USAZorro

Thanks. I had my heart kind of set on the cherry red color, but for some reason they discontinued that right before I placed the order, and replaced it with a truly hideous (IMO) olive green.

CliftonGK1

Sweet lookin' LHT!
I wouldn't say overkill with the extras if you actually carry enough stuff to fill both those bags. I'm betting you could hone down your kit (depending on the weather) and fit everything for a 300-400Km in that rack trunk.

I've got a Cross-Check which I'm using for distance rides (posted it a few pages back) and I've recently changed my setup from the picture. I took off my rear rack and trunk because I just wasn't using it enough. I never carry panniers, so I don't need the full rear rack. The trunk became what any other empty space becomes: Someplace to cram more stuff. OMG, the ridiculous extra stuff I'd bring just because I had the space. Out of sight, out of mind... until you've gotta climb a 3 mile long hill with all that extra stuff!

That's a Nashbar Elite handlebar bag on your LHT, isn't it? If so, I have the same bag and here's my opinion of that mount it comes with:
- It sits too high
- The bag bounces worse than a hyperactive 4 year old
- Can't carry enough weight because the bag starts to sag
I fixed those issues by getting the Nashbar front rack (similar to V-O rack or Nitto M-12). I MacGuyvered a mount for the rack using a joiner plate, some PVC pipe and machine screws from Home Depot. I bolted the joiner plate to the rear of the Nashbar rack, bolted the PVC (cut to length) to the top of the joiner plate, and attached the QR mount for the handlebar bag to the PVC so the bag sits on the rack, like the pix of the (much nicer) Berthoud or Ostrich bags. A short bungee attaches at the shoulder strap loops and goes under the rack to hold everything tight in place. Works like a charm for less than half the price of Berthoud or Ostrich bag (which I'm saving up for because, dang! Those look really nice.)

DanitoLaboy

P5130014.jpgmy Cannondale

USAZorro

Thanks for the compliment and suggestions. Yes. That's the Nashbar Elite bag. I put it on thinking it's a good way to carry extra layers, camera, wallet, keys, and first aid stuff. I'm not visualizing your adaptation very well though. If I could lower it some, and make it sturdy enough to hold a little more weight, I could ditch the trunk and rack, and use a large wedge bag instead. I do like the volume, the waterproof zippers, compartmentalization and the map holder on it. Any pictures of your custom mount?

CliftonGK1

Pictures of the mount:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...1&postcount=69

It worked like a charm for the 108 miler I did this past Saturday. I moved everything from my wedge pack to the h'bar bag, loaded up my foodstuffs and sunscreen, and headed out. Even at speed, the bag being down that low is stable enough to ride no-hands and get in a nice stretch on the level sections of the road.

USAZorro

I get it. I have to look to see if that might be problematic with the bar-con cables. Seems like minimal weight savings over having the rear rack, but having both would give me configuration options - plus give me a little real estate back on the bar tops.

WVHilljack

1995 Haro Escape MTB. Not the conventional way but still it works.

CliftonGK1

It's less about the weight savings, and more about getting the h'bar bag down lower to reduce bouncing and improve handling.
As for the barcons, I have the same setup on my Cross Check and it doesn't interfere at all.

umd

Here is another shot of my tarmac, during a century (103 miles) I did today. I also used it for yesterday's 118 miles. Yes, I only used the one bottle.

icyclist 

This is my Specialized Stumpjumper and its last long ride was a couple of weeks ago, on the Chico (California) Wildflower Century. My Stumpy climbs like a mountain goat, and it sometimes tries to follow me upstairs when I go to bed.

I've probably participated on close to thirty organized centuries over the years. For a long time, almost all of my distance riding has been on a mountain bike, fitted with slicks. The disc brakes are awesome anywhere. While my need for the smallest chain ring is practically non-existent on pavement, its there when I need it (e.g. on sustained 15+% grades). There aren't any tall gears, but I can usually keep up with my friends on their road bikes. (My next century though, in a couple of weeks, will be attempted on a new road bike.)

umd

You must have really slow friends

icyclist 

>You must have really slow friends<

I've never questioned the intelligence of my friends.

icyclist 

By the way, where is this? Figueroa Mt?

umd

No, Pine Mountain Summit on the 33 in Ventura County. Ride data here.

mato_h2h

Niiiiice!!!!

Snow_canuck

CC, what fenders are on that bike?

mrbubbles

Planet Bike Cascadia Hybrid. What's the wheelset?

praetor

Well here is my Klein Quantum.. Riding the Albuquerque Century the Saturday.

minimalistDave

... in the countryside around Shreveport, La I pedaled my new Schwinn Super Le Tour 12.2 on a Century. The distance of the longest Holiday in Dixie bike loop wasn't 100 miles (as I remember -- it was about 1976 or 1977) but with the ride to and from home included it was.

I loved the bike, I loved to ride, I commuted from my apartment to the Air Force base where I was stationed (in the hospital). Sadly, I sold the bike right before I got married. Thirtty years have gone by since I have cycled in earnest.

Now I have a used Scott mountain bike with street tires that I commute upon -- a combo of bus/bike in the morning, and a 12.5 mile ride home in the evening. I find myself drawn to return to cycling once again in earnest, and to go farther afield than I ever did while I was younger.

Strange as it seems ( to me, but probably not to anyone here in these info-packed forums) I find myself longing to set out across the country. I envision a Surly LHT pulling a Burley trailer -- there's a joke about escaping the Hurly-burly on a Surly-Burley in there somewhere -- across the landscape in a nomadic journey to everywhere and nowhere. That is probably too big a dream, given my financial circumstance. But the idea of a cross-state or cross-country ride is a do-able thing. One of my customers (I am a barber) rode across the continent when he was 65. (He is in his seventies now, and tells me the mountains of Wyoming were the toughest part for him).

I am going to keep pedaling. If I manage to get that LHT, and get some shorter (than transcontinental) rides in, maybe I'll give it a go.

mikeE46

I just did my first century 3 weeks ago. and it was very hot (over 90 degree) but I was very glad that i finished.
I had 6 power gels and had to refill my water twice at a gas station.

ghsmith54

I've done lots of centuries (more than 50) on this bike, including three under 4 hours:



In fact, I just returned from a trip on this one where I did 854 miles in 8 days. I usually use conventional spoked wheels though. A great riding bike.

I've also done quite a few on this one:

umd

Just curious, where?

ghsmith54

Natchez Trace Century, Hotter 'n Hell 100, Jalapeno 100 (Harlingen, TX).

bmike

I can add my fixed gear Surly CrossCheck to the list.
Managed a century+ fixed on it last week. Took to some quiet dirt roads in the river valley... had to walk 1 section that was too steep + sand / gravel.
It is loaded up with gear as a shakedown for a self supported 300k I plan through the ADK mountains in about a month. Doubtful I'll ride the FG, but want to be sure of the gear, luggage, etc... so I've been switching it between bikes to get a feel for handling, access, etc.



PDA pic.
More here.

bmike

Better pic, after adding fenders this weekend.