lis

Hi,

I'm off on my first tour soon in New Zealand. I'm buying the bike there, as I don't have one as it is, and I had imagined they'd have loads of touring bikes. However they're more the mountain bike types, and being 5'3 I've really struggled to find a bike shop with anything in my size. I've now got a Surly LHT waiting for me with a 46cm frame size which sounds like exactly what I need - but they've said it's a beautiful cherry color. Looking around, cherry is 2006 model it seems. They're selling it full price, but it's not like I have much of a choice anyway - so I'm thinking, if the bike fits and feels good, I'll go for it anyway. (I want to buy a decent touring bike as I'm shipping it back to the uk and hoping to do more touring around unless I absolutely hate it - a couple of touring weekends point to the contrary however )

Does it really make a huge difference to be buying a couple of years old frame? (they've built the rest in the shop so the components etc are all new models I expect...) Should I try and argue for some rebate?... (I'll be looking at what components they've fit on it once I get there, and comparing with the online specs for the lht to ensure they're gearing it up well!) (that'll probably be yet another thread!)

Thanks for all of you guys' help as always!

Lis

vik 

I'm not 100% on this, but I believe red LHT were sold in 2007. I don't recall seeing the first olive green LHTs until this spring so red LHTs may have been sold in 2008 as well.

Another thing to consider is that the NZ cycling season is starting as the North American one ends so you are in the position of buying a bike just as demand would be starting vs. the end of the season when a LBS would be motivated to discount a bike.

Assuming the bike looks like it was assembled and stored with care I don't see any reason to be concerned if it is a year old, but has not been used. You should be able to gauge how the bike has been treated by looking at it.

Have a wonderful trip.

Cave

The cherry red seems to be the current frame available in Australia so NZ is probably similar.

The frames don't age.
Ask them to put an antirust treatment in the frame for you.

nubcake

like has been said, the frames dont age and one thing nice about surly is they dont actually do "year models" It never really hurts to ask for a discount, at our shop we will usually offer a small discount or discount some accesories for you just keep in mind their really isnt a huge margin on new bike sales, especially surly frames.

good luck on your trip

twodeadpoets

When I got my second LHT frameset last spring (2008) QBP gave me the choice of either cherry red or olive green, I picked the olive but seriously thought about the cherry.

So they were still selling the cherry as recently as April 2008 and I bet there are still tons of new frames in that colour still hanging around and I'm sure other than the colour, you won't notice any difference.

roadfix

How is the olive green different from the original sage green? I have the original sage green.

vik 

It's darker than the sage green. Not a bad colour. I prefer the sage green, but it took me a while until I warmed up to the utility blue and the cherry red.

lis

Thanks everyone! I only had time to check briefly, but either I thought a couple of years wouldn't make that big a difference in frame technology... just thought I'd check with those who know!
The shop has had it ordered in so it's definitely new. I'll keep the antirust tip in mind! Thanks for the help! Can't wait to see it now : )

Yen

I saw some cherry red frames on-line... I think Jenson had some.

valygrl

You go girl! Have a great trip.
Wear sunscreen and eat hokey-pokey ice cream.