Another New Bike

[bikerHen]

Well, I went to Seattle over the weekend and while I was there, bought a bike. It's a Surly Long Haul Trucker, in a lovely metallic burgandy color. :D This bike is the perfect winter commuter and touring bike. I can't wait to try it out on my club ride tonight!

I can't say THANK YOU enough to Knotted for her patience and total enabling with my bike purchase. :D She even talked me into a B17 Brooks Saddle and boy does she know about Brooks Saddles! Although she didn't have to talk too hard. The saddle felt pretty good without my chamios, so I figure it should be great with one. Loved the bike shop, Free Range Cycles. This shop and I were made for each other. Their logo is a chicken on a bike! :D

We, daughter and I, had a GREAT bike buying celebration dinner with Teigyr and her DH Saturday night. Hope you guys made it home safe and sound. Fortunately our hotel was only a mile away. Thank you, thank you, thank you. :D

I must add that I was totally in awe of the number of cyclists and bike paths we saw in Seattle. And the amount of traffic. :eek: :eek: Now I know why you west siders think Spokane is such a back water place. By comparision, it is! But I'll take my back water town over your main current any day! Although you do have cooler bike shops. :rolleyes:

And the best part is . . . my sister informated me she's going to a conference in Seattle the end of August and I'm going with her. She wants to take the bikes too. So I plan to ride my new bike all month and take it back for it's first tune up. That is if I can find the shop. Knotted? There maybe some map making in your future.

The obligatory pictures will be forth coming. As soon as my daughter stops by to go over the whole photo bucket process with me, yet again. :o

All in all a super fun weekend. Many thanks to my new TE friends. If you ever come over to the quiet side of the state, I'm here for ya! bikerHen

[mimitabby]

gee, you just keep picking times when i am not around.

I am glad you bought a bike from that LBS, I like them very much

I am also glad that Knott got you onto a Brooks already.


:cool: riding in traffic does tend to teach you some riding skills. It's surprising what doesn't phase me anymore.

[Velobambina]

Congrats on your new ride. May you have many many happy miles together!

[sandra]

Congratulations! There's nothing more exciting than a new bike. (I just got one myself yesterday)

[Trekhawk]

Congratulations BH!!
Cant wait to see the pics.:)

[cosc]

Biker H, how wonderful a new bike. Keep us updated on your new bike love.

[Tri Girl]

Wow- how exciting!!! Can't wait to see her!!! :D

[KnottedYet]

Oh, yeahhhhhh. I'm gonna start callin' myself "The Enabler." :cool:

Wanna buy something, but not sure you should? Take me with you. It'll be cooooool...

BikerHen's new Surly is GORGEOUS!!

Now she can assimilate into the Surly cult and the Brooks cult. "Resistance is futile." :D

[bikerHen]

My first ride last night was great fun! My commute this morning was a little work! I can tell a difference in the weight, steel vs. carbon! :eek: I was working harder because my heart rate was about 10 bpm faster most of the commute. And I do think my over all commute was slower. However, since I haven't gotten a computer put on yet, I'm not really sure on the speed. But I do have a feeling on the downhill this bike will fly. :D But the ride is really nice and smooth. Dare I say smoother than the carbon? Naw! Maybe it's just the wider tires. :rolleyes:

So far, so good on the Brooks saddle, girly bits a little sore, but not painfully sore. I can find that perfect place to sit but keep sliding off it. The plan is to ride this bike all month, except for an 80 mile organized ride this weekend, to break everything in. The fenders are really cool too. I rode through water in the roadway a couple of times and didn't get sprayed at all. I feel like such a Fred! :p Bottom line though . . . I'm lovin this bike! :D

And I get to join not one but TWO cults! I've always wanted to do that! Does this mean I can get another tattoo? I'm going to bribe the daughter with dinner tonight or tomorrow night so I can get the pictures loaded. Maybe if I write all the steps down I can do it by myself next time. :o bikerHen

[RoadRaven]

Awesome to hear you are enjoying her so much
And you have plans too, sounds like the 80 mile ride should be a great bonding experience between you and the new addition to the family :p

Yes... def a tat...
Looking forward to seeing the pix!

[tprevost]

WOW! Very Cool BikerHen!! Congrats on the new bike... can't wait to see pictures!!!! :D :D :D

[jeannierides]

Awesome!:D Can't wait to see pics! Congratulations BH!

[bikerHen]

Not the best photographs, but better than nothin.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/bikerHen/DSCF0638.jpg

My saddle in all it's glory.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/bikerHen/DSCF0640.jpg

The rest of the pictures came out kinda fuzzy. Guess I shouldn't take pictures before my morning tea. I was on the Surly site today and the correct name for the color is Black Cherry Pearl. Sounds so much better than burgandy. :D bikerHen

[KnottedYet]

*Such* a pretty bike!

[Starfish]

That is a GORGEOUS bike...the geometry is really pretty to me (if that makes any sense). I love Spokane (lived there briefly a gazillion years ago). I'm hoping maybe to do RATPOD in Montana next June, so I might be calling you for my trip through town!

If you ever want to make a trip out to the Olympic Peninsula when you're over here on the soggy side, let me know!

Beautiful, beautiful bike.

[margo49]

Classic geometry
Understated and classy are words that come to mind
(Who would have associated Knott with them, lol)
Gorgeous colour - I would call it "spiked chocolate" myself

[RoadRaven]

Looks like a classic (I don't know much about any bikes except road race bikes).
Lovely colour.

I am fascinated by the shifters on the drops! (Apparently I am the only one in this house that didn't know shifters could be there... :p )

Just looking at your saddle, it seems as if it is almost pointing up... is that just the angle of the picture, or is it actually at that angle? If it is pointing up, I suggest you drop the nose a tad and that may alleviate some of the pressure on your 'girly bits'.

[bikerHen]

Road Raven, The bar end shifters are new to me as well. They're taking a little getting use to, but kinda fun. I find I'm not constantly shifting, don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing. The seat is tilted up, and seems more comfortable that way. Waaay back in my college days, the saddle on my bike was tipped up at an obscene angle and was very comfortable. You just gotta go with what feels good. :D

Starfish, Would love to come over to the peninsula for some riding. That's the whole idea behind getting a touring bike. Now if I can just get DH motivated to ride more maybe we'll plan a trip for next summer.

And yes, the color is very pretty, especially when the sun hits it. It is just a classic bike and I'm loving it. Can't wait to try it on a rainy day. :eek: bikerHen

[mimitabby]

great set up! great bike!!

[Skierchickie]

I love your new bike, bikerHen! Very cool. Are you loving it?

I've been contemplating an LHT, myself. None around here, though, so I haven't seen one up close. How did you find the sizing to run? If I order one, I'm not sure if I feel safe ordering by the specs (although I emailed Surly, and got lots of great help). I'm off to the Lbs Saturday, to ride the probably too large 21" Trek 520, but I have this urge to branch out and order a Surly. I'm kinda hoping the Trek is too big, and then I won't feel guilty about not buying it (small shop, and somebody ordered it and then didn't want it, or they wouldn't have any touring bikes at all). What to do, what to do?

Anyhow, any thoughts on your new ride?

Jan

[KnottedYet]

Just popping in to be an obnoxious know-it-all...:D

Trek420 found the Surly LHT to run large. She generally fits a 46cm frame, but the 42 cm LHT fit her beautifully.

I have a 52 cm Surly Cross Check, which fits me just as perfectly as my 53 cm Waterford X-12.

Surly is a product of/owned by QBP, so your LBS should have no difficulty ordering one in your size. (no non-comptetition issues with Trek or Specialized or whatever.)

There is a Surly CC and LHT owners website that might have some nifty info you can use: www.surlyville.net At the very least it has some yummy bike porn! (pics)

[Skierchickie]

Thanks, Knot, your obnoxious know-it-all-ed-ness is greatly appreciated.

I did check with my lbs about the Surly - I just need to decide if I want to take a risk on ordering a brand I've never seen or tried on for size. Good to know about Trek420's experience. I really wish we had a dealer nearby, so I could see one in person. Based on the specs, and what the Surly person emailed me, I think the 50cm would fit, but that is what my Trek road bike is, so the idea of the Surly running big is frightening. But then, the 46 sounds soooo small. I suppose I could put a 180mm stem on that puppy :eek: Do you know if Trek420's bike's standover height measures the same as the spec says?

Or, I could get the Trek, as a "known", or I could do nothing, since DH is still dragging his feet. I can't get anything for a little while, unless the 21" Trek fits, because both are sold out in my size right now. Sounds like the Surly's will be back in September.

[KnottedYet]

Trek420 didn't buy the LHT, she just test-rode it. Decided to hang on to her money for a while.

I would wait for the chance to test-ride the Surly before buying a bike. They really are sweet steel frames, and very adaptable. hey, it's only another month, right?:D

[Trekhawk]

Its a beauty BH!!
Another lovely addition to your stable.:D