Nev's Surly Straggler

Is that a 54? My cross check is 56 and Scoble has put doubt in my mind about whether I need a 54. I have a 55/56 top tube on my other bikes. Hopefully the stretch won't seem so bad when I have a pannier on rather than a bag.

Mines a 56, I was initially going to go for a 58 but thank god I didn't. I suppose the benefit of having it a little longer is that if I ever want to I can put flat bars on it easily.

Yeah, it does look like that! They're SKS extra wide ones, so look a bit odd with the 28 tyres. When I've been paid I'm getting some 32c Paselas I think, so should look a bit more 'compact'.

Also ordered a Tortec Expedition to move to panniers as arriving at meetings with a sweaty back isn't a strong look!

Looking at that picture makes me glad to be out of London. I have to commute 10 miles each way twice a week to visit a pupil off site and it's 10 miles of countryside!

Mines a 56, I was initially going to go for a 58 but thank god I didn't. I suppose the benefit of having it a little longer is that if I ever want to I can put flat bars on it easily.

That's my thinking as well. I think the headtube's relatively slack angle helps with getting a good position as well, as adding spacers below makes the bars move a lot closer.

That's my thinking as well. I think the headtube's relatively slack angle helps with getting a good position as well, as adding spacers below makes the bars move a lot closer.

I hadn't thought of that, but you're quite right!
The first bit of my commute is through Richmond park, so feels like the countryside which I love, then i'm thrown into the shite that is barnes-hammersmith-kennsington-soho!

Talk to me about the Chrome bag Nev, why that one? is it too big or just right and how easy is it to take on and off?

I had one made for me by ILE and it was floored in design so i ended up selling it. Does yours have a shoulder strap and how's it feel off the bike. Many questions i know......sweet looking ride !

That's my thinking as well. I think the headtube's relatively slack angle helps with getting a good position as well, as adding spacers below makes the bars move a lot closer.

Head tube angle play very little roles in reach, seat tube does.

Talk to me about the Chrome bag Nev, why that one? is it too big or just right and how easy is it to take on and off?

I had one made for me by ILE and it was floored in design so i ended up selling it. Does yours have a shoulder strap and how's it feel off the bike. Many questions i know......sweet looking ride !

Right, well first off I love it. it's totally waterproof, easy to get in and out of. and importantly it's stylish.
one of the reasons I got it is because it looks nice off the bike, I hate walking around town with a pannier.
The size is great, it's easy to compress quite small and also goes pretty big.

The downsides are; it's basically just a sack, so no internal pockets.
and i wouldn't mind having a pocket on the exterior on the back. Just to put phone and keys and wallet in.

It's definitely not as quick to get on and off as a pannier, but once you get used to it it's quick enough.

so, all in all it's a winner!

Head tube angle play very little roles in reach, seat tube does.

And the seat tube angle on this is much slacker than my previous bike!

Head tube angle play very little roles in reach, seat tube does.

Might be being really stupid here, but can you explain this? Surely if the head tube is slacker then ever mm up the steerer is going to be a larger fraction of a mm closer to your face than on a tighter head tube angle.
Is that not changing reach? As I say, I might be being an idiot but from a purely mathematical standpoint that would make sense.

Might be being really stupid here, but can you explain this? Surely if the head tube is slacker then ever mm up the steerer is going to be a larger fraction of a mm closer to your face than on a tighter head tube angle.
Is that not changing reach? As I say, I might be being an idiot but from a purely mathematical standpoint that would make sense.

you've been scobled.
when designing bike geometry seat tube angle will influence on reach more than head tube angle.
when setting up an existing bike with the saddle position given by your leg length you're right.

Some great bikes in this thread. Like that black Straggler.

Talk to me about the Chrome bag Nev, why that one? is it too big or just right and how easy is it to take on and off?

I had one made for me by ILE and it was floored in design so i ended up selling it. Does yours have a shoulder strap and how's it feel off the bike. Many questions i know......sweet looking ride !

What didn't you like about the ILE? I like mine but it could do with a shoulder strap, I might ask them to make one

JV i fount the ILE one bothered me with the lid/flap thing. I didn't like how narrow it was and the idea of a waterproof zip but not lining the pocket kinda dumb!

Really that was about it but it bugged me, oh and the pockets at the back kept rolling up on the corners as though stitched too close to the edge or something.

I like Chrome one but reckon it's just too big plus no shoulder strap is a deal breaker.

Have you seen that trick about using brake noodles to vary how the cable sits, in terms of them fouling your bag.

That colour really looks good, much prefer it to black.

I'm planning on building up a Straggler and am a stuck between choosing the 56 and 58. Seems to me like the Straggler runs a size bigger than the Cross Check, but I spoke with Surly and they told me this wasn't the case. It's got me baffled.

Nev, if you don't mind answering, how tall are you and what's your cycling inseam? Do you find the 56 fits well? I also like higher dropbars and my bar and seat height about the same.

Thanks.

^they have a built up straggler in kinoko maybe you can try it for size?

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm in Latvia. No Surly dealer here.

Have you seen that trick about using brake noodles to vary how the cable sits, in terms of them fouling your bag.

That colour really looks good, much prefer it to black.

Yep I love the colour too! it's not the cables so much as the gear action of the brake lever when it's pushed in to shift up.

I'm planning on building up a Straggler and am a stuck between choosing the 56 and 58. Seems to me like the Straggler runs a size bigger than the Cross Check, but I spoke with Surly and they told me this wasn't the case. It's got me baffled.

Nev, if you don't mind answering, how tall are you and what's your cycling inseam? Do you find the 56 fits well? I also like higher dropbars and my bar and seat height about the same.

Thanks.

Hi, i'm 181cm. I don't know what my inseam measures but i think i'm pretty much average. I'd have to have a really long back to warrant the 58cm I think.

After a few weeks of using the bike now I love it generally. a few little tweeks here and there, but it's pretty much perfect for what I want.

Thanks for the info. Nev. As we are almost the same height, and both like our bars high, could you please answer one more question for me? This is the one I can't seem to find the answer to anywhere; what's the length between the seat (center where the seatpost is) and the center of the bars? Thanks if you are able to measure it, and no worries if you can't.

Hi, I'll measure it tonight for you. but as a rough idea, the measurements are 56cm top tube and I think my stem is 10cm. So 66cm from the centre of the seat tube to the centre of my bars. Obviously the effective length will be longer because of the seat tube angle and amount of seat tube showing.

Thanks for the help. I'm interested in from the actual saddle at riding position. (from the top of the saddle where it meets the post.)