LHT to Ogre?

[cardo]

Hi Folks:  I retired a couple years ago and started looking into bike touring - ala crazyguyonabike - and purchased an LHT, panniers, tent, etc.  Tried a short tour and I liked it all but the part on the pavement.  I don't want to learn 120 names for asphalt and count close calls.  I can't afford to get another bike and I was wondering:  If I got a Surly Ogre frame, how many of the components off of my LHT would I be able swap over?  And is there something I'm missing that makes this inadvisable?  [I ordered the LHT with MTB (22-32-44) rings and would plan on up-grading wheels, hubs, etc. as they wore.]

[Vik]

If you want to ride gravel and dirt roads you can do it on your LHT with appropriate tires.

safe riding,

Vik
www.thelazyrando.com

[cardo]

Even without a load on it, the LHT has seemed awkward to me, not nimble at all.  I have progressed from MTB to hybrid to tourer and if I had it to do over I would have beefed up the hybrid and gotten an Extrawheel trailer (http://www.shop.extrawheel.com/lang/en).   I just saw the Ogre had come out and thought that it could be my cheapest way into an 'expedition' bike that would eventually see a Rholoff and disc brakes, etc. 

This looks about like my ideal:
 http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/classifieds/?o=1r4vFZo&classified_id=2675&v=p
 except for the price.  I was thinking with the Ogre frame around $600 and the parts from the LHT, I could be rolling and have the ability to upgrade as finances allowed.

The LHT will take tire widths that are fine for off road but the bike is better at going straight than turning;  wheelbase, geometry, rider's skill?  I don't know but I haven't felt at home yet on the LHT even after a couple thousand miles and a broken in Brooks saddle.  Good excuse to look at getting a new frame, no? 

[Vik]

58cm LHT
- head tube angle = 72 deg
- fork offset 1.8"
- wheelbase 42"

20" Orge
- head tube angle = 72 deg
- fork offset = 1.6"
- wheelbase 42.4"

By all means get a new bike. If you can get in a test ride that might be a good idea as the numbers between the LHT and Ogre aren't that far off.

[cardo]

"mounts for linear-pull and disc brakes," from the Surly Ogre page.  If the the brakes, and therefore the wheels, wouldn't bolt on, the complete Ogre would make more sense.  I'm probably stuck with what I have for the moment, and it will work, but I had to dream for a day.     

[fotooutdoors]

FYI Vic, the Karate Monkey lost canti studs, but the Ogre is disc or canti compatible.  So, you could transfer the wheels and brakes as well.  If you stick with drops, you can keep the bars, shifters, and levers.  Regardless, I would agree with Vic that you are probably better off selling your LHT and buying a complete Ogre (or troll) if that is the frame you want, unless you want to stick with drops (and like your shifters/brake levers/bars).

[chrisx]

If memory serves, Surly made the Long Haul Trucker with both 26 inch and 700 centimeter wheels.  Which size do you have?  
LHT was made for drop bars.
Ogre was made for flat bars.
Switching handle bar styles could make the bike uncomfortable.

[cardo]

I have the 700C.  They had just announced the 26 and the LBS knew nothing about them (just about where we are with the Ogre now; spec sheets and not much else to go on.) so I went with 700.

[DaveC]

Ogre has shorter chainstays and less BB drop.  It'll handle differently.

I'd say if you don't get on after several thousand miles a new frame is in order.

[paxton coyote]

Salsa Fargo

[seanstokley]

2nd on the Salsa Fargo

[Sac29]

I just sold my 26" wheeled LHT and was considering the Ogre complete. But for 1499 US the price is kinda steep.  Ogre frame at retail plus a build kit comes in 225 cheaper with better components. I was going to swap out the flat bars for drops anyways and that led me to the Fargo, especially if you want drop bars.

[bmike-vt]

Third on the Fargo. Especially with drops.