bdinger

Well how about that, didn't realize today was bike to work day! Yesterday I picked up my brand-new 2008 Long Haul Trucker complete, after waiting (sometimes patiently!) for several months to buy it. After getting back from the LBS I rode it home last night, then am making my first "full" commute on it today. Last year I commuted for the majority of the year, having the pleasure of not missing a day from Memorial Day to Labor day, but grew tired of using a hybrid (Trek FX) for it. This year I've been commuting for the majority of the days since early March, after getting a new job last November.

Anyway, here she is! Still getting the fit dialed in, but so far.. perfection. Love the fenders and the Superflash, can't believe I lived a year without either! The Brooks came over from the old bike, and I'll never use another saddle, I swear!



Just waiting for the workday to be over...



I've only put about 20 miles on it so far, but it's pure love. Talk about the perfect commuter, this bike is awesome. I'm going to bail out of work a bit early to go thank the folks at the LBS again (the sales guy wasn't around when I picked it up yesterday AM) and pick up some new water bottles. Then.. time to enjoy some long miles!

JustBrowsing

Looks very nice! Just make sure you don't impale yourself on that steerer.

ragboy

Hey, that creek looks pretty familiar . Nice bike -- see ya on the trails.

georgiaboy

Congratulations!!!

Nice bike and setup.

How long is your commute? What were you commuting on before? How do the two bikes differ?

bdinger

Yup, our building sits right on it.. makes for a pretty dang nice commute. Look east as you turn south in Williamsburg, you might see it.. if you are there in the next 10 minutes. Too nice of a day to stay at work until 5!

bdinger

My commute, direct, is about 5 miles. I prefer to take the route I did this morning, which is about 7 in and going home I do 10-15. Last year my commute was only 3 miles, but it was a rather rough3 miles .

Last year I commuted on a Trek 7.3 FX, and it was fun in ways, not in others. I'd say the massive difference is ride. The LHT is sooo much smoother than the FX was, it rides like you are on a cushion. Steel is real, no doubt about that.

Other difference, well, not many. Speed wise I think they're about equal, really. The LHT is definitely a tad heavier, but you don't really notice it.

Before that this year I was commuting on a Hardrock Sport that I'd commuter-ized. It works very well for that, but longer rides with hills, well, the shock gets old. And the lack of Brooks.

Anyway, I love it. Rides smooth, fast, and handles great. Speaking of... time to go get some miles in!

ragboy

I hear ya -- I'll be heading north from downtown, through the Rock Island in about 30 minutes. Have a nice ride on that LHT.

I rode into downtown a couple days ago with a guy riding an LHT, same color as yours. That's my favorite color of those.

HardyWeinberg

sweet, congrats!

What frame size is that, can I ask?

J.C. Koto

Heh, I think I rode that trail about 3M this afterlunch! I saw a mother Mallard in the stream with about 12 babies in tow, but no male though. Weird. For Mallards, that is...
Nice bike, man! Did Cycle Works have that particular bike out as a display recently?! It looks familliar. I went in a few weeks ago to get a new helmet and saw IT. I went in again today to get a new cassette and chain and when I asked about the LHT the fella said they sold it a few days ago?
Either way, I'm a bit jealous!! Are you gonna cut that steer tube?
--John

Ps. Nice that you sold that 7.3. I expressed interest via CL, but the bike was too big for me. Good to know that Al is brittle though Had I decided to buy the bike, would you have told me?
PPS. Lincoln, represent!

bdinger

It's a 58cm. There was a matter of debate for a bit, as they had it marked as a 56 but it clearly was a 58 . Fits very very well.

bdinger

That's one thing I love about the last part (inbound) and first part (outbound) of my commute each day - saying "hi" to the ducks! I'm sure everyone else is convinced I'm insane, but hey, you have to have fun.. right? My office sits right off the "fork" of the trail that heads toward Williamsburg Village, on the corner of Orwell and 33rd (or.. whatver it's called!) st. I can't deny that when I interviewed for the job, this was one of the first things I noticed .

And that is the one that CW had on display, actually! I have been eyeing a LHT forever, and I rode it shortly after they got it in - and loved it. I was convinced I'd order a green one, but after a second ride on Saturday I had to have it. I picked it up Thursday morning, and man, I love it. This is the second bike I've bought from them, I may live and work in South Lincoln, but I'll ride out of my way to shop there as the customer service is top notch. Great bunch of guys they have working there, I can't say a single bad thing about that shop. Well, any shop in Lincoln, for that matter, they're all pretty dang good. I'm going to try one more adjustment to the bar position, but I think I've got it nailed so after that I'll definitely cut it.

I actually disclosed the frame failure to the two people who came to test ride it, and both got freaked out by it. Kinda threw me off, I guess, I didn't really want to disclose it in the ad as I thought that'd detract everyone, but I figured after they saw it and the receipts, it wouldn't be much of an issue. I mean, heck, 200 miles on what was basically a brand new bike.

Anyway, awesome to see two lincolnites on here that travel the same trail I do!

ax0n

Amazing. My friend Chris picked up his LHT last night, too. Today was its maiden commute, although he convoyed with us on Monday (on his Allez)

tomg

wow!

gregj

I just finished building up my LHT and took it on my first commute Monday. 4 days round trip this week and I love it. Still tinkering with the fit but it's getting close. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to ride after commuting for 3 years on an ill-fitting, POS, hand-me-down road bike. Congrats on your new bike!

n4zou

Get a second stem and mount at the top of the steerer tube, cut down old straight handlebar and use as a mount for lights and other accessories. Optionally you could mount Aerobars on the cut down straight bar.