Surly LHT/Disc Trucker

[fiveonomo]

Hello all, I have a dilemma and thought I would post it here for some help.  I am going to build a touring bike and I am stuck on the Surly LHT.  With that said, I want the 700C wheels and not the 26".  The frames are built for 26" wheels through 54CM, 56CM starts the 700C wheels.  I ride a 54CM comfortably and was fitted to that size bike, a Cannondale Super Six. 

None of the shops in my area stock the Surly so I cannot go sit on it.  I am concerned about it fitting me, mainly the top tube.  It is extremely important for a bike to fit properly.  Many times the stem and or seat can be adjusted to make it work, however I feel like the proper way to get it right is to start with the correct sized frame.

My question is, I am 5'10" 215lbs.  I know there is a lot more that goes into fitting on a bike but I need to start somewhere.  Is there anyone out there riding a 56CM LHT that is my size?  If so are you comfortable?  Any help is appreciated.

[DaveB]

Some people make a fetish of this but I think agonizing over minute differences in frame dimensions is not necessary.  Measure the toptube length, standover, etc.  on your Cannondale and compare it to Surly's published geometry for the LHT.   Minor stem length and spacer adjustments and seatpost settings can easily make up for the differences and give you a comfortable ride.

Surly uses 26" wheels on their smaller frames to decrease standover height and minimize toe overlap for smaller riders while not having to modify frame geometry too much.   

[fiveonomo]

Thanks Dave, I think there is an argument for both sides of this discussion.  However I am leaning towards exactly what you replied.  I would love to hear any other thoughts.  I am new to this site and just paid for a membership, I am really loving it here, thanks. 

[paddleboy17]

You really need to find a good bike shop to work with. 

They would have you come in with your current bike, watch you ride it and then extrapolate to the geometry of the LHT.  It is highly unlikely that some else that is  5'-10" has your torso length and leg length.  So I would not draw any conclusions from their experience.

I am a smart guy, but I cannot look at geometry charts for frames and say what will fit who.  I do know people who can, and they are generally people trained to fit custom frames.

Please find a good bike shop with a staffer you trust.

[fiveonomo]

Exactly what I was speaking of in reference frame size.  I am surrounded by really good shops, no one has the LHT on the floor.  I spent 4 hours with a gentleman when I was fitted for my Cannondale, he does not work for a bike shop but himself.  After the last 40 years racing bicycles in some way shape or form he has settled down and runs a fitting business, the guy is through.  I have this very long sheet of paper with all of my measurements and the tweaks and changes he did to my Cannondale, but that paper is not the same as sitting on the bike.  If I needed to re-set my bike now that paper would do it perfectly, but this is a different bike.  Not sure which way to go.

[paddleboy17]

Can you go back to the guy who fit you for your Cannondale and say "Will this LHT work?".

[fiveonomo]

Thats a good idea, I think I will give him a call.  Not sure if he can help without having the bike but its worth a shot.  Thanks.

[RussSeaton]

I ride a 54CM comfortably and was fitted to that size bike, a Cannondale Super Six. 

My question is, I am 5'10" 215lbs.

I have a couple Cannondales.  Older CAAD7 and 9 aluminum models.  Maybe Cannondale sizes bikes differently now.  I am 5'11" tall and normal sized.  I ride 58cm Cannondale frames with a 12cm stem.  About 57cm toptube.  If you are a normal sized 5'10" tall, then your Cannondale is one size too small.  You should be on a 56cm Cannondale.  And a 56cm Surly LHT.

[fiveonomo]

Yeah, I have had people say I look big on the 54CM.  I was fitted for it and he said it fit nicely, I bought it used so it was what I had to work with.  I have put about 2000 miles on it and it is very comfortable, including a century or two and one back to back.  However I am a normal looking 5'10".  I stood over my cannonade and there is about an inch maybe before it is crammed into my crotch, maybe 1 1/2".
 
It's always neat to see the different opinions of people concerning frame/bike size.  Even from one pro fitter to another, I wish I could find that black and white answer but with all the variables that is just not possible.

The correct way is to get on the bike I intend to buy while on a trainer.  At this point make all of the adjustments and size corrections to see what fits and what does not.  Maybe I will extend my search for a shop that has a Surly LHT on the floor.

[RussSeaton]

Yeah, I have had people say I look big on the 54CM.  I was fitted for it and he said it fit nicely, I bought it used so it was what I had to work with.  I have put about 2000 miles on it and it is very comfortable, including a century or two and one back to back.  However I am a normal looking 5'10".  I stood over my cannonade and there is about an inch maybe before it is crammed into my crotch, maybe 1 1/2".

Your current bike was purchased used, so the fact it is not the right frame size is not surprising.  I used to have a 21 inch Trek 520 bike.  It fit me after I put a 12cm Nitto Technomic stem on it, raised to its maximum.  And modified the aluminum rails on my Ideale saddle to slide it backwards an extra inch.  I toured on the bike many thousands of miles.  It fit perfectly after my modifications.  But it was still not the right size bike for me.  I should have been on a 23 inch Trek 520 frame.  You can get many bike sizes to fit you.  And your 54cm Cannondale is not extremely small for you.  So with just a 13 or 14cm stem and raising the seatpost an extra inch or two, it will fit OK.  Professional bike racers often ride frames that are really one size too small for them.  And they use extra long stems and tall seatposts and it fits them.  They end up in the right position to ride 100s of miles day after day.  But it still does not mean its the right size bike for them.  At a normal 5'10" you need a bike frame with a 56 or 56.5cm toptube.  I am a normal 5'11" and I ride bikes with 57 or 57.5cm toptubes.  And 12cm stems.  And setback seatposts with the saddles slid all the way back.

[fiveonomo]

Thanks Russ.  The guy that did the fitting told me that he would have put me on a 54, I don't know, he didn't really have anything invested to tell me that.  I was inclined to make the 54 work anyway, I got lucky and found a $5000 bike a couple years old for $1800.  I got a few other things with the deal, a kirk kinetics trainer and roof rack.  Na, it wasn't stolen, my profession allows me to check things like that and besides my co-worker would have been charged with the crime, not good for his career path.

I really feel like the 56 will work.  I may go order the frame and build it, if it doesn't work maybe I can sell it but I really think the 54 will work fine.

[RussSeaton]

You are "lucky", in that both the 54 and 56cm frames can fit you without too extreme of measures.  On the 56 you will look right by everyone who sees you.  If a frame fits you, you will look right on it.  On the 54 you may have to use a longer stem than really ideal.  Maybe a bit more seatpost sticking up.  Maybe the saddle pushed way back further than on the 56 frame.  Maybe extra spacers to get the bars high enough because the 54 frame will have a shorter headtube and the bars will therefore be lower.  If you add all these somewhat easy and normal modifications together, people looking at you on the bike may say "the bike is a little too small".  Not extremely too small, but still too small.  Doing one of these modifications to get the frame to fit, that is OK.  But you may have to do all of them to get the slightly too small frame to fit.

[indyfabz]

The frames are built for 26" wheels through 54CM, 56CM starts the 700C wheels.

A point of clarification in case it matters to you: For the regular LHT, you can get the 26" version across the full range of sizes. In the Disc Trucker, you can get 26" version up to 58cm. Thus, if you can get a 56cm for either 700c or 26".

[DaveB]

The frames are built for 26" wheels through 54CM, 56CM starts the 700C wheels.

A point of clarification in case it matters to you: For the regular LHT, you can get the 26" version across the full range of sizes. In the Disc Trucker, you can get 26" version up to 58cm. Thus, if you can get a 56cm for either 700c or 26".

Yes but the OP is trying to AVOID 26" wheels.  His problem is that the 54 cm Disc Trucker only comes with 26" wheels and he wants 700c which start at 56 cm. 

[fiveonomo]

DaveB is exactly correct.  Today I ordered the 56 and paid for it, I should have the frame and fork on Tuesday.  First thing is off to the powder coat guys to work their magic.  Now I need to figure out what part to build first.  I was looking at the Cane Creek Head Sets but I am not sure exactly what I am looking at.  Some are longer than others, I understand this is because you can change the size or fit, i'm just not sure what to get.  Since I am building this bike without actually sitting on one.  I am confident that I will be ok, worst case scenario I try to recoup some of my money and sell it, but that is a last...last....last resort.

Any ideas on the headset?  I think I need to have bearings pressed into the frame, not sure.  This is my first build and will be a learning process but I think in the end it will be worth it as I should learn quite a bit along the way.