I’ve been working on Black Magic these last few months in preparation for getting her ready for this coming touring season.
While I’m slowly grinding my way through these dark cold winter days hopelessly waiting for the warmer spring and summer days to arrive – here is the list of upgrades the Surly Long Haul Trucker has been receiving.
Wilfried Schmidt SON 28 ISO Disk – dynamo hub.
For information on the SON 28 ISO hub click here.
Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ CYO RT – headlight.
This headlight is fantastic for urban cycling, although I’m unsure of its brightness (rated at 40 lux) for my planned early morning riding before the sun appears above the horizon bringing the heat. I’m thinking I should have purchased a brighter light – I plan on sticking with this one.
Busch & Müller Toplight Line Plus – taillight.
Paul Comp Drop-top Interrupter Brake Levers – a second set of brake levers.
This will make breaking off-road on trails much easier, especially downhill on dirt and loose gravel.
Supernova Plug ii – USB port for charging iPhones, MP3 players, GPS units.
This plug is designed to fit as a permanent mount into the headset cap on the bicycle. I don’t want the plug built into my headset, so I’m currently brainstorming a quick temporary install.
Revelate Designs Gas Tank – bag.
This bag fits on top of the top-tube, and wraps around the headset. This bag is a replacement for my handlebar bag as the interrupter brake levers are placed where a handlebar bag would reside. And as I’ve come to hate braking on dirt roads and forest roads heading downhill in the drops, I’ve decided that the brake levers are a more important, and appreciated addition. The only downside to not having a handlebar-mounted bag with a built-in map holder is, the inability to have a quick and easily readable map on the go. Never fear, I have the answer.
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| Gas Tank |
Bar Map Holder – plastic map holder attaches to handlebars.
Clear vinyl window with nylon border provides a viewing area of 8-3/4″ x 5-1/2″, accommodating an 11″ x 8-1/2″ map which has been folded in half. Total dimensions (including nylon border) are 9-1/4″ x 6-1/2″.
Garmin eTrex 20 – GPS unit
The Garmin eTrex 20 will be loaded with a map of the Western United States. Accompanying my eTrex 20 is the Garmin handlebar mount, to be mounted on the stem of my bicycle. So, along with my paper maps of the area I traverse, both forest service maps, and adventure cycling maps, I will have a battery powered GPS unit, that can also be powered with my Plug ii.
MSR Gear Shield – tent add-on to keep gear dry.
This is an off bike addition to the gear.
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| Gear Shield |
Route planning to commence shortly. This summer I will be starting in San Diego, California and be pedaling north. I’m done with this crappy late spring weather the Northwest has been receiving these last few years.
The Naturally Aspirated Adventures of Tim 