REI Safari or Surly Long haul Trucker?

I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

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

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

Both are excellent choices. If you're going to be touring on rougher
terrain, the Novara would probably be a better choice, but other than
that, it's apples and oranges. I think the Surly's pertier. FWIW, the
spec on the Surly is next to perfect, except for the tires--it may
just have been the set I ran--but WTB "Slickasaurus" tires are the
most cheesy flat-prone name brand tires I've ever run. Worth a
consideration before taking off into the sunset for sure, but not a
deal breaker.

landotter 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?

Both are excellent choices. If you're going to be touring on rougher
terrain, the Novara would probably be a better choice, but other than
that, it's apples and oranges. I think the Surly's pertier. FWIW, the
spec on the Surly is next to perfect, except for the tires--it may
just have been the set I ran--but WTB "Slickasaurus" tires are the
most cheesy flat-prone name brand tires I've ever run. Worth a
consideration before taking off into the sunset for sure, but not a
deal breaker.

OK thanks

I'm 50 and have dreamed of a tour all my life but never
went

I'm now at an age where my health concerns me more than
money or time so will do a tour this summer b4 its too
late

landotter wrote:

wrote:

I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

Both are excellent choices. If you're going to be touring on rougher
terrain, the Novara would probably be a better choice, but other than
that, it's apples and oranges. I think the Surly's pertier. FWIW, the
spec on the Surly is next to perfect, except for the tires--it may
just have been the set I ran--but WTB "Slickasaurus" tires are the
most cheesy flat-prone name brand tires I've ever run. Worth a
consideration before taking off into the sunset for sure, but not a
deal breaker.

I've had perfectly satisfactory service from a pair of 700x37
Slickasauri on one of my road bikes. They do not seem exceptional in
any regard, but they feel pretty fast for their size. They have
yielded no more than the expected number of flats.

I do wonder sometimes whether a design house like WTB switches
production of the same item between different suppliers. If so, that
might account for large variations in quality from batch to batch.

Chalo

or mold to mold-last years Pasela Messenger is shorter than this years
and possibly more wobbly or insensitive-vague? not vague, broadly
wooden. I gotta grind the sidepull brake mod plate to fit it.
anyone want a messenger?
one's Japanese. ones Tiwanese?

On Mar 29, 7:52 pm, Chalo wrote:
landotter wrote:

wrote:

I want to do some touring this summer.

Any help on deciding between the tow bikes above?

Both are excellent choices. If you're going to be touring on rougher
terrain, the Novara would probably be a better choice, but other than
that, it's apples and oranges. I think the Surly's pertier. FWIW, the
spec on the Surly is next to perfect, except for the tires--it may
just have been the set I ran--but WTB "Slickasaurus" tires are the
most cheesy flat-prone name brand tires I've ever run. Worth a
consideration before taking off into the sunset for sure, but not a
deal breaker.

I've had perfectly satisfactory service from a pair of 700x37
Slickasauri on one of my road bikes. They do not seem exceptional in
any regard, but they feel pretty fast for their size. They have
yielded no more than the expected number of flats.

Mine got a good ten basic punctures in a thousand miles on good roads.
The bike with the WTBs then got sold. I haven't had a single puncture
in the 18months since. Terrible set of tires, those WTB, could have
just been a bad run, who knows? I usually go years between flats.

WTB means what TB? terrible website, egregious website one visit and
back to Germany

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.

"Woland99" wrote in message
...
On Mar 27, 10:30 am, wrote:
snip
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 just put some "trekking" bars on a bridgestone xo-3 and have been more
than satisfied with them. What's was the aspect that you found
unsatisfactory in them- the more upright ride they afford?
Interested....Pat

On Mar 27, 8:36 pm, "patrick mitchel" wrote:
"Woland99" wrote in message

... On Mar 27, 10:30 am, wrote:
snip
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 just put some "trekking" bars on a bridgestone xo-3 and have been more
than satisfied with them. What's was the aspect that you found
unsatisfactory in them- the more upright ride they afford?
Interested....Pat

I really cannot answer this question in a way that would be
unbiased. My problem with these type of handlebars on Novarra
Viaggio was probably affected to a great degree with fact that
I bought the bike without proper sizing and I could never find
configuration that was comfortable for a longer ride. I used
to commute on it (10-11miles one way) and I constantly had
problems with numbness in my hands. I do not think that there
was enough variety in hand positions to prevent it.
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.