Originally Posted by RegularGuy
The Surly Long Haul Trucker came along and looked like a deal. It would be fun, I thought, to build up a bike from frame and fork. Still the price was enough to make me hesitate. Then I saw the Nashbar Touring Frame in their catalog. A steel-forked aluminum knock-off of the LHT, it was introduced at $250.00. It had all the braze-ons I required, 135 mm rear drop out spacing, cantilever brake mounts and a threadless stem.
I had three reservations. 1. It’s aluminum. 2. It’s Nashbar. 3. For $250.00 how good could it be?
I think a Brooks saddle would help the harshness of the Alu frame. Can you imagine how many Nashbar would have sold if the frame was a Reynolds 525??
Anyway. What saddle and handle bar tape your going to use?? If I were you, I'd choose a dark green handlebar tape and a Brooks saddle in Racing Green!! I really don't know what else goes with green but I suppose a burgendy saddle and tape would go well.