harder if you have to pay someone to do it for you. The parts alone approach that amount.

No advice. Just popped in to give warm wishes for a happy fiirst tour this fall. Preparation is half the fun! :)

10 Wheels, thanks for the link, I'm looking for a double walled wheel though.

Van, thanks for the info on the brakes, wasn't sure if they would work or not but now I know. What brakes would you recommend, I'll be running with fenders and panniers both front and rear with a max size of 2.0 for tires. I do like the bar end shifters so I wouldn't have to remove my hand from the handle bar when shifting.

Thanks jagraham!!!!

You'd be fine with any of the Shimano mountain group V-brakes, LX is best value. Make sure to get direct pull levers to match. Stay away from the so called mini-V's, because they're too short to allow fenders under.

Currently looking for a 26" / 36 spoke rim brake wheel set. For the price and durability I've had great luck with XT hubs and DT spokes so I figured I stick with a triple butted spoke.

!

without knowing your weight, load and intended use it's kind of up in the air. It really doesn't make much sense to quibble about PeterWhites prices given that you're already going an expensive route for getting a touring bike. Well built wheels cost what they cost. You don't need triple butted spokes for the front wheel. For 2.0" tires you don't need narrow rims so go ahead and get something wide tough and cheap like SunRhinoLites.

LX hubs, Wheelsmith DB14 spokes, Sun Rhyno Light rims, built by me: $209.00-PeterWhite, I bet they'd last a long time

My frame arrived and it shur iz puurdy.... I decided to go with Peter White for the wheel build, his shop is a few towns over from me so not only do I want to help support local businesses, but also his reputation for quality products.

I ordered my Brooks Champion Flyer (in Honey) and Shwalbe Marathon plus tires (26 x 1.75). I'll soon be ordering my cranks (Shimano XT M770 170mm) with the 22 small ring, and the Avid Single Digit 7 brake (has anyone used these?)

I still need to decide on the handlebar, I have it narrowed down to either a mountain drop bar or an Easton Flat wing bar (drop bar).


http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/chasej7/PhotoJul25184449.jpg

My frame arrived and it shur iz puurdy.... I decided to go with Peter White for the wheel build, his shop is a few towns over from me so not only do I want to help support local businesses, but also his reputation for quality products.

I ordered my Brooks Champion Flyer (in Honey) and Shwalbe Marathon plus tires (26 x 1.75). I'll soon be ordering my cranks (Shimano XT M770 170mm) with the 22 small ring, and the Avid Single Digit 7 brake (has anyone used these?)

I still need to decide on the handlebar, I have it narrowed down to either a mountain drop bar or an Easton Flat wing bar (drop bar).


http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/chasej7/PhotoJul25184449.jpg


Yep, those Avids are excellent brakes, good choice. If you go with a drop bar, make sure you get the v-brake specific drop levers, like the Tektro RL520:

http://www.treefortbikes.com/product/333222344273/743/Tektro-RL520-Ergo-Brake.html

The bike is done and my first mini mini tour went great (just a little wet). Here is a pic of the completed bike.. Thanks for all the information that was provided to me while building it.

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/chasej7/PhotoSep20170526.jpg

The bike is done and my first mini mini tour went great (just a little wet). Here is a pic of the completed bike.. Thanks for all the information that was provided to me while building it.

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/chasej7/PhotoSep20170526.jpg

Very Nice.......

Great looking bike! ;) Glad your tour went well!
I have V-brakes on mine, love them... though I wish I had known about the disk version that just came out, I would have waited. Oh well.

Very nice machine, enjoy your tours !