mrkm

First off, I want to extend my gratitude to all the members on here who helped me make this decision and taught me about to look for in a bike (when you're a big fella).
Without you all, I would of just ended up with the wrong bike for me again, falling for some salesmen's mumbo jumbo.
After doing lots of research and testing out various different bikes, I'd decided on the Surly Disc Trucker back in mid-June. I'd ordered it and then came the wait... The very long wait.
Lots of confusions with a distributor, my LBS and a month and a half later, I'm the proud new owner of the Surly DT.
I just picked it up a few hours ago, did a quick inaugural ride with it, and already feel like it's an extension of me. Endlessly more comfortable than the ill-suited bike/frame I came from.
I had some quick little upgrades done, such as some Fizik bar gel (not 'cause of comfort; I just prefer a beefier grip- wanted to double tape, but folks at LBS recommended gel as apparently it doesn't slip as much), some new tape that grips better, added my Brooks B17 (that I've had about a month to break in), pedals, light, frame pump and a little Cat Eye computer.
I'm still getting used to the bar-end shifters, but would ideally, for next spring maybe, like to have a Shimano 6700 Ultegra brake shifter installed. I just find them much more intuitive.
I'm going for a 20km ride tonight and can hardly contain myself from all the excitement.
Really can't wait to take it on a longer ride to Toronto Island this weekend.
Again, I wouldn't of been able to do this without your guys' help. I really appreciate it!

Without further adieu, here she is (will post better pics in a couple days):

P.S. For those wondering who didn't read my other thread, I'm 6'3, 350lbs. This is the 60cm frame w/ 700c wheels.
Was coming from a much-too-small-for-me bike- an 18" Norco Wolverine. Fun- sometimes-, but had me feeling like I was working a leg press mostly.

Null66

WHOOOO HOOO!

NICE!


I built one up a couple months ago. Yours is far, far prettier!


I LOVE the discs. I can actually stop no matter how steep or how loaded. Frankly, I'm a load all by myself!
I got custom wheels as I kept busting stuff on my Fuji tourer (may it rust in pieces) and really hate walking home.

Loving my disc trucker! Still sorting stuff out a bit.

Hope you enjoy as many smiles as miles...

donalson

give the barcons some time... they really do become intuitive in short order, or at least they did for me... the key for me was having the bars high enough that it was't difficult to get to them on the drops... part of that for me involved a shallow "compact" bar... it was ugly and killed the classic lines of my frame... but it was comfortable.

if that doesn't stick you could also goto pauls thumbies or even retroshift https://bikeportland.org/2011/12/02/l...t-system-62994 (but at that point used brifters are similar price)



I've got a 62cm frameset on the way... I had one in my hands last week but shipping seems to have crushed the stays :-/ I can't wait to build it up

Street Pedaler

Nice looking ride. Congrats!

laynlow

That is a nice looking ride. Enjoy!

chrism32205

Nice ride. Surly makes some sharp bikes.

jimmyj726

Nice looking bike. What other bikes did you consider and why did you choose the Surly over the others?

Rapidoyfurioso

That is a nice bike, congrats!

jeepseahawk

JEALOUS! Congrats

mrkm

I looked at:

Kona Rove
Kona Sutra
All City Macho Man (would of gone with this if the Disc version was out/more readily available)
Cannondale CAADX Disc Ultegra (my other top contender; not a touring bike, but very nice- nobody had them in stock, though)
Trek 520
Salsa Vaya 3
Handsome Cycles Devil

I wasn't able to try all of the bikes out (like the Handsome Cycles & All City), but ended up going with the Surly since it felt, by a good stretch, the most comfortable to me and the price was nice. Just finished a 20km ride with it and I feel liberated and great. Can't wait 'till tomorrows ride.
Ideally I would of gone with the CAADX Disc Ultegra, but *nobody* had 'em in stock- maybe in the spring?
I've got all I could ever want in a touring bike now and am really looking forward to all the journeys I'll share with this hunk of steel.
All the above bikes are TOP NOTCH for anyone looking at something in this range.

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone!

jskwarek

Congrats on the new bike. I too looked long and hard at this bike but landed with the Macho Man because of the shifters. On several test rides I simply couldn't get used to the shifters. I hope you have better luck with them.

Jason

Fangowolf

I love my LHT. Just hit 822 miles. I moved my shifters with Paul Thumbies. I do like that green color, especially with black.

AWB

Congrats on the new bike, looks fantastic!

bbeck

Sexy bike. I wanted an LHT when I bought my current bike. Today I still want one. Santa may have to leave one under our tree this year.

jimmyj726

Thanks for the reply mrkm. I have been thinking about a new bike and am torn between a full tourer like yours or a lighter weight bike that would handle light touring. The more I think about it, I am leaning towards the touring bikes. I think they would provide me with more options should I decide to take off on a multiple day/week trip.

phread59

Glad you like it. I will also second the notion to give the bar ends some more time. I just got a Spesh Rubaix with Apex. The brifters are OK. But I just wish it had bar ends. Keep at it, you'll love it.

Mark Shuman