Bicycle Travel > Gear Talk
Help me accesorize my Surly LHT
dwboca:
Hi,
I've decided to get a new Surly LHT (56 cm) with 26 inch wheels for my Christmas present. I will get from LBS who will ensure correct size. I still see new/used Jamis Aurora and Cannondale T1/T2 bikes on Ebay and other sites (for under $1,000) and could be swayed if I find the right size, but for now, its the LHT new since I cannot find used.
Anyway, I will be doing a coast to coast from from Savannah, GA to San Diego, CA - 2,600 miles, self-supported in 2014 and want to log some miles/trips on my touring bike before then.
What accessories should I get? Below is my prelim list but I'd like to hear from people who have done tours and what has worked for them. Cost is a factor so I will shop used when I can. My budget for total bike with accessories is $1,600 but hopefully I can do it for less.
Surly front and rear racks - may as well order with bike
Surly fenders - order with bike? Should I get plastic or metal?
Ortlieb waterproof panniers - roller front and back Question: do I really need front and rear - I will be camping/preparing my meals most of the way.
Cateye Bike computer to monitor speed and mileage
Map holder - what brand?
Did I miss anything? All feedback appreciated on bike choice as well as accessories.
dwboca:
Ooops. I forgot pedals and seat. I'd love to hear recommendations here too.
I like to pedal with my running shoes so if there is a pedal that takes both regular shoes and bike shoes, that would interest me. I've heard the stock seat on the LHT is to be replaced on arrival and I see lots of people like the B17. I have several road bike seats including a Spenco gel cover that I may play with.
Thanks again for all your help.
dave
pdlamb:
In random/reverse order:
Shimano (and Nashbar, IIRC) make pedals that allow for both regular shoes and clipless.
About 2/3 of the saddles I could see on TransAm bikes were Brooks, mostly B17, with the odd Champion or Pro. I had to adjust the tension twice. Buy from Wallbike.com, and Bill will let you return it if it doesn't fit you. Get an Aardvark (or similar neoprene) saddle cover for the days you're dripping in sweat, or when you have to ride through a downpour, and to keep the saddle dry at night.
I firmly believe fenders are the way to go for riding in the rain. SKS plastic fenders are my choice. If you have the shop install them, over the winter is a good time -- most shops don't install fenders with any regularity, and giving them time to futz with them will make you both happier than trying to get the bike out the door in spring.
Add a blinky for the rear. Make sure it can mount either to the back of your rack, or clip on to a cargo net (also a good thing to have).
If you're like most people, you'll need front and rear panniers to carry camping equipment. I expect Pete Staehling will chip in shortly with his ultra-light plug, but he's about three sigmas lighter than the average tourist.
I'll put in my plug for a Cateye with cadence. It's way too easy to bog down when you hit steep hills at the end of the day, and if you're not alert (when you're tired!?) or lucky, you can mess up your knees. Cadence alerts you to gear down some more and spin. Speed is overrated -- you'll be disappointed with your speed on flat land and uphill, and too busy looking downhill to see if you need to brake or steer to avoid something, to enjoy watching your speed.
The LHT is a popular touring bike. I don't have one, but I saw a lot of them, and nobody who had one was complaining about their bike.
RussSeaton:
http://www.cycoactive.com/Store/3433/PN-BM-S/BarMap-2-Sided-Bicycle-Map-Holder
Cyco Active BarMap for a map holder. They make a couple different sizes. The one I like is about 8 inches by 8 inches.
indyfabz:
The Surly racks are really heavy. The front one is especially heavy, tipping the scale at just over 3 lbs. And this is coming from someone who has a set of Nitto Big racks (which are definitely on the heavy side) and has never been a "weight weenie." I would at least go with something different up front unless you feel you really want and/or need a front platform. My first set of racks had large front and rear platforms and I liked that set up a lot. When a theft required me to replace them, I went with the Nittos to try to replicate what I had as close as possible. My front also afford a little more ground clearance than a low rider rack, which is nice because I am not always on paved roads.
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