spencejm

I'm probably jumping the gun but I tend to stew over things. I've pretty much made up my mind on a Surly LHT but it looks like I fall right in between the 54cm and 56cm frames. As most of you probably know, the 54 comes with 26" wheels while the 56 has 700. I'm going in Monday to be checked out on some adjustable everything bike to make sure which frame size will fit me best. One of the mechanics, while admitting it's just personal choice, said if it was him he'd buy a different bike rather than go with 26" wheels. Almost all of my riding will be done on road and either unloaded or very lightly loaded. I know I can get good slicks in 26" but it seems like there is more choice in the smaller width tires with a 700. Is there a reason why I should or shouldn't WANT 26" wheels? I can always go with a Trek 520, I've just become smitten with the Surly.

Thanks for any help.

Joe

roadfix

Why the LHT if using it for unloaded or lightly loaded?

vik 

If you want 700c wheels and you fit the smaller frame you could get a Cross Check?

spencejm

Based on my original post, that's a darned good question. It almost is more of a feeling but here's the reasoning. At my current fitness level most of my riding is 30 miles and under. I don't see myself doing multi-day trips since my wife doesn't ride and most of my friends that actually ride (but who I really don't ride with much) ride "performance" bikes. I want to be able to go out on a Saturday or Sunday for 50 or 60 miles through the country side with a lot of my camera gear, including tripod, strapped to the bike and be able to do that comfortably. I want a triple chainring and I want MTB gearing. The touring bike just sounded like it fit the bill. I do hope to do some weekend camping tours and a century now and then. I was looking at cross bikes but on most of them I would need to do a lot of component swapping and probably wouldn't have the front rack braze-ons. I don't know that that's REAL important for me but thought it would be nice if I needed it. Maybe my thinking is faulty. I'm certainly open to any suggestions and ideas. It's a lot of money and I really don't want to screw it up.

Joe

Michel Gagnon

Assuming both bikes fit equally well, I would say it's mostly a personal decision. That being said, there are a few reasons that might sway you one side or the other.

1. Torso and arm length.
If you have a short torso and short arms, you have a relatively short reach for your height and a shorter bike would be preferable. Then go for 26".

2. Feet length.
If you have long feet and abhor toe clip overlap, 26" wheels would have a slight advantage.

3. What other touring colleagues have.
If you tour with friends, sharing the same type of wheels help because you may carry only one spare tire for two riders (for example).

4. Where you tour
700c tires are widely available in U.S., Canada and most of Europe (maybe Australia too). But they aren't readily available elsewhere. 26-in tires are available almost everywhere in the world. And even in North America, you stand more chance to find 26-in tires in a small desert town.

5. Speed – or lack thereof.
You can tour with 26 x 1.2" slicks and these will be as effective as 700x32 tires. Such narrow 26" tires aren't too easy to find, but in a jiffy, nothing prevents you from buying the 26x2" Walmart special. It fits and it's better than walking!

roadfix

I should be asking the very same question myself as I built a 52cm LHT 2 years ago on the intention of doing more short, loaded, multi-day trips but business and personal situation changed since then so I basically have been using my LHT mostly for lightly loaded commutes only. Until my LHT build, I've done a few short trips on either my mountain bike or my old mtb converted to tourer/commuter. But for some reason I felt I needed a dedicated tour bike...
In fact, the LHT might work out for you for your particular situation.

brianmcg123

I bought a LHT just for the reason the OP did. I wanted something I could run really large tires and get the bars up really high. I may put on a mini rack on or something like that. I currently just run a bannana bag. But the LHT is a much better choice than some race bike for the kind of riding I use it for.

RadioFlyer

umm, the 54 and 56 cm LHTs are almost completely different bikes.

The 56cm has 1.5cm longer top tube, it has 3cm SHORTER head-tube, different HT angle. These things seem kind of small, but really, it's night-and-day (at least for me)... I say this just in case.

I've been researching the LHT and can tell you -- that eventho I haven't ridden 26" 'road' bike -- wheel size is not nor should be an issue. Buy the bike that is the right geometry for you. There are solutions to different wheel sizes, so NO WORRIES.

How tall are you and what's your cycling inseam?

halfspeed

The mechanic is a 'tard. Get the frame size that fits best. Smaller frames =should= be built with wheels smaller than 700C. 26" wheels on smaller frames is a feature and shows smart design by Surly.

RadioFlyer

I agree completely and would enjoy the OP going back and asking the mechanic to elaborate.

jdh37

I have a 56cm LHT. This was my first road bike, so I don't have a lot to compare it with, but I have been very happy so far (~3000mi over the past 6 months). The 56cm fits me just a little big. My handlebars are about even or just above my saddle, and my hands sit comfortably behind the hoods. This often seems nearly perfect, but sometimes I have thought that the 54cm might have given me a sportier ride -- more weight forward, more body lean for aerodynamics, hands positioned for better control. That is pure speculation, of course, since I haven't actually ridden a 54cm. One drawback to the 56cm that the 54cm would fix is the toe overlap situation. I have no problem without fenders, but with them I do. The fit, or riding style, decision is probably more important though. There may not be a right decision here. I am very happy with my 56cm, but I am also pretty sure that the 54cm would have suited me just fine as well.

The Smokester

I went through the same agonizing over 26" vs 700c when I got my 54 cn LHT. This was all out of sheer ignorance on my part. I got the 54 cm (26") and it is just terrific. Smooth ride. Very strong. Bombs down hills like a motorcycle. Lots of clearance. Absolutely no regrets.

fat_bike_nut

That's good to hear, Smokester, as I fit the 54cm frame, and have been agonizing over the 26" vs. 700c thing as well. 99% of my riding is on paved roads/bike paths/etc., not on singletrack or any serious off-road paths. Plus, I'm hoping to do a double-century with the rig

spencejm

First, it's nice to see I'm not the only one with this issue! It's also nice to see that it's pretty much a non-issue. They're going to set up the geometry for both bikes on their test bike so I'll be able to see which one feels the best. I'll order that one, not the one with a particular wheel size. Thanks to everyone! By the way, the mechanic was just stating HIS personal preferences. He admitted up front he was not a touring bike rider and he certainly wasn't trying to talk me into anything. He's a good guy.

Thanks again.

Joe

joseph senger

i cannot find any reason why not to go for a 26 over 700. the fact we think of touring bikes as 27in bikes is simple because we touring became popular these bike were the best suited available candidates. Mountain bike in the 60's were very untrustworthy new tech for the heavy walleted adventurer. 26in rim in design has less rotating mass, more strength, and far more serviceability. I had two flats this last tour, blowouts, and if it wasnt for me riding a 26, i would had to have ordered in a tired from a larger city.

take care.

The Smokester

fatbike,
I have done a couple of fully loaded tours with 85 mile days and one day-long unloaded century since I got the 26" LHT early this summer. These experiences have proven to me that it is one very comfortable bike.

I am going to do a double century soon. I am undecided whether to use the LHT or a new Speocialized Roubaix I just bought. The Roubaix rides very smoothly but if I don't get the seat (a new Brooks Pro) dialed in to fit like the LHT's B17 then it will be a no-brainer...I'll take the LHT.

Also, I am convinced that there is no down side to 26" wheels on a touring bike. I can't think of any and I haven't experienced any. In fact, 26" wheels are probably an advantage (depending on where and what you are doing) and if I bought a new custom tourer it would be a 26er.