Sunday 9 December 2012

What? You Don't Have One Small Enough... #9

So buying my bike was... Ermmm.... Difficult. After what seemed like a life time searching on the Internet, trawling through forums, reviews and tech specs I decided the bike which I want to be my best friend and worst enemy for the next 9 months. A Surly Long Haul Trucker 2011 in blue, 46cm frame with 26" wheels. I will go into the reasoning of it on my kit page as I don't want to bore people to tears. 

I searched high and low for a 46cm frame, emailing the entire list of the UK stockists who had just what I wanted, all came back as a no apart from two. Charley the Bike Monger (http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/) and Active Sport (http://www.activesport.co.uk/) both said that they had a 46cm frame set with no components and another bike with the wrong size but all the same components on it, so simply a frame swap for a small charge. Go check out both of these stores as they are extremely helpful and friendly with good quality gear! But anyway, I chose to go the Active Sport due to a cheaper price and a quicker expected build time.

Within a week it was delivered in a nice big box! I unwrapped it all and built it in 8 hours it was done and ready for a test ride around the driveway. It is so comfortable!!! Mainly due to the 2 hours of getting the saddle and handle bars perfect and replacing the stem with one I already had. (Small arms meaning small reach). Now it is ready, let the training commence!!!