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Overland Bicycle Travel Overlanding questions for two wheels, no motor!
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 18 Mar 2010
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Yorkshire
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Surly Travelers Check
Has anyone any experience of a Surly Travelers Check.

The concept looks ideal for someone like me who is very unlikly to ever have a long period of time off work and away from home to be able to set off from home and peddle into the distance. It would be easier for me to fly in, tour and either fly out or tour out. The other thing is that flying is only getting more and more difficult in terms of baggage costs, time delays etc.

It would be handy because i work between Belfast and Yorkshire and currently have a fixed gear charge and a lightweight mountain bike - neither are suitable for anything that i actually do.

The other option would be to buy a Cross check frame and have a set of S and S couplings fitted then put a set of LHT front forks on so a can put baggage on the front.

Anyone any experience of any of this?

Mat
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  #2  
Old 18 Mar 2010
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,903
I don't know if you'll find an answer here--maybe yes, maybe no--but I sure hope you're asking on overland (push) bike forums as well. Not many bicyclists here on this motorcycling site.

Good luck!

Mark
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  #3  
Old 24 Mar 2010
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 762
I ride a surly lht. I'd recommend asking the guys at surly, they are really helpful, in a very non-pushy way.

the S&S couplings are fairly standard, but I have never had a bike with them. the cross check and the current lht I've ridden a few thousand miles on (both) are excellent.

I guess your main problem will be sizing, as you'll struggle to get a test ride. or even see a built up frame.
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  #4  
Old 26 Mar 2010
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Traveler's Check
Mat,

Traveler's Check and Cross Check are same frame and geometry. The Travs Check has the S&S couplers in them, so your second option is just adding a step with no benefit and most likely added cost. People are leery about the couplers, but they are bomb proof. They do not loosen up.

There are more than a few people on the Cross Check and Long Haul Trucker where I live. No one has much, if anything bad to say about the ride or quality of materials and workmanship.

With the Trav's Check will come extra cost. You will have to buy a traveling case for extra and they're not that cheap. You should be really comfortable with dis-assembling and re-assembling a bike.

The frame should size like most off-the-shelf bikes. I'd say go for it.

Tom
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  #5  
Old 26 Mar 2010
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Norseman View Post
Mat,

The frame should size like most off-the-shelf bikes. I'd say go for it.
the 'effective top tube' length is what you'll need to go off, measure from a bike you know you fit. ett is not the same as 'bike frame size'.

Spew | #17 - Bike Fit

it's a very good point about the extra cost of the case. and there's always the approach of just wrapping a standard bike up in cardboard and going.

if you're in Yorkshire, you're more than welcome to try out my lht to give you a reference for surly frames. it's a 58cm, so suitable for around a 6"-er, give or take a few inches. I could cycle down and eat cake while you took it for a spin...
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