Surly Disc Trucker v. LHT

[johnwilldo]

I want to add fenders to mine also, but have not researched fenders as yet. I wonder if the Bike planet hybrid pair that I saw at Performance Bikes would work?  There was a shop in Portland Oregon (http://www.joe-bike.com/commuter-bikes/surly-disc-trucker/) that had a picture of a Disc Trucker with Planet Bike Grasshopper Bamboo fenders, Brooks Flyer honey saddle and bar tape to match.  Looked pretty impressive.  Guess who also bought a Brooks Flyer saddle?  The matching tape will have to wait for the next budget period.

[Old Guy New Hobby]

I wonder where I could find that matching tape?

[johnwilldo]

Almost any local bike shop that carries Brook saddles.  On line:  Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=brooks+leather+bar+tape&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=9111372699&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9509681831386778782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_2htrq7ccvd_b

[Old Guy New Hobby]

It's not cheap.

[johnwilldo]

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

[RussSeaton]

The leather Brooks bar tape is not a good idea.  Leather is slick when wet.  Wet from sweat or rain.  It will be very hard to hold onto your bars.  The leather used for the bar tape is also very thin.  It has no padding.  It will be about like grabbing the hard aluminum bar directly.  No comfort at all.  About like the old time Benotto plastic handlebar tape.  There is a reason different materials are used for different parts of bicycles.  Leather is not a good idea to use for handlebar tape.  The foam stuff used for tape now days works good.  It provides cushion so its comfortable.  And it has some texture to it so you can grab it when its wet and not have your hands slip off.

[johnwilldo]

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