Surly Steamroller owners...

fuck 28c, go for the max size, 38c!!

A note if you got a steamroller you bought complete. I just swapped the BB on mine and it was fitted with no grease what so ever, fair bit of rust in there too.

Worth a check, if nothing else just to re-fit it with plenty grease

Is that not down to the shop who put it together for you? I would have thought the BB is not pre-installed in the frame (might be wrong though).

yep! Got a carbon post though so always thought it was that? Just put some climbers grip dust thing on it though that supposedly should stop it slipping, and so far so good

Yes. I use the standard crappy seatpost off the surly and it slips - I readjust every fortnight or so. I also had to bodge in a bolt to stop the saddle suddenly pinging front end up as I hit bumps, my bodge works well.

Is that not down to the shop who put it together for you? I would have thought the BB is not pre-installed in the frame (might be wrong though).

Could be. Got mine second hand so have no idea who put it together

Thinking of it, i should probably take a look at the headset too

a note to whomever it may concern: the rear bridge also takes a medium (long) drop caliper.

I got mine complete from BRB a year and a bit ago now and the bottom bracket seems to be holding up fine. Shame the same can't be said for the OTP chainring. Quite a few of the teeth are looking a bit haggard. So the question is, is it worth just replacing the chainring and rear sprocket or replacing the cranks as well while I'm at it?
Anybody replaced those OEM bits onto the original BB?

(I'll get a picture posted at some point)

Isn't the chainring a sugino messenger one? They seem to hold up fine for most others?

how old is your chain btw? If it has stretched a lot it'll wear the chainring and cog quicker

It's not a messenger chainring, just a "3/32" aluminum chainring. Black"
I've gone through a few chains. Currently I've an 1/8th one as LBS suggested it might last a bit longer.
The rear sprocket is a surly one, but I has a scary slack chain incident quite a while ago when the chain got jammed between the cog and the spokes. It did make a small burr in one of the teeth but I filed it out and it seemed to be fine otherwise.
However I suspect that then led to paranoid over tightening of the chain thereafter for a good number of months probably which, now I think about it answers my own question about why the front chainring is the way it is.

This is a story about a ride on a Cross Check from Washington to Maryland and back (sounds further than it is), does that count as a legitimate thread here. Ah, who cares.

http://tumblr.com/xqrigfanx

i wa sthinking of getting a cross check frame - are surly bikes genarally bad?

generally bad? where has you heard that?!

it's quite the opposite actually.

the cross check is a good choice as it's a lots more versatile than the Steamroller, especially if you want to run it geared.

well geared at first for a month ride in sumatra and then turned into a single speed after

Mmm, Sumatra. Good coffee.

There's a topic about touring in this forum, worth looking up (and some of us rode the cross check for those kind of ride).

I'd better get over there then...

I'm looking for a crew of unlikelies, everyone these days seems to be riding carbon brand news with an expression of agony written across their anguished faces. I fancy taking in the view.

i wa sthinking of getting a cross check frame - are surly bikes genarally bad?

its a great bike, heaps fun, solid build. love mine. all win.

just got back from a weekend in the new forest.
swapped out the road tyres for some 35mm cross tyres. the clearances are so tight.
what a fucking blast.
fixed off road is amazing although only having the front brake was sketchy on some of the steep downhills.
skids all over the place.
it just works whatever you chuck at it.
i love my steamroller even more now.

The originals have come off.

I ve tried some Deda Velocita's ; a great bar but not really suited for the road.

Any advice on what works well , I ll be using hoods and not top levers btw

Shallow drop bar work the best, short reach to hood, and a shallower drop to make riding on the drop more comfortable;

The other option is the classic shape randonnees handlebar like the Nitto Noodle bar which have a curve on the flat section, those were very popular for cyclotourists back in the day and still are despite the advance in handlebar design (like the shallow drop one above);

You can find out more choices by checking this topic out;

http://www.lfgss.com/thread50428.html

its a great bike, heaps fun, solid build. love mine. all win.

Just finished my first century ride over here in Washington. 105.77 miles of 'rails to trails' ergo: no dramas with hills, so it's a bit of a cheating 100. Crosscheck acquitted itself with dignity.

pics here: http://www.netgoose.co.uk/Century/

1. Dawn beside the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC
   
2. Sunrise over the Potomac River, from Virginia side
   
3. These are the kinds of cyclepaths they have, it inspires an ugly jealousy
   
4. Start of the 45mile trail to Purcellville, I'd ridden 6 miles to get there (all bike path)
   
5. Even the bike paths have lane dividers, so civilized
   
6. Rumble strips ahead of a road crossing
   
7. Mile markers every half mile
   8-10 Purcellville Town (end of the trail)
   
8. Yer average American at Breakfast on a Sunday morning
   
9. Breakfast: earned
   13-14. Purcellville Family Restaurant
   
10. Start of the return ride
    16-17 Old Ford pick up in matching brown
    
11. Latte stop at a strange garage-cafe in Vienna Town, 15 miles from the end
    19-20 The 100.
    
12. Supper: earned
    

I need a crosscheck in my life, which chances are will force me to have to sell my steamroller. lacking space and cash is rubbish.

this is still undecided, but if anyone is after a black 56cm steamroller in really excellent condition let me know. it's pretty much standard apart from a miche advanced crankset - £575 would probably prize it away from me.

Is that not down to the shop who put it together for you? I would have thought the BB is not pre-installed in the frame (might be wrong though).

Nope otp's always come with BB's installed. At most you'll get them out of the box have to put brakes and pedals on them and square up the seat/seatpost, stem/bars.

The rpm BB on my surly was pretty shite, lasted less than a year.

I am loving the look of breakfast as Purcellville!

Can't wait to visit the US again - actually I have to. Haven't had the $ to go for a few years. Aiming to spend August 2011 in Oregon with Mrs ShannonBall's family.

Just finished my first century ride over here in Washington. 105.77 miles of 'rails to trails' ergo: no dramas with hills, so it's a bit of a cheating 100. Crosscheck acquitted itself with dignity.

pics here: http://www.netgoose.co.uk/Century/

1. Dawn beside the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC
   
2. Sunrise over the Potomac River, from Virginia side
   
3. These are the kinds of cyclepaths they have, it inspires an ugly jealousy
   
4. Start of the 45mile trail to Purcellville, I'd ridden 6 miles to get there (all bike path)
   
5. Even the bike paths have lane dividers, so civilized
   
6. Rumble strips ahead of a road crossing
   
7. Mile markers every half mile
   8-10 Purcellville Town (end of the trail)
   
8. Yer average American at Breakfast on a Sunday morning
   
9. Breakfast: earned
   13-14. Purcellville Family Restaurant
   
10. Start of the return ride
    16-17 Old Ford pick up in matching brown
    
11. Latte stop at a strange garage-cafe in Vienna Town, 15 miles from the end
    19-20 The 100.
    
12. Supper: earned