Need a proper tourer. What should I get? And can you please all agree...

[Baggy]

Willem, one of your comments made me think - about the LHT having size-specific components. I am small (5' 1"/156cm) and have small hands and small fingers. I have had trouble in the past in various contexts with my hands being too small to use things that other people find no problem. I know on kids' bikes it's important to have brake levers positioned for little hands etc. Does that apply to bikes too? Should I be thinking about this, or am I imagining problems where there are none?

No, you're not imagining it...that was another reason I changed the bars on my bike - to bring the levers closer to my hands. I'm 5'4" and one of my bikes has 165mm cranks, on 700c wheels I definitely get less toe overlap so that's another thing to consider.

I do know of someone about your height who has a Long Haul Trucker and thinks it's incredibly comfortable - and they're very nice frames.

 

[corshamjim]

I'm 5'4" and one of my bikes has 165mm cranks, on 700c wheels I definitely get less toe overlap so that's another thing to consider.

That's a good point. I've been thinking I'd prefer shorter cranks, and that's another benefit!

 

[willem]

Absolutely. My wife has 160 mm cranks. Anyway, I think if you are short, 26 inch wheels are the way to go anyhow.
Willem

 

[funnymummy]

Fab Foodie & Baggy... Thnak you for those suggestions,
Baggy - I had brakes like that on my first road bike a couple of decades ago..and they were good , but i would need thicker bars too as I can't close my left hand as tight as needed to hold onto narrow bars
Fab Foodie - My LBS have made several tweaks to the bike already, I did ask about butterfly bars, but they said it would mean my brakes & gear would need altering too.

TBH - I don't get to do much solo touring these days, my children go with me now & I can't tow my sons trailer on the Dawes as it pulls on my bcak too much, so I end up using my MummyBike all the time now. I've ridden in the odd Sportive on her & have a couple more lined up over the summer, but it seemed a shame to alter the Dawes so much for such little use, thought i'd sell her so someone else could have as much fun as I have had with her, I'm getting a Sirrus Elite on Friday for the odd occasions i do get out on my own & just want to ride fast!

 

[Baggy]

Fab Foodie & Baggy... Thnak you for those suggestions,
Baggy - I had brakes like that on my first road bike a couple of decades ago..and they were good , but i would need thicker bars too as I can't close my left hand as tight as needed to hold onto narrow bars

They work more like the brakes on a flat barred bike - they pull in towards you and give much more progressive braking than the old "suicide levers" that you had to pull right up to the bars to feel much effect!

If you've got a new bike on the way I can see why you might not want to faff round though...

 

[andym]

Yikes! what's with the magenta?

 

[andym]

It is only the Brits who have this "must have drop bars" attitude to tourers. The massive disadvantage is the brakes are feeble compared with v brakes (unless you go for some "clever" solution to allow V brakes with STI levers, or disks)

Yes but it you go for bar end shifters (which you have other advantages) there are levers that work very well with drop bars and v-brakes (there are Dia-Compe 287Vs and another make that are half the price and suppsed to be kust as good, but I can't remember the name).

 

[willem]

Tektro, and they are even better than the Diacompe 287V.
Willem

 

[jay clock]

horses for courses! I have STI levers on two road bikes, and MTB triggers on my tourer. I could not bear the thought of not having the changers immediately to hand. Bar end levers will rare;y be near my hands as I rarely ride on the drops, and even less so on a tourer when I had one with drop bars. But each to his own.

In terms of comfort for long laden rides I have no problems with my flat bars and ergo bar ends.

 

[Iainj837]

I have 2 touring bikes I have a Raleigh Pioneer Venture with drops handle bars and rear carrier and a Dawes Karakum with butterfly bars and front and rear carriers.

Iain

 

[andym]

<br>horses for courses!&nbsp;&nbsp;I have STI levers on two road bikes, and MTB triggers on my tourer.&nbsp;&nbsp;I could not bear the thought of not having the changers immediately to hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bar end levers will rare;y be near my hands as I rarely ride on the drops, and even less so on a tourer when I had one with drop bars.&nbsp;&nbsp;But each to his own.

<div><br></div><div>I am currently touring with a flat-barred bike with bar end shifters converted to thumbies. So maybe I have &nbsp;a foot in both camps....</div><div><br></div><div>I guess if maintaining a constant cadence is important to you, and you are frequently changing gears then barend shifters would be a pain in the proverbial - but on the other hand if you are like me you probably only change gears at the bottom of hills and at the top (or on the way up if things start getting a bit much).</div><div><br></div><div>I always argue against the people who claim that you can only tour with drop bars, but equally I can't think of any fundamental showstopper reasons why you shouldn't/couldn't ride with drops if that's what you prefer. Each to his own as you say.</div><div><br></div><div>Willem - yep 'Tektro' was the brand name i couldn't remember.<div><div><br><br>

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[andym]

What happened there?

 

[billflat12]

know they are heavier but a Quality "4bolt" adjustable stem paired with ergo barends gives exrtra options with flat bars, (assuming your handy with an allenkey)

 

[TwoInTow]

OK, I'm back on this topic after a bit of a break. Got swamped in work and also had to organise the logistics for the planned summer tour, which is mid-July.

I've decided I'd like to get a Surly LHT, but am having trouble finding somewhere to buy it from! Ideally, I'd like to go there and be fitted, but that may not be possible. I have done some google searches, and tried the Surly website for suppliers, but without much success.

So what's the best way to go about this? I live in Winchester. I leave for this tour on 9 July. Can I get it done in time, do you think?!

 

[jags]

jeez you still haven't bought a bike your cutting things very fine as in
getting used to the feel of the bike loaded and unloaded..
get yourself a thorn tourer of the peg either the sherpa or club tour load her up and enjoy your tour trouble free.