I had rando/audax in mind when I built this bike:
It’s a Surly LHT with a mix of Dura Ace and Ultegra. It isn’t light at 25lbs, but it’s comfy for all day riding. The longest ride I’ve done on it was a Century. If I can get into shape, I’m going to try for a 200 mile ride this July (total200.com).
Chris
This thread = so much sex in my face. That is all.
Hmm, Rivendell is doing test rides. They’re in Walnut Creek. That’s 20 minutes away. Hmm…
Hmmm, indeed, you fortunate bastard.
Be sure to apply retrogrouch repellent first.
Why would one want to repel their charming kind? I wouldn’t quite consider myself one, but I see a lot of good in most of their positions on things.
PITD for the retrogrouch. “Hey Grant, I love you man, but…PITD!”
[quote=“allencb”]I had rando/audax in mind when I built this bike:
It’s a Surly LHT with a mix of Dura Ace and Ultegra. It isn’t light at 25lbs, but it’s comfy for all day riding. The longest ride I’ve done on it was a Century. If I can get into shape, I’m going to try for a 200 mile ride this July (total200.com).
Chris[/quote]
That looks pretty rad. Is that a short cage derailer on a mountain cassette? Does that work ok?
Thanks.
Yup, that’s a short cage Ultegra derailler on an 11-32 cassette. I can run in the big/big combo, though it’s a bit noisy. The small/small combo works, but the chain is ever so slightly slack. The front rings are 39/46. A compact crank and road cassette would have worked better, but I already had a nice, light crankset and didn’t want to swap it out.
Specs in case anyone is interested:
Frame: Surly LHT
Stem: Salsa
Bars: Ritchey
Wheelset: Ultegra/Open Pro
Brakes/levers: Tektro
Shifters: DuraAce DT
Deraillers: Front-DA, Rear-Ultegra
Cassette: Sram 11-32
Crankset: early 90s DA 39/46 (stock was 50, I’m a wimp)
Tires: Panaracer Urban Max 32c (those are going byebye for this year, way too heavy, but ride nice)
Saddle: Brookes B17
Seatbag: Carradice Barley
Fenders: SKS
Pedals: Performance SPD clones
It’s my “anti road bike”. I hate kilobuck carbon race bikes. They seem antithetical to “fun” riding. I totally copied the bikes I saw at Rivendell or Velo-Orange.
It has an eclectic mix of parts because I bought stuff as I found good deals (ex wheelset on double sale at Performance in Fairfax for $150). Since completing it last Febuary, I’ve logged about 1000 miles, including one Century. Unfortunately, I haven’t touched it since building my fixed gear. I need to start riding it again because there’s no way in hell I’m doing the MS150 century on a FG (way too hilly up or down) or the Total200 in July.
Chris
FWIW, I’m running a short-cage derailer (Ultegra nine-speed) with a SRAM nine-speed 11-28 cassette. Obviously that’s not quite as large as the LHT, but it’s works without a hitch despite being larger than Shimano advises.
The long and short cage Shimano derailers are rated for the same capacity for the cassette.
pretty sure this is false - isn’t a 27 tooth the recommended max cog size for short cage?
They both are rated for 27 (according to Shimano) with plenty of evidence you can go a bit higher. The real issue is the chain wrap you need. With a standard road triple you have a range of 52t-30t. That is quite a bit of chain to take up.
so when you say long cage, are you excluding mountain/touring models? clearly those are made to handle 34+ tooth cogs.
Pardon me, yes, I am talking about “road” derailleurs.
ok, now i understand. sorry - i was just trying to prevent the spread of misinformation, wasn’t trying to be a dick or anything…
No dickishness assumed.
Thanks for the discussion pals. I was interested because i’m currently running a long cage XT on an 11-32 cassette, double in front, and it may die soon. I really dig the mountain cassette for distance riding, it gives you nice low gears without quite sinking to the humiliation level of a triple. 
.
My sentiments exactly. I’ve actually been prowling eBay for a 9-speed RD for cheap, so I can throw a Deore mountain cassette on my CC. I am by nature a spinner, not a masher.