ColonelSanders

Thanks

When people say it is a heavy bike, what are they comparing it to?

Is it because a LHT normally has strong and heavy wheels & tyres that lends to overall impression of how heavy a bike it is?

People don't seem to call the Surly Cross Check heavy, yet it's frame and fork would be lucky to be one pound lighter than the LHT frame and fork, but Cross Check's are probably more often than not, fitted with lighter wheels than a typical LHT build.

In terms of the LHT not being a fast bike, is that a trade off with having those long chain stays that provide so much comfort, in that pedaling force is slightly dissipated, rather than being directed forward?

Is a LHT build "faster" or "slower" than say a Trek 8.6 DS or Specialized CrossTrail Comp, on the road?

Aceldama

When I say the LHT isn't my 'fast bike' I'm comparing to my 1996(?) Waterford 1200. You're on the right track in understanding what contributes to a slower feeling bike.

Materials:
If you compare the thickness of the tubes used to make the LHT, especially the chainstays, they're beefy tubes. Both bikes are steel but that's where the similarities end. The LHT simply uses more material than the Waterford and the tubes themselves are drawn thicker in order to be stronger for the LHT's application.

Geometry:
The LHT is designed to be stable and more upright. This makes it better for a number of things: comfort, stability, ability to carry loads. The long chain stays keep the wheelbase long and panniers out of foot striking distance. The Waterford has shorter chainstays and a shorter wheelbase making it feel much more twitchy and nimble. The Waterford puts the rider in a position to put more power to the ground and it accelerates more quickly than the LHT.

Wheels/Tires:
The LHT has wheels built for touring and durability. Same story with the tires. This makes them heavy relative to the Waterford which has a lower spoke-count wheelset wrapped in skinny tires.

Accessories:
My LHT is decked out with front/rear racks and full fenders. I don't care about the weight of the bike at all. My Waterford is kept as minimalist as possible.

When you combine all of these factors together it adds up in the performance department. That being said, the LHT gets used for 90% of my riding because it's suited for any type of riding in all weather. The Waterford gets used for spirited riding where pure training/performance is the goal.

GP

LHT (58) - 5.15 lb. frame, 2.25 lb. fork
CC (56) - 4.88 lb. frame, 2.19 lb. fork

ColonelSanders

So why is the LHT lumbered with the "heavy" description, but not the Cross Check?

Aceldama

It could be that the complete build specs put the LHT at a higher weight than the CC.

It could be that most people deck out their LHT with touring accessories which add to the weight.

I really wouldn't worry about it too much honestly. It's really not that heavy of a bike and frankly it's all about the motor.

steve t.

I've said it before and I'll say it again- a pound or 2, or 3, on a bike not built for, nor used for high speed riding means pretty much nothing. Bikes are used by pedaling them horizontally, not by hand-lifting them vertically. Add 150-250 pounds of rider and that +/- 1% of bike weight (1% of bike and rider total weight) isn't realized by the rider. Want to trim rolling weight, drop 5 pounds of body weight. (I could stand to lose 25 or 30 pounds, the weight of a bike.) And I'd argue better wheel and bottom bracket bearings mean more than taking off one pound of bike frame weight.

Steve.

Stucky

I see the LHT's weight as the main drawback (and I'm not weight weenie....) but if that doesn't bother you, then I'd say go for it!

Sometimes you just have to live with a bike for a while to know whether you really like it or not.

ColonelSanders

That is I suspect a significant reason behind why the "heavy" tag gets attributed to the LHT much more so than just about any name brand bike of very similar frame weight, but I am interested to hear if it is more than just that.

I started this thread to see if there was perhaps a better choice out there for me and from the various replies and what else I have read in other threads and on other places on the interwebs, it really doesn't seem to be, due to those factors I listed in my opening post.

Of course when I eventually seek to get a faster disc brake equipped 700c bike, things will be much more complicated(I doubt I will be getting a Disc Trucker) and there will probably be multiple suitable options that will then leave me with "the agony of decision".

yooperbiker

The LHT would be an ideal everyday bike for a rider weighing over 300 lbs in my opinion. The strength and stability of the bike are perfect match for a heavy rider. Someone weighing 160 lbs would likely look elsewhere if not touring, but you are not 160 lbs. The geometry is for heavy loads, the wheels are for heavy loads, perfect match for you!

superglueryan

I'm sure that by this point you have picked and made your purchase, but in the off chance that you're still debating... Get the Trucker, imo. I weight 315lbs when I bought mine and I've ridden it to death. It honestly feels just as good at 265lbs as it did then. I rode mine from Pittsburg, PA to Washington, DC on the GAP and C&O. Between me and my gear (camping the whole way) There was definitely over 350lbs on the frame at that time and it didn't so much as flinch. I've got thousands of miles on that bike and the wheels are still very true - it's built to last.

It's best at being a loaded touring bike, great at being a commuter and not great at being a fast club bike... but I routinely use if for all of the above.

Ky_Rider

Love my disc trucker. I use it to commute and general riding. Changed the bars and tires to suit my style of riding.

Northwestrider

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Surly LHT , I have one, and love it .

MoAlpha

Agree with most of the above, but why would one want that very long wheelbase for a general use bike?

I am using a Crosscheck for commuting now and it feels (and weighs) like a bike for a much heavier man. The geometry seems just about perfect: it's nicely behaved no-hands and on gravel and cobbles, yet maneuverable enough for traffic. Not the bike I would have chosen, but a very nice, solid, ride.

My main beef with the stock build was the brakes, which were simply inadequate for the street. They'd have to be worse for a big man. I believe the LHT comes with the same ones. Pads might have fixed them, but I installed cheap V- brakes and levers, which work much better. Please spare me the Physics 1 lecture. I might have kept the cantis if I thought I were going to be able to beat up those wheels.

ted m

I have the Surly Troll with the Jones bars. It took me a while to get the bar where I wanted it but I'm very happy with the bike. I liked the troll over the LHT because it fit my body better than the LHT did, but that is highly personal. (I have short legs for my height and I prefer the sloping top tube of the Troll) It may not be the fastest, but it is comfortable and I'm out there using it. And I love it. (6', 335 pounds)

Miele Man

Be careful here. A bicycle that one person likes may be hateful for another. You'd need to have someone using the bike with your weight and purposes in order to have an accurate comparison. The best thing to do would be for you to test ride each bike over a distance of a few kilometers not just a parking lot.

Most of the suspension of a steel frame bicycle is in the tires.

Cheers

ThermionicScott 

Since this thread has been bumped, I'll just say that I have light and heavy friends who love their LHTs as all-around bikes. Just do it.

ColonelSanders

I'm pretty sure a LHT or Disc Trucker will be in my future, but for now I went with this as my first 21st Century bike.

I'm sure one will be in my future, but for now I've gone with this beast.

I've decided against the Thorn for now and whether I get it or the LHT later on, I won't have an opportunity to test ride a made up bike with either frame and will just be buying a frame to build up.

ColonelSanders

It will have to be my next bike, as I have bought this beast.

Northwestrider

+1

joeyduck

I want a disc trucker to replace mt dead LHT. I would prefer through axles though.

ColonelSanders

I like the long chainstays on the LHT/DT's(or at least I think I would like them) as they should provide for a comfortable ride and also make cross chaining much less of an issue.

My understanding is that the long wheelbase provides for stability at speed on downhill runs and the downside of less responsive handling is not likely to be a big downside for me, or at least I would hope it wouldn't be.

ColonelSanders

What happened to your LHT to kill it off?

joeyduck

Long story short. Me&LHT+Bus+Dump Truck = Dead LHT