26" Long Haul Trucker on gravel
 

Any opinions on the Surly LHT on extended gravel roads (service, fire, backcountry). I maybe picked one up tomorrow at a great discount (2016 26inch wheel)


Currently looking at not much more than 100 plus kms of gravel section but would like to do more.

Tires are what its about for gravel. Or at least they are real important you can find whatever you need in 559.

Can you fit 2" tires ? Or wider?

There is gravel and there is gravel. Some of the gravel trails near my home, I want to use the widest mountain bike tire that I can fit on the bike, but some of the gravel trails that have well maintained packed gravel are easily done with a road tire that has some tread on it.

it depends

like as been said, there is gravel and there is gravel. There is bike weight to take into consideration, as well as rider experience and bike handling skills.

and according to surly themselves.....

https://surlybikes.com/blog/post/tir...ur_surly_frame

but yes, folks have been riding lht's over all kinds of gravel successfully, but yes also, it depends.

The LHT is an amazing world touring bike designed to handle a wide range of roads with a full load and to be comfortable and stable doing it. Like most dedicated touring bikes it excels at this but if you are not carrying a load there are bikes that are more fun to ride, even on gravel. If you like Surly, I have a Surly Crosscheck that is great on gravel, and can still be used for touring but is, in my opinion, more fun to ride. My friend says the same about his Surly Straggler.

I know people who have literally circled the globe on LHT's and it was the best bike for it. It may be the right bike for you if you are going to be loaded up for most of your riding. If not, there are so many other bikes out there that are fun to ride long distances on gravel.

Before making your decision, I would ride the LHT and try a few others as well to be sure you are getting the right bike for you.

I did take it for a ride yesterday and thought it was really comfy (I have brooks saddle on hanging on the wall waiting for it). having heard and read that its a bit of a bore I was surprised how responsive it was. The 52 frame fits like a glove, normally I ride 54. I enjoyed the lax 26.

I have cabin in among small mountains in Cape Breton with 100s of kms of roads and trails, there could be be better suited bikes but I also want to tour and its a deep discount (2000 CAD on for $1250).

Current bikes are Marinoni Special, Cannondale CAADX commuter setup, Raleigh Safari (winter beater).

Good Price! I see you also have a Marinoni. I have one O just need to overhaul for spring (still snow here)

Put 2 inch tires on it and you're good to go on pavement or gravel.
I rode mine across the US--> mostly pavement & some gravel.
Also rode to the top of Alaska (Dead Horse,AK)--> lotsa gravel and pavement too.

http://ziligy.com/photos/posts/LHTGlacier.jpg
I was running 26x2.0" Schwalbe Marathon XRs

Not all gravel is the same..
 

Gravel ,in the building trades, at least, has specifications ... 1/4 minus is small stones ... about 1/4" & less ..


Mud consistency types gets different names in cyclocross and snow in skiing ..

Enjoy the ride past the ends of the paved world...







....

As another Canadian , that's worth getting. I have read that the 26 wheeled one is livelier than the 700 one,
Added bonus is lower gearing, more room for fenders and less toe overlap.

Good luck in your decision

The simple answer to the question is yes. The more complicated answer is Yes, if you have good tires.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a2a3cdc6eb.jpg

Trucker don't give a s***. Continental Traffic 26x2.1 is an awesome all-surface tire IMO and experience.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e239d89944.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7c543c07a3.jpg

a great deal, a touring bike AND a pooch
now there's a bargain.

and in all seriousness, even if you find you aren't crazy about it, if you take care of it properly and keep everything clean and not scratched, you could easily resell it for what you bought it for.

Matches the dog. :thumb:

Just noticed that the brakes are not standard issue cantis. Did you buy it new?

More than one happy family member!

Congrats!

if you do end up setting it up to do trails and such, you can always use small flexible fenders like these ones, available at MEC, for both front and rear.

the rear ones are great, use two of them and zip tie them to under the rack extending a bit out back, and overlap one that goes from rack down the seat tube to stop mud and grit going all over the front derailleur.
the small front one isnt perfect, but still light and somewhat effective (I havent used this one myself, but I have had the rear ones on a bike for probably 15 years)

rear
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/4000-4...flector-Shield


front
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/1807-4...flector-Shield

Thanks for posting, I think I need one or two of those rear ones. I am planning a Canada trip, I planned to stop at a MEC for stove fuel. My last trip, fenders stayed at home because too hard to pack in my S&S case. I might be able to pack a full size front fender and I have a spare one that I planned on trying to fit in the case, but I had not decided what to do yet on the rear. Was thinking of some ugly Coroplast, but that one looks much better.

drop bars too! fun!

dont know if you can see in the photos, but the sides have a crimped, fold to them, that makes a bit of a "curved down" sort of shape. This "fold" is what helps them keep their shape and in place, and can be bent and banged and go back to their shape.
This fold also helps in the downtube part, to help deflect stuff away from the fd, although it isnt perfect like I mentioned, but a lightweight and tough solution thats better than nothing.
Use electric tape of course on frame to stop zip tie rubs.

maybe check out the mec if they have them in stock, thats all.

Thanks for the advice. But I looked at my rear racks (I am undecided which rack to use this year) and both might not work well with that deflector shield. Those rear light brackets that Tubus and Racktime weld on the back would interfere and I do not want to cut those brackets off. So, considering other options. As a reminder, I could not get fenders into my S&S case for my last trip, fenders stayed at home. So, I am looking for an option that will fit in my luggage.

I know a guy that has an old mountain bike as a commuter. A few weeks ago I saw he had added some fenders, two front fenders. Yup, a front fender on the rear, it was pretty obvious that the fender on the rear was a front fender when the front end of the fender only extended half way from the seatstay bridge down to the chainstay bridge. He said they were only $5 each at a local bike charity.

That got me to thinking that I might be able to fit two front fenders into my luggage where a rear did not fit, that is the option I am now considering. I have a bit over two months to decide what to do. And if that does not work, then likely to zip tie on some Coroplast in the back. I already have one used front fender that I plan to use.

Thanks again. I still plan to stop at that MEC store for stove fuel, the internet says they have the Deflector in stock, so it still might end up being a plan B.