In an age of 'epic' this and 'extreme' that, when it seems everything is new and improved, bigger, better, & faster, it might seem antithetic for us to build-or for you to buy-a touring frame.
Didn't those die off with the other dinosaurs of the 70s? Truth is, there is little as epic as a really long bike ride. It resets your mind. It challenges your body and spirit. It stirs and purges, soothes and recharges. 'The daily grind' becomes meaningful. Just you, and everything you need to live, packed up on your bike.
So where do you want to go? To work and back everyday? A week long trip to the next state over? Or perhaps La Paz, Bolivia, via Homer, Alaska. Maybe you just want to wake up and wonder where you are. The Surly Long Haul Trucker is the right tool for the job. It's not flashy and it's not made of the latest, lightest, thinnest alloy. It is made, like all our frames, of cro-moly steel. Why? Because steel is tough and durable, yet resilient.
It soaks up the rough stuff, but remains stiff enough to provide an efficient ride. Sure, aluminum can be tough and carbon fiber can soak up road static. Heck, titanium even acts a lot like steel. But there is nothing else that does all the things that steel does for so little money.
What did we do with steel on this frameset? We designed the geometry for all day, every day comfort, even fully loaded (quite different from the vast majority of frames out there). Long chain stays and laid back head and seat tube angles provide a comfy platform for day after day after day in the saddle. It's got 3 sets of water bottle cage bosses. It's got braze-ons for carrying a couple of extra spokes.
It's got braze-ons for front and rear racks. The head tube is taller on top to help put you in a more upright position and save strain on your neck and back, shoulders, wrists and elbows. Like all Surlys, it sports practical, standard sizing for things like seatpost, front derailleur, and stem. It even sports downtube shifter braze-ons. All this means you can easily find new parts for it or use stuff you already have.
The Long Haul Trucker isn't the bike that everyone is going to have. It isn't the next big thing. It won't race like a champ or scream down rocky single track. It isn't about impressing your friends. It's a tool for finding out what you are capable of inside. Are you ready to ride?
Traditional style Cr-Mo steel Touring frame & fork set, for all day, every day comfort, even when fully loaded.
About the Surly brand
Surly Bikes manufacture a wide range of bikes, frames, parts and accessories. Surly are based in Boomington, Minnesota USA and were established in 1998. The company aims to build solid, quality components for a reasonable price.