New LHT build
#1
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New LHT build
Just finished this weekend and wanted to share. After waiting 6 weeks, I was finally able to lay hands on a LHT. Gene over at Spicer Cycles gave me an excellent deal on the frame and nearly all the components. Heres the list--
1 Frame--Surly LHT 60 cm blue
2 Crank--sugino 26\36\46 XD300 170mm
3 BB--shimano UN53 113mm sq. taper
4 FD-shimano LX M571 1 1/8 bottom pull
5 RD-shimao LX M580 SGS
6 Cassette-sram pg-950 11-34T
7 Seatpost-salsa shaft
8 Seat-Brooks B17 champion (green/copper)
9 Headset-FSA orbit XLII
10 Fenders-SKS P45 black
11 Front/rear brake-shimano BR-R550 Cantis
12 Front/rear rack-Jandd extreme/expedition
13 Chain-KMC Z9000
14 Handlebar-Nitto classic 45cm
15 Shifters-shimano barcons
16 Brake handles-shimano 105 sti
17 Pedals-speedplay x-5
Yes, I know---the green seat doesnt go very well with the blue paint job. The seat looked darker on the Brooks website. The copper rails look great though.
All parts went together with no help (i.e. large hammer) and took all day sat and till noon today. The frame was treated 3 times--once per day for 3 days with amsoil heavy duty protect. Probably over kill, but good peace of mind. This was done while I waited for the rest of the components to arrive from Spicer.
Rode a 25 mile loop today--rain and all as a test fit. A few handlebar and seat adjustments and it was smooth sailing. Very comfortable and stable. The fit is excellent . My other bike is a Giant OCR tourer that didnt fit quite well (compact frame) and was'nt nearly as good a fit. Its now my beater bike.
I removed the front rack so I could fiddle with the canti--never had one before. The last pic shows a small bit of my BoB. The wheels and tires are mismatched (they're beater wheels I keep around) A new Velocity wheelset is on the way.
Im REALLY going to put some miles on this one!
1 Frame--Surly LHT 60 cm blue
2 Crank--sugino 26\36\46 XD300 170mm
3 BB--shimano UN53 113mm sq. taper
4 FD-shimano LX M571 1 1/8 bottom pull
5 RD-shimao LX M580 SGS
6 Cassette-sram pg-950 11-34T
7 Seatpost-salsa shaft
8 Seat-Brooks B17 champion (green/copper)
9 Headset-FSA orbit XLII
10 Fenders-SKS P45 black
11 Front/rear brake-shimano BR-R550 Cantis
12 Front/rear rack-Jandd extreme/expedition
13 Chain-KMC Z9000
14 Handlebar-Nitto classic 45cm
15 Shifters-shimano barcons
16 Brake handles-shimano 105 sti
17 Pedals-speedplay x-5
Yes, I know---the green seat doesnt go very well with the blue paint job. The seat looked darker on the Brooks website. The copper rails look great though.
All parts went together with no help (i.e. large hammer) and took all day sat and till noon today. The frame was treated 3 times--once per day for 3 days with amsoil heavy duty protect. Probably over kill, but good peace of mind. This was done while I waited for the rest of the components to arrive from Spicer.
Rode a 25 mile loop today--rain and all as a test fit. A few handlebar and seat adjustments and it was smooth sailing. Very comfortable and stable. The fit is excellent . My other bike is a Giant OCR tourer that didnt fit quite well (compact frame) and was'nt nearly as good a fit. Its now my beater bike.
I removed the front rack so I could fiddle with the canti--never had one before. The last pic shows a small bit of my BoB. The wheels and tires are mismatched (they're beater wheels I keep around) A new Velocity wheelset is on the way.
Im REALLY going to put some miles on this one!
#2
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Great job! It’s beautiful. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting the 60 cm LHT frame and swapping out the components from my Jamis Aurora (with the addition of a threadless headset and stem). I’m just under 6’4” with a 34” inseam, how tall are you and how is the stand over clearance on the frame?
#3
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Originally Posted by GiantDave
Just finished this weekend and wanted to share. After waiting 6 weeks, I was finally able to lay hands on a LHT. Gene over at Spicer Cycles gave me an excellent deal on the frame and nearly all the components. Heres the list--
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My R20 project: https://21oaks.net/r20
#4
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Originally Posted by Hawkgrove
Great job! It’s beautiful. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting the 60 cm LHT frame and swapping out the components from my Jamis Aurora (with the addition of a threadless headset and stem). I’m just under 6’4” with a 34” inseam, how tall are you and how is the stand over clearance on the frame?
Here is a shot of my bike.
#5
hello
Nicely done! Yes.....another LHT hits the road.....
Just curious.....why did you choose road pedals for your LHT?
Just curious.....why did you choose road pedals for your LHT?
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Dave- that is a sweet build. Nice pick on your parts. I can spot a Gene Spicer package job anywhere! Just wondering: how come you have STI brifters with bar end shifters? I like the green saddle with the blue bike. It looks good. It is nice to see a brooks in another shade other than honey brown.
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Hawkgrove--Im 6'1" I have about 3/4 of an inch standover height--my inseam is 34.5.
The Fixer--I have bad knees and the speedplays have a lot of float, and the road shoes are comfy for me. On a trip I have easy access to sandles when I have to get off the bike. Love velcro straps on the shoes.
metal cowboy--the sti's are temporary-I forgot I needed different brake handles for the cantis--my other set is long pull for v brakes. Im starting to like the green color on the blue frame more and more.
Everyone--thanks for the comments. Im really excited about this bike. I believe I choose fairly decent components and all seems to be in sync. Was very suprised the chainline was perfect--no rubs and all combinations work. This is the first bike I've had the ability to use all the gear combos. The gear inches are 20 and 100--perfect for me. Gonna go to eagle creek park this weekend and hopefully dust some roadies!
Appologies to the 56k people!
The Fixer--I have bad knees and the speedplays have a lot of float, and the road shoes are comfy for me. On a trip I have easy access to sandles when I have to get off the bike. Love velcro straps on the shoes.
metal cowboy--the sti's are temporary-I forgot I needed different brake handles for the cantis--my other set is long pull for v brakes. Im starting to like the green color on the blue frame more and more.
Everyone--thanks for the comments. Im really excited about this bike. I believe I choose fairly decent components and all seems to be in sync. Was very suprised the chainline was perfect--no rubs and all combinations work. This is the first bike I've had the ability to use all the gear combos. The gear inches are 20 and 100--perfect for me. Gonna go to eagle creek park this weekend and hopefully dust some roadies!
Appologies to the 56k people!
#8
hello
Originally Posted by GiantDave
I forgot I needed different brake handles for the cantis--my other set is long pull for v brakes.
#9
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Originally Posted by The Fixer
Actually, I run 287-V levers with standard old cantis on my LHT. Slightly less mechanical advantage but the lever action feels nice and firm due to the rapid cable pull rate of these V-brake levers. And my brakes are effective. You can somewhat compensate this leverage of your levers by using longer straddle cables on the cantis.
#10
hello
Originally Posted by GiantDave
Hmmmm. I'll give it a try. Others have said there would be too much pull and that the pads would have to be set real close to the rim to work.
The only reason I'm using V brake levers is because that's all I had laying around at the time I built up my LHT and I personally have no problem braking with this setup. However, it does require a little more finger power to apply the brakes. I know using standard brake levers will be a bit more effective and easy on your hands and if and when I come across a set of standard levers, I might switch them.
Last edited by roadfix; 03-13-06 at 04:16 PM.
#12
No one carries the DogBoy
Am I the only one that really likes the blue better than the green? (I like the green too, but I REALLY like the blue).
Very nice bike!
Very nice bike!
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I told Gene at Spicer to get me the frame in any color he could get. Was secretly hoping for the pea green, but the blue is pretty awesome, so Im happy.
#14
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Originally Posted by metal_cowboy
Do yourself a favor and get a 62cm frame. I am 6'4" with a 34" inseam and I ride a 62cm LHT. The fit is good. If they made a 63 or 64cm frame I would buy it, but as it is, the 62cm frame is working good.
Here is a shot of my bike.
Here is a shot of my bike.
My Point: I do like a slightly smaller stand over height (I'm a mountain biker at heart), which is why I prefered the smaller sizes in he Veloce and the San Jose. However on a Long Haul Trucker, the standover heights with the 58 and 60 cm versions are well below the 60 cm San Jose, which put the top tube pretty close to deez nuts.
My Question: Seeing as how I'm mostly leg (i.e. I'm not 6'4", I'm 6'2"!), and since you have a built LHT in front of you, would it be better to get a larger frame, at the expense of standover height? I can understand that I'll be in the saddle more often than standing over the top tube, but it's still a concern. Thanks!
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Well, the folks over at rivendell recomend a bigger frame than your used to.. I asked Gene at Spicer to get either a 60 or 62cm because I fall in between the 2 sizes. Not real scientific, Im sorry to say. I remeasured the stand over and its .6 inches (3/5in). Im satisfied with the 60cm. The difference in stand over between the 60 and 62 is only 17.6mm according to the surly site. Thats using a ruffy tuffy 700x28. All things considered, go for the 62 and be happy.
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Your new bike looks fantastic. I would be jealous if mine didn't look even better! They are almost twins.
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Originally Posted by wsexson
Your new bike looks fantastic. I would be jealous if mine didn't look even better! They are almost twins.
I see you went with the silver fenders--looks good! I havent seen any other blue frames with that combo. Kinda wish I'd of gone all silver instead of black (I have very little in the way of color coordination). If I may ask--what brand of racks and bottle cages are those? They look great!
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Originally Posted by GiantDave
I see you went with the silver fenders--looks good! I havent seen any other blue frames with that combo. Kinda wish I'd of gone all silver instead of black (I have very little in the way of color coordination). If I may ask--what brand of racks and bottle cages are those? They look great!
After I picked Sugino XD300 cranks I decided to do everything silver except the racks and handlebars. I had a black seatpost taken from another bike and got a black Salsa stem because it was cheap. I stripped the anodizing off them with lye and aluminum polish.
#19
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wsexson-
you cannot mount that front rack in that manner, there will be too much flex and the bolts will either loosen or snap at the mid-blade eyelet.
You will need to mount that rack with the U-bolts supplied, or use another rack that is designed for mid-blade eyelets. My favorite is the Blackburn lowrider, which yours is a copy of, but the blackburn has no front hoop and has struts to BOTH sides of the leg on each leg.
Just an FYI, but this comes from some "*****, the rack fell off" type experience.
you cannot mount that front rack in that manner, there will be too much flex and the bolts will either loosen or snap at the mid-blade eyelet.
You will need to mount that rack with the U-bolts supplied, or use another rack that is designed for mid-blade eyelets. My favorite is the Blackburn lowrider, which yours is a copy of, but the blackburn has no front hoop and has struts to BOTH sides of the leg on each leg.
Just an FYI, but this comes from some "*****, the rack fell off" type experience.
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Originally Posted by velotimbe
wsexson-
you cannot mount that front rack in that manner, there will be too much flex and the bolts will either loosen or snap at the mid-blade eyelet.
[...]
you cannot mount that front rack in that manner, there will be too much flex and the bolts will either loosen or snap at the mid-blade eyelet.
[...]
wsesxon's pic is a jpeg, so maybe there's not enough resolution to see what's the issue....
-- Mark
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Originally Posted by velotimbe
you cannot mount that front rack in that manner, there will be too much flex and the bolts will either loosen or snap at the mid-blade eyelet.
I take it that your Blackburn low riders look something like the attached photo?
Last edited by wsexson; 03-22-06 at 11:00 AM.
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Originally Posted by EmmCeeBee
voltimbe, can you elaborate? I don't see a mounting problem [...] that's the way I've got my Blackburn mounted.
Originally Posted by wsexson
I take it that your Blackburn low riders look something like the attached photo?
There's nothing wrong with the way wsesxon has mounted his lowrider, that's the design, and proven for thousands of miles.... The new Blackburn design might be more stable and certainly less dorky looking, but the old hoop design keeps the rack from flexing.
-- Mark
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Originally Posted by EmmCeeBee
Ahhh, I see. Blackburn's lowrider design has changed, I never even knew.
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Originally Posted by RiotBoi
erm, why do you have brifters and bar end shifters?