Hey everyone,

I'm trying to build up a bike that will serve as a touring bike (overnight and 2 day trips mostly as well as longer tours in the future) as well as a fun bike for longer road rides. As it breaks down, I'm getting a great deal from my LBS on a Surly LHT frame and a Miche RC2 Wheelset which is freeing up some money for other components. As it stands the build is going to be about 1500 tax incl and will be built as follows:

Frame: Surly LHT 60cm
Headset: Cane Creek S3
Stem: Thomson Elite x2
Handlebars: Ritchey Comp
Brakes: Tektro CR720 (canti)
Brake Levers: Campy Veloce
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
Cranks: Campy Veloce
BB: Campy Record Cups
Cassette: Miche 12-27
Chain: Campy Veloce
Front Derailleur: Campy Veloce
Rear Derailleur: Campy Veloce
Front Hub: Miche RC2 Racing
Back Hub: Same as front
Rims: DRC ST17 (basically a Mavic CXP22 clone that's double eyeleted)
Tires: Challenge Criterium 700x23 (these are just too good a deal to pass up and will probably be switched to another bike)
Spokes: Wheelsmith SS14 or DT Champion

So my questions are these:

Is campy a fools errand for finding a good gearing that will make me happy both loaded and unloaded?

Are triple cranks really that important for touring?

Am I going to need a beefier wheelset for when I'm fully loaded?

General thoughts on the build?

Have you considered going custom ... like our Canadian Marinoni?


And yes, if you are doing heavily loaded touring, triples can be very nice.

- linky, please?

I think machka meant one of these:

https://www.marinoni.qc.ca/EN/Bikes/Touring/Turismo.htm

I'm getting a really good deal on the frame though so I think I'd have to give up some quality on the components to go marinoni :-(

I was just looking at the website of R+E Cycles. They've outfitted a "famous" tourer named Willie Weir with a Rodriguez touring bike. It features Campagnolo components. Here is an article by the builder on why he made that choice.

Triple cranks are REALLY that important for touring. A wide range is good, a high top gear is fine, but a really low low gear is CRUCIAL. There will be long hills, mountain passes, etc. where you'll need the lowest possible gear - low enough that when you're pedaling at a normal cadence your bike is going slow enough that it takes concentration to stay in upright in a straight line.

YES, you need a beefy wheelset for loaded touring. Breaking spokes is a common problem, and it's a drag. Get strong, well-built hubs, strong rims, use butted spokes. Use at least 36 spokes for the rear wheel, and consider 40 if you're a Clydesdale, or if you'll be carrying a huge load. Also, consider wide tires - at least 32, but some people go up to 40 or 45. The rolling resistance may be a tiny bit higher, but you'll get more cushioning, which will not only make you more comfortable, but, more importantly, help avoid breaking spokes. It also makes life easier if you have to make occasional forays off-road.

Yep, you need a triple.

One thing I'm not sure about is if you will find the LHT to be "fun" for non-touring rides. The geometry is designed for loaded touring, and it will be quite comfy for long rides, but for other uses you may find it a little sluggish.

You might want to check out the Bianchi Volpe and the Salsa Casseroll, as well as see if you can do a test ride on the LHT, before pulling the trigger.

If the LHT suits your riding style, I actually think you might do a little better with the stock / complete LHT. I have a slight preference for both Shimano and MTB components when it comes to touring bikes, because (as best I can tell) Shimano is a little more widely available, and MTB components are a bit more rugged. Plus, the stock is about $1000 USD.

And a minor tweak: look into the Nitto Noodle or Soba handlebars.