I now have the detailed price quote for the Surly Long Haul Trucker kitted out for the ride prepared by Darrin at Bike Gallery. Here it is.
So that’s how you turn a $500 frameset into a $3,000+ road bike. Note that there are front and rear racks and panniers and a handlebar bag included in that amount. Also included is a Shimano dynamo hub and converter for generating onboard power, among a couple of other add-ons. I’ve been assured the components chosen meet my “bulletproof” standard. Now that I know about what my biggest item of expense will be, I will begin developing a budget for the overall trip.
I’d like any comments that any of you who are road bike savvy and can read the item descriptions in the quote might have. Please note that I have deliberately chosen flat instead of drop handlebars and am sticking with a classic road (i.e. hard) seat despite what I’ll suffer early on in the ride. Call it penance for gaining all that weight since the 90s, eh?
Again, your recommendations, criticism, applause, whatever are urgently requested and will be very much appreciated I’ll meet with Darrin on Thursday or Friday to confirm the order, so I need to be ready with any changes I would be persuaded to make. Thanks in advance.
David Edgren
b2bbiketrip.com - A 2019 bike trip blog 
Ouch I’ve never spent more than a $1000.00 for a bike (that was 15 years ago). I’m been out of the game for over a decade so I really can’t help you, also I preferred the hybrid bikes with fatter tires
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It sounds like you might be planning to break it in on the journey. Maybe your builder can point out a few good shops along the way to get the 200 mile, 600 mile, 1000 mile, etc. adjustments. You could communicate with those shops in advance, emailing them your bike components, so that they will be expecting you and knowing what to do when you show up.
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spares?
bad idea to do without the special seat unless you are planning significant pre-conditioning.
0$ taxes? What are those going to turn out to be? and if the invoice is true how does this escape taxes?
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Looks like they are building some good, strong wheels for this. 36 spoke Velocity rims. Also looks like they are selling you 4 extra spokes, fwiw. Looks like a good solid build. I don’t see any of the bike parts that look like they are cheaping out on you. OTOH, I don’t see any places where they are obviously over spec-ing the componentry.
I think there is no tax, as this is Oregon, and I think they are one of the states without a sales tax.
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Oh, WRT to the saddle, bike shorts are designed as a part of the overall system. I find the Pactimo brand to be comfortable, but there are others such as Pearl Isumi, Castelli. Assos are supposed to be the freaking bomb, but are out of my price range and I have never worn any. There are companies that make a bike short under-short to give you the padding where you need it, while letting you wear street clothes over them. A product known as Chamois Butter is also a life saver of your nether regions, particularly if you are not used to as much time on the saddle as you are planning.
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