Touring bikes -Surly LHT

Going to test ride a Surly LHT tomorrow and I know zero about touring bikes. Looking at a Surly due to great recommendations on this forum!

What should I look for in a touring bike? I will be using it for errands in town (grocery shopping, etc.) and will be doing some touring with DH this summer (not camping - he camped out enough in Vietnam). I want something that can handle a decent load of groceries but still be comfortable. I definitely want a steel bike.

All advice will be greatly appreciated!

I've had a LHT. Just transitioned to a Salsa Vaya. I wasn't looking to replace the LHT, but bikes just come along. I still have the LHT frame in the basement. (Probably selling it)

Anyways, it's not a lightweight bike. Mine, the tiny 42cm frame, had good XT parts, Bontrager Mustang 32h wheels, Delta and Blackburn racks; it tipped the scales at nearly 30 lbs. My Vaya Ti is quite a bit lighter (haven't weighed it officially yet)

But, it rode nicely and was a real workhorse. I did a couple multi-day tours (loaded with about 35lbs) and it was great. I also did some 60 mile day rides with it. It's not a fast bike but very comfortable.

Love my LHT. I think that the weight issue is overrated. Off the rack, it weighs about the same as comparable bikes (I think mine was 25 lb?) it's all of the aftermarket gear we tend to load touring bikes up with that turns this into a 30 lb bike. People also tend to unnecessarily agonize over the bar-end shifters. Don't. If you already ride a lot and know how/when/why to shift already, the learning curve takes about 15 minutes and after that you'll wonder why you ever put up with anything else.

Touring days are long. Heavy loads can make a bike twitchy. Breakdowns WILL happen in the middle of nowhere. My big piece of advice is to get something that is comfy, stable, and well-built. The LHT has been all of those things for me. You, however, need to get a bike that is comfy for you, and not anyone else. Go try a bunch of bikes before making a decision.

Stuff to watch out for: You'll want to replace the stock tires and probably the saddle right away, so budget for that. Pedals too if you don't like black plastic platforms. Fenders for 26" wheels can be difficult to fit properly. The LHT has a low bottom bracket, so if you ride in the city and like to hop curbs you can easily bash your large chainring against the curb. Yep, all stuff I learned the hard way ;) The paint/powdercoat/whatever job is non too tough, but I can be hard of equipment (I take care of my stuff, it's just that I put a lot of miles on it!) so maybe that's just me. Something nice about Surlys is that you can scrape the labels off and have an anonymous, not-so-theft-attractive bike.

I'm not too concerned about the weight issue. I'm a fairly strong rider and I already have a lightweight road bike if I feel the need for speed. I basically want something that is sturdy and dependable. From everything I've read, the LHT fills the bill. I already figured that I'd have to change out the seat and definitely the pedals because I want to use my clips. Had not thought about the tires but will probably want to change those out eventually. Thanks for the info about curbs. I don't do a lot of curb hopping, but I can always use the warning!!

I have a LHT, I bought for touring and put 2500+miles on it. It was a workhorse with 4 panniers and very stable. I thought the bike top tube was a bit long for me and I had trouble feeling secure using the brakes. To make a long story short I bought a salsa vaya that fits me better and stopping or slowing is so much easier with the disc brakes. For me the vaya feels much more stable.
Main thing I'm trying to say is get a bike that fits. Easier said than done but I'm sure you've done your homework so enjoy the process.

I am a big proponent of Surly bikes! I will say that after riding 26 inch wheels, 700c seems harsh and unforgiving. And if you're smaller, the bike looks like it fits better and isn't a franken-bike. I still have two 700 c bikes. But the Surly is stable dependable, I've loaded it down with 50 lbs of gear and it has never given out on me. My 520's stock aluminum rack broke, but they've since introduced a new style (that looks like Surly's nice rack, LOL!). The LHT with the right tires, rolls fast. The stock tires are a bit gummy for my taste, so I switched to one with lower rolling resistance and a fatter stance and never looked back.

Point being, it's the one bike purchase I've never regretted making. I don't think you would either. Surly's run big. So the 46cm, fits a little big for me at 5'3'' but thanks to my long torso it's perfect. 42cm probably would have been better, but that's the case with all of Surly's models. Keep that in mind during fitting. Forget what you "should" ride, and look for the best fit!!! :)

I've never ridden a Salsa Vaya, but I hear they're nice. The cross-check would be a good light tourer-commuter option. My Trek 520 has been lovely, but I've replaced so much stuff to make it a better touring-bike (including the rear cassette) that unless you're ready to do a lot of customizing or they've changed the specs dramatically, I couldn't recommend it. I know people have been telling them to change the gearing, brakes, etc, but the 520 continues to roll out the same each year. It will get you from here to there right out of the gate, but you may decide that changing some stuff suits you. The 1400.00 price tag is quite hefty for a bike you have to modify.

The LHT is spec'd well of the gate, imo. Choose a steel rack (aluminum ones don't handle heavy loads well) and roll off into the sunset. :D

If I could, I'd build myself a Soma and a Rivendell too. I basically love steel bikes. The LHT is a +1 for me.

Do you have the bar end shifters? If yes, how long did it take for you to get used to them? I'm almost thinking about asking them to mount the shifters on the tube so that it's more like an old fashioned index shifting bike. The bar end shifters were difficult to get used to for me.

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

Do you have the bar end shifters? If yes, how long did it take for you to get used to them? I'm almost thinking about asking them to mount the shifters on the tube so that it's more like an old fashioned index shifting bike. The bar end shifters were difficult to get used to for me.

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I'm not the person you asked, but I got bar-end shifters (for the first time ever in many years of riding) on my Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe built for touring, and I adapted to them quickly. In fact, I like them a lot! They were recommended to me because of the mountain gearing and brakes on my bike, since I wanted drop handlebars. The only slight negative is that you do have to move your hands to shift, but if you're comfortable riding and an average or above bike-handler, that shouldn't be too much of an issue. Would be harder for a new rider, I'm sure. The shifter also occasionally hits my thigh if I have to turn sharply, but that's a rarity.

Yesterday I rode a 54 cm disc trucker on our Oregon Trail ride. 42 miles on dirt roads, 40 degrees and a headwind of about 15 mph - ugh. But the bike was great. I swapped out the stock tires for some Schwalbe Marathon Supremes 26 x 2. I also put my Rivet Saddle on and went a new direction with handlebars and rode the Nitto Moustache. I had the bike hermit put a little shorter stem on as well. I am a betweener with Surly. A 52 is a tad small and a 54 a tad big but with the shorter stem I solved the problem.

I have bar end shifters on Sky, my Rivendell and of course on the Surly too. I love them and don't ever feel like I am searching to shift. On the moustache I can actually do some shifting by simply moving the palm of my hand.
I concur that a steel bike with some nice tires makes a fabulous commuting and touring bike. I will take the comfort and stability over light weight any day of the week. The bike absorbs the bumps, etc of the road instead of my body, reducing fatigue.

We have several photos on our website of different configurations of handlebars, etc on Surly LHT go take a peak.

I have a Salsa Fargo which is an off-road touring bike that is more mountain bike style than road. However; the ride is comfortable, I like the drop bars and the bar end shifters are nice and simple. Salsa and Surly make great bikes that are comfortable and made for touring. I rode the LHT once and liked it, but found the Fargo fitted my needs more.

Me loves me Salsa Vaya ;)

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Originally Posted by WindingRoad

Me loves me Salsa Vaya ;)

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It is a beautiful bike!

I fell in love with the Fargo back in 2010, but they don't come small enough for me...which is what led me to find the LHT.

Dogmama, did you pursue the LHT?

I found a 43 cm Trek 520 - but even with that size reach is long for me. My friend bought it and I can borrow if I don't mind not really being able to ride in the hoods. I wonder if the 42 cm LHT would fit me if I wanted to try touring.

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Originally Posted by azfiddle

Dogmama, did you pursue the LHT?

I found a 43 cm Trek 520 - but even with that size reach is long for me. My friend bought it and I can borrow if I don't mind not really being able to ride in the hoods. I wonder if the 42 cm LHT would fit me if I wanted to try touring.

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The LHT is on temporary hold contingent on the cost of a dental procedure for my dog...sigh...

The LHTs I rode (the 50 and 46) seemed pretty true to size. I ride a size 50 road bike and the 50 LHT was comparable. I still have the LHT on my next big purchase list. It was a really sweet ride.