2009 lht
 

The LHT is getting new dropouts for 2009. Anyone know any details? I know they are specific to Surly...AKA Surly designed. Sounds like the blue will be discontinued. Green continues, accompanied by a latte/cream colour they call Truckaccino or something like that. Price is $1095.

Old LHT can be ordered for less online.

Here is the link to the blog w/ that info:

http://www.surlybikes.com/2008_09_01...24521231309948

not really sure what makes a dropout 'special', they are all fundamentally the same thing aren't they? Depending on if they have little walls built around them that might interfere w/ hanging a trailer-hitch or something else off your skewer.

I was wondering the same thing about the droupouts. I thought perhaps they were adding disc tabs are stainless dropouts. Neither is a big deal for me.

I'm assuming the dropouts will still be vertical though...? I know people want gears on touring bikes. But others who just want a very sturdy do-everything bike might like to run an LHT singlespeed.

Do you know when the 2009 LHT comes out?

From the blog:

I'm sure it's the same design, they're probably just sourcing / branding it themselves now. Cross Checks have semi-horizontal, LHT is vertical, I doubt that will change.

I don't think it will. The new color (cream or whatever the hell it is) will be better than the hospital blue. I also liked what they had to say about toe overlap. As a vertically challenged rider, I have never had a bike that didn't have it (unless you count my BMX bike when I was a lad), and I have never suffered as a result. On super tight turns below 10 mph, there might be some rub, but that is about it.

Ooohhhh, Truckaccino. I bet that would be beautiful with a honey Brooks saddle and tape. I'm on the verge of pulling the trigger on the blue (my favorite color) but I'd like to see a photo of that Truckaccino.

Respectfully disagree. On my 48cm bike with 700c wheels, I don't have to be going that slow (under 15mph will do) to bump the wheel, and it's much worse under load. Maybe I'm an inept rider, or perhaps it has something to do with a difference in arm/leg ratios between male and female riders, but I have actually tipped over on occasion. The 26" wheels make a big difference for us small people.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/2886854490/

They have previously gone off on toe-overlap, which I find ironic because their 54cm and under LHTs so scrupulously avoid that issue. I guess their 700c-only bikes just don't, despite having pretty small frames available as well.

haha I sort of read the entry on the colors but I spent most of my time reading that blog below about frying up and eating crickets.

The new color looks nice but I think I will still get the olive green LHT. Now I have to decided if I want to get a 2008 or 2009 model. :D

Any links? Jenson (my usual online store) seems to have it for $1095 still

Or maybe it's the bikes themselves. A race bike has a shorter wheel base, so the toe overlap is more pronounced. Still, I am only 5'4", and I have never had a bike where I didn't have overlap. It has never caused me a problem; just have to remember to take tight turns with the outside pedal in the six o'clock position. It can be a PITA when climbing on a hairpin turn, but that's a pretty uncommon situation.

The LHT has a big enough wheel base that it shouldn't be too much of an issue. It certainly isn't on mine.

I think you're right about the road vs. touring geometry--the wheelbase makes a massive difference and I find the LHT much more stable when climbing, especially on turns.

"only 5' 4"... I wish! The average height for a woman in the US is 5' 3" (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/bodymeas.htm), let's just say I'm below average. Options for those people who want to tour but have fit issue due to frame sizing limitations are, well, limited. This is why the LHT is so awesome:)

Yea--you'd think the LHT would be super popular with shorter people because of the smaller wheels/proportions.

as per my inbox:

<snip>
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 8:52 PM
To: surly
Subject: nick-at- surly designed dropouts



Greetings. I'm the happy owner of a surly 1x1, and I'm on the cusp of getting started on my next surly -project. I've got me all the fixin's for a LHT, except the frame and the racks/bags. I'd been waiting for olive 54cm's to become available, but they didn't. "discontinued", QBP says. Then, i see the promised "2009" model under the old'n. New dropouts, it swears. I fear the "gnot-right" thing, but the specs still say 135mm on qbp's page. ok...so i go to your blog to check it out.

all it says is that the cross-check and LHT will be getting nick-at- surly designed dropouts. no further explanation. I panic. i don't do well with change. unless, it's badass change. No description was offered. I'm worried. If y'all are coming out with a terrible new idea (like, the ghastly dropouts on the karate monkey, or the answer to a never-before asked question, like gnot-right spacing) then i think i'd better get a blue lht real quick, as there are few left. If the dropouts are cool, I'd like to hear about them.

thanks!
-rob

ps-what's the new trucker color like?
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Rob,

The new dropouts are going to be there for 2 good reasons, better quality control and more solid rack eyelets. Still 135mm spaced. That’s the only change to the frame, other than color. As for that, the new Truckaccino color seemed to please most people at Interbike tradeshow a few weeks back. You’ll just have to wait to see it for yourself. The newer frames should be available late fall/early winter. More info to follow on our site when we know more.



Thanks,



Nick Sande

Surly Bikes

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