Surly Bike Owners

Nice, got some of those on the way!

It’s a nelson I think.

It’s not light. Unscientific bathroom scale measuring puts it at 12.4kg. I suspect the rim brakes have saved a few grams over discs but otherwise no thought has been given to weight in the build.

Fit wise, I was surprised how large the 56cm feels (having had a 56cm steamroller before). It certainly feels a touch more upright. Never had a CC to compare with though.

Those bars must be wide, I used to have a nelson upfront with 46 venture max bars and still wasn't quite enough to fully fill the pockets.
Frontal shot?

Not my photo, but this is from the back. They are 54cm (I think) Nitto Gravel bars. By far my favourite part of the build, they feel just right.

Very difficult to find silver wide bars outside Crust. Not sure there is much else out there?

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Beautiful. Very obviously different tread on the front and rear tyres. Forgive my ignorance - what's the thinking behind that?

Mostly just Instagram points...

If I was planning to spend most of my time on tarmac I’d have gone both smooth and if all bridlepath/gravel I’d have gone both more aggressive tread. As it’ll be a mix of both this seems to work. Supposedly the same logic as all those 90s bmxs that ran a smooth rear tyre for speed and a knobbly front for more traction when cornering. Have found the back a little slippy if I’m careless on gravel.

there is something very special, almost romantic, about downtube shifters- lovely Pack Rat build

6 months together and it keeps on giving

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Looks great - long live the Straggler!

Who has a Bridge Club and what's your thoughts.

Clean!

Surly Cross check Switched to some kind of single speed/fixed rando machine.

Still looking for some better cages, a 90mm ritchey stem instead of the 110 that’s on there and a nice silver rack for my bigxtop bag. The klickfix mount is just too ugly.

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Went from a triple to 1(ish)x on the Troll as the clamp for the child seat was fucking with the front derailleur cable (kept the granny ring on for emergencies - figure I can just manually chuck the chain down a ring should I need to). Just took it out for a dash around the lumps and bumps and nettle patches of Hollow Ponds. Fucking love this bike.

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a nice silver rack

@hp93 mentioned he had one for sale in another thread...

Thanks for the tip, but I am after something a bit smaller, mounted to mid fork or canti studs. Just not the Surly 8 pack rack because its hideous!

Quick Q: I've got a steamroller with 650b wheels, I want to put mudguards on it. I really like the look of the PDW 650 beasts - caveat is they say they're are designed for 650b bikes - presumably means they're not going to be ideal for a 700c steamroller regarless of wheel size. Any thoughts, or alternatives? I'd like something for around 42c tyres - little more if poss

You might have to find a way to extend the brake-bridge attachment and space the guard out from the chainstay bridge, shouldn't be too hard.

Would the better solution be to just get 700c guards at the appropriate width? or will it just be gappy?

I’d imagine the stays will be long enough, if you spaced out from the BB you should be able to get it to fit with enough fiddling. I’d go for Giles Berthoud / Velo Orange guards, last time I checked the PDW were almost £100 new?

I went the other way and fitted 650 guards to a 26” Long Haul Trucker.

Depends what size tyres you’re running (assuming big hence the conversion) but a 650 wheel + 40ish tyre is equiv to 700c so could fit 700 guards and use with 700 in future if you’re bored of the smaller wheel?

Went from a triple to 1(ish)x on the Troll as the clamp for the child seat was fucking with the front derailleur cable (kept the granny ring on for emergencies - figure I can just manually chuck the chain down a ring should I need to). Just took it out for a dash around the lumps and bumps and nettle patches of Hollow Ponds. Fucking love this bike.

I'm loving how many bikes I'm seeing on these boards with Yepp adapters. You all grow up so fast!

So, opinions on the pack rat please, thinking 50cm frame and move all the bits from the mountain bike and commute, child pull, shop etc and use the roller for fun and commute, also considering crosscheck but then it would be one bike for all, thoughts please

Anyone have a 700c straggler fork they are looking to sell? Not concerned about condition

I don’t think it’s been a big seller for surly, but not sure why... maybe the front rack thing went out of fashion.. or just too expensive for what it is

650b rim brake didn't help to take it as a frame build.

It’s basically a smaller wheeled cross check that handles a front load better. I have not found it to handle weirdly without a front load either.

Plusses for the pack rat would be better handling of front load, less toe overlap (esp in small sizes) and better tire clearance, a la:

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