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Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:01pm
by 53x13
The pedals (200gr, steel axle) have been getting good reviews as very rugged, spd style pedals with steel cleats: http://

www.tredz.co.uk/.Ritchey-Pro-Micro-Clip ... Ah1K8P8HAQ

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:06pm
by meic
53x13 wrote:It's a kind of pearly grey! I'm hoping to get the bike down to 13/14kg by doing what I've done on most of my bikes: speccing with high end Shimano Dura Ace (bar end) and lots of carbon fibre in the low stress areas. I do not like carrying heavy bikes up French staircases :D


It is going to cost a fortune to save weight on components like that, compared to buying a lighter frame and fork set.

My LHT is made up with butterfly bars and is the reincarnation of my thirty year old Raleigh frame.
The titanium TA axix light bottom bracket hasnt done much to compensate for the frame and forks weight. :lol:

I am however really chuffed that my old Uniglide hubs after being spacered out to 135mm have given me dishless rear wheels. :D
My LHT is going to be used rather more as was intended, a big heavy beast carrying heavy burdens.

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:11pm
by 53x13
My total spend on lightweight components will be about £250. Lightweight wheels probably set me back the same. It's the frame I'm very impressed with. Now, if they could only make one out of carbon fibre...

(Quick, burn him as a heretic!)

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:14pm
by PH
14kg touring bike sounds reasonable to me. My Hewitt Cheviot weighs in at that and I haven't really tried. Though for a touring bike I wouldn't worry about the odd kg, and if I was thinking that was important I probably wouldn't start with a LHT.

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:17pm
by Heltor Chasca
53x13 wrote:I'm hoping that by saving on discs and using lighter wheels I can shed 2kg straight away. From there, it's lightweight saddle (not sure which) carbon post, 200 gr pedals, lightweight stem and bars (any recommendations welcome) and a lightweight baggage system. That's hopefully another 3kg right there.


Surlys don't need race spec components. Their speed is fed by your love. You'll find this frame has spirit and it's only your happiness cycling off into the distance that makes the bike lighter.

Go for strength and reliability.

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:21pm
by Heltor Chasca
PH wrote:14kg touring bike sounds reasonable to me. My Hewitt Cheviot weighs in at that and I haven't really tried. Though for a touring bike I wouldn't worry about the odd kg, and if I was thinking that was important I probably wouldn't start with a LHT.


This. If you are after a light tourer, a LHT isn't the chosen one...b

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:23pm
by PH
53x13 wrote:It's a kind of pearly grey! I'm hoping to get the bike down to 13/14kg by doing what I've done on most of my bikes: speccing with high end Shimano Dura Ace (bar end) and lots of carbon fibre in the low stress areas. I do not like carrying heavy bikes up French staircases :D


If bar end shifters then full size V brakes are IMO the best option, by a long way.
I do not like carrying heavy bikes up French staircases

Are you not camping? If not and you're thinking about weight, I think it's the wrong frame.

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:27pm
by 53x13
A 56cm LHT frame is about 5lb, roughly a pound heavier than my 853 which I managed to get down to 10kg without too much effort. Even with the weight of the forks (which I'm considering changing) I reckon a 12/13kg bike build is quite doable. I'd only choose lightweight kit to use in low stress areas, and if it was previously well regarded.

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:31pm
by 53x13
Heltor Chasca wrote:
PH wrote:14kg touring bike sounds reasonable to me. My Hewitt Cheviot weighs in at that and I haven't really tried. Though for a touring bike I wouldn't worry about the odd kg, and if I was thinking that was important I probably wouldn't start with a LHT.


This. If you are after a light tourer, a LHT isn't the chosen one...b


I think a 'lighter' weight LHT is right for my kind of touring. It's the all day comfort and reliability I'm after. Titanium, as a touring material, in mission critical situations is a non starter afaic. It's got to be steel and LHT has got a well deserved reputation I'm that respect.

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:33pm
by Brucey
53x13 wrote:Can get one of the above frames pretty cheap second hand. What would be the pitfalls in building up a LHT for distance cycling. What's the best group/wheels to buy and can anyone recommend an effective braking system? New to the forum.


IIRC the LHT comes in versions that use 26" wheels or 700C wheels. The best build parts and all-up weight would vary from one type to the other. Which are you getting?

If the build is to be a load-lugger for touring (and if it isn't, why are you starting with this frame...?), I wouldn't worry overly much about a load of lightweight parts and I certainly wouldn't buy 'lightweight wheels' for loaded/distance touring; save those for the weekends..... IMHO you would be better off with a strong wheelset for touring, even if it is a bit heavier.

BTW in terms of weight and quality of function there isn't very much to choose between different shimano groupsets. Pretty much the only Dura-Ace parts I'd have on a touring bike might be bar-end shifters; for everything else there are other parts that, if anything, work better in a touring context.

cheers

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:39pm
by FarOeuf
I have a DT with LHT forks (v-brakes). 11kg, all with low-end components. Toured all over the place, raced, commuted, etc. Build and rebuild to whatever spec you need. No pitfalls, other than people forever telling you it's heavy...

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:40pm
by PH
53x13 wrote:
Heltor Chasca wrote:
PH wrote:14kg touring bike sounds reasonable to me. My Hewitt Cheviot weighs in at that and I haven't really tried. Though for a touring bike I wouldn't worry about the odd kg, and if I was thinking that was important I probably wouldn't start with a LHT.


This. If you are after a light tourer, a LHT isn't the chosen one...b


I think a 'lighter' weight LHT is right for my kind of touring. It's the all day comfort and reliability I'm after. Titanium, as a touring material, in mission critical situations is a non starter afaic. It's got to be steel and LHT has got a well deserved reputation I'm that respect.


You pays your money and takes your choice and you'll have a great trip whatever the bike. It's not really about weight, that's a side effect of it being built to carry a load, if you build it lightweight without a load that frame weight doesn't add comfort it detracts from it. By how much is of course subjective, but for me it would be enough to choose something else.

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:42pm
by meic
Lightweight wheels probably set me back the same


Are you expecting to get lightweight wheels with 135mm hubs or are you planning to extend 130's like I did?

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:47pm
by 53x13
0.5kg weight penalty over my current frame doesn't bother me. I've researched a lot of frames and the LHT ticks all the boxes. Dura ace chainset is extremely tough and at 650gr including the BB about a pound lighter than the FSA Triple equivalent. Same goes for the derailleurs. I like the quality too. Lower end Shimano IMO wears out pretty quickly, especially Tiagra. Like the man said, you pays your money!

Re: Surly Long Haul Trucker

Posted: 28 Apr 2016, 9:50pm
by pete75
I built one up last year. 60cm drop bar version.Don't believe people who say V brakes are incompatible with drop bars - it's the levers which matter not what they're fastened onto. I used V brakes with these levers and they work very well http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BLTEKRL520 ... ake-levers . 9 speed with Shimano bar end gear levers. These wheels https://www.rosebikes.com/article/atb-w ... aid:640714 - strong rims and I wanted a dynohub. Lights available at reasonable prices from the same website - the AXA Luxx 70 is handy if you will be using a mobile etc as it has a USB port for charging. Chainset I used a stronglight impact triple but this is virtually identical and costs a lot less http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s109p2000. Rest of build pretty standard - Deore LX front and rear changers, B17 , these mudguards http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... b0s80p1917, Steel front and rear racks - one tubus, one raleigh etc .
It'll certainly do what you want it to with similar bits.

Haven't weighed it but for fully loaded touring a few pounds either way in bike weight isn't really relevant.