DownTheRoad.org
The continuous bicycle touring story since 2002
no plans to stop

See My Videos Here

Surly Long Haul Trucker LHT Touring Bicycle
Frames, and Forks  - all sizes - 700C or 26 inch wheel

Click for Great Prices Surly Bikes at REI.com

This bike has won me over as the best entry level bike for the money.  Just over a $1,000 gets a well thought out bike that can carry you anywhere.  I have seen this bike being ridden by numerous nationalities in places from the endless flat roads in Kansas on Adventure Cycling's Trans-America Trail to the remote rough gravel road of Tibet.  This is the touring bike that has set the bar for affordable comfort and durability.  The fact that ALL sizes now come with your choice of 26 inch or 700c wheels makes this my #1 pick.  As you move on to more advanced long distance tours the Surly Long Haul Trucker LHT will be right there with you.  I am always excited to see new people get into bike tours and this is the bike that makes those dreams come true.

Click for Great Prices Surly Bikes at REI.com

(from vendor) If you want to carry a lot of stuff while riding your bike long distances, you’d be hard pressed to find a better bike than the Long Haul Trucker. It starts with the frame, whose custom drawn 4130 tubing and geometry were specifically designed for loaded travel, low bottom bracket for stability, long head tube, long stays, the whole thing. We added braze-ons for everything you’re likely to need. We gave it parts that are durable and long lasting, and ready to travel.  Add racks, bags, fenders, what have you, and go somewhere. This bike has been among our most popular models because it’s a good value and a great riding bike. Oh, and it handles short distances too.

We’re continuing to offer the LHT as we always have, with 26" wheels on the smaller sizes and 700c wheels on the larger frames.  New this year, we’re also offering 26" wheels for the larger frame sizes too. Although many people (some of us included) like the ride of 700c wheels, in many parts of the world 26" is a more popular size, so you’ll be able to find replacement tubes, tires, and rims more easily should the need arise. Smaller wheels are also stronger than their 700c counterparts, so they’ll stand up better to rough roads and heavy loads.  Frames in both wheel sizes accommodate pretty big tires with mud and fender clearance for a smooth ride.

Click for Great Prices Surly Bikes at REI.com

Surly Big Dummy Utility Bike

Click for Great Prices Surly Bikes at REI.com

(from vendor) The Big Dummy was a natural. It’s designed to carry a lot of stuff easily, and that’s just what it does. It was designed in conjunction with Xtracycle, whose modular plug-ins make it easy to carry groceries, garden supplies, tools, and just about anything else you’d normally carry with a car. It’s got an upper limit of 400 pounds (180kg) total rider and cargo weight, which is more than you’ll probably need, but not so much it’s impossible to pedal. It does ride a bit different than normal bikes, due in large part to its long wheelbase, but a couple of trips to the store is all it should take to convince you that this bike is not only exceptionally useful, but fun too. We include Xtracycle's V-Rack bags and snapdeck, but you'll find more options for attachments, like Wideloader platforms, on Xtracycle's

Click for Great Prices Surly Bikes at REI.com