Nordo

I really wasn't going to by a new bike yesterday. Really, I wasn't. I stopped in at a LBS just to look around, and they had this Long Haul Trucker in my size hanging from the ceiling. Lately I've been thinking of buying a frame and building up a new bike, but this Surly just really caught my eye. I took it for a ride and decided that I just had to have it.

I'll cut the steer tube after I have a chance the bars set up, but here are a few pics the way it looked when I got it home.

Doug64

Nice bike. I've been pretty happy with my LHT. Our 2 daughters also tour on LHTs. When you cut the steerer tube leave about 10mm above your stem for future adjustments.

msquared22

Being able to buy a bike with an uncut steerer tube is a score! Congrats on the new ride!

Nordo

Thanks guys!

I got the bike from a small LBS who are all bike guys, and they know some people prefer to cut the steer tube to length they want. The big shops in town all cut the tubes when they assemble the bike. That's why I purchased from the little guys.

Doug64

A lot of long distance touring cyclist start the bike fitting with the saddle even with the bars.

When you are averaging over 50 miles a day for 74 consecutive days, it is all about comfort and function, not aerodynamics or form.

Most off the shelf bikes do not allow any upward adjustment of the bars. The steerer tube is cut to fit some "average" person.

mstateglfr 

If someone has longer legs but a short torso and arms, then they may need the sized bike shown and have the saddle up higher.
Often times longer distance riders(touring) prefer the bars to be at or near saddle height. Some prefer the bars to be above saddle height(as shown).
So a long leg and short torso rider will want a smaller frame but have a taller saddle and bar height. This can be accomplished with a comically high angle stem, or more spacers. One other way, which Surly doesn’t do for some reason, is to use taller steering tubes. This reduces spacers and still gets the bars up high.

Furthermore, the fork shown is the same used for a 56cm frame and a 64cm frame, so the steerer needs to be long enough to fit in a 64cm frame.

PDKL45

Me, and anyone else with degenerative disc disorder or another spinal issue.

PDKL45

To get back on track, though, nice bike OP. The new LHT is a greyish blue color that just isn't as nice as the old khaki color. Are you planning to put racks and fenders on it?

bikecommuter13

Very nice bike. How much did it cost? I bought a 2017 fuji touring for around $600 (taking into account the team performance points) not long ago. I think LHT might be double that. I am having gearing issues with the fuji, I guess that's the downside of buying a cheaper bike...

Nordo

Thanks for getting back on track. Seems like there's always a guy who thinks his way to set up a bike is the only way.

I have a rack, but no plans to add fenders. I'm a fair weather day tripper. I did 30 miles this morning before it got too hot. I think I'm going to really like the LHT.

ColonelSanders

Horses for course, I prefer the look of "Grandpa's Thermos" to "Cakipants"

ColonelSanders

Is that a 26" or 700cc frame bike?


I love the look of LHT/DT frames, which is why in about 6 weeks time I will be placing an order for a 26" LHT frame in the colour of Grandpa's Thermos.

Nordo

It's a 700c frame in size 56 (the smallest size for 700c).

I've got to disagree with you on the color. Cakipants has it all over old Grandpa.
Even though all my hair is gray!

ColonelSanders

As I am just buying the frame, I potentially also have the choice of "Blacktackular" and that is appealing too, but they are out of stock of frames my size(also out of stock on Cakipants), so that means I pretty much have to go for Grandpa's Thermos or wait for who knows how long.

carbomb

The fork steerer tube is probably that size from the factory so they only need to make 1 size that gets cut down at the bike shop for all the various frame sizes they make. That bit of metal isn't exotic so I'm sure they're not looking to save money versus time. Their largest LHT is 64cm so that steerer isn't even cut much it at all.

Nordo

Update:

I have my LHT set up pretty much as I like it now. I cut the steer tube, moved the bar-end shifters to the down-tube, and installed a rack that I had removed from another bike.

Here are a few photos:

indyfabz

Why on earth would you ask such a question, especially in light of the OP's mention of cutting the steerer after a while?


Here is mine last month loaded up and ready to head out for two weeks on the road. Not much drop there.

msquared22

That looks great! How do you like the shifters on the down tube?

Nordo

Thanks! I like the shifters down there so far, but I've only ridden it like that for 150 miles or so.

ColonelSanders

You have done a great job making your bike as you like it.

megaclyde

I'm interested in the supports you used to connect your rack to the seat stays. I have that same topeak rack on a couple of bikes and love the rack and bags that fit it. But I hate the silver supports that came with the racks. Can you tell me what you're using?

Nordo

Hey megaclyde,

Wow, you dug up an old post!

I used some 5/16" O.D. steel tubing that I had on hand in my shop. I cut it to length, hammered the ends flat, drilled holes for the bolts and painted them black. It works and looks great. I use that same rack on several bikes and have made different lengths of tubes to fit each bike.

Doctor Morbius

Very nice! Congrats.

Bill in VA

Nice score with teh silver components and canti's Gives a classic look. Good catch on the uncut tube, that is definitely flexibility plus, along with turning the stem upside down. I looked at a trucker a couple of times, but waited too long and missed out on that setup.

delbiker1 

I noticed the black supports immediately. I really dislike the silver supports also. What size tubing and what are material are they made with?