I just want to point out that the LHT is also well-known to be a fantastic bike- in many of the same ways as the Bombadil. Incidentally, I also have an LHT and it is wonderful. But you already know the Surly is good, or you wouldn't own two already. Bottom line is, either way you go, you'll be getting an unbelievable value. It's actually a fine time to need a practical do-it-all bike, because you have so many choices.
As for the Salsa Fargo, here's something that would bother me about that frame: It's not even close to being diamond shaped- that is, the front and rear triangles form a single, inverted triangle because the seat-stays are almost inline with the top-tube. Besides necessitating about two feet of exposed seat post, it seems to me that this design compromises the fundamental strength of the classic bicycle frame: two abutted triangles forming a diamond shape that tensions the seat-tube. Of course, it could be that they are using much thicker butts in their tubing to counter any weakness this introduces, but still, I don't see the point. On Oct 7, 7:20 pm, Mike <mjawn...@gmail.com> wrote: > Have you looked at the Salsa Fargo? > > On Oct 7, 3:32 pm, kent <broken.cy...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > (posted to RBW Owner's Bunch and Surly LHT & CC groups... because for > > some odd reason not everyone reads both!) > > > I drink Grant-flavored Kool Aid. I want an all-rounder on which to > > commute, run errands, go camping, tag along with casual road rides, do > > some short touring now and some long distance, unsupported and > > possibly adventure-style touring in the future. I want a bike that can > > be my only bike if I am ever so unfortunate (or committed to > > minimalism) as to wind up in such a state. > > > After much wandering I have narrowed my choices down to two different > > quasi-descendants of the Atlantis: the Rivendell Bombadil and the > > Surly Long Haul > > > The LHT is dead on the sweet spot for price vs quality that I usually > > shoot for. It's a bike that could do everything I want for many years > > to come. It is a bike I would enjoy owning. This would be my third and > > likely not my last Surly; I recently swapped a KM for a 1x1=11 and the > > Big Dummy and the Conundrum are just begging me to come up with > > excuses. > > > The Bombadil just pushes all my buttons. Although there are a couple > > of Riv frames that I find 'prettier' I love the look, (And the AHH > > just isn't beefy enough if I want to take 200lbs of rider + XXlbs of > > gear down singletrack.) The Bullmoose bars make it even better. I've > > seen a couple of pictures of great paint jobs, but I'd take mine clear > > coated, it just fits. I even love the name and would likely > > occasionally be seen to hum the song while I rode. > > > A Bombadil in my size would be 650b, and I'm still not 100% sold on > > that. I've got no problem with them technically, just concerned about > > what kind of variety of tires will continue to be available as I am > > fond of options (the choices available now are great...) > > > Unique is a bonus in my book. The LHT isn't too common in the general > > cycling world, but it is common lately in the touring world (a good > > thing in my book, except if I'm on one!) Bombadil on the other hand is > > about as unique as you get short of full custom or re-purposing > > something non one else would think of riding long distances. > > > Ah, but then there's that cost... 3x as much for the frame and > > unlikely to be built up nearly so economically as the LHT complete. Oh > > well. As you can tell, I've pretty well sold myself on the Bombadil. > > So why post this? Just to stir up some discussion, get some different > > perspectives. How much more would you pay for the bike you really > > wanted over the bike you knew would not only do the job, but even be > > enjoyable? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
