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I'll skip the boring history, and get on with the facts: In the Spring of this year, I picked myself up a Surly Long Haul Trucker:    Took it out for a few test rides, got the feel of it. Love it. It's different with the long wheel base, very stable feeling....until I found some gravel, sand, or any sort of mild "loose surface" Then those slick tires just did their best to find a way out from under me. That had to change. And it was a touring bike...without racks?! How could this be? It must be resolved! I first solved the Rack issue with a Tubus model, and fitted an Arkel Tailrider on top of it to throw my old lock into (no pics....sadly). The next upgrade was a pair of Ortlieb roll top panniers for the inadvertent rain that happens here on the west coast of Canada. Finally, I sorted out my biggest issue: Tires! Some beefy Kenda 26x2.1" tires to replace the WTB Slickasaurs.   Rides nice, and will be very comfortable once I find a saddle that suits me. So far I've not done any "real" touring, just some 3-5 hour rides out and around where I live. Trying to get my body used to it. Soon though, I think I will be replacing the saddle with something else. Possibly Brooks, but, never know. Brooks might not suit me. I also am looking into a different stem/riser. Front racks and panniers are likely to come next year, and then I will be on the hunt to find equipment to stuff them with and go camping. Also need lights. Lights would be useful. |
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1972 RA21 Celica - Stalled
1980 Nishiki International - Commuting
"The 2cv's looks at least have certain quirky charm - sort of like an old VW bug with tuberculosis."
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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nice!
but
ARGH SPACERS! :-)
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Oct 27, 2008 11:15:15 GMT
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God yeah I have about 3/4" protruding above my stem on my bike but only cos I might get another bigger frame. those bad boys/length need cutting down.  Are these as good as they seem to be, traditional looking but cool at the same time. just a well made bike I guess?  I like the name and LWB idea.  I found the limits of my Continental slicks last week to the displeasure of my ribs ouch  Keeping my route to work fully road and got a singlespeed kit on order  could change the tyres but enough knobblies in the fleet. Speaking of touring my mate did Lands end to John O Groats, UK length last year on a Giant racer. crazy owt over 20m makes me want to go back to bed LOL epic trip must be fun though |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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rod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,953
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Oct 27, 2008 12:24:01 GMT
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Hey Bloodanoil ...you had me worried there !!!,"picked myself up a surly long haul trucker" ..was just gonna say this aint one of THOSE forums,when I saw the pics!!!!....
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nice! but ARGH SPACERS! :-) Heh, I know. Going to replacing that asap. I have nightmares about falling forwards and gouging any part of my anatomy on that thing. God yeah I have about 3/4" protruding above my stem on my bike but only cos I might get another bigger frame. those bad boys/length need cutting down. Are these as good as they seem to be, traditional looking but cool at the same time. just a well made bike I guess? I like the name and LWB idea. I found the limits of my Continental slicks last week to the displeasure of my ribs ouch Keeping my route to work fully road and got a singlespeed kit on order could change the tyres but enough knobblies in the fleet. So far as I know, just a well made, steel frame. Decent parts, etc. It is heavy though. Well thought out, lots of braze-ons for the fact that, you may want it. It's also able to handle a decent thrashing; on my way home from where I took the pics, I was blasting down a loose dirt road when it gave way to blasted/crushed rock. Not gravel, but rocks. Asside from bouncing around like a mule, it remained stable over it all. Ron...faster internet will solve the awkwardness |
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1972 RA21 Celica - Stalled
1980 Nishiki International - Commuting
"The 2cv's looks at least have certain quirky charm - sort of like an old VW bug with tuberculosis."
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maybe a straight road stem would sit better on the forks
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1972 RA21 Celica - Stalled
1980 Nishiki International - Commuting
"The 2cv's looks at least have certain quirky charm - sort of like an old VW bug with tuberculosis."
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Thats a good looking bike.
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Mar 22, 2009 15:47:16 GMT
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Sweet. Good to see it put to excellent use... the spacer thing scares me though ;D
The LBS around me all push Surly's really hard. They're nice bikes.
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i couldnt go touring on those tyres. i ride alot (even more now I'm unemployed) and i have an old rigid raleigh for mtb duties that has tyres of that size fitted. nobbly as u like but curse word riding any distance on road. they just don't roll by themselves. my mate overtakes just rolling. i thought my brake was stuck on lol... i would have opted for somthing more cyclocross style? realy love the bike tho.. looks bloody nice for a rigid... realy clean hmmmm was thinkin of buying a new hack  |
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Well, I have a update: I finally picked up a pretty Brooks B17 in black. Also found that cutting the steerer tube is cheap...$10 cheap. I blame my ignorance.  Looked better, and felt a LOT better, though I did switch back to the Slickasaurs since I had moved back into town, and was using it as a daily workhorse. Commuting, running errands, etc. [ominous voice] So, that brings us up to about 4 days ago... [/ominous voice]  I stuffed it. Hard. Into a boulder. Entirely my fault, a tragic mixture of ignorance, carelessness and idiocy. (Steep hill, blind exit, went too fast. Half way down, realize sharp corner....) Here's the survey of the damage the day after:      And how about a tally? Destroyed frame Possibly twisted fork Dented front rim Bend QR skewer (possibly mangled hub?) Bent Tubus rack stays Bend handlebars And, because Murphy was aching to teach me a lesson: Busted Nikon D70. Popped the lens mount. (Fixable?) Now, I know the bicycle carnage is kinda gruesome, and leaves you wondering how I'm doing...     That's it. Some rash, scrapes, and scratches (No, I wasn't wearing my helmet either!) Murphy takes my toys, but leaves me life and limb. I am lucky beyond all reason, and I know it. Seeing as how this is my only transportation at the moment however, I needed a quick fix: $20 =  Beater Nishiki International from the '80s. Popped the chain on, stuffed some air in the tires, and she works like a charm! Need something to sit on though. Next day, I find a period correct Laprade (?) Seat post for a fiver.  So now, I am rocking the shed fresh retro-roadie look to and from work, for the grand sum of $25 (That's like 4 quid for you guys!) So onto the pics (Cause...what's the point of this, without some sweet shots of the rust?!)      And yes, I am wearing my helmet now. Period. I'm also going to be looking for a helmet that ISN'T black when I have the cash, to try and help with the sweating that caused me to take it off just before I crashed. |
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1972 RA21 Celica - Stalled
1980 Nishiki International - Commuting
"The 2cv's looks at least have certain quirky charm - sort of like an old VW bug with tuberculosis."
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I reckon it's a good job you cut the steerer tube before the accident! |
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I reckon it's a good job you cut the steerer tube before the accident! Truth!!! Dude where do you live!? Looks lovely! Shame about the bike, glad you are okay,.. should be able to rescue your chain gear, seat etc. for another build/bike? |
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fek!! least yer ok next door bought a peugeot racer to fix (its older than him lol) cant believe the bend in the frame how big was the rock |
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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lae
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,045
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Shame about the surly, but that new bike is awesome.
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Currently:
Mk1 Focus blandmobile
Formerly:
1969 MG Midget
1972 Avenger GT
1981 Datsun Cherry
1989 Corolla
1979 Mercedes W123 200D
1995 Ford Falcon
1996 Ford Telstar (bet you had to google that one)
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TS
Part of things
Posts: 558
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Shame about the surly, but that new bike is awesome. lol just what I was thinking. |
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TS
Part of things
Posts: 558
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I'd also like to know where you live. It does look rad. I'm guessing Far North Eastern US (Maine, Vermont, that sort of area). It literally is a guess though.
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Right continent, wrong country, wrong coast I live on Vancouver Island in B.C. Canada Thus, the giant evergreens. It is a gorgeous place, that I am glad to have been born and raised in, just wish we got some of the retro cars that I see here! And thanks for the compliments on the shed-bike as I seem to be calling it. I just picked up a suitably crusty rear rack for a fiver, bringing the total up to a penny-plundering $30. Plundering the re-cycle places is working out crazy well for me! I also noticed that they had some older derailers for sale, so I think I'll be keeping an eye out there to replace the decidedly un-proper Shimano Ecsta X RD. I'm also looking for a well loved, but still working 80's pump. Maybe I can find an old frame pump to fit this thing so that I can a bottle cage in place. I think I should also check around the junkyard for a suitable chain...and maybe I'll buy someone a lock so I can get their crusty old one to complete the "shed-fresh" look? Sort of wondering if I could start just leaving this thing unlocked...if it'd still be there when I return? I mean, it does have a Brooks B17 on it, but seriously, is there really a black market for used B17's? Most people I run into look at it like it is some torture device! Oh, and the Boulder? It was about the same size as the wheel on the Surly I think....can't remember. I spent too much time in the air looking at the ground, cursing myself to remember what the boulder looked like! I do plan to go back and grab a few pics of it though. Just to remind myself. |
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1972 RA21 Celica - Stalled
1980 Nishiki International - Commuting
"The 2cv's looks at least have certain quirky charm - sort of like an old VW bug with tuberculosis."
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Couple of updates: Got a crusty rack. Looks suitably 80's, and I think it might be made of steel ROD not tubes. (It's heavy...very heavy) But no real pics of it yet. I also got a perfect replacement derailer:  New pic:  |
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1972 RA21 Celica - Stalled
1980 Nishiki International - Commuting
"The 2cv's looks at least have certain quirky charm - sort of like an old VW bug with tuberculosis."
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lae
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,045
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Aug 15, 2009 14:53:22 GMT
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Is it the frame that's actually that heavy, or everything else?
Are your wheels steel or aluminium? Steel wheels weigh an absolute ton, you could get some value new (or half-decent used) ally 700c wheels for under £80 a pair which make the bike noticeably lighter (and much easier to accelerate as they are rotating mass too - if your wheels are 27" you'll need to drop the brake blocks about 4mm). If you set it up as a single speed (you'll need a chain tensioner for your bike) then you can get the weight right down - my steel singlespeed weighs about as much as my uncle's 2008 Specialized Allez.
The design of the lugs on your frame is really nice by the way!
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Currently:
Mk1 Focus blandmobile
Formerly:
1969 MG Midget
1972 Avenger GT
1981 Datsun Cherry
1989 Corolla
1979 Mercedes W123 200D
1995 Ford Falcon
1996 Ford Telstar (bet you had to google that one)
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I like the name and LWB idea. 
could change the tyres but enough knobblies in the fleet.
