I thought I would update my previous post on my Surly Long Haul Trucker since I've added a few components along the way to make the ride safer and more convenient.
This stand was made from plans I found on the internet. It makes the bicycle easier to work on and load up for a ride.
This bicycle is mainly used for commuting to work and around town so I usually use a single panier bag that holds just about everything I need. The bag is made by Ortlieb and is waterproof in case I get caught in a downpour.
Here's a view of the "cockpit" which consists of a Garmin 60csx GPS that I use as a speedometer and a route recorder. It also has the usual GPS capabilities like finding places of interest nearby or turn by turn directions. I also have a Lezyne Superdrive LED light that puts out 450 lumens on high, 300 lumens on medium, 150 lumens on low and a blinking mode. It has a rechargable battery that recharges via a USB port.
The bell is a Portland Design Works "King of Ding". Watch the video to see it in action.
The fenders are SKS Longboards which are designed to extend almost to the ground so as to catch the majority of the water that would otherwise be thrown up on the rider and the bicycle components.
The pump is a Topeak Turbomorph which I like because it is like a mini floor pump with a fold down footrest and a foldaway pressure gauge. The waterbottle is a Camelback Podium bottle with a jet valve. The stainless bottle to the front is a Thermos Vacuum Insulated Commuter Bottle which keeps your coffee or tea hot for hours, I love this bottle and take it everywhere.
The seat is a Brooks Flyer leather saddle that is made in England and even though it uses technology that has been around since the 1920's, it is the industry standard for touring bicycles. It is the most comfortable seat I've tried yet. The lock is a cable lock made in Canada by Damco. The saddle bag was made by yours truly and contains all my tools.
The rear light made by Surfas is super bright and really gets your attention, especially in flash mode. The Ontario MTO website has a great section on safe bicycle riding and somewhere in there I saw a reference to the Highway Trafic Act that requires you to have reflective tape on your front and rear spokes. Sarnia Bicycle Shop on Front Street sells if for a buck a foot.
I did have a Topeak handlebar bag on the front but found it to interfere with the view of the front tire on the road. I have an idea how to install it a different way using a second stem mount but that's still in the works.
It was such a nice day last Tuesday that I thought I would take a ride around town. If you have Google Earth installed you can view a 3D video of the route below.
And here is a little video as well. I would have continued down the Sarnia waterfront but the camera batteries died. If you're wondering what is pictured around the 2:24 mark, it's a scale model of the Great Lakes. In the summertime it is filled with water and even has a mini Niagara Falls.
After the accident I thought it wise to upgrade to a more reliable bicycle. Bicycle touring really appealed to me so I did some research on the net into the various bikes available. After test riding a Trek 520, a Marin Muirwoods and a Surly Long Haul Trucker I decided that the Surly Long Haul Trucker worked best for me. I bought the bike from the guys at Revolution Bike Shop on Blackwell Road and highly recommend them as they provided top notch service. Here's some pictures of the new bike and the old.
Have a look at my Michigan Circle Tour blog post back in December of a tour I did with some friends from the Bike for Bibles ride to see the new bike in action.
