Surly Love

[Catrin]

I just returned home from my LBS where I had a meeting with their specialist in bike builds and he is also their fitter. We determined that if I have him build me a special kit for the Long Haul Trucker that I will only spend about $300 more and have better components than the standard kit - including hand-made wheels, carbon bars and other parts. I am not committed as of yet, but it seems a no-brainer to consider this. His software program crashed on him, so he is going to type up the kit and email it to me. He wasn't happy with his computer when I left...

I really can't go any higher than that additional $300, but if he really can upgrade what he thinks he can while staying within my budget then it really does seem wise to go for it. Nothing is happening before March 19th though

[Blueberry]

Congratulations!! Sounds like you have a great plan in the works. What happens March 19?

[Tri Girl]

Saweet!!

[bikerHen]

Speaking as one who has spent WAY more than $300. to upgrade just about everything on my LHT, I would say do it! Just don't mess with those bar end shifters. They are perfect just the way they are. bikerHen

If you plan to do loaded touring, don't get too fancy with the hand built wheels. You need a high spoke count to carry the extra weight. You also want to stick with common, easy to replace spokes in case you find yourself doing a roadside spoke replacement.

[Catrin]

Congratulations!! Sounds like you have a great plan in the works. What happens March 19?

Pay day As a special order I need to pay for it up front, of course.

[Catrin]

Speaking as one who has spent WAY more than $300. to upgrade just about everything on my LHT, I would say do it! Just don't mess with those bar end shifters. They are perfect just the way they are. bikerHen

The bar end shifters are staying, though they have me a little nervous Most of the gear components will be XT outside of the rear cassette, which will be SRAM. He said that for a touring bike, SRAM will be more dependable and last longer than an XT cassette. I don't remember any of the other details, am waiting for the list.

I suspect a lot more COULD be upgraded, but he knows my budget I do like the idea of the hand-built wheels though - gotta run back to work now... I just saw the time

[bikerHen]

You'll love the bar end shifters once you get a feel for them. I just had my whole drivetrain replaced. Sram 11-34 rear cassette, Salsa rings up front. Had the rear derailluer replaced two years ago. It's Shimano XTR. I think at this point the only thing I haven't replaced is the front derailluer. Are you planning to top off your LHT with a nice leather Brooks Saddle? They look really good together. bikerHen

[Catrin]

Speaking as one who has spent WAY more than $300. to upgrade just about everything on my LHT, I would say do it! Just don't mess with those bar end shifters. They are perfect just the way they are. bikerHen

If you plan to do loaded touring, don't get too fancy with the hand built wheels. You need a high spoke count to carry the extra weight. You also want to stick with common, easy to replace spokes in case you find yourself doing a roadside spoke replacement.

The wheels he has in mind are very strong and designed for the kind of riding I will be doing. There will be a high spoke count and he showed me what to do should a spoke break when I am on the road. Hopefully that won't happen I won't be doing much in the way of full loaded touring, more of a "go anywhere and everywhere" kind of thing with probable light touring.

[twin]

Congratulations I love mine and I also have spent way more than 300 dollars...lol btw it was by choice I did not need to.

[Catrin]

You'll love the bar end shifters once you get a feel for them. I just had my whole drivetrain replaced. Sram 11-34 rear cassette, Salsa rings up front. Had the rear derailluer replaced two years ago. It's Shimano XTR. I think at this point the only thing I haven't replaced is the front derailluer. Are you planning to top off your LHT with a nice leather Brooks Saddle? They look really good together. bikerHen

I think that the rear cassette he is including in the quote is the same Sram 11-34 rear cassette, won't know what the rings/so forth are until I see the full list. I know that he is including a good number of XT parts.

I have already thought about topping it off with a nice Brooks saddle For some reason I keep wanting to refer to it as "him" and it isn't even built yet!

[Catrin]

For some reason the idea of the bar end shifters do have me nervous (my trainer wants me to stick with trigger-shifters if possible). I am assuming that I can, basically, just move my hand down the bar until I get to the shifter? I hope that made sense

I have to learn how to take my hand off the bars anyway, that is still a problem for me. However, I will have at least 5-6 weeks to practice with my Trek before the LHT will arrive - and it may be longer if any of the parts are on back-order.

All of this is pretty exciting I am STILL amazed that he can upgrade as much as he is - including hand-built wheels - and stay within $300 of the original price! I haven't seen his final list/quote yet, so time will tell.

We have decided that the 46cm will be a better choice for me over the 42 - there will just be fractionally less standover room (still about 1.5 inches anyway).

The frame in this size is only available in brown - though hopefully they will have the olive color frame in stock by then. I will have to decide on accents - brown isn't my favorite color... However this is too sweet a bike to let slide over something like that. I love blue and green, surely I can come up with something to mitigate that brown if that is to be my fate...

[OakLeaf]

That's so exciting!

[KnottedYet]

The frame in this size is only available in brown - though hopefully they will have the olive color frame in stock by then. I will have to decide on accents - brown isn't my favorite color... However this is too sweet a bike to let slide over something like that. I love blue and green, surely I can come up with something to mitigate that brown if that is to be my fate...

Now I'm really confused. I thought you were getting the LHT? That comes in a dark cream or a blue frame. http://surlybikes.com/frames/long_haul_trucker_frame/

Not olive nor brown.

The Cross Check comes in brown, and yeah that's not my favorite color. http://surlybikes.com/frames/cross_check_frame/ Though I've seen a few brown CC in town, and they look fine.

Which bike are you having built?

[OakLeaf]

"Beef gravy brown"??? Ewwwwwww. The color would be better if they'd called it something different!

[WindingRoad]

Mmmmmmmmm...beef gravy. That would make me hungry staring down at that. I actually like the brown, it's a lot prettier in person. Has a fleck to it.