Look out thats the color of my LHT too and I like mine lol just had to say this

I hope so. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot if you can't.

BTW, I would question the validity of the statements about better availability of tires, rims, and wheels in the 26" sizes in the US at least. It seems like 700C has rapidly become more available than 26" even in places like Walmart.

Personally, for me the availability of a 26" wheeled LHT isn't a plus, but it is nice that they listen to their customers.

Quester, I have to ask, are you saying you don't carry spokes when you tour or you found a better way to carry them? Also, I was referring to the binding bolt on the frame, not the seatpost itself. The sherpas binding bolt set up and welds look cheap and inadequate and would much rather have a clamp like the LHT where you can tighten and not worry about the weld breaking.

How could you improve the LHT? Sloping top tubes! You would fit a larger range of riders and depending on your bar preference, you could go with the larger or smaller frame to obtain the TT length needed for your type of bar (ie drops shorter TT and flat bar longer). Horizontal TTs really limit the range of riders that will fit the bike.

That's a nice blue

Looks like I have found a home for my bomber 26" wheelset. I was leaning towards a different cro mo frame for the winter project. A 56 LHT with 26 wheels will be a nice choice for me. I'm sure I will post pics when alll is done

the thing about having a regular sized bike, 56cm, with 26" wheels is that it makes me look taller

I would agree with you about availability in the USA, but there are a lot of us who aren't riding in the USA. I am now in Colombia and there is no way I can find anything for my 700c bike. I have to have all spokes, rims, and tires shipped in.

I would have bought a 26" bike in a heartbeat - but they simply were not available in the USA when we were leaving on our trip. I am THRILLED that Surley has figured out that not everybody who buys a bike in the US tours in the US!!

This certainly hasn't been my experience. I find it far easier to get a 26"MTB wheel, 26" tires suitable for touring than anything 700c suitable for touring. The 700c wheels and tires that are easier to get are all road racing stuff which is not particularly useful.

Beyond shops there are a ton of MTBs out there so getting a wheel second hand off a used bike is also much easier than trying to get a used 700c wheel that would be suitable for touring.

" butt-ugly beige"

Buck-up, ugly is traditional in LHT colors. The new black.

"I am THRILLED that Surley has figured out that not everybody who buys a bike in the US tours in the US!! "

700c is a much bigger seller, and world touring tourists isn't a very big market, and has it's name suppliers anyway, like Thorn, Miyata. Also, whatever buzz this creates, it only translates to frame sizes pretty much out to the right on the Bell curve. I wish them well, but I can see why they didn't rush into this. I'd buy one.

Spoke holders, and 26" wheels, there is something that will get worn out from all the use.

While I don't like a lot of surly colors, I will in to add that i don't like a lot of any other bike company's colors either. And surly does have colors that I like, just mostly not on frames I can get a lot of use out of (love that chumbucket red w/ black decals)

That blue reminds me of a Trek I had in the 1980's. At least it's an apparent movement away from the overly posh retro trend, IMHO. The black should be okay, as I think these bikes look best when outfitted for utility rather than style.

They put FFF back on the chain stays? My wife e-mailed surly and got replacement stickers because her 09 LHT didn't have them. She was pretty disappointed they removed them. She's pretty silly sometimes, but man she was PO'd.

I'm 6'8", 700C's look very small on my bike. I'd rock 26" tires in a heartbeat if I was heading to remote countries on a bike. Stronger, lighter, easier to find parts. Beats lookin a bit odd IMO.

Ever try to get one of those in the USA?

I carried them for 3000 miles, but never broke a spoke. I guess this is the advantage of using a 48-spoke rear wheel .

The last few times I've been in a small-town Wal-mart I've visited the bike department just to see what kinds of tires were in stock. I've run into several instances where there were no 700c's but plenty of 26" tires in stock. It only makes sense - they stock 10x more 26-wheel bicycles in their own stores than they do 700c's.

Of course in the U.S. this is still not such a huge issue - with a telephone and a credit card you're never more than a business day away from having something delivered to you in a pinch. Not so elsewhere.

I have been surprised by the big box stores (no LBS) in small towns supplying the 700 tubes.

They also have added a safety vest.

I really like the LHT now I can get a 56 cm and 26 inch tires.
I always loved the spacing. If the spoke holders are new that seems odd. My Windsor $300 less has had them on their since 2006.