bikerlee

What parts did you build with? From Surly's website: Weight: 58cm = 5.15 lbs. (2.34 kg)
Fork - uncut = 2.25 lbs. (1.02 kg)
Regards,
Lee

cyccommute 

I was basing the cost on what I would consider a fair amount of time for removal of parts from one bike and putting it on another, adjusting the brakes and derailers, adjusting wheels if necessary, retaping the bars, etc. I would estimate, at a minimum, 4 hours and possibly more. Considering that a shop has to make a profit, I would consider $150 to be low although my estimate is probably high also.

As for it being a flat rate job, I wouldn't know. Most shops wouldn't have even thought of a parts swap, much less come up with a flat rate for doing it.

cyccommute 

It's been several years since I bought a complete build kit but that one cost me around $900 for everything (wheels, controls, crank, etc.) for an LX/XT mix. Since that was 6 or 7 years ago and I figured that the shop would have to charge full retail (I got mine elsewhere) the cost would be rather high. The $2300 that Aadils payed for his seemed about right to me. Since then, we have been given other information that leads me to believe that the shop is just going to order the frame and strip the parts off of a bike they probably have in the shop (the extra $1000 seems to indicate that) and sell the customer basically 2 bikes. They aren't ripping her off, to me it is a clever way of keeping her costs reasonable. It sounds like this shop may be a real gem.

RegL

Hi all! I am the one who is interested in getting the touring bike (friend of bluesref). Came to a meeting of the minds with my LBS - he now understands I am *not* going to buy the Cannondale, having spent several very painful years on the back of a Cannondale tandem. Yes, yes, I heard from him all about how "rough" it is on the back of tandems, and how the harshness has been engineered out of the Cannondale frames, but I don't have $1,600 to experiment. I told the LBS that his $1,700 price estimate was more than I want to spend, and he came back with $1,540 not including the seat or pedals, which I am providing. Sold!

I have the Surly LHT on order in black cherry pearl (yowsa) with all black components: Deore crankset 22-32-44, 11-34 Shimano LX cassette (lowest gear is 16.1 inches - sweet, highest 99.5), Shimano splined BB, Tektro Oryx cantilever brakes, Ultegra STI brifters, Deore LX hubs with Mavic XM317 32 hole rims, 26" wheels, 52 cm frame, Ritchey Scuzzy headset, 3T forma handlebars. Still to pic - *just the right* handlebar tape to complement the black cherry paint and black components.

Next: which panniers and racks to buy? So far, I am taken with the Jandd Mountain Expedition and Arkel panniers. Any recommendations?

Thanks for your posts, and watch for a pic of the built up Surly!

Reg

mtnroads

Congratulations on your new bike setup! You probably made a wise choice. I just picked up a Cannondale T800 and can already tell that it is a bit more harsh when unloaded than my Trek 520, but I'm assuming it will smooth out nicely with a full load. I have Jandd packs for my all terrain touring and commuting bike - the Mtn in front and Large Mtn in the rear. They are extremely well made and rugged, and tie the load down very well so things don't rattle around. They also make excellent commuting bags as they attach securely and would be difficult for someone to remove. By the same token, the mounting system is a bit tedious and could be a bit of a hassle if you are touring where you need to remove them from the bike regularly for some reason. BTW, the Jandd Expedition panniers are huge - not sure why you would need that much space if using front panniers also, as you should for proper weight distribution.

coconut in IA

Might be a little to late but I had mine ordered and built up for me for arounf 1400 from my shop. After that I added a new brooks saddle and so on but it's been worth every dime.

cyccommute 

I'm glad you found your bike. I love my Cannondale but I would never suggest it for anyone who doesn't want the stiffest bike you can probably find. I don't mind the ride but then I'm an old guy that rides hardtail mountain bikes too

For racks, the absolute sweetest ones are the Tubus. The Cargo is strong as an ox and the Tara (front rack- you need a front rack by the way) is the prettiest front rack around. Both can be purchased from Wayne at The Touring Store. Wayne is really nice but he will talk your ear off The only problem with the Tubus is they are expensive - about $100 each.

For bags, I'm partial to Ortliebs, which you can also get from Wayne. I have 2 sets of Front Rollers and Back Rollers. I like them for their simplicity and their waterproofness. Some people like bags with lots of pockets and doodads but I don't. Pockets, in my opinion, just cry out for you to fill them. Whatever bags you get, don't make the mistake of getting the largest bag you can. Again, that bag just cries out to be filled so you end up carrying far more stuff than you need. My bags are 40L for the rear per pair and 25L per pair for the front which is more then enough space for a solo unsupported tour. And the cheery yellow color nicely offsets my dreary black bike

jens5

I Have about that much in my LHT. It depends on parts one is using. Start adding high end racks like Tubus,Surly,Bruce Gordon. Phil hubs and/or Bottom bracket,Campy parts,Brooks saddle,Crank,etc. Just a set of wheels can be upwards of $800 or more.
It adds up. https://surlylht.blogspot.com/

Richard

RegL

Here 'tis for your viewing pleasure - my new Surly Long Haul Trucker, with Hobbes, my ferocious puttycat! 29 pounds (the bike of course) including rack and fenders. By the way, the black cherry pearl paint color is very nice. What an amazingly comfortable ride, and I actually have 27 usable gears (no grinding!) ranging from 16.1 to 99.5 gear inches. For most of my local riding in the Binghamton NY area, it hasn't been necessary to use the granny gear because the middle chainring takes me down to 23.4 gear inches (unbelievable!) I've been commuting to work this week on it, and am looking forward to touring this summer. Thanks for sharing your comments and prices with me! Reg

eric von zipper

richard, very nice bike. how do you like the Shwalbe Marathon XT tires. what type of handle bar tape is that?

Mentor58

I just got a LHT, transfered all the parts over from my 'dale Silk Tour T800. (the old one with the headshok fork). Cost was about 500 with tax (10% in tennessee), and then just the usual consumable, bar tape, cables, etc. I have found the ride to be much smoother than the 'dale, and as for weight, My LHT (56 cm) with tubus cargo rack, Brooks B-17, Shimano 520 pedals, couple of bottle cages comes in at 26.5 pounds according to my scale. (digital bathroom scale, weighing myself holding the bike). That is lighter than the 'dale (headshok is HEAVY), and if memory serves me, right about the same weight as my Volpe, with fenders and the lightweight tubus rack (juno I think).

I can understand why folks love them so much.

Steve W

wsexson

My 62cm LHT weighs about 30lbs including fenders, front and rear racks, bottle cages, pedals - no cargo. I made no effort at all to reduce the weight and the only reasonably light part used on mine is the saddle so I am sure that you could build one to be quite a bit less than 30 without a whole lot of effort.

Mentor58

I'm curious, what's the setup on your gearing? I know, I could go to Sheldon Browns Amazing Online Gear Calculator and figure it out, but I'm lazy. I'm running a 44*32*22 with an 11-32 cluster, but have always been a gear-head back to the days of the 'Half-Step with Granny'.

Steve W.
Who has a kitty helping him post today.

bkrownd

Plus they have all those tools you don't want to spend a fortune on and may hardly ever use again, and the little parts and supplies you may not even know you need.

saanichbc

Like others have said, of course they'd rather push the Cannondale onto her. It's in stock. However, one can build up an LHT to whatever exotic level they wish to, depending upon the level of components that they put on it. Keep in mind that if she does by a pre-built bike like the Cannondale, by the time she may end up swapping out parts to personalize the bike to her liking, what would end up costing more in the long run? Of course it's heavier; it's a true touring bike. I love it when bike shop experts place that kind of an opinion on them. Anyway, she'll probably end up taking their advice, and getting the Cannondale in the end anyway. Typical for a newbie cycle tourist to do that. That's how the majority of us learned.