I saw my first LHT in the wild when my Trek 1220 was at Cape Bicycle getting a shifter replaced. I wish I had put the money into an LHT instead of the repair. I really liked the LHT’s look and feel, but wasn’t sure I was ready to buy a new bike.
When I got back home, a buddy of mine offered to sell me his Cannondale T800 at a good price. I was torn. Did I want to buy a used bike and make it fit me or make the jump to a LHT?
Bike fit is worth it
My first stop was to get a professional fitting to see if the Cannondale was right for me and to see which LHT would be suitable. The fitting was a good investment. I wish I had done it years ago. Read about it here. The best part is that the fitting was free if I bought a bike from them.
The fitting determined that the T800 WOULD work if I did some tweaking, but after polling the phreds and getting Wife Lila’s blessing, I decided I’d rather have a brand new bike. After all, I had just retired. I DESERVED a new bike.
When the new bike came in, the LBS did a final fitting to get everything dialed in right.
Bringing my baby home for the first time
I finally got to wheel my LHT into the driveway and go on its first ride. I tell folks that the Surly Long Haul Trucker is a Peterbilt, not a Ferrari: both of them will get up to 80 mph, but the Peterbilt can do it with 40 tons on board.
Adding a second stem gave me plenty of cockpit room for all my toys, plus my Arkel Small Bar Bag.
Building a wheel around a SON hub
The next big step was to get a wheel built around my SON generator hub. I’m fairly pleased with the video and I’m REALLY pleased with the hub and wheel.
I later replaced my B&M DLumotec Oval N Plus and B&M Lumotec generator lights with a single Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ Cyo R N Plus. The Cyo IQ easily puts out more and better light than the other two combined. You can see a video of the installation here.
I kept the taillight setup I had on my Trek 1220. My NiteRider battery died, so I took it off the bike, but I haven’t gotten around to removing the NiteRider taillight. I think this video will give you an idea of why I don’t think anyone should miss seeing me at night.
Four-year-old demonstrates Click-Stand
I use a ESGE/Pletscher Double-legged kickstand AND a Click-Stand to hold the bike up (not at the same time). It’s overkill, but they both have their uses.
I have a much-loved Brooks Champion Flyer that I almost killed with too much Proofide. I cover it when it rains. It is perched on top of a Velo Orange Grand CRU seat post which allows finer adjustments to saddle position than the factory post.
Few problems with my LHT
I’ve only had a couple of problems with my nearly-year-old Surly. My seat tube had a tendency to slip down. On one ride, I cranked a fraction of a turn too far and snapped off the seat tube clamp bolt.
That caused me to stock up on some spare bolts and take an inventory of the tools I carry on the bike.
Some bolts are rusting
Some rust has shown up on some of the bolts. I guess that’s to be expected when you live surrounded by blowing salt air like we do here in South Florida.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Charles Keefer
// Dec 11, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Good review. Lots of tech info. Nice job.
I wonder if your double-legged kick stand will work on my recumbents. I have a double-legged kick stand on my little one but when one of the rubber feet came off, it wobbles in the wind and falls over if you look at it cross-eyed. The legs just aren’t long enough.
Was thinking about a hammer, spikes and tie downs, but that may be overkill.
Cheers.
cmk
2 Ken Steinhoff
// Dec 11, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Do you think the Click-Stand would work?
Give me a holler and we can look at it together.
The Click-Stand web site says they have made them for bents and Bike Fridays.
http://www.click-stand.com/Recunbents___Bike_Friday.php
3 Allen Giese
// Dec 13, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Thanks for the update. I got my LHT about 6 weeks ago. Been on two weekend camping trips with it and a bunch of day rides (did a chunk of LOST today)… couldn’t be more pleased. Bought after market racks though and feel that was a mistake. Are those the Surly racks on yours?
4 Ken Steinhoff
// Dec 13, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Allen,
I have the Surly Nice Rack on the front. It’s heavy and, according to my LBS, a challenge to figure out how to install because they include so much hardware to accommodate just about any bike on the market.
I like the way it’s set up to mount lights on it.
My rear rack is a Jandd Expedition rack that I had on my old bike. I like it because it is long enough to handle my Arkel Tail Rider trunk bag.
Gary Ritter, an Okeechobee rider was on the LOST today talking about the head winds. They were blowing 17 mph, gusting to 22 on the coast.
You much have had fun out there with that going on. (Gary said the wind died down on his way home, so he didn’t even get the great push from a tailwind.)
5 Ken Steinhoff
// Dec 13, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Allen,
You can get some glimpses at parts of the front rack here:
http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/iq-cyo-n-plus/
Both racks here:
http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/is-it-going-to-rain-on-my-surly-lht/
6 Allen Giese
// Dec 14, 2009 at 11:47 am
Ken,
Yes, it was pretty windy yesterday out of the SE. Seemed like a real steady 15-18mph. I remember thinking, if I’m doing 10 mph into a headwind doing 15 mph does that equate to a 25 mph of resistance? Simple logic… probably wrong somehow. Maybe you or one of your scientific friends can straighten me out.
I looked at my bolts for rust. I think Surly changed the crank bolts since you bought yours. Mine are some sort of black metal. Also, I changed my stem to a 90mm from the 100mm standard so I’m not using Surly’s bolts there (I saw that was another place you had rust). My brakes still look good but it’s only been a couple months.
Thanks for the info on the racks. I think I’ll probably go ahead and get the Surly racks. There was a good article in the Adventure Cycling magazine this month about rack contruction and it looks like the Surly racks stack are well made. There are instructions on the Surly site for attaching them.
Thanks
Allen
7 Ken Steinhoff
// Dec 14, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Allen,
I have a nifty calculator here that will show you exactly the effects of climbing and wind.
http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/wind-is-a-real-drag/
If you’re riding the LOST, you must be local. If you want to take a look at my racks before you order, I’d be happy to meet up with you somewhere.
8 Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) Touring Bike Build, Modification and Review | Aushiker: Bicycling & Hiking in Western Australia // Jan 16, 2010 at 1:29 pm
[...] Palm Beach Tours – Ken is a Surly Long Haul Trucker owner and great story teller. Ken’s 2009 year in review in respect to his LHT can be found here. [...]
9 jim
// Feb 21, 2010 at 11:18 pm
My Surly LHT is now a year old. I rode it down the California coast from San Francisco to Monterey. Amazing how many LHT’s are out there. I thoroughly enjoy the bike. It is a little heavy but handles Ortliebs front and back just fine. I have the same front rack, it is built like a tank.
10 Ken Steinhoff
// Feb 21, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Jim,
You must have gotten your LHT about the same time I did mine. I wish I had more miles on it, but I’m happy with the way it rides.
You’re right about the rack. When future civilizations do archeological digs, they’ll find Surly Nice Racks still intact.
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