Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:39:16 -0330, Rex Button wrote:

I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?

What do you want to do with it?

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

"Rex Button" wrote in message
...
I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?
It's an inexpensive and heavy frame. Mine is a particularly ugly shade of
avocado ('70s appliance) green and would not attract thieves. It doesn't
wobble when loaded for a tour and I am confident it will not break. It has
all of the braze-ons I needed. I don't ride it unless I am touring because
the weight and aerodynamics (fenders) make it difficult to keep up on a club
ride.

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

On Jan 21, 5:09*pm, "Rex Button" wrote:
I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?

It's the best deal going spec wise if you want a trad touring bike on
a budget. Does that make it right for you? Who knows, except you.
There are plenty of other options if you want a practical and sturdy
bike, few of which you'll see on the sales floor of the average bike
shop. So give details. You might be more of a fit with the Surly Cross-
Check, which is a bit lighter and sportier, but incompatible with big
feet if ya wanna run panniers, or you might live in the PNW and be a
candidate for something with disc brakes. You could be a cheap *******
like me and discover the joys of riding an upgraded aluminum hybrid
with funky trekking bars like those right-pondians do.

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

On Jan 22, 8:08*am, "news.suddenlink.net"
wrote:
"Rex Button" wrote in message

... I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?

It's an inexpensive and heavy frame. *Mine is a particularly ugly shade of
avocado ('70s appliance) green and would not attract thieves. *It doesn't
wobble when loaded for a tour and I am confident it will not break. *It has
all of the braze-ons I needed. *I don't ride it unless I am touring because
the weight and aerodynamics (fenders) make it difficult to keep up on a club
ride.

What kinda tires ya got on it? I find that to be the major enslowning
factor on practical bikes. Weight, schmeight--usually--but if you go
from 800g wide tour tires, to 350-400g skinwall tour tires--you can
usually feel a palpable difference.

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

terryc wrote:
On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:39:16 -0330, Rex Button wrote:

I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?

What do you want to do with it?

My extensive experience with long-haulers is that they're mostly
pretty nice guys. Tired, most often, but nice.


Bill


__o | Fear not the path of truth for the lack
_`\(,_ | of people walking on it.
(_)/ (_) | --Robert F. Kennedy

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

"news.suddenlink.net" wrote:

It's an inexpensive and heavy frame. Mine is a particularly ugly shade of
avocado ('70s appliance) green and would not attract thieves. It doesn't
wobble when loaded for a tour and I am confident it will not break. It has
all of the braze-ons I needed. I don't ride it unless I am touring because
the weight and aerodynamics (fenders) make it difficult to keep up on a club
ride.

The weight is what bothered me abt the Novara Randonee

Just felt heavy and slow

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

On Jan 22, 11:43*am, wrote:
"news.suddenlink.net" wrote:
It's an inexpensive and heavy frame. *Mine is a particularly ugly shade of
avocado ('70s appliance) green and would not attract thieves. *It doesn't
wobble when loaded for a tour and I am confident it will not break. *It has
all of the braze-ons I needed. *I don't ride it unless I am touring because
the weight and aerodynamics (fenders) make it difficult to keep up on a club
ride.

The weight is what bothered me abt the Novara Randonee

Just felt heavy and slow

You check the engine?

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

"Trad touring on a budget" sounds about right.

I'm looking for something suited to 100 - 150 km days for a week straight
(with one or two 200 kms thrown in). There'd be two panniers with camp/cook
gear on the back, but at most a handlebar bag up front.

The terrain around here tops out at about 600 feet, but it's all up and down
(eastern Newfoundland), and some of the descents do make you think twice
about your braking system.

I've done this sort of thing already on one of those "cheap aluminium
*******s" you describe. Was wondering if LHT would be dramatic improvement?
LHT comes with either 26" or 700 CC wheels; was thinking the former more
suitable for me.

"landotter" wrote in message
...
On Jan 21, 5:09 pm, "Rex Button" wrote:
I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?

It's the best deal going spec wise if you want a trad touring bike on
a budget. Does that make it right for you? Who knows, except you.
There are plenty of other options if you want a practical and sturdy
bike, few of which you'll see on the sales floor of the average bike
shop. So give details. You might be more of a fit with the Surly Cross-
Check, which is a bit lighter and sportier, but incompatible with big
feet if ya wanna run panniers, or you might live in the PNW and be a
candidate for something with disc brakes. You could be a cheap *******
like me and discover the joys of riding an upgraded aluminum hybrid
with funky trekking bars like those right-pondians do.

Surly Long Haul Trucker
 

bikerrex wrote:
"Trad touring on a budget" sounds about right.

I'm looking for something suited to 100 - 150 km days for a week straight
(with one or two 200 kms thrown in). There'd be two panniers with camp/cook
gear on the back, but at most a handlebar bag up front.

The terrain around here tops out at about 600 feet, but it's all up and down
(eastern Newfoundland), and some of the descents do make you think twice
about your braking system.

I've done this sort of thing already on one of those "cheap aluminium
*******s" you describe. Was wondering if LHT would be dramatic improvement?
LHT comes with either 26" or 700 CC wheels; was thinking the former more
suitable for me.

It's based on frame size, so you really don't get to choose the wheel
size. You buy the proper size frame. Unless you're right on the edge
between the largest 26" wheeled frame and the smallest 700C frame, you
get no choice (and you should get the larger frame if you're between
frame sizes on a touring bicycle).



"landotter" wrote in message
...
On Jan 21, 5:09 pm, "Rex Button" wrote:
I'm collecting opinions on it.

Anything to offer?

It's the best deal going spec wise if you want a trad touring bike on
a budget. Does that make it right for you? Who knows, except you.
There are plenty of other options if you want a practical and sturdy
bike, few of which you'll see on the sales floor of the average bike
shop. So give details. You might be more of a fit with the Surly Cross-
Check, which is a bit lighter and sportier, but incompatible with big
feet if ya wanna run panniers, or you might live in the PNW and be a
candidate for something with disc brakes. You could be a cheap *******
like me and discover the joys of riding an upgraded aluminum hybrid
with funky trekking bars like those right-pondians do.

I wish there was a Cross Check with a triple crankset, but the "big
feet" issue would still be there anyway. Actually there are workarounds
for big feet and panniers on shorter wheelbase frames.