Have you customized your Surly Long Haul Trucker and how did it benefit you?

[Matt Robertson]

  I purchased a Surly LHT in 2014. I had it built with butterfly handlebars, wrapped in cloth tape and shellacked. I added bar extensions on both sides of the upper section of the bars and added mirrors to both of those. The mirrors are't nearly as useful as I had expected, but they aren't a big deal. I also replaced the cassette with a Shimano 11-36 and replaced the lower chainring with a 22T ring. I put trigger shifters on it, along with ergo grips. The original saddle was a Brooks sprung saddle that never once felt comfortable. I recently replaced that with a Seller Anatomica H2. The original Conti tires were ok, but I replaced them with a set of 42mm Tour Ride tires. I also had a wheel built using the original front rim around a Shimano dynamo hub. I added a Busch und Müller Lumotec Fly Senso Plus headlamp (still planning to add a tail lamp before 2020).

 What have you done to your Surly LHT and how has it benefited you? Have you made changes that you later found were superfluous or unneeded?

[Tandem Tom]

I switched after our cross country tour and a European tour from butterfly bars to a Velo Orange Crazy Bar. I have ridden  it across Canada and 2 Europe tours and just returned from a 3 month Europe tour a few days ago.
Plenty of hand positions and I like to have my hands/ arm spread out for fast descending and for rough tracks.

[Matt Robertson]

Have you used the shellacked cloth tape and have you noticed any discomfort with that? Even with gloves, my hands ache after about 30 minutes on my bike. I love riding, but I would love to do it comfortably. I really liked the VO Crazy Bar when I was putting my bike together and the decision was pretty close between the butterfly and the crazy bar. For $60, I believe I might actually give it a try and use a different type of wrap to see if I can get a comfortable fit. Thanks!

[Tandem Tom]

I have Salsa brand bar tape on the Crazy Bars as it has some cushion to it. I have shellacked cloth tape on another bike. Don't think I would tour on the shellac tape.

[Matt Robertson]

The guy that did my bars did an awesome job, in my opinion. I believe I will leave them as they are and remove the brake and shift levers and replace them with something, probable the Crazy Bars. I have several ideas about bar tape, but shellacked cloth tape won't be in the mix. Thanks for your help!

[BikeliciousBabe]

Got rid of the crappy seat post. Shortened the stem. Changed the saddle. The bars have been re-taped a couple of times. Currently using supacaz. Chainrings wore out so I replaced them with a RaceFace combo that is 46-36-24. Head set needed replacing. How have a CK. Rims wore down and the rear hub was pitted. Replaced them with Deore hubs and RhynoLite rims. Kool Stop Salmon pads. Other than that, it's stock.