My New Bike :)

[del]

Finally got my brookes seat through today, so thought i'd take some photo's of my bike so far.


This is the Bike (Surly Long Haul Trucker) that i will be using for the UK to Africa tour.

Currently its pretty much the standard 'complete' Surly LHT, with the addition of new seat. Will be mounting front and rear racks as soon as they've arrived!
So without further ado... the beaut her self!

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Been out on it when there was less wind, and it was amazing to ride

 

[captainhastings]

That looks really comfy and speedy too, Lovely

 

[gaz]

The hoods don't look like they are in the right place on the drop. Might be a bit uncomfortable braking in the drops.

 

[del]

The hoods don't look like they are in the right place on the drop. Might be a bit uncomfortable braking in the drops.

hmmm could you elaborate mate?

 

[gaz]

hmmm could you elaborate mate?

It just looks hard/uncomfortable to grab the brakes from the drops. The hood also looks a bit high and is pointing up but the bars are in the right position, so rotaing it wouldn't help.
I just think they have been put in the wrong place but if you are comfortable then there is no need to change it

 

[Flyingfox]

Nice, when are you setting off on your adventure?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Looks nice, just one question.......................

How many spacers?

 

[Cyclist33]

Smashing bike mate :-) Got my new roadster today!

Stu

 

[del]

yeah the brakes are a bit awkward to reach actually... i just assumed it was the actual design of the handlebar causing that.

how many spacers... erm i think its about 5, i was thinking of raising the handle bars even higher, as the more upright posture i seem to adopt the more comfy i find the ride, but then again it will just make it even more awkward to reach the brakes

And the launch date is sometime during the second week of September !!! cant wait

 

[gaz]

It shouldnt be hard to reach but to fix it you will need to remove the tape and move the brake unit down.
If you bought the bike recently from a shop then I don't see it as unreasonable that you go back and ask them to do it. How ever be aware that they might try and rotate the bars by the stem which is not correct.

If you need to do it yourself, then you might also need to buy some new tape.

 

[Banjo]

It shouldnt be hard to reach but to fix it you will need to remove the tape and move the brake unit down.
If you bought the bike recently from a shop then I don't see it as unreasonable that you go back and ask them to do it. How ever be aware that they might try and rotate the bars by the stem which is not correct.

If you need to do it yourself, then you might also need to buy some new tape.

I am certainly not an expert but wondered if the bars are looking up a bit and could do with rolling down ,It looks as if the bottom bit of the drops is sloping back quite a bit, couldnt they be turned until nearly level which would bring the brake levers closer?

PS Great looking tourer, is there an emoticon for jealous

 

[gaz]

I am certainly not an expert but wondered if the bars are looking up a bit and could do with rolling down ,It looks as if the bottom bit of the drops is sloping back quite a bit, couldnt they be turned until nearly level which would bring the brake levers closer?

PS Great looking tourer, is there an emoticon for jealous

You don't want to rotate the bars further down. The way to position drop bars correctly is have the whole of the top section flat (which it currently is) then position the hoods so the top part continues the flat section on.
If you rotate the bars further down then using the hoods becomes uncomfortable.

 

[doog]

Beautiful looking bike and saddle.

Reference the bars/hoods, its a touring bike and they have probably done it on purpose as you may not spend too much time on the drops.

Compare the LHT with the road bike to the right on this link on the Surly site and look at the difference in the hood position

http://www.surlybikes.com/bikes/

 

[gaz]

now i'm at my computer let me post an example. Notice how the hood is flat and extends the handlebar, that is how it should be for optimum breaking in all positions. The above image shows a position which i think offers poor braking and is uncomfortable.

 

[smokeysmoo]

It might be right as far as Surly is concerned, and indeed it might be right for that bike and it may be incredibly comfy, but the stem/bar set up just looks very odd IMHO.

Nice bike, just a peculiar looking set up on the front end. Looks a bit like an MTB with drops on it.