2007 Surly Long Haul Trucker

October 2009:  Here you can see a few changes.  (Click for big.)

• The B&M Fly IQ has been replaced with a Cyo.  I find the brightness about the same, but the beam extends further out.  I’m not crazy about how its mounted out on the end of the rack, but options are limited.
• The Superflash has been moved off of the rear fender and is now zip-tied to the Pendle.
• Front racks: Those are Blackburn lowriders that I traded for with the Sloth, and a Nashbar front rack.  I’m not fond of the rack mounting on the brake boss’, but there isn’t much available that will mount on the mid-fork holes.  The lowriders work great and are very stable when loaded up.  I’m going to play with this setup for a while, and if it works out and finances allow, I might spring for a Jandd Extreme front rack.  That would allow the lowrider configuration and a larger deck area.
• Lower gearing:  The crank is now sporting a 44t large ring and a 22t granny.  My initial impressions are that this is more fitting for my style of riding.
• The Surly decals have been scraped off.  I just like it better.

I’m just going to come right out and say it:  “This is the world’s best bike.”  Not the brand, not the model…but the bike.  It’s a constant work in progress, but I love lust over it constantly.  There are things that I think about changing and most likely will, but that will only make it better than the world’s best bike.

A good part of this project was the result of a well planned and executed course of events.  Other aspects just kind of fell together.  Whatever money I saved through careful shopping and scrutiny, I ultimately blew through impulse shopping and that darned Ebay.  I also can’t go further without mentioning the help and guidance received from the crew out at Pedal Pushers Bike Shop in Colonial Park.  They are an LBS that gets it: customer service, patience, resourcefullness, and the whole steel frame/touring mindset.  Thanks guys!

This is my main bike.  If I ever go missing, check the garage.  If the Trucker is gone also, give up all hope of ever finding me, but be satisfied knowing that I am probably cruising down some country road with no intention of ever stopping.  It’s comfortable, it’s smooth, and it fits.  When I get on any other bike, this one is my “frame of reference” and I adjust from there.

It came to be after a few years of riding other bikes, realizing the type of riding I enjoyed the most, and going over what kind of component mix would get me where I wanted to be.  A lot of this is documented throughout the blog, around the Spring of 2007.  I got some really good prices on a lot of the stuff, and I think Pedal Pushers cut me quite a break in recognition of the free advertising this blog has given them, but it was a promotion that I received around that time that funded it all.  Fortunately, it has returned every penny through getting me back in shape and helping me to keep my sanity.

Frame: 2007 Surly LHT 60cm, Dark Cherry.  Since taking these pictures, I removed the Surly decals using a credit card and some WD40.  I think it looks more classy and understated, and highlights the cherry paint job.

Aheadset: Cane Creek S3

Stem: Ritchey 90mm

Bars: Bontrager CX 46cm (off the Marin).  I’m pretty happy with these bars, although I think I would like to try some Nitto Rando bars at some point.  Going with the wider spread (46-48cm) is a must if you’re a bigger person.

Levers: Shimano 105 (off the Marin)

Interrupters: Cane Creek

Brakes: Tektro Oryx Canti with Kool Stop Salmon pads added in August ‘09.  Highly recommend the pads for better modulation and stopping power.

Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Barcons set for friction

Mirror: Blackburn

Bell: Velo Orange spacer mount

Saddle: Brooks Champion Flyer Special in Brown that is getting broken in and aging nicely.  I cut a center notch in it for comfort.  Even with the big Paselas, the springs on this saddle take out some of the road roughness.  The bike originally had a Selle Titanico, which is a great saddle, but the horn is a bit wide for my thighs.  You can see in this picture how the B17 style top has a narrow horn.  The Titanico is now on the Nashbar.

Bar Wrap: Selle Leather.  If I’d have thought about it more, I probably would have put some padding under the tape around the tops.

Bag: Carradice Pendle.  This had been a Barley, but I found that bag too small for day trips where I wanted to carry some extra clothes along with food.  The Pendle is darn near perfect, although the old style straps can be a pain.  I would prefer to still have the leather, but with some sort of clip type fastener.  I inserted a plastic sheet on the back and bottom to help the bag hold its shape, and the whole works is supported by a Midlands seat bracket.

Crank: Shimano Deore Octalink 175mm

Chain Rings: 48-36-26,  At some point I might change this out for some slightly lower gearing.  I rarely go 48X11, and I would like to have a smaller granny.  This setup is fine for fast touring when I’m in shape; but if I were carrying more, I’d need a 22 granny.

To correct a problem I was having with the chain jumping off when shifting into the granny, I installed a Jumpstop on the seat tube near the bottom bracket.  This cool little device is nothing more than a guide that blocks the chain from going any further than the gear.  It works flawlessly and really helps when you’re grinding up a hill and need to “throw down” in a hurry and under load.

Rims: Rear = Alex DC19, Front = Alex ACE19.  The “mismatch” came as a result of buying the Dynohub wheel.  Both have an inside width of 16.2mm.  Other than the chrome v. black spokes, the wheels match fine.  I have the front DC19 rim with radial lacing as a spare.  NOTE: October 2009; the rear wheel is now an Alex Adventurer with 36 spoke lacing to a Shimano XT hub.  Appearance-wise, its even a better match with the stainless spokes, and the XT hub is the burnished aluminum finish.  While the wheel is a tad heavier, it is definitely stronger and very smooth.

Tires: Pasela Tourguard 37c Kevlar.  These are great tires and no regrets for going so large.  They currently have about 2500 miles on them with no flats or discernable wear.  The only other tire I might consider are some Schwalbes.

Pedals: Note:  Switched to MKS Lambda Grip Kings as of April ‘09.  The GKs are much larger and provide more arch support, and thus less stress on my feet.  With these pedals, one tends to ride with the entire front of the foot on the pedal, as opposed to riding primarily on the balls of the feet.  This is particularly important for me since I managed to shatter a tiny bone on the base of my right foot playing soccer.  I also like the fact that I don’t need any special shoes to ride.  If there is a down side, its that every now and then one of my feet will slide off the pedal if I’m really mashing it and mess up a shift; but that’s the price one pays to be free of clips, cages, and straps.  The bike previously had Dimensions with full clips (off the C’dale).  I had originally put mini-clips on, but they were actually harder to slide my toes into.

Fenders: Woody’s Custom.  These always get a lot of attention and seems to be what people remember about the bike.  I have had several people comment on my “old bike” because of the wood fenders.  The funniest was when I was riding down a trail and passed a couple who were toodling along.  A minute later I heard a bike whizzing up behind me, and the guy started asking me about the fenders, out of breath.  He had desserted his girlfriend and took off after me!  I would have liked to hear that conversation when she caught up.

Headlamp: Note: In 06.09 I received a B&M Cyo.  While the Fly is awesome, the Cyo throws out even more light.  Pics to come…

Busch and Muller IQ Fly coupled to a Shimano 3N71 Dynohub.  Read back through the blog for my saga with different headlamps.  As for now, I’m very satisfied with this set up.

Tail Light: Planet Bike Superflash.  Awesome light.  I did have a Blackburn which was pretty bright, but it bounced out of the mount one night and was gone before I noticed.  This is now held in place with a zip tie and I have moved it to the strap on the back of the Pendle.

According to Peter White, the IQ Fly works best if a dynamo tail light is also installed.  Apparently the life of the Fly LED is diminished from heat build-up when travelling at faster speeds, and the tail light sucks up some of that excess amperage.  For now, I’m not planning on going that route.  First, I’m not sure I’d be gaining that much with a dynamo tail light.  The Superflash is about the brightest light I know of.  Second, this bike has enough wiring on it without running something back along the top tube and rear fender.  Also, the light I’d be interested in is dynamo driven with a battery backup.  The dilemma is that it looks to be exclusively rack mounted, so even if I could mount it, I’d have to cobble something together that might not look that great.  Finally, I just don’t go that fast to worry about the light overheating.

Computer: Planet Bike wired Protege 9.0.  I did have a wireless Aero, however the B&M Ixon IQ light that I had interfered with the signal.  I haven’t tested it with the Fly, and I prefer the wired unit anyway, since it has autostart.

Cassette: Shimano Deore 9 speed, 11-34

Chain: Shimano Ultegra 9 speed

Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore (off the C’dale)

Front Derailleur: Shimano Exage (used)

Pump: Zefal HP 4X (ancient)

Seatpost Clamp: Surly Constrictor

Seatpost: Kalloy Uno