Just a quick update on what ive been up to. Well basically it involves building and riding my new surly troll.
a troll is born
The build around surlys awesomely versatile frame came about as I had a mountain bike I hardly used and a drop bar commuter that doesnt really like ventureing into the forest. Then I seen this bike. It could do everything. Sold were the other bikes and the frame ordered. I went for the frame only as Ive learnt now to build a bike how I like it. Not by one then change everything. I already had a set of v brake wheels so until I built some new ones I stole the brakes and wheels from my hack bike. Then started collecting what i wanted.
The controls: It had to be comfy as its 20 miles to work. So I opted for thorn comfort bars and ergon gr2 grips. I already had this setup on my lht so knew it worked for me.
Drivechain: Had to be of good quality and not to break the bank. So that lead me to a deore chainset, rear mech and shifters. Found an almost new xt front mech so that went on. Maybe should of gone for the alfine 11 system but maybe you will see more on that in the future.*fancy it for my 2013 tour of europe)
Bits and pieces: Added a thorn expedition rear rack to carry stuff. A set of mtb sks mudguards to keep clean. They were slightly modified so i could have big mud clearances in the woods and my faithful brooks b17 narrow.
And that was how it stayed for the first few weeks. Until i decided to build a new wheelset. As this bike can run disks or v brakes my new wheel set would have to do the same. So i employed 36 hole rigida sputnik rims with deore disc hubs laced 3 cross with dt double butted spokes. The rims are amazing ran them on my lht for the last 3 years and never had any problems nomatter how far on or offroad i carried the kitchen sink.
So now I needed brakes. Cable or hydraulic. That was a hard choice. The bikes more that capable of riding the himalayas for there maybe cables would of been better. But at the end of the day its gona spend more time at home so hydraulic gives more power and less maintenence for the same money so now im using shimanos new m596 brakes fornt and rear.
- new anchors
Il add more soon as the bike progresses. On the cards next are porcelain rocket frame and saddle bags, king cage bottle mount and accessory bar.
pedal powered travels 