Originally Posted by Yinkgo

Thanks djb and aroundoz! My frame is actually a Surly LHT 50cm. I got it on eBay at a good price. I purchased it with the intention of building an all purpose bike. I use it for commuting, grocery hauler, touring and a light duty trail bike. The frame was originally the (in my opinion) dull Surly utility blue color. It had several scratches and nicks, so I had it sandblasted and powder coated green. Prior to powder coating, I had a local frame builder add braze ons to the backside of the seat tube for a pump mount. The Topeak road morph fits perfectly behind the seat tube on the small frame LHT even with fenders. Below are some build specs and reasons for my choices.

Crankset
Sugino DX MTB crank - I choose a MTB crank to achieve a very low gear ratio. A 4 bolt MTB crank will take a 22 chain ring. I believe a road bike 5 bolt crank is limited to a 26 chain ring. Also, the Sugino DX cranks are good quality at a great price at $60.

Chainrings & Cassette
22/38/Chain Guard with a Shimano XT 11-34 - On all my previous triple crank bikes, I rarely used the large chain ring. The gear range on this bike works well for my style of riding. I often commute and ride in regular pants, so I added a chain guard to eliminate pant snags. It also keeps the chain grease off my pants. I think it looks good.

Shifters
Shimano 9 speed Downtube - All my old road bikes from the 80’s had downtube shifters, so I’m comfortable with them. I prefer a short stem (100cm) to achieve a more upright riding position. Because of this, I’ve had the problem of hitting bar end shifters with my knees while pedaling out of the saddle. I have never had brifters and there expensive so I didn’t consider them for this bike. I guess I’m old and set in my ways. Also, downtube shifters eliminate cable clutter for a handle bar bag, which I may add at sometime in the future.

Derailleurs
Shimano LX Front and Rear

I’ve had this bike for two years and it adequately handles my cycling needs. Thus far, I’ve taken it on 3 tours without any problems. My first tour with this bike was local – Indiana and Kentucky. Second tour was Ireland. Third was Scotland. Next year I may try crossing Iceland.

Cheers

Originally Posted by victorphung

My LHT 26'

Originally Posted by TimmyT

victorphung,

What are you using to attach your red thermos to the back of your seatpost? Is it a regular water bottle cage?

Thanks,
Tim

Originally Posted by neilfein

^ You tall people and your roomy frames!

Originally Posted by djb

actually, I think that the LHT has that space on all of their frame sizes. Perhaps more on large ones, but Ive seen this amount of room on 54 or 56cm frames I believe.

Originally Posted by wrobertdavis

I've got a 56cm LHT. I had to find a water bottle cage that carried the bottle several cm lower than typical to be able to fit a 500 ml bottle behind the front wheel and just barely. Of course, I am running 700 x 42 tires with 50 mm fenders. It all fits, but just barely. There is no such thing as a water bottle behind the seat post. I don't think will happen on many bikes that have fenders installed.

Bob

Originally Posted by djb

Bob, I have seen photos of a LHT with a small water bottle for stove fuel behind the seat post, with fenders, of the fellow who biked up South America earlier this year. His LHT would have been a 26 inch wheeled one, which maybe makes all the diff. He looks about my height so its either a 54 or a 56 Id reckon. The bottle was mounted quite high, and is probably a 500ml one. bottle holder attached with pipe clamps

Originally Posted by mbryant52

For the mother****ing DUMMY:

Originally Posted by wicki

Sony no love here!