Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) Touring Bike Build, Modification and Review
Aushiker | November 7, 2008 10:59 amPhew! A long title, but this post, reflects the build, modification and review of my first tourer, a Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT). This blog posting will be updated as I experience life on the road with the Trucker.
My maintenance log for the Long Haul Trucker (LHT) can be found by clicking here
The Surly Long Haul Trucker’s photo album is available by clicking this link
My original intention had been to build my own Surly Long Haul Trucker but the world financial crisis and time have killed that option. The price of a frame at the time of making the decision to order a new built LHT was Australia $990 whereas I could buy a complete 2009 LHT in Truckaccino for $2,129 Australian. This combined with really not having the time to put into my own build lead me down the start with a complete and modified route instead. On March 7, 2009 I placed an order with Churchill Cycles, Myaree, Western Australia for my new LHT and took possession of the bike on April 4, 2009. This order got me a standard LHT which I intend to modify and add accessories to suit me. More photos of the Surly LHT can be found in the gallery.
Aushiker's Surly Long Haul Trucker in Truckaccino
Suggestions on modifications and accessories are most welcome via the comments box below. Please do take the opportunity to participate in the specification of this Long Haul Trucker.
Why a Surly Long Haul Trucker?
Before deciding on the LHT I considered a Vivente Randonneur (turned off by the attitude at Balmoral Cycles, Victoria Park plus they where happy to sell me a wrong sized bike). Also the other recommended dealer, Cycle Centre, East Perth, took nearly four months to get back to me! All this plus I just could not get excited about this bike led me to consider two other alternatives: A Fuji Tourer (poor dealer response in WA but could have got one from Melbourne but with freight there was little cost advantage again did nothing to inspire confidence in buying one of these) and a Cannondale Touring 1 or 2 (just too expensive I am afraid, but at least the local Cannondale representative really tried to help).
All this kept leading me back to the idea of a Surly Long Haul Trucker, something about this bike and Surly grabs me so here we are. I did considered purchasing a frame and building the bike up myself but the drop in the exchange rate due to world financial crisis and just not having the time has killed that option for now. Instead I have purchased a complete bike, however as I am not keen on the idea of bar-end shifters I will be seeing how I go with this set-up with the option to convert this standard bike to STI configuration in the future; either Shimano or Campagnolo. You can read more on the options in the drive train section below.
So here we are … discussing the process of setting up a Surly Long Haul Trucker as road (hard and dirt roads) tourer suitable for touring in Western Australia, Australia, New Zealand and generally first world countries and as commuter, at least a winter commuter. I am not building it as an expedition tourer.
My fundamentals are that I want a good solid tourer set-up for long days in the saddle and loaded climbing, but also something I could use as at least a winter commuter. I want it to have drop bars, brifters, a relatively low range front crank set (something around the 22-32-44 range eventually), 9 speed mountain bike rear cluster and dérailleur, and touring wheels (36 spoke). It will also have front and rear racks,and be set up to pull my BOB Ibex trailer.
Cost:
Updated March 14, 2009 – I am maintaining a Google spreadsheet of what this bike actually costs me including running costs. All costs provided are in Australian dollars and include postage. The spreadsheet can be found here [Google Docs].
The Bike – Specification, Modifications and Accessories:
Accessories | Brakes | Controls | Drivetrain | Frame and Fork | Wheels and Tyres
Accessories
Lights: While tt is not my intention to ride at night on tourers Sir Lancelot is being used as a commuter as well as a tourer, so lights are required. I have therefore fitted a pair of Universal Bicycle Swivel Mounts to allow use of my Fenix L2D torches that I currently use and feel that these will suffice for now.
On the other hand a set-up such as Ay-Up would give me around 6 hours of lighting off one battery and act as good emergency lights with my winter touring and with a second battery be a serious option for Audax rides. I may update to a set of Ay-Ups in due course.
Mudguards: These will be silver SKS Chromoplastic P50 mudguards. They appear to have a good reputation and come in a range of sizes. The P50 fit 700c 38 – 45 mm tyres so should be fine for me.
Water bottle cages: I am going to go with two Topeak Modula XL cages plus a standard size cage on the outside of the down tube. This should give me good water carrying capacity.
Front Rack: The preference is for a rack with a hoop or possibly a plate to give it more strength.
Rear Rack: ?
Kickstand: Whilst I appreciate that the debate about kickstand versus no kickstand is a bit like a discussion about religion, I am going with a kickstand. Options currently being considered include the Hebie Bidop stand 605 and the ESGE Bipod kickstand. Dan’s Ramblings has a comparison of the two models.
Power Source: A recent posting on the Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) Owners Group Google group caught my interest as it was a possible solution to providing power to re-charge my phone and Garmin Edge 305 batteries. The possible solution is a PowerFilm Inc foldable solar charger, the PowerFilm F15-300. I will also look out for alternatives as well, but it does open up possibilities.
Brakes
My preference with the brakes is to go with 2009 Avid Shorty 6 cantilever brakes. These are more expensive for sure, but early indications are that they are significant improvement over the previous model. However the LHT comes standard with Tektro 992 “Oryx” so will run with these and see how they go particularly in the wet.
Controls
Handlebars: The LHT comes standard with drop bars, the brand being PMT with Co-Union Cork Mix tape. I am not familiar with these bars so will go with them for now and may consider replacing them with Nitto Noodle bars if I don’t find them suitable.
Headset: Standard headset is a Ritchey Logic Comp1-1/8″ threadless, w/ 40mm spacers in black. No changes planned.
Stem: Standard stem is a forged silver Kalloy1-1/8″ threadless with 25.4mm clamping. No changes planned.
Pedals: A useful discussion on same can be found at Bike Forums. My inclination is to go with Shimano M424 SPD pedals as they are clip-in both sides, offer a wide supportive platform and can be used with bikes shoes if necessary.
Saddle: The standard saddle is a WTB SST with steel rails. I pretty much replaced the standard saddle immediately with a Brooks B17 which had been fitted to Chase, my Giant CRX 1. The WTB SST saddle was just not for me. However the Brooks is sensitive to getting the adjustment correct and whilst I have just got away with the standard seat post, I found Tamia Nelson’s posting on adjusting the seat angle on a Surly LHT helpful.
Seat post: The standard seat post is a silver Kalloy SP-342 (27.2 mm x 300 mm) with a Surly stainless natural silver clamp. If you are fitting a Brooks saddle, the standard seat post may not provide sufficient setback. The Velo Orange VO Grand Cru seat post is a recommend replacement.
Drivetrain
Bottom Bracket: Standard BB is a Shimano UN53. 68×110mm. No changes planned.
Cassette: Standard cassette is a Shimano Deore CS-HG53. 9-speed. 11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30-34t. No changes planned.
Crankset: The standard crankset is a silver forged arms with aluminium rings, 110mm BCD, 48-36-26t Andell. My inclination is change this out to a Sugino XD600 (26/36/48), but will see how the Andell goes first.
Dérailleur – Front: Standard front dérailleur is a Shimano Tiagra FD-4403 triple. This will stay as fitted.
Dérailleur – Rear: Standard rear dérailleur is a Shimano XT RD-M761 SGS long cage. This will stay as fitted.
Shifters: My preference here is brifters, so I am looking at Campagnolo Xenon Ergopower 10 Speed Gear Shifters which will be married to the standard mountain bike back end and the standard road front end OR Tiagra 9 speed shifters married to the standard dérailleur components.
There has been a really helpful discussion on the Surly Long Haul Trucker & Cross-Check Owners Group in respect to brifter options. I will try and summarise the discussion here. My thanks to Hank Wirtz and Gary form the owner’s group for the substance of this advice.
- Campagnolo shifters are the best option. Either 10 speed or 9 speed shifters depending on if a 8 speed cassette or a 9 speed cassette is required;
- Suggested Campagnolo shifters include Veloce and Centaur. Hank notes that with the exception of Xenon (any year) and 2007-08 Mirage, Veloce and Centaur (they say “QS” on the left lever), any Campagnolo (Campy) lever will work with any front derailleur that’s appropriate for the crank. The levers suggested require either a “QS” or “FB” front derailleur. For triple cranks, those are Comp Triple, Race Triple, Mirage FB, Veloce FB, Centaur FB, and Chorus FB.
- Pre-2007 and now 2009 Ergopower levers aren’t indexed in the front, so you can use any front derailleur that’s appropriate for your crank. Use a Shimano one if you want.
- Some combinations known to work are:
- Campagnolo 11 speed shifters + Shimano rear derailleur + Shimano/SRAM 9 speed cassette;
- Campagnolo 10 speed shifters + Shimano rear derailleur + 8 speed cassette;
- Campagnolo 10 speed shifters + Campagnolo rear derailleur + Shimano/SRAM 9 speed cassette – use a Campy triple front derailleur – systems that are all-Campy 10speed shift 9s Shimano cassettes great, just adjust the limit screws to lock out the last click.
- Campagnolo 10 speed shifters + Shimano rear derailleur + Shimano/SRAM 9-speed cassette + Jtek Shiftmate;
- Campagnolo 10 speed shifters + Shimano rear derailleur + Shimano/SRAM 9-speed cassette + Hubbub cable routing;
- Campagnolo 9 speed shifters + Shimano rear derailleur + 8 speed cassette + Hubbub cable routing.
Hank notes that he is using 2009 Veloce shifters (10 speed) with a Centaur Long Cage rear derailleur and Record Carbon front derailleur shifting a 50-34 Veloce UT crank, and a 9 speed 11-34 SRAM PG-970 cassette. Hank goes on to say “that they shift the 9 speed cassette beautifully. The limit screw locks out the last click.” My only concern with this configuration is the carbon front derailleur. Maybe not ideal on a tourer.
Gray indicated that he is using Campagnolo Veloce 10 speed QS shifters with a Shimano XT 9 speed complete drivetrain (except the brifters and a Tiagra front derailleur). Gary uses a jtek adapter in this combination.
In addition to the above there is a very good resource on the topic called “Rear Shifting” which is published on the CTC website.
Another option is to go with Shimano 9 speed shifters such as Tiagra or if still available, 105. Bikes such as the Bianchi Axis have a mixed of Shimano road and mountain bike components.
The frame is a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame, described by Surly as “100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Main triangle double butted. TIG-welded. The frame size is 58 cm. Colour: Truckaccino.
The fork is the standard Surly Long Haul Trucker fork, a 100% CroMoly, lugged and brazed fork with a 1-1/8″ threadless steer tube uncu.
Frame Protection:
Initial thoughts are to go with Velocity Dyads in a 36 spoke configuration. Discussions with Velocity indicate they are available, albeit in black rather than silver. A possible delay may result in getting these. The other issue here is they come with Velocity hubs rather than ones I choose. Some further thought is needed here.
Another option is as Kym suggests, is the Mavic A719s, which also seem popular with tourists.
Tyres:
Resources:
Links to discussion forums, owner reviews on the LHT and other related and helpful resources.
The Ultimate Trek.com Blog – Review on Daniel’s own Long Haul Trucker plus other gear being used on Daniel’s adventure.
Touring Handlebars – Discussion in Crazyguyonabike forums.
Other Long Haul Trucker Owner Blogs and Websites
Jon’s Cycling Log – Jon has a costing comparison of a Surly Long Haul Trucker versus a Dawes Ultra Galaxy.
Jim’s Riding 4 Life blog – Jim is a LHT owner.
Marcos Netto Long Haul Trucker set-up with STI shifters and Deore deraiullers. Nice photos and specification information.
