30 inches (not 29) at it's widest width.

My NW solo is seated for kneeling, leaned over hard, and paddled with a single blade. With the 15.5' hull and differential rocker, that just seems to make the most sense. To each their own, but I feel like a lot of double bladers are missing out on the satisfaction that comes from learning to effectively use a single blade. "Paddle Your Own Canoe, An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Canoeing" by Gary & Joanie McGuffin is another great resource I've found for paddling dedicated solo canoes.

Double blades bring a lot of water in the boat/get you wet and I'd just rather stay dry. (Maybe I just don't know what I'm doing with a double)

Very nice video. Looked like a great trip Loved the autumn colored lily pads.

Omg where is this gorgeous place?

That's a fun area. There's supposed to be a portage somewhere between Bar Lake and Council Lake. I passed through the Council Lake chain of lakes last year and then down the river through Wide Waters and really liked that whole area, minus the many blow downs in the river above Bar Lake.

I really liked your campsite! It's so beautiful there and the weather is much warmer than average. I'm sharing this with my friends on Facebook!

4/30/24 - I missed the opener this past weekend because one buddy had to work. We are all gathering in the northern lower for our official "trout opener" this Friday. Brook trout is the goal. Same guys 25 years. Same jokes, same stories. Maybe we will catch some fish, maybe not. There have been years when we have not caught fish. Thank for sharing your video.

Real fishing story. No fish.

I’d love to make a trip up north to the UP. Water looks amazing. Down here my brook trout streams are 10ft wide and sandy

I'm always glad to see stories of the upper peninsula outdoors. Thanks for sharing.

This is a nice and relaxing video. It's weird weather but great!

Just discovered your channel and I have subscribed. If you like the Brooks B-17 for your touring bike, you might consider the B-17 Imperial. It is the one with the carve out. If you are skilled with your hands, you could attempt to cut a carve-out in your existing B-17. If that worked you would avoid having to break in another saddle, not mention the cost savings. Anyway, just a thought. I am into backpacking, biking and have done some canoeing in the past. I also like your part of the country. I have a couple buddies from high school who live in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Take care, Dave

Michigan!

Well - I guess if you can bike there where it's usually about 10 degrees F colder than here there's no reason I can't bike most of the Winter. Besides the bike trails around here are often dry. Thanks

What bike shop do you go to in the UP? I’m looking for a Surly but there aren’t easily accessible

Another great video of the canoe out in the beautiful area you live in!

'promo sm'

What is the difference between the Model B 17 Flyer and the Champion Flyer. Thanks.

So...the guy with the Northstar trillium camped out on Townline invited me to their site for cinnamon rolls Saturday night. We're chatting, and I find out there was a guy with a NW solo like mine on Big Island Lake. Here's where it gets unusual. I mention where I work and turns out the guy with the NW solo retired from the organization I work for just after I arrived five years ago. Here's where it gets weird. I get home and the guy that looks vaguely familiar in my YT inbox suddenly isn't as vague anymore. Glad to see your doing well and doing retirement right! And yes, those fish weren't cooperating very well. -Mike

It looks so nice there, enjoy your self!

Hi , thank you for sharing your adventure video riding your bike on the trail. I enjoyed watching you .I love riding my bike in the Scenic nature trail. I hope one day I can be able to ride there too.

Your drop bar mirror mount is brilliant, BTW, the Coospo bike calculator is an upgrade you may want to look at,

Picked up a NW solo last winter and did my maiden voyage downstream of you. I've put quite a few miles on it, but every time I take it out, I like it more and more. I installed the kneeling drops right away and love them.

Flyer gets so comfortable for 12h+ touring days I'd rather just continue sitting on it. The springs must make a huge difference, it's not just about bumps but movement side to side too, because B17 is far from being as comfortable.

I just got my NW Solo about a month ago (my 5th solo over 40 years). Within 15 min of purchase I had it upside down in a local lake to test inherent flotation. It confirmed my hunch that additional flotation is needed. Let the mods begin. I prefer to sit and use a footbrace for touring, with the option to kneel if things get dicey. Like you, I was not able to get my feet under in low seat position. It seems to me that the kneeling drops will likely put the seat too high for sitting. (mind you, I only tested that position on the showroom floor). So, I cut off 1" of the front and 1.5" off the back of the drops. I tested one wet exit, and I separated from the canoe easier than I thought. Give it a try. Other mods are in progress.

I'm so glad you are back in your canoe again! I'm sure it's relaxing. Love you brother!

Great review- I'm contemplating getting my first Brooks- I have heard that the springs on the Flyer "squeak" alot or occasionally depending on the surface one is riding on? Can you confirm this?

Excellent review. I wasn’t familiar with this bike. Look forward to more reviews.

I just bought a used LHT 2019 in near perfect shape, I do like it and it rides better with paniers and weight on it.

Hey Yooper I live close to Manistique, where do you ride? Great review of the Brooks Saddle.

Got vaude paniers as half the price and next day delivery on amazon compared to a few weeks for ortileb. A plus is they have more capacity

that beautiful pop is surely enjoying himself, and with all that snow its awesome, fully watched, new friend here, stay connected

One thing I dislike about the champion flyer is the springs will push the rear of the saddle upwards giving you a undesirable bow unlike a b17. I was planning on purchasing a b17 copper rails and convert it. It’s also a bit hard to tension Edit: another problem like he has is once it bows the front plate will stay straight and bc of the bow it sticks and can definitely hurt

Wouldn't a suspension seat post eliminate the seat springs? Doesn't the seat springs squeak?

Thanks for the video, just a bit sad that some ice columns are broken by visitors, I saw many parts of the ice columns' ends are flat, and they become not natural anymore. wish I could visit it one day.

Those icicles are sick, so pretty

Great review sir. Are you WISCONSIN?

Thanks for sharing your Isle Royale video.

Thanks so much for the info. I’m ordering the mirror today.

Hi….Thanks for the great review. I really like the way you mounted the mirror using the “McGiver” approach. Can you provide a bit more detail on the modification process? Did you need to cut or add to any of the mirror pieces? In particular, how did you attach the mirror “stem” to the reflector part that goes onto the handlebar? Thank you!

Your bike is awesome looking. 🚲

Cuánto es el costo de éste Sillín.

Great review! I have a 2014 700c LHT and I love it to bits. I've probably done in excess of 12,000 miles on it now and it's been absolutely faultless. I bought it originally to ride the TransAmerica in 2014 and then returned to the States in 2019 to ride the Southern Tier. The Surly is so comfortable over long distances - and the more weight you add to it, the more stable it seems to be. What has always amazed me is how well balanced the bike is - you can put a loaded pannier on any one of the quarters and it will still ride straight, with no pulling or instability. I've used Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres since day one and I've never had a puncture (although I agree the pump you have is great). I have added a dyno-hub on the front wheel which has been very useful. The Surly is so comfortable that even when not touring it is always my go-to bike, whether I'm popping down the shops or overnight camping. The only downside I've noticed is that it is beginning to develop a few spots of rust in some places so I'm considering having the frame shot-blasted and re-painted in the next year, which should give me at least another ten years of trouble-free cycling. One very quick question - what make is your swan-neck seat-posts? I've always found myself sitting a little too far back on the saddle and that post would solve the problem perfectly. Thanks again for the review of a wonderful bike! Paul, UK

Thanks a bunch. I appreciate the clear, honest review. Ride on my friend.

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Very nice. I grew up in the Hudson Valley, within view of the Shawangunk / Kittatinny Ridge and Catskills Mountains. Fall is easily the most beautiful time of year there, and it's easy to see the Yooper is no slouch either.

I inherited the same bike... black LHT. It's a wonderful bike to ride. The brakes are different. All of the painted-on 'stickers' except the ones on the front forks came off... oddly. I have a different Brooks saddle. I also have a big mirror mounted the same way.

Good

Good!