Surly World Troller - touring thread

Great start! I'd love to do something similar. Southern route looks like more fun. I'd def go through Tajikistan on the Pamir Highway with a couple of detours on your way to Kyrgyzstan. It will be a highlight I promise you. I was there a few years back.

And it is a rather good read for anybody else.

I have a note written down called 'bike touring' somewhere and all it says on it is Pamir Highway. #csb

Never underestimate a disgruntled woman

Inspiring to say the least. There was a guy that went Sthlm - Singapore in 2012 and wrote about it here

That look massively awesome, why not Mongolia?

Thanks for the tips and support everyone!!! @kjlem thanks for the (horrible :P) link and the awesome book suggestion. @fussballclub I'll take a look, thank you! @Tijs Camping in the wild it is, although I don't intend to bivvy in a ditch every night ;) @edscoble I'd love to but it's just not on the way and I plan to start working on my master's degree in 2018.

Love all the book and reading suggestions, keep 'em coming!

Now on to wheelbuilding

I'm pretty much sold on the Ambrosio AK30 rims. The front wheel will be a 36h Shutter Precision PD-8-01 laced to the AK30 rims in combination with DT Swiss Alpine III Triple Butted spokes. But I'm still struggling with some things:

For the front I need lengths of 254.5 on the NDS and 255.7 on the DS, got the measurements from the Ambrosio website and the hub dimensions from the SP website

For the rear I need 255 mm on the NDS and 253.7 on the DS, got the Shimano FH-M756 dimensions from FreeSpoke (can I trust this source?)

Am I correct in thinking I would need for the front
18x 254 and 18x 255
and for the rear
18x 254 and 18x 253

255 and 253 mm DT Alpine III's are about half as cheap from Rose, 254 mm only available at Bike24. Can I get away with using 253 mm spokes on the front instead of 254's and 255's on the rear instead of 254's?

Buy the rims and hubs, then measure it yourself or the shop.

Online spokes calculator always tend to be a little off.

I'd recommend SON hubs, the SP dynamo work as advertised but do need servicing every once in a while, whether SON is almost need little to no service, the SON 28 is best as it provide power at a lower speed, very useful for a touring bike.

got the measurements from the Ambrosio website

I've got my own ERD measurement for AK30 somewhere, can let you know this evening if you like. I tend to be a bit wary of the dimensions provided by manufacturers.

Like others have said, awesome plan.

Yeah you're probably right... I'm not in a hurry anyway. As much as I'd love a SON it's above my budget. Moreover SP is rated for at least 10K so I should be fine.

@Paradroid Ah, sweet! Very much appreciated

I tend to be a bit wary of the dimensions provided by manufacturers.

Giving the logistic of the tour, I'd go to a shop and ask them to measure the spokes/hubs with the DT Swiss tools;

In my experience it's possible to get accurate measurements with calipers and a pair of spokes, but yeah, not arguing with you there.

I know I can trust SP because their drawings are pretty great but I don't entirely trust the Italians on their documentation, no. Also strange that Shimano doesnt publish their hub drawings. Would make both the mechanic and the hobbyist's life easier!

In my experience it's possible to get accurate measurements with calipers and a pair of spokes.

Oh defintely, I got decent result from doing that, however I like to er on the side of caution of embarking on a massive tour by getting it spot on.

1) I am extremely jealous
2) If you get a chance, read Full Tilt by Dervla Murphy
3) Go to Kyrgyzstan, it is mind blowing

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Progress being made with the packing and prep for sending! Will drop you a PM later.

In the meantime, it's worth watching this video if you've not seen it already for a little taster of solo bike touring (and climbing) in Kyrgyzstan. Unfortunately Kyle and his climbing partner Scott Adamson went missing during an attempt on Ogre II in Pakistan earlier this year.

https://vimeo.com/69045994

FWIW, I used ERD 539mm for the AK30. So I guess the number from Ambrosio website could be without nipple heads. I always measure spoke flush with nipple end, safer to round down from that. I built SP SV-8 to 32h rim, 3 cross, using 260mm spokes.

Just finished this; incredible video! Thanks for sharing. That climbing section.. Sad to hear about them being missing.

Cheers. That video, it's saddening to see it knowing he and his friend went missing, especially the part where he's saying farewell. Not sure I would be prepared to do such a thing.

Thanks for the info, very much appreciated

strange that Shimano doesnt publish their hub drawings. Would make both the mechanic and the hobbyist's life easier!

Who needs drawings when you have specifications?

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• 07) Hub Specs.pdf

And for newer hubs, http://productinfo.shimano.com/#/spec/

Awesome! Would #rep @Emyr

Great thread! I'm typing this one handed, but Google "Kidderminster to Caspian". This bloke cycles half way round the world on a trek hybrid with very little experience. His blog is a great read. Just a nice, genuine fella.

I think, were I to even the remotest prospect of attempting this ride, I would forever be kicking myself for being so close to Uzbekistan, and not visiting Samarkand, Bokhara, & Khiva, even if I ignored Tashkent.
For example, not a recommendation; http://www.tourstouzbekistan.com/en/cities.html