Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: August 05, 2013, 09:34:15 pm »

Thanks for the input.  My plan is to do both the C & O and the Allegheny Passage.  I plan on being self sustained and camping most nights.  I am also in no hurry and do not have a time schedule.  There is are many historical things to absorb that I missed while napping in highshool US History classes.  Somehow it is more interesting now.  I think I will stick with the stock tires and see how they perform.

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Gear Talk / Re: Pannier Racks for Surly Disc Trucker

« on: August 05, 2013, 02:20:56 pm »

The Big Agnes gear enjoys a good reputation.  I am pretty sure that I am also going with a Big Agnes Q CORE SL pad, but have not decided on the sleeping bag features....mummy?  Down?  But That is another topic.

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Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: August 05, 2013, 02:13:36 pm »

Thanks Greg,

I am on the fence about the tire size.  The stock tires seem to be working just great on tow path trails, and very good on paved surfaces.  I run them at 70 pounds and they ride well on multiple surfaces.  While I am researching gear, I also have to decide the direction since I don't plan to do an up and back.  I know that on Adventure Cycling tours they seem to travel northward.  Perhaps they want to get the C & O out of the way first.  Either end is not very far from my northeastern Pennsylvania location.

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Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: August 05, 2013, 07:15:11 am »

Good input, thanks.

I think I will go slightly wider than the stock tires on my Surly.  I see that I can get the Schwalbe Marathon Plus HS 348 in a 26 X 1.75.  I may go with that in view of the trail conditions that I may encounter on C & O.

Any thoughts on that choice for a touring tire?

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Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: August 04, 2013, 04:32:23 pm »

I am ordering dry weather for this fall and also have the option of laying over for a day or two if the trail conditions are as poor as you have experienced.  How much experience have you had on the trail?  Do you ride the C & O often and is you comment from personal experience?

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Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: August 01, 2013, 04:57:32 pm »

My stock 1.5's seem to do fine on the rougher parts of the local tow paths of the Delaware and Lehigh towpath trails.  The parts of the trail that are rail conversions are generally cinder (screenings) over normal rail road bed crushed stone.  (Off Topic) It is a wonderful ride especially on hot summer days where much of the trail is shaded.  It should be a real treat riding in the fall.

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Gear Talk / Re: Pannier Racks for Surly Disc Trucker

« on: August 01, 2013, 06:29:28 am »

I settled on the Ortlieb front and back roller classics in yellow and black for the panniers.  I just took delivery on the Surly Nice front and rear racks.  The racks are not nearly as heavy as I had been reading about.  There is a really good blog on mounting the front rack which looks like the way to go. I am waiting for a rainy day to mount them on the bike but want to get fenders and put the fenders and racks on at the same time.

Now researching sleeping gear.  Have not done any backpacking since the seventies and the equipment is quite different.  Ordered a Big Agnes SL2 tent.

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Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: August 01, 2013, 06:19:58 am »

Thanks Russ,

I have been comfortably riding roads, cinder paths and dirt tow paths comfortably with the stock 1.5 tires on the Disc Trucker.  The first long loaded ride that I am planning is the C & O Canal path and I am reading blogs about the rough surface.  I cannot believe that the C & O would be much different from the Delaware and Lehigh tow path trail which I have been riding weekly in different sections unloaded.

So far the SKS Longboard for fenders seem to be the leading candidate.

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Gear Talk / Re: Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: July 31, 2013, 07:38:35 pm »

Looks pretty good!  What type of fenders are they?  There does not seem to be too many choices.    The SKS Longboards seem to be the leading candidate, but I think I will have to trim the from fender after removing the mud flap, trimming back the fender and reinstalling the mudflap.  I am hoping to do the C & O Canal/Great Allegheny Passage in the fall or spring.  I hear that the C & O portion is a tad rough so wider tires than the 1.5's that came with the bike may be in the future.  I ride the local Delaware and Lehigh trails just fine with the 1.5's but am not loaded down with gear.

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Gear Talk / Fenders and tires for a Surly Disc Trucker with 26" rims

« on: July 25, 2013, 09:20:45 pm »

My 52 cm Surly Disc Trucker will be needing fenders for the 26 inch rims.  The Trucker will be sporting Surly Nice front and rear racks with Ortleib Front Roller and Back Roller Classic panniers.  The Disc Trucker currently has the stock Continental tires which are 1.5's.  Is is better to go a little wider, if so by how much? I looked at the Bike Planet Hybrid/touring fenders at Performance Bikes, but the front fender looks a tad short and I am not convinced that the fit would be right on my smaller wheel set.  I just received shipment of the Surly Nice front pannier rack and it looks pretty beefy but not that heavy...perhaps I was expecting a boat anchor?

11

Gear Talk / Re: Pannier Racks for Surly Disc Trucker

« on: July 22, 2013, 06:26:38 pm »

Thanks for the input.  Yes, the Rivendale folks are really helpful.  I visited their shop several times this past winter when I was researching my touring bike purchase.  I purchased a pair of platform pedals that Rivendale uses on their demo bikes and they are now installed on the Disc Trucker.  Their bikes are really cool but about twice the price of the Disc Trucker.
I just ordered the Surly front and rear racks as well as the Ortleib Front Roller Classic Panniers today.  After seeing a post on mounting the Surly front rack on the provided eyelets, I decided to pull the trigger and order the heavy Surly racks and hopefully try to trim some weight some other way.  I also like to back pack so I am trying to get some of my gear to do double duty.

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Gear Talk / Pannier Racks for Surly Disc Trucker

« on: July 21, 2013, 07:35:17 am »

Hi,

I have been trying to research Pannier racks for my Surly Disc Trucker which is a 52cm using 26" rims.  I have decided that I like the Ortlieb Classic Panniers and have already purchased the rear set in yellow and black.  I see that the Surly front pannier racks are mounted on the skewers which do not seem to be a great feature when trying to change out the front wheel.  I like the idea of a top shelf being included in the front rack and am hopeful that someone has had some experience with outfitting a Disc trucker with pannier racks that have worked well for them.  Any input would be appreciated.  Fenders will be the next research project.

13

Gear Talk / Re: newbie saddle question

« on: July 17, 2013, 09:21:29 pm »

I finally got time to install my new Brooks Flyer saddle (A B-17 with coil springs).  I have only put on about seventy miles on three different outings.  I don't notice much difference from the stock saddle on the Disc Trucker except for a little more cushion on large bumps.  It really looks great with the black coils that match the black trim on the Trucker.  It is comfortable on the rides that I have taken, but none of the rides have been over 25 miles.  On any saddle that I have ridden in the past, once I get to around 35 to 40 miles my butt starts to get numb (not sore) and I need to get out of the saddle for a 10 or 15 minute break.  Yes, always use butt butter or whatever you want to call it.  I will have to see how it works as I build up the mileage.

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Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: July 04, 2013, 08:03:53 am »

Very good point, especially since I am hoping to do long distance trips where perspiration and precipitation become a factor.

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Gear Talk / Re: Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

« on: July 03, 2013, 09:43:20 pm »

No, it is not cheap and I rarely see the Brook bar tape go on sale.