• So, I've been feeling that my poor old Surly has been taking itself a little too seriously lately which has resulted in it staying in the garage and the Kona coming out more often.

    I strapped a drybag to the Tiramisu bars and went a good long ride a few weeks ago

    http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/mechanikal_vandal/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6ed74c36.jpg

    but since then I'd fitted a rear Crud Catcher (the original one with the alloy stays) and it was starting to get too functional if that's possible. If I was just going out for a spin in the woods I'd definitely been favouring the Kona.

    Now, I love the Kona too but the Surly is just that little bit more special for me so I want to make sure it gets as much use as possible. Like I said in the OP I'd wanted one for a while, since seeing it in the Surly catalogue I picked up when buying a Singleator (in Alpine bikes or at least I think it was still called that back then, pre Tiso takeover on Gt Western road proper).

    Surly posted this recently and that photo of the 1x1 took me back to seeing it in the catalogue years ago.

    http://surlybikes.com//uploads/blog/1999_2.jpg

    Don't worry, I'm not planning a super anal Retrobikes-esque restoration to catalogue spec (if only because that'd leave the rear canti cable bridge unused and I can't abide unused canti cable bridges!) but I have just bagged myself an old Nitto made 1x1 Torsion bar on eBay.

    http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Surly-1x1-Torsion-Bar-Handle-Bar-Chromoly-Made-By-Nitto-25-4mm-Silver-666mm-/00/s/NjY3WDEwMDA=/z/lMMAAOxyjxlTNf-o/$_12.JPG

    http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Surly-1x1-Torsion-Bar-Handle-Bar-Chromoly-Made-By-Nitto-25-4mm-Silver-666mm-/00/s/NjY3WDEwMDA=/z/wZQAAOxydUJTNf-l/$_12.JPG

    I've also been on a used Thomson stem buying spree recently (4 in as many days) so I'll be playing about with a few lengths and angles to see what suits/fits best.

    The Control Tech stem and Midges have been shipped over to the Kona but as that was running the HS33 up front I need another canti to get that all working together.

    Next decision is whether to keep the ATACs on the Surly or swap with the DX flats that are on the Kona, I've been liking them the last few times I've been out.

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