Originally Posted by
quester
23rd wedding anniversary.
Note that I'm a big guy, 6'2", >250, and I plan on doing the Northern Tier on this bike (in the past I've done the west coast, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc.) My LHT is aging, getting noiser, and shimmies at high speed.
I'd like disc, and I wouldn't mind S&S couplers. I know, this points me towards co-motion. Are their bikes relatively stiff, i.e. for a big guy?
So far, planning to check out rivendell, co-motion, seven, bruce gordon blt-x.
Personally, I'd buy a Cannondale T2, replace all the parts with quality stuff that is chosen for it's ruggedness and/or it's ease of fixing on the road, and then spend the rest of the money (around $2000) on the best and lightest touring gear I could find.
Oh, wait. I've already done that
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Frame Complete bike
Headset Red Chris King
Front Derailer Stock
Rear Derailer XTR
Front wheel Phil Wood/Mavic
Rear wheel Phil Wood/Mavic
Handle bar Salsa Bell lap
Seatpost Race Face
Saddle Brooks B17N
Crank Race Face Turbine
Bottom Bracket Race Face
Pedals Shimano 520
Cassette Sram
Brakes Pual brakes/moon unit
Stem Salsa Moto
Levers/shifter Shimano 105
Rack, rear Tubus Cargo
Rack, front Tubus Tara
Tape Cinelli/Fiz:k
red bits Purely Custom
Pump Topeak
Headset spacers stock
Computer mount Sigma
Bottle cages King cages
The only thing I'd like to change about my Cannondale is the crank. An XT mountain bike crank is dead simple to work on and install but the Raceface Turbine crank can take a 20 tooth inner ring so the low is nicer.
The Cannondale is a really good bike for those of us on the...um...larger side. The death wobble you are getting from your LHT is likely from a top tube that is too long and not stiff enough for the weight it is carrying.