New Commuter

[ckkone]

I haven't had a bike for the past 5yrs and after hearing a couple guys at work talk all day long about their cycling adventures I again find myself wanting to feel free on the road. I want a bike that can do a little of everything but its main use will be commuting and running errands. I've been doing lots of research on the internets and just about every site you end up at people are talking about Surly bikes and how ************ they are. I hope they're not all worng....

I ordered this beauty today and expect to receive it in mid September.

Surly Long Haul Trucker

In stock form she looks like this:

In time I hope she looks more like this:

 

[Scott Brady]

I love it, even the color. Though I would probably not go with the drop bars on a commuter (I am no expert, so maybe there is a good reason to).

 

[Grim Reaper]

I love it, even the color. Though I would probably not go with the drop bars on a commuter (I am no expert, so maybe there is a good reason to).

Done it both ways and Drops are where it is at if you are on the pavement. If you are off pavement then the straight bars are a better choice.

Not a day doesn't go buy (and I commute by bike almost every day) that I am not in the drops to cheat the wind. A lot of it comes with how you set the bike up as to how comfortable it is with drop bars.. Full on race bike it is a pretty compact riding position with the tops of the bars several inches below the seat top to keep you in a aerodynamic position.

The LHT is a touring bike and as such the tops of the bars on most touring bikes is about the same height as a the seat top. So similar position to most mountain bikes.

Where the gain comes in besides the wind it the availability of more hand positions.
I don't care to ride without Drops these days. Just not as comfortable and right now I have 7 bikes to Chose from including my Hipster wannabe that weighs in at about 22lb. Love the gearing but the bars hurt my wrists after about 3 miles. Same deal on my M400 that I put 1000+ miles on last year. Ended up putting Trekking bars on it to get more hand positions.

This by far is my favorite commuter yet. I can do 50 miles on it with minimal breaks. Just a joy to get out and go on. Geometry is close to the LHT.

 

[Cackalak Han]

The next bike I have in mind is a Surly Cross Check or Karate Monkey. It'll be more of a family ride bike that I can pull a kid trailer with. Built up my first Surly this year and they're great bikes. Enjoy the LHT.

 

[ckkone]

The next bike I have in mind is a Surly Cross Check or Karate Monkey. It'll be more of a family ride bike that I can pull a kid trailer with. Built up my first Surly this year and they're great bikes. Enjoy the LHT.

I would have bought this Cross Check off KSL, however the frame was a bit small for me....

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=7417093&cat=&lpid=

I can't wait to start riding again!

 

[ckkone]

This by far is my favorite commuter yet. I can do 50 miles on it with minimal breaks. Just a joy to get out and go on. Geometry is close to the LHT.

Very nice! Brooks saddle and fenders will be my first additions to the bike, already have the Surly nice rack coming with the bike..

 

[Cackalak Han]

I would have bought this Cross Check off KSL, however the frame was a bit small for me....

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=7417093&cat=&lpid=

I can't wait to start riding again!

Saw that one, too. Had it been a 56, I'd have been all over it.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Very nice bike! You and I are about to embark on the same path. I bought my new commuter on Tuesday, although its still at the shop waiting for a new stem and not nearly as fancy as the Surly. The Surly bikes are very nice though and if I could afford one I might have considered it!

I can't do drop bars anymore...too many days of road racing and neck problems from a fender bender keep me in pain too much. I've only recently even decided to get rid of the heavy cruisers and go back to a lighter bike with a straight bar.

Enjoy your new ride!!

 

[mcgovski]

I think earlier in this thread someone had wondered, "why drop bars" on a commuter vs. flat(er) type bars. From my experience I would say drop bars are better if you are carrying weight on the front end...drop bars also give you more variety of hand placement. I think it also comes down to what you are most familiar with and what type of brakes you plan on using. Drop bar brake levers wont "throw" enough to get a linear style ("v") brake to work without some jerry rigging and even then they arent great. And If its disk brakes you want, well go flat bar. I dont see the point of mechanical disks and they are the only type that will work with a drop bar style lever.

Did I get off subject...I need to post a pic of my commuter.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Very nice! Brooks saddle and fenders will be my first additions to the bike, already have the Surly nice rack coming with the bike..

You gettign the front rack?
Not nfront racks for panniers with the top rack. I am torn between the Surly Nice or Old man mountain cold springs for the front. http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/RackPages/FrontRacks.html

I have the cheap canti mount front rack from Nash bar on the 95 T700 for my shoes, U-lock and lunch. Proven to be very handy. I also want to move my head light onto it to get it off the bars.

 

[ckkone]

You gettign the front rack?
Not nfront racks for panniers with the top rack. I am torn between the Surly Nice or Old man mountain cold springs for the front. http://www.oldmanmountain.com/Pages/RackPages/FrontRacks.html

I have the cheap canti mount front rack from Nash bar on the 95 T700 for my shoes, U-lock and lunch. Proven to be very handy. I also want to move my head light onto it to get it off the bars.

I don't plan on getting the front rack until I really need it, but when I do it will be the Surly!

 

[ckkone]

Got the bike today, new saddle, fenders and pedals should be here next week!

 

[Scott Brady]

super nice. Congrats!

I look forward to hearing the ride report.