| If you've ever dreamed of setting off on a bike trip | | | | - Beefy drop-outs to resist wheel twist and bent |
| with all of your camping gear then you've been bitten | | | | derailleur hangers. |
| by the touring bug. While you can do this on almost | | | | - Standard sizing for all parts such as seatpost, bottom |
| any bike, a specialty touring bike like the Surly long Haul | | | | bracket and headset. |
| Trucker (LHT) makes everything so much easier. You | | | | - A spare spoke holder on the non-drive side |
| don't go to the Indy 500 in a pick up truck and you | | | | chainstay. |
| would help your friend move in your 2 seater sports | | | | - Studs on the frame so you can run downtube |
| coupe. Bikes are the same way. | | | | shifters, barcons or integrated shifter brake levers. |
| The Surly Long Haul Trucker is special purpose touring | | | | When it comes to the actual ride, the Long Haul |
| bike that will also do able duty as a commuter and | | | | Trucker likes to hold a straight line. It turns when you |
| grocery getter. Built from tough cromoly steel, the | | | | want it to but it doesn't require a lot of attention to |
| frame and fork are designed to take a beating. This is | | | | keep it tracking straight. You would think it would be |
| the kind of toughness you need if you get many miles | | | | hard to handle a bike with 60 lbs of gear on it but the |
| from civilization. Quality steel is the best option for a | | | | LHT handles beautifully full loaded. The ride quality is |
| touring bike as it has the properties of high fatigue | | | | very smooth even over the roughest road. But on the |
| resistance, impact resistance and great ride quality. As | | | | downside, this stability comes at a price. Even |
| is the case with all Surly frames the welds are very | | | | unloaded, this isn't a fast bike. It wasn't designed to be |
| clean and the finish is very durable. The color options | | | | but if you hop on it after riding your road bike it will feel |
| aren't fancy but that's not what they are going for. | | | | like a bus. It covers the miles efficiently enough but |
| Surly is all about function over fashion. Depending on | | | | doesn't feel fast. |
| your taste, the clean, utilitarian look is very attractive in | | | | My only complaint about the Long Haul Trucker is the |
| it's own right. The LHT is at home crossing Canada or | | | | lack of disc brake option. While not something you |
| getting lost on the back roads of a third world country. | | | | would want when touring in less developed countries |
| The geometry is optimized to be a stable ride with a | | | | due to the availability of parts it would be a nice option |
| heavy load. Long chain stays increase stability and | | | | for touring in North America and Europe. |
| give you more heal clearance if you are running extra | | | | The Surly Long Haul Trucker is available as a |
| large panniers. Laid back geometry and a long | | | | complete bike or frameset to be built how ever you |
| headtube create a fit that is comfortable for all day | | | | like. All sizes are now available with 26" wheel option. |
| riding, day after day. There is a lot of tire clearance so | | | | 56 cm frames and above are also available to fit 700c |
| you can bigger tires for more grip and comfort if you | | | | wheels. The option for matching wheel sizes at |
| are on rough dirt roads and trails. It has cantilever | | | | different frame sizes is of appeal to people like a |
| mounts so you can run either cantilever brakes or | | | | married couple for touring together. While the frame |
| v-brakes but be sure to mate the brake with the right | | | | sizes may be different, having the same wheel size |
| brake lever. | | | | means you only have to carry one sized inner tube or |
| Beyond the geometry and construction, what makes | | | | spare tire. |
| the Long Haul Trucker stand out is the details: | | | | If you want a great performing touring bike at a |
| - It's has front and rear braze-ons for racks and | | | | reasonable price, the Surly Long Haul Trucker is one of |
| fenders. | | | | the best options. Built from the ground up for the job, |
| - 3 Water bottle cage mounts. | | | | the LHT is a beast of burden that won't let you down. |