First of all, way to go, rain commuters!  That was quite a rain on the homeward trek, no?  Lightning and everything!

Now, on with the show. As I’ve mentioned, certain bikes on the commute really catch my eye. One of those is the Surly Long Haul Trucker, which I also use as my primary commute machine. Here is a photo of my Surly, parked in front of the you-guess-which monument.

I’m partial to my Surly for a variety of reasons:

1. It’s a reasonably priced touring bike that comes stock with pretty good components.
2. The fit is excellent, which means pain-free riding.
3. It’s steel and I like the Utility Blue color.
4. It’s great for getting groceries, running errands, or just carrying your junk around.
5. I’m ready to go on a long journey at a moment’s notice, given the overall sturdiness and carrying capacity of this bike.
6. It doesn’t talk back.

I like seeing other people out there riding the LHT. It’s very validating!  One of the regular commuters I sometimes intersect with during the week has a newer version of the Long Haul Trucker. I believe it is Surly’s Blue Velvet color for 2010.  I haven’t had a chance to talk with the owner about his bike; I’ve only admired from afar. Here he is on his nice setup.

The Keen commuter sandals and the Arkel panniers are two great additions to this commuting system.

It’s true that you don’t need a “special bike” to get around town.  However, it’s great to have a bike where I don’t have to carry my stuff around on my back, and that I can feel comfortable maneuvering in traffic. Thanks, Surly, for having made such a sturdy commuter (and tourer, of course!) with your Long Haul Trucker.