By traditional, I meant tried and true head and seat tube angles and resulting predictable and comfortable handling. Traditions get that way for a reason, they work.
Actually, the Salsa Casseroll has a sloping top tube, as does the Soma Smoothie (but not the Smoothie ES).

I picked up a 2006 Fuji Team Pro, all carbon, Ultegra components with Durace rear D on closeout for 1500 dollars. That was less than 1/2 retail. Ride a bunch of bikes before you pull the trigger but carbon is nice.

Get the Rivendell you dream about and never look back. You only go around once. So far as we know for sure.

So George, this thread reads like you are going to make the step to a drop bar road bike. Is that true? Are you now confident that you will be comfortable on one (read that - that your wrists will tolerate riding on the hoods)?

I'm only now contemplating moving to a flat bar road bike, the place where you and T-man are presently. Not at all sure I can deal with it, without moving the bar position up and back a lot.

I think I'll probably riding my Coda for a while yet, but you are right, everytime I look at drop bars I think of my wrist and elbows. That where the big hangup is, I could have bought a dropbar road bike, before I got the Coda. I guess it's telling me something, if I buy the new bike, whatever it is, I'll always have it in my mind, that I just may get hit again with the RA and be down. It hits so fast people just don't know. Just think 18 months ago I couldn't open a jar of peanut butter. So I guess I should just count my blessings, at this time. Thanks for all the help and making me more aware of it again. Once in a while I still have problems. In fact when I did my birthday ride ( a little early) my elbows were swelled up for 3 days after. Good thing I did it when I could. I can really say that these trekking bars help me a lot. When I want to stretch out or sit bolt upright it's there. Anyhow I'm rambling, have a good one and thanks again.

I just picked up the 2006 Giant TCR C2...love the bike and the setup...the only thing that I don't love is the red part of the frame. Would you guys keep it if the only thing you could say you don't like about your bike is the color on a 3rd of the frame?

When I bought my used Trek 7600 for $250, I hesitated because it was red. All red. I doubt I will ever develop much of an emotional attachment to it because it is red. But as it was otherwise the perfect bike at a great price, I went ahead with the purchase.

Now if I was buying the bike of my dreams and it was red, I would have a real hard time with that. Don't know if I would or would not. In your case, as it is only 1/3rd red, and if you love it, and if the price is right, then I suspect I would keep it and then try not to think much about that part of my bike. Plus there's a good chance that the color schema will "grow on you" over time.

Believe it or not, I'm still pondering the Cannondale. I'm going to take it for a ride tomorrow.

While you are there- get the shop to take a picture of you on the bike- Then some of the "Experts" can tell if it is the bike for you. Only way I will be able to tell is by the grin on your face and how fast the hand is reaching for the wallet.

Have a good test ride- and if possible- try a hill or 6. That will tell if you can get the bike to work for you. Any one can go fast on a flat road.

You get a bike with only one colour on it- But then the problem comes about on the ancilliaries- Do you go Chrome-Aluminium or Black?

The only thing I've been pushing is to try out a number of them, just to be sure that you end up with the one that you really want. Of course, I don't expect you to try out as many as I have!

Sorry there ain't no hills here.

George: This is your conscience speaking. If you do not get the Rivendell you dream of, I will haunt you from here on out, every time you so much as look at a bicycle.

George, do you ride something close to a 60cm?

Interested in a Serotta Ti bike?

https://cgi.ebay.com/Serotta-Fierte-T...QQcmdZViewItem

You'll never guess what happened since I posted that. Gene Spicer called, that's the guy I gave you the number for and he's getting a price together, for the Long Haul Trucker. He said, he thought the Cannondale may be a little to much for me. I said, are you saying I'm getting to old, he just laughed. Anyhow, I'll see what happens, I told him I'm in no hurry, he said I'd have the price by tomorrow. Now my question is, I'm I going to gain that much over what I have now? Is it worth the extra $1200 or $1500 ?

Have you ever ridden a LHT?

When I look at the pics, those hoods look like they are sooooo far out there - even with that more upright stem. Of course as I am a declared anti-road biker, my take on this doesn't mean much.

I know it is designed to be a comfortable touring bike and so that seems to be aligned with what you've thinking about.

Pssssssssssssssssst: Specialized Roubaix. Just sayin'

Hi Tom, he said I can be as upright as I want, I told him I'm at about 65 or 70 degrees with the bike I have now and he said that we should be able to do that. I will do somemore checking on everything, but at this time every size they make are out of stock. That tells me something, but if it don't happen, you can't say I didn't try. Gary, I checked on the Specialized Roubaix and took one for a short ride around the lot and that wasn't long enough for me, but it was the all carbon one and I can tell you, that is one sweet bike. They said the Cannondale and Trek Pilot are all pretty much the same. How are you doing with back and hand pain, I hope well, but I always have that in my mind when looking at other bikes. I really think I may be able to make this work. The main thing is what Tom said, where can I test ride one. That's a real stick in the mud. Anyhow, he said the bike would run $985.

George, these days my back is fine, knee is fine, wallet is empty, and the Anxiety Index is slowly rising as I contemplate my first few rides clipless, when the darn M520's get restocked.

Don't forget to look into those multi release clips for your shoes. I think they are really worth the $20. If you have to panic stop they'll pop right out, take my word for it

I'm already working on your obit, in case it is needed.

You wouldn't want that to be a hack job.

With all due respect...shutup, Tom.

George, you are all over the place as to what kind of bike you are looking for (sounds kind of like me ).
At that price I would guess he is talking about the complete bike package that Surly delivers, as opposed to a custom build from a frame. Nothing at all wrong with that as the parts mix on their package looks very good, especially for the price. You have talked before about doing loaded touring. The LHT looks like a very good choice for that. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think when you get to try one.

About demand for the LHT, here is something from the Surly site:
https://www.surlybikes.com/surlyblog.html
Friday, July 06, 2007
Long Haul Trucker complete bikes just arrived in stock. According to our fancy computer, it appears like there is significant demand for these and we know many of you have been patiently waiting for them while they've been out of stock. So if you want one now, order one now. I hate high pressure sales as much as you, but this isn't something you'll want to ponder over for a week. Now you know.

Hi George,
I looked it up and it goes for $985 which I think it a good price for that set up. The only specs I see are:
Surly Long Haul Trucker complete touring bikes.

Long Haul Trucker
Sizes 54 and smaller have 26" wheels. sizes 56 and larger have 700c wheels
Ritchey logic headset
Kalloy stem, Zoom handlebar with cork tape
Tektro levers and cantilever brakes
Shimano BL77 9-speed bar end shifters
Shimano XT rear derailleur, Tiagra front
Sugino XD600 Crankset
Shimano UN53 BB
Shimano XT hubs, Alex Adventurer rims, 36 hole
WTB Slickasaurus 700x35 or 26x1.5
Deore 9-speed cassette 11-34
Kalloy seatpist, Velo saddle
Complete info

Frame Size: 58.0 cm
Color: Blue
Weight:
Catalog Page: 93

Invoice Description: Surly Long Haul Trucker 58cm complete bike, blue
Manufacturer Part Number: LHTBikeBlue58
Estimated Arrival Date: 09/07/07

It is showing out of stock and that is why it does not show on my page. All sizes are out so it is popular. I added to an item watch so I will know when available.
So if you make a decision on it I would have to jump as soon as available. Right now it says 33 people are waiting on it.
This link will not work if you click but if you cut and paste it may take you to at least see it on the page.
https://parts.spicercycles.com/page.c...ils&sku=BK0658 It was suppose to be in stock 7-9 so I bet available any day now.

Here is the surly site:
https://www.surlybikes.com/longhaul.html

thanks,
gene



The only thing that bothers me and I don't know if it should are the barend shifters.

Shouldn't in my opinion. I prefer them to brifters. If you don't like the bar ends, you could always sell them and the brake levers and buy brifters. But I would try them first.

BTW, the LHT design borrows heavily from the Rivendell Atlantis. Cheaper tubing and no lugs, but otherwise very similar.