REI Safari or Surly Long haul Trucker?

On Mar 28, 11:03 am, landotter wrote:
On Mar 28, 10:34 am, wrote:



Woland99 wrote:
On Mar 27, 10:30 am, wrote:
I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

I was facing similar choice - wanted a touring bike and
at the end had to decide betw Surly LHT and Novarra Randonee.
For me Novarra Safari was out of a question - I wanted something
that would look like road bike. PLus I had Novarra Viaggio - I guess
you can call it earlier version of Safari and I was VERY unhappy
with that B-shaped handlebar.
I eventually went with Randonee for two reasons - all things being
about the same on both bikes Randonee had much better wheel and I
wanted durable bike. Plus I know everybody in the bike shop at local
REI and those guys are fantastic when it comes to service and repairs.

OK

My thoughts abt the Safari are that I may need to ride
down some pretty big gravel roads occasionally on a
tour.... as well as good paved roads. I worry abt the
wheels and tires on the LHT or Novara randoneee

Both the LHT and Randonee come with too gimpy of a tire IMHO, but
that's easy to remedy. the LHT has super tough wheels with Deore hubs,
36 spokes, and nice Alex Adventurer rims--certainly I'd bring either
set up to tension before an extended tour. All three are good, solid
choices. The LHT is a little more traditional with choices like Sugino
cranks, bar-ends, square taper BB, regular bend bars,etc. No major
deal breakers.

Main reason I went with Randonee instead of LHT were Mavic rims -
I have not heard too much much good about Alex stuff. I also ride
in area were you have to shift a lot so I was not sure about
bar-end shifters. Plus I know everybody in my REI bike shop, live
10mins drive from there and had VERY positive previous experience
with them.
I wanted to really get a CX or road bike but with my weight I decided
touring bike was better option - did not want to have to fix the
wheels all the time. As I mentioned - that strem on Randonee - that
was a nice touch - you can start it more upright then as you lose
weight move it down to more typical road position.

oh yeah bars. i don't know either. i have 10 years bike camping on
road surfaces but dirt? usually I press along. So I went to Nashbar
and bought 2 discount bars, a mustache bar to tilt and a wrist breaker
trekking double level bar.
There's an adjustable stem: go adjustable stem.
Parts Costs with basic Deore for Monodog touring around $1200. But
that's the whole deal. Wheels MFG axles, Sun Rhyno rims, two sets top
line tires....
prices at MO bottom during winter sales. EG two CR's at $11 each.
pedals $12...

buy a police model Mace gas cannister

On Mar 28, 12:09*pm, Woland99 wrote:
On Mar 28, 11:03 am, landotter wrote:



On Mar 28, 10:34 am, wrote:

Woland99 wrote:
On Mar 27, 10:30 am, wrote:
I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

I was facing similar choice - wanted a touring bike and
at the end had to decide betw Surly LHT and Novarra Randonee.
For me Novarra Safari was out of a question - I wanted something
that would look like road bike. PLus I had Novarra Viaggio - I guess
you can call it earlier version of Safari and I was VERY unhappy
with that B-shaped handlebar.
I eventually went with Randonee for two reasons - all things being
about the same on both bikes Randonee had much better wheel and I
wanted durable bike. Plus I know everybody in the bike shop at local
REI and those guys are fantastic when it comes to service and repairs..

OK

My thoughts abt the Safari are that I may need to ride
down some pretty big gravel roads occasionally on a
tour.... as well as good paved roads. *I worry abt the
wheels and tires on the LHT or Novara randoneee

Both the LHT and Randonee come with too gimpy of a tire IMHO, but
that's easy to remedy. the LHT has super tough wheels with Deore hubs,
36 spokes, and nice Alex Adventurer rims--certainly I'd bring either
set up to tension before an extended tour. All three are good, solid
choices. The LHT is a little more traditional with choices like Sugino
cranks, bar-ends, square taper BB, regular bend bars,etc. No major
deal breakers.

Main reason I went with Randonee instead of LHT were Mavic rims -
I have not heard too much much good about Alex stuff.

Alex rims are great if built right. If I were building some touring
wheels, I'd go for an Adventurer or even a Sun Rhyno over a Mavic--
simply a better value. I've built and ridden several sets of Alex
rims. Never a problem. Good rims made from a nice strong alloy--so
don't be turned off by them in the future.

Funny, ran into D--- from down at the shop a couple days ago--and he
was ****ing and moaning about the Alex wheels on his bike--turns out
that they weren't tensioned in any way I could consider reasonable--
you can usually blame the build, not the rim brand.

I also ride
in area were you have to shift a lot so I was not sure about
bar-end shifters. Plus I know everybody in my REI bike shop, live
10mins drive from there and had VERY positive previous experience
with them.

Service is always nice. REI should be able to order and assemble a
LHT, as it's distributed by QBP, if that's an option for somebody with
a Surly preference.

in case you missed the message. a standard road frame accepts only
narrow tires and ecetra...caws the idea is saving material costs and
giving a narrow air drag profile.
That's snot what touring is about. The 29er/MTB with longer stays and
trail-there's a few- you gotta copy the spec tables and chew thru
them, accepts 32c to 1.25" and that's where the action is in touring
snot a low air drag factor: adapting an easy ride to the surface. Also
why standard tires are no good at this, carcasses are cheaply made.

On Mar 28, 10:09 am, Woland99 wrote:
On Mar 28, 11:03 am, landotter wrote:



On Mar 28, 10:34 am, wrote:

Woland99 wrote:
On Mar 27, 10:30 am, wrote:
I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

I was facing similar choice - wanted a touring bike and
at the end had to decide betw Surly LHT and Novarra Randonee.
For me Novarra Safari was out of a question - I wanted something
that would look like road bike. PLus I had Novarra Viaggio - I guess
you can call it earlier version of Safari and I was VERY unhappy
with that B-shaped handlebar.
I eventually went with Randonee for two reasons - all things being
about the same on both bikes Randonee had much better wheel and I
wanted durable bike. Plus I know everybody in the bike shop at local
REI and those guys are fantastic when it comes to service and repairs.

OK

My thoughts abt the Safari are that I may need to ride
down some pretty big gravel roads occasionally on a
tour.... as well as good paved roads. I worry abt the
wheels and tires on the LHT or Novara randoneee

Both the LHT and Randonee come with too gimpy of a tire IMHO, but
that's easy to remedy. the LHT has super tough wheels with Deore hubs,
36 spokes, and nice Alex Adventurer rims--certainly I'd bring either
set up to tension before an extended tour. All three are good, solid
choices. The LHT is a little more traditional with choices like Sugino
cranks, bar-ends, square taper BB, regular bend bars,etc. No major
deal breakers.

Main reason I went with Randonee instead of LHT were Mavic rims -
I have not heard too much much good about Alex stuff. I also ride
in area were you have to shift a lot so I was not sure about
bar-end shifters. Plus I know everybody in my REI bike shop, live
10mins drive from there and had VERY positive previous experience
with them.
I wanted to really get a CX or road bike but with my weight I decided
touring bike was better option - did not want to have to fix the
wheels all the time. As I mentioned - that strem on Randonee - that
was a nice touch - you can start it more upright then as you lose
weight move it down to more typical road position.

Since Mavic was bought by Salomon, they've really gone downhill. While
their Ax19 series is probably better than most of their road stuff,
I'd set the Alex Adventurer side-by-side with an A719, at a third of
the price.

FWIW, I used Salsa Delgado Cross rims when I built my LHT (half the
price of the A719) and they're great, but if I needed to build a new
set, I'd use the Adeventurer, which I was impressed with when I built
wheels for my Nexus Cruiser.

On Mar 28, 10:38 am, wrote:
Woland99 wrote:
By comparison now I have Novarra Randonee with regular drop
bars and stem that can be raised up so you top bar position
is VERY relaxed. And I have zero problems with my hands.
On that Viaggio I eventually replaced handlebar with MTB style
one and put in steeper stem and made it sortta comfort bike.

Interesting

Thanks for that opinion

I'm going to REI on Say to ride and look at both bikes

I REALLY REALY need to take a tour this summer and want
to get going with it. I think my soul and body needs
to be outside in the fresh air for extended period of
time and away form desks, computers, cell phones, etc.
Ha!

I know exactly what you mean - I never toured on the bike but
I do some kayaking and that moment when you push this thing on
the water and it starts bouncing on the waves and you KNOW that
for next 8 hours it will be just you water and wind is the best.
One of these days I would like to ride across Texas. And really
SEE the land.

On Mar 28, 2:14*pm, Hank wrote:
On Mar 28, 10:09 am, Woland99 wrote:



On Mar 28, 11:03 am, landotter wrote:

On Mar 28, 10:34 am, wrote:

Woland99 wrote:
On Mar 27, 10:30 am, wrote:
I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

I was facing similar choice - wanted a touring bike and
at the end had to decide betw Surly LHT and Novarra Randonee.
For me Novarra Safari was out of a question - I wanted something
that would look like road bike. PLus I had Novarra Viaggio - I guess
you can call it earlier version of Safari and I was VERY unhappy
with that B-shaped handlebar.
I eventually went with Randonee for two reasons - all things being
about the same on both bikes Randonee had much better wheel and I
wanted durable bike. Plus I know everybody in the bike shop at local
REI and those guys are fantastic when it comes to service and repairs.

OK

My thoughts abt the Safari are that I may need to ride
down some pretty big gravel roads occasionally on a
tour.... as well as good paved roads. *I worry abt the
wheels and tires on the LHT or Novara randoneee

Both the LHT and Randonee come with too gimpy of a tire IMHO, but
that's easy to remedy. the LHT has super tough wheels with Deore hubs,
36 spokes, and nice Alex Adventurer rims--certainly I'd bring either
set up to tension before an extended tour. All three are good, solid
choices. The LHT is a little more traditional with choices like Sugino
cranks, bar-ends, square taper BB, regular bend bars,etc. No major
deal breakers.

Main reason I went with Randonee instead of LHT were Mavic rims -
I have not heard too much much good about Alex stuff. I also ride
in area were you have to shift a lot so I was not sure about
bar-end shifters. Plus I know everybody in my REI bike shop, live
10mins drive from there and had VERY positive previous experience
with them.
I wanted to really get a CX or road bike but with my weight I decided
touring bike was better option - did not want to have to fix the
wheels all the time. As I mentioned - that strem on Randonee - that
was a nice touch - you can start it more upright then as you lose
weight move it down to more typical road position.

Since Mavic was bought by Salomon, they've really gone downhill. While
their Ax19 series is probably better than most of their road stuff,
I'd set the Alex Adventurer side-by-side with an A719, at a third of
the price.

Holy crap, just googled--you're right, they're listing at $75!! An
Adventurer is the same weight, tough, easy to build and $25. No
brainer.


FWIW, I used Salsa Delgado Cross rims when I built my LHT (half the
price of the A719) and they're great, but if I needed to build a new
set, I'd use the Adeventurer, which I was impressed with when I built
wheels for my Nexus Cruiser.

Those Delgados look great on paper--I've got them mentally filed away
if I want to build a set of "light touring" wheels, as they look to be
perfect for a set of 32mm Paselas or similar poofy-fast tire.

On Mar 28, 2:35 pm, landotter wrote:

Holy crap, just googled--you're right, they're listing at $75!! An
Adventurer is the same weight, tough, easy to build and $25. No
brainer.

Dunno - maybe that was a mistake - I went with Randonee over LHT
after guy at REI bike (shop who gave me good advice in the past)
spoke against Alex rims.
BTW - another bike I was considering was Bianchi Axis - not exactly
touring bike but LBS had 2006 model (triple). But in the end I decided
to go with steel frame and touring geometry.

Woland99 wrote:
On Mar 27, 10:30 am, wrote:
I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

I was facing similar choice - wanted a touring bike and
at the end had to decide betw Surly LHT and Novarra Randonee.
For me Novarra Safari was out of a question - I wanted something
that would look like road bike. PLus I had Novarra Viaggio - I guess
you can call it earlier version of Safari and I was VERY unhappy
with that B-shaped handlebar.
I eventually went with Randonee for two reasons - all things being
about the same on both bikes Randonee had much better wheel and I
wanted durable bike. Plus I know everybody in the bike shop at local
REI and those guys are fantastic when it comes to service and repairs.

I'd go with the Randonee. It's 20% off for the next three days, with the
20% REI discount on one item. Another 5% back with an REI Visa card.

OTOH, the frame on the LHT is better, 4130 versus 520. The LHT is hard
to purchase around here, it has to be ordered I believe. Maybe some
store stocks it, but probably not in multiple sizes.