moog's Surly Straggler

I'm a bit behind the times, but not wanting to completely miss the bandwagon of widerimfattyregravelracinglighttouringbikepackingfbnpnacxdoitallcommuter bikes I've decided to build a Surly Straggler.

I ordered the frame today and will be getting the rest of it over the next few weeks, as it currently stands it will look something like this:

F&F: Surly Straggler
Wheels: Hope Tech XC - Pro 2 (19.5mm internal rim width)
Levers: Retroshift CX V
Brakes: Avid BB7's
Groupset: Shimano CX70 (46/36 with 12-32t cassette)
Bars: Salsa Cowbell 2
Other shiny bits: Mix of Hope/Thomson
Rubber bits: Surly Knard 41c (folding) for the rough stuff, 32mm Grand Bois Cypres for the smooth
FBNPNA stuff: Tubus Nova lowrider + AWOL x Poler panniers, mudguards of some description

photos will follow when the postman comes

Subscribed. Sounds lush. What sort of budget do you expect it to work out at?

Quite a large one by the looks of it, Subbed.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason you chose the Straggler over the new PX Kaffenback?

I just always wonder why you don't hear of many people opting for them.

Budget - not sure exactly but quite a bit...

@hugo7 I wanted clearance for knobbly tyres and mid fork rack mounts. Also I'm being a bit of a tart with with this one, most of the parts on the list are there because I like them rather than them being the best value/other logical reasoning.

Far enough, makes sense. Just curious.

Frame, bars and tyres arrived today, still need to order the wheels and Shimano bits. I also need to work out if the inline post is going to work and what angle/length stem I need.

The panniers should be here in a few days once I've paid the duty charge.

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I fucking love the colour. I might need to investigate one of these...

Those dropouts look really fucky, the frame looks amazing, really nice lines!

'scribed.

the build i'd so if i had the capital

I think I'm gonna be having wet dreams over that workshop area organisation tonight moog

Excellent!!!
I've got one of these and I love it!

You're going for the bits that I wanted/couldn't afford too (better wheels, retroshift) that sort of thing.

let me know how you get on with the retroshift, I'm still thinking about getting some

@nev Your Straggler helped to cement my f&f choice, really liked the look of your bike. I'm hoping I get on well with the retroshift. I tried the Tiagra shifters when I test rode the Straggler they had in Kinoko and thought they we're horrible. I've only ever ridden old 8sp Campagnolo Mirage shifters before so don't have many points of reference but I really didn't get on with the Shimano.

The Poler Stuff panniers arrived today, only a crappy phone picture at the moment.

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I just saw this Straggler

It's got me thinking about coloured cables, or is that going to take me straight to Anti?

Straight to Anti, do not pass GO, don't do it...

Depends. Looks pretty nice on that one!

Thanks!
I really like coloured cables now after seeing this;

I think the green and purple look great. and when it comes to replacing bar tape and cables next year I might have a play around in photoshop and see what looks good.
I don't get on with the Ultegra shifters I have. But for me it's more that they foul the bag on the front.

those panniers look lovely.
I went to the site and and the Specialized Awol in the pics looks cool.

It's got me thinking about coloured cables, or is that going to take me straight to Anti?

Depends. There was a cx cinelli posted in porn ages ago that had multi coloured cables - think electric wiring. I thought it looked awesome an I'd general shy away from that sort of stuff. Also it's a fun bike so I think you're allowed some bad taste bits, like you'd have on a bmx or mtb.

how did you get the panniers in the UK? poler uk shipping is insane

Awesome. I'm building up the same frame right now; I hope to have mine finished in the next week or two.

I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome of yours! :)

I got them sent to my friend in Austin, TX then he forwarded them on using USPS. $60 to post the panniers and a bunch of t-shirts and I only got hit with £20 in duty/fees (although I probably could have lied even more than I did on the customs forms and got away with paying nothing). I also had a 20% off code for the Poler shop which helped keep the price reasonable.

http://www.thebrokedownpalace.com/
These guys have a shop in Boxpark with a decent selection of Poler bags, you might be able to get them to order them in if you ask nicely? I imagine the price would be a $ for £ swap though, not sure I'd pay £150 for them...

Ive asked brokedown before if they cant order stuff in and they say 'they get what they get'

I think poler just send a job lot of random popular stuff over to the UK and it gets distributed to the dealers over here. All the poler sellers in the UK have the same stuff

That's annoying, Kinoko might be worth asking?

I can't remember the name of it but when I was looking at postage options there was a proxy service based in the US that you can get stuff delivered to and they'll forward it on the the UK for a reasonable price. They were able to combine packages from different companies too so you could get a load of stuff and split postage across all of it.