Battle Ready

Here it is completely outfitted.  This was a few days after I brought it home.  No fenders in this pic.

Those are vintage Tailwinds panniers (circa 1988), still kicking it after all these years.

And you can't see them in this pic, but the racks are the Freeload Touring Racks from New Zealand.  Now owned by Thule (same racks, lower price).

On the top of the front rack is a Big Agnes Fly Creek 1-person tent, which weighs in at about 32oz.  On top in back is a Thermarest full size mat.  In one of the panniers is a Big Agnes Cross Mountain sleeping bag.

It has now been several months and a few thousand miles on this bike, and I can't say enough good things.  It rides well.  The frame fits me like a glove (I'm 6'1"; this is the 22" frame).  The Shimano XT 10-speed drivetrain is perfect so far.  XT derailleurs are spot-on.

I'm still running my old Continental Travel Contact 26x1.75 tires.  Will replace them with Schwalbe Marathon Plus when they wear out.

The wheelset is all I expected it to be.  White Industries Mi6 hubs with Salsa Gordo 26" rims; 40-hole front, 48-hole rear.  Overkill perhaps, but I wanted no complaints from down below.  Besides, what's a few ounces when all packed up with loads of other goodies?  The hubs are incredible: beautiful to look at, mechanically flawless.

All in all, the bike of a lifetime.  I've had many, and this one is one for the record books.  I sprayed it inside with frame saver before the build-up, so hopefully it will last me through the years ahead.

If anyone is building a Troll and has any questions, please do not hesitate to leave me a message.

Finished, with Fenders

Here's the finished product, with fenders.  Still need to adjust the front fender.  It's too high.  Headed to the hardware for some...well, hardware.

Also still playing around with the handlebar set-up.

Bottom Bracket and Crankset

Here's the bottom bracket ready for install.  Has already been faced and cleaned.  The frame was sprayed with frame saver a couple of days prior, so everything was ready to go on the day of the build.

Here's the BB70 installed.  Easy stuff.

 Half the crankset in place.

 Same, taken from the drive-side.

 Tightening up.

Done.  One XT crankset in place.

To Begin...

This blog begins today, March 3, 2013.  Its goal is to chronicle the complete build-up of a 2013, 22-inch, eggplant purple Surly Troll.

The intended use of this bike--other than becoming my main ride--is to travel from Jacksonville, Florida, USA, to Kyoto, Japan, in the summer of 2014.

The frame and forks are now at my local bike shop, Zencog, here in Jacksonville Beach.  They will install the bottom bracket and the headset.

Components, gathered over the last several months, are as follows:

Crankset: Shimano XT.   FC-M780. 10-speed triple, 42/32/24.  175mm crank arms.
Bottom bracket: Shimano XT.  BB70.
Cassette: Shimano XT. 10-speed.  11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28-32-36.
Chain: Shimano XT. 10-speed.  HG-X.

Rear derailleur: Shimano XT. M780.  Long cage, 10-speed.

Front derailleur: Shimano XT.  M781.  Triple, top pull.

Brakes: Avid.  BB7.  Mechanical disc.
Brake levers: Shimano XT.
Shifter levers: Shimano XT.
Cables: Shimano XT.
Headset: Cane Creek.  40-Series, EC34.
Handlebars: Easton. Havoc.  Aluminum.  750mm.
Stem: Easton.  Vice.  115mm.
Pedals: Shimano.  M324.
Hubs: White Industries.  Mi6.  40 spoke front, 48-spoke rear.
Rims: Salsa Gordo.
Skewers: SRAM X.9 stainless.
Spokes: DT Swiss.  14 gauge.  Black.