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I've been contemplating a new build and it's looking like the funds will be available to me by this weekend. I have narrowed my choices down to the 26" Long Haul Trucker, the Troll and the Ogre (The Velo-Orange Camargue is also in the running but this is a Surly sub-forum).
I've ridden 700c almost exclusively since 1995. First a Trek 730, then a Trek 7.2 FX, then another Trek 730 and now a Handsome Devil. I've been curious about 26" wheels so I picked up a 1996 Trek 820 and a 1983-84 Takara Highlander, which has very similar geometry to the first Stumpjumpers (VERY slack and long). I've discovered that I really like the 26" wheels with 55mm Big Apple tires on them.
Right now I'm 50/50 on 26" vs 700c. I have a set of custom built 700c wheels so I'm good to go wheelwise if I choose a 700c bike BUT the wheels are the wrong color!
If I choose a 26" bike I can have a new set built in the correct color but it would be a longer-term project. I have a set of serviceable 26" wheels I can use in the meantime.
I test rode a Karate Monkey and a Troll several times and really liked both bikes. I am a bit concerned with the dropouts but even more so with the top-tube length of each bike. I rode a 26" LHT once but it had skinny tires and drop bars so it's not really a valid comparison to how I would set it up. To my surprise, the 26" LHT was very agile and I couldnt' tell much difference between it and my Devil, which is a 73/73 frame with 60mm of trail....very roadish.
Almost all of my riding will be pavement, packed dirt or smooth gravel. At one time I wanted to really get in the dirt but a few tentative rides in rougher stuff weren't as fun as I thought they would be. Most rides will be less than 10 miles and I'm more concerned with simply having fun on the bike.......lot's of slowing down/speeding up, lot's of turns, twists and riding around things.
I prefer the frame style, dropouts and shorter top-tube of the LHT but I am concerned about the 46cm chainstays. I don't know if that's going to hinder the bikes agility or not. I didn't really spend enough time on the 26" LHT I test rode to get a good feel for that. I don't know if a bike designed for "long hauls" will be fun for the style of riding I do.
Any thoughts or suggestions from folks with experience with these bikes?
ETA: I forgot to add that I weigh about 400 lbs on a 6 foot frame so that is why all of the bikes I'm considering are on the stouter side with fat tires.
I've ridden 700c almost exclusively since 1995. First a Trek 730, then a Trek 7.2 FX, then another Trek 730 and now a Handsome Devil. I've been curious about 26" wheels so I picked up a 1996 Trek 820 and a 1983-84 Takara Highlander, which has very similar geometry to the first Stumpjumpers (VERY slack and long). I've discovered that I really like the 26" wheels with 55mm Big Apple tires on them.
Right now I'm 50/50 on 26" vs 700c. I have a set of custom built 700c wheels so I'm good to go wheelwise if I choose a 700c bike BUT the wheels are the wrong color!
I test rode a Karate Monkey and a Troll several times and really liked both bikes. I am a bit concerned with the dropouts but even more so with the top-tube length of each bike. I rode a 26" LHT once but it had skinny tires and drop bars so it's not really a valid comparison to how I would set it up. To my surprise, the 26" LHT was very agile and I couldnt' tell much difference between it and my Devil, which is a 73/73 frame with 60mm of trail....very roadish.
Almost all of my riding will be pavement, packed dirt or smooth gravel. At one time I wanted to really get in the dirt but a few tentative rides in rougher stuff weren't as fun as I thought they would be. Most rides will be less than 10 miles and I'm more concerned with simply having fun on the bike.......lot's of slowing down/speeding up, lot's of turns, twists and riding around things.
I prefer the frame style, dropouts and shorter top-tube of the LHT but I am concerned about the 46cm chainstays. I don't know if that's going to hinder the bikes agility or not. I didn't really spend enough time on the 26" LHT I test rode to get a good feel for that. I don't know if a bike designed for "long hauls" will be fun for the style of riding I do.
Any thoughts or suggestions from folks with experience with these bikes?
ETA: I forgot to add that I weigh about 400 lbs on a 6 foot frame so that is why all of the bikes I'm considering are on the stouter side with fat tires.