collings

just my story and opinion..... I've toured on a Safari and an LHT .... I loved the Safari (stolen ) the LHT (54") I could never quite dial in... felt sluggish and tiring to ride.... maybe wrong sizing ?
But, Here's my new Crosscheck..... and I friggin Love it !!! ready to build and go.

collings

BTW..... in all my tours, I've never used a 3rd low gear (even in the rockies). I think it's an equilibrium, as my LHT when fully decked out was sooo heavy. I'm shaving weight here, Might not even need a front rack, and who uses that third water cage anyway ? I have a small camel back. Granted I'm not planning on any extended, international tours in the near future (my needs may change) .... but like I said, it's my experience .... and the crosscheck is kicking ass. Also... I chose the the 54" LHT for the 26's .. my check is a 56" with 700's ... again maybe just sizing...... just thought I'd be a brave voice here ... and say I didn't like my LHT .

LeeG

My LHT is 56cm,,my Crosscheck is 56cm. Maybe you should have got a 56cm LHT???

OhMyGod,,you've got the very rare left side drivetrain Crosscheck!!


Judging from the setup on your Crosscheck you must have been hanging over the front end on the LHT. I'm setting up the crossheck with a small front rack. If I put on a rear one it won't be for carrying panniers.

AKRider435

There's no such thing as a bike (or anything else for that matter) that is supposed to be "IT" for everybody. Glad you found what works for you. Trial and error seem to be good teachers, for me anyway. I'm about to build a LHT, because I rode one and liked it at my LBS, but if it doesn't work for me in the long term, it is only an object and I cannot get attached to it so much that I would hesitate to get rid of it and try something else. I almost went for a Safari, by the way. Sharp looking bike, but it seemed a little on the heavy side.

collings

thank you LeeG, congratulations, very good to know......you have both bikes ? you're cool !!!!!

LeeG

yes, it's true

SteveJ

Is it just me or are the cranks on the wrong side?

collings

Ooooookaaay. I'm off, on wed. to tour the enchanted circle in New Mexico, I'll let you know how it goes. hey, Mr. grumpy... why not ride instead of trying to prove you're the sh*t. this is the touring forum, not the fixed gear cool factor. everybody I've ever met while touring has been friendly and interesting, what's with you ??? gear head ********** get out and ride !!!!! there's good people out on the road...... tour.... that's we're talking about....

John Nelson

And the even rarer reverse lettering.

valygrl

Please do let us hear about that tour! Is that the loop around Taos? It's really pretty there, I was there for like a millisecond before the Santa Fe century and really wanted to ride that loop.

AKRider435

Who is Mr. Grumpy? Did I miss something?

brianogilvie 

I was wondering that too. The post must have been deleted. Either that or collings is hallucinating posts!

collings

sorry gals and guys.... deleted post. yes I took the photo with the camera on my laptop..... must have reversed in the capture..... wasn't expecting the criticism from leeG just for buying the crosscheck and liking it more than the LHT.... like I said, its just my story and experience..... btw.... I tried to start a thread a while back about getting a prof. fit for touring... interesting... it didn't take..... You'd think .... with the threads about pains while riding tours.... people would be interested in tour fitting. Again, my story and exp. ..... I found a LBS, small mom and pop.... but they fitted me for the check, its like day and night.... like they said ..... body types ... and AKrider435.... you said it best.
I guess I just want to put it out there and say the LHT isn't for everybody and it's OK......

AKRider435

Yeah, coolaid drinkers are funny, regardless of the flavor. Let us know how the trip goes, I love reading about other people's rides, it inspires me to get further into it. Time (for me) is always the factor, though. Safe travels!

bugly64

I have a Cross Check now, but when I get back to the States I am getting a lht. Also, I am getting Pugsley because it snows a lot in Cheyenne Wy. All I need to do is buy the frames. I wonder if Surly will give me group discount.

slm409

Collins - thanks for the post and for the comments on your fitting - I'm interested to hear more. I just recently bought a LHT with which I'm very happy. I'm planning a Michigan to Iowa tour (western Michigan cost, ferry crossing to Wisconsin, then Wisconsin to Iowa) in a few weeks with friends and am considering a custom fitting session. The bike fits fine, but given age (45) and spending 6-8 hours biking a day I figure it is worth the cabbage to get a professional fit and optimize the experience. There is a LBS in Holland MI that offers the service and I think I'll check it out. Anyone else had a professional fit done on their tourer? Was it worth it?

Have fun on your ride!

Hot Rod Lincoln

Dude, don't worry. I bought a CrossCheck just for touring. Fitted it with a Brooks B17, Nitto Campee front and rear racks, Ortliebs and a HB bag. Ready to go. I love it and ride it more than all of my other bikes combined

LeeG

My apologies Collings, I thought you were playing a game so I played along. I didn't see the blasphemy in getting rid of an illfitting LHT for a bike the fits your needs. That's why I said I had both bikes, the Crosscheck is a much more fun around town bike and the LHT is more of a straight line Greyhound bus.

collings

LeeG, all is cool. My apologies too.... interesting though, this thread is turning to a forum for fitting a bike for touring needs.... I'm glad. Touring bikes do have different needs when fitting.... I did ride a 56" LHT.... and have heard it said that sizing amongst different surly models does vary quite a bit due to the overall geometry of the bikes. After 500 miles on my LHT.... it just wasn't working for me.... I've been fitted before .... always a different criteria.... touring is still niche and wondered why I'm not on the band wagon for this much revered bike.... I rode a FUJI touring.... felt better ... at half the price .. but still perplexed. Comfortable touring usually has a more upright posture and (w/ brooks) a slightly nose up saddle tilt. Got my crosscheck from Greentree in Denver ...... and its been amazing..... (better than the custom Nobilette I rode there) maybe its just me, my symetry and that particular bike. Anyway, love to hear more about tour specific fittings ......

AKRider435

me too, I'm still pretty new to all of this, and most everything (as I said before) is trial and error for me. I'd like to know more about fitting a bike. Like, what is TT? for instance.

collings

btw.. enchanted tour postponed to friday.... serpentine belt replacement,,,, damn if im not about to join the "living car free" forum (we're riding from pueblo, CO.)

Garthr

I must have missed that chapter in my "Manual of Life" that stated a Surly was the frame by which all others were judged

stevage

>and who uses that third water cage anyway ?

Me. Once the other two bottles are empty, I stop and transfer water from the mud-encrusted bottom bottle. Underneath the BB seems like the absolutely perfect location to store weight, and water is pretty damn dense.

Steve

lubers

I do also, I use it to store all my tools and spare tube, I use a Cage Rocket and it works great.

LeeG

In my manual of Life a 1967 5spd Schwinn Collegiate is the bike frame by which all others are judged.