Must upgrades for LHT

[fonsie]

Well I got a little over 3,000 on mine and so far everything I started out with is perfect. I did put my Brooks B17 on, I started off with SPD's, but recently switched to some Power straps. I just replaced the chain, but other than just putting a brooks seat on, racks, and some fenders, the bike comes well ready for everything.

[Tourista829]

This may be dubious to some, but I like a Schmidt or Shimano Dyno Hub to power my lighting & mobile phone. Resistance is low, price is high* & with a BM E-Werke you will be very green & self sufficent. Maybe the dealer, where you purchased the LHT from would give you a break, on price, to rebuild the front wheel. Peter White Cycles is an excellent resource. wwwpeterwhitecycles.com                    *cost of dyno Hub, converter, front & rear lights & installation would be more than half the price of your Surly 

[NoGaBiker]

As for Vbrakes, don't take it as the gospel that this is a change you need to make. I vastly prefer cantilevers. I built my 2009 LHT from a frame and put on exactly what I wanted. If I had bought a bike and it came with VBrakes, I wouldn't have changed them out, but I surely would choose cantis if I could have whatever I wanted. I have V's on a couple of Bike Fridays and another touring bike from Marin, and I don't like them. Heck, now that I think of it, I DID change the Vs on the Marin to cantis about 2 years ago.

I would definitely remove the tires and replace with Schwalbe Marathon 700x32, keeping the others for around town if you don't want to waste them. Reference point: a friend and I rode 300 miles around New Mexico in November -- he had the stock tires, I had Schwalbes. He had 6 flats, I had zero, riding side-by-side or front-back the entire way.

I too use a Terry Fly Ti on all my touring/commuting bikes. A matter of personal preference, but that's a good seat for sure. I buy them used on eBay now.

[sackcycle]

Thanks for the reply nagabiker, how long did it take you to break in the Terry Ti? I having a hard time, the best saddle I had was a San Marco Seele leather it rode like a dream from mile1.

[DaveB]

As for Vbrakes, don't take it as the gospel that this is a change you need to make. I vastly prefer cantilevers. ..

I'd be very interested in knowing why you prefer cantilevers to V-brakes.  I have a Surly Cross Check with Shimano BR-R550 cantilevers and they do work well and were much easier to set up and adjust than the Deore LX cantilevers I had on an early '90's Trek 7000.  However, I don't see how or why they are better than a good set of V-brakes.  The only advantage I see for cantilevers is they work with STI/Ergo brifters and standard road brake levers without needing a Travel Agent. Othewise, what's the attraction?

[NoGaBiker]

As for Vbrakes, don't take it as the gospel that this is a change you need to make. I vastly prefer cantilevers. ..

I'd be very interested in knowing why you prefer cantilevers to V-brakes.  I have a Surly Cross Check with Shimano BR-R550 cantilevers and they do work well and were much easier to set up and adjust than the Deore LX cantilevers I had on an early '90's Trek 7000.  However, I don't see how or why they are better than a good set of V-brakes.  The only advantage I see for cantilevers is they work with STI/Ergo brifters and standard road brake levers without needing a Travel Agent. Othewise, what's the attraction?

I like the brake feel of cantis better. And all my bikes have drop bars and STIs, so v's require travel agents, which tend to make the brakes feel like overboosted power brakes on a car. A totally unnatural feel to me. Jerky and imprecise. But I also prefer cantis on flat-bar road bikes, again for the feel aspect.

[NoGaBiker]

Thanks for the reply nagabiker, how long did it take you to break in the Terry Ti? I having a hard time, the best saddle I had was a San Marco Seele leather it rode like a dream from mile1.

Hmmmm... no breakin for the Terry -- it's a plastic-base seat, so it pretty much is what it is. If it doesn't feel good to you now (assuming your butt's in riding condition ) it probably never will.

[staehpj1]

Thanks for the reply nagabiker, how long did it take you to break in the Terry Ti? I having a hard time, the best saddle I had was a San Marco Seele leather it rode like a dream from mile1.

Hmmmm... no breakin for the Terry -- it's a plastic-base seat, so it pretty much is what it is. If it doesn't feel good to you now (assuming your butt's in riding condition ) it probably never will.

I wouldn't give up too quick on a saddle.  There may be no break in for the saddle, but we can break in to the saddle to some extent.  I know that I hated the one that came on my Windsor but after a few hundred miles I got used to it.  I have since done a TA and a couple other longish tours with no saddle issues whatsoever.  I have always managed to adjust to the stock saddles on all my bikes though.

[pptouring]

This may be dubious to some, but I like a Schmidt or Shimano Dyno Hub to power my lighting & mobile phone. Resistance is low, price is high* & with a BM E-Werke you will be very green & self sufficent. 

Hey Bob so you broke down and put on a SON28 & e-Werk? Nice! We love our setup and highly recommend it too.

[Tourista829]

Ron, how are you and your lovely wife doing? I am about to add the Schmidt/EWerke and I have a question for you, did you guys pick up the cache battery? I understand it is a good thing to have. Any interesting rides this year? I might do a trip to the Keys and take the Ferry from Ft. Myers Beach.