Surly Steamroller owners...

^ gorgeous. groovy silver hubs too, a very pleasing touch.

My bikes are like my mates. This one's, one of my best friends.sad-o

I know exactly what you mean. Since getting mine I've sold my other 2 bikes as they just wern't getting a look in.

Put 120mm of Kore stem on mine the other day, slipped the saddle back on the rails (thanks Velo) and it rides like a different bike now.

Anyone need an oversized 65mm/70mm long Easton Vice stem ? cheap-cheap.

I'll take it, how muchy?

Are they Phils on there Shins?
I will echo your sentiment toward the Steamroller - my Creamroller has been phenomenal so far this winter. With the right setup, its an all year round whip.

Should really get in on this.

I've had the same roller for around 5 years. It's battered & bruised, dented, the rear end crushed and coldset, has been repainted once, had a drill taken to it on two different occasions. Travelled all over for polo, I've hit the thing with mallets, crashed it into walls & people, off drops and into a river, ridden it up and over plenty of dales, had fiddy try to maim it on the way to Brighton. Day in, day out and in all weather. The components have been changed more times than I can remember. The forks were replaced for Carbon, then for handsome dogs and are now something different once again. Run it with GI's from 41-87. Braked, brakeless, rear brake only. On and off road. It's been my only bike, my pretty bike, the beater, the workhorse, now it's just old faithful. The seatpost has been seized in place for over a year. It has seen a snapped crank, trashed wheels, disintegrating headsets. All manner of handle bar setups. It's been past its intended use and I'm amazed it's still going.

I'd include a photograph but that would cheapen this. Any picture would be just a phase in the existence of my bike. It would never capture the true beauty of her.

The best thing about Monika, Ms Roller to you, is that the fucking thing still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it.

If you have ever been in doubt as to whether you should buy a steamroller. Stop. Buy the frameset and build it with whatever. You'll end up with a great bike.

If you had photographs of every incarnation you could morph them together in a video. Like in adverts when one face changes to another, and another...

That could actually be worth a trawl at some point. I'd dearly love to get back in contact with Surly with a history of the bike. A thanks more than anything.

Good post, Object.

I feel the same way about mine and I've only had it 4 months.

A great post, Object.
A pleasure to read.

+1. It's great to hear the love a steamoroller can bring out.

I know exactly what you mean. Since getting mine I've sold my other 2 bikes as they just wern't getting a look in.

My surly was my first fixie, I could quite happily give up the others for it. Apart from my polo bike of course.

Are they Phils on there Shins?
I will echo your sentiment toward the Steamroller - my Creamroller has been phenomenal so far this winter. With the right setup, its an all year round whip.

yeah they are phils didnt think i was ever gonna put phils on that bike but it came to the point where i didnt want to buy another shit hub on that bike.

Should really get in on this.

I've had the same roller for around 5 years. It's battered & bruised, dented, the rear end crushed and coldset, has been repainted once, had a drill taken to it on two different occasions. Travelled all over for polo, I've hit the thing with mallets, crashed it into walls & people, off drops and into a river, ridden it up and over plenty of dales, had fiddy try to maim it on the way to Brighton. Day in, day out and in all weather. The components have been changed more times than I can remember. The forks were replaced for Carbon, then for handsome dogs and are now something different once again. Run it with GI's from 41-87. Braked, brakeless, rear brake only. On and off road. It's been my only bike, my pretty bike, the beater, the workhorse, now it's just old faithful. The seatpost has been seized in place for over a year. It has seen a snapped crank, trashed wheels, disintegrating headsets. All manner of handle bar setups. It's been past its intended use and I'm amazed it's still going.

I'd include a photograph but that would cheapen this. Any picture would be just a phase in the existence of my bike. It would never capture the true beauty of her.

The best thing about Monika, Ms Roller to you, is that the fucking thing still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it.

If you have ever been in doubt as to whether you should buy a steamroller. Stop. Buy the frameset and build it with whatever. You'll end up with a great bike.

I genuinely believe that only a steamroller can give you this much.

I rode to all sorts of places on mine from cambridge, coast of norfolk, southend and exeter. I wouldnt trade mine for anything.

Good post, Object.

I feel the same way about mine and I've only had it 4 months.

still, you do slap it around a bit ;)

not much changed, but i have to...

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... EDIT...

I rode to all sorts of places on mine from cambridge, coast of norfolk, southend and exeter. I wouldnt trade mine for anything.

Exeter? EXETER? You rode it from Cambridge to Exeter? That's 225 miles avoiding motorways. I'm impressed.

ha no from london... http://www.lfgss.com/thread9761.html

Should really get in on this.

I've had the same roller for around 5 years. It's battered & bruised, dented, the rear end crushed and coldset, has been repainted once, had a drill taken to it on two different occasions. Travelled all over for polo, I've hit the thing with mallets, crashed it into walls & people, off drops and into a river, ridden it up and over plenty of dales, had fiddy try to maim it on the way to Brighton. Day in, day out and in all weather. The components have been changed more times than I can remember. The forks were replaced for Carbon, then for handsome dogs and are now something different once again. Run it with GI's from 41-87. Braked, brakeless, rear brake only. On and off road. It's been my only bike, my pretty bike, the beater, the workhorse, now it's just old faithful. The seatpost has been seized in place for over a year. It has seen a snapped crank, trashed wheels, disintegrating headsets. All manner of handle bar setups. It's been past its intended use and I'm amazed it's still going.

I'd include a photograph but that would cheapen this. Any picture would be just a phase in the existence of my bike. It would never capture the true beauty of her.

The best thing about Monika, Ms Roller to you, is that the fucking thing still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it.

If you have ever been in doubt as to whether you should buy a steamroller. Stop. Buy the frameset and build it with whatever. You'll end up with a great bike.

You sir have convinced me. Just rebuilding my fixed at the moment with an old chas roberts frame. However, the second that space and money allow i will give my lht a stable-mate and flog the old precious frame.
Thank you for such a well written and informative post.

You're welcome.

I wouldnt trade mine for anything.

One million dollar?

I have had my steamroller for about my otp steamroller for 18 months now and i am about to make my first upgrade - a pair of wheels. I was thinking Gran Compes on cxp33. what say y'all

cxp33 FTW

i am considering my next upgrade for wheels also. currently rocking formula to open sports. thinking the only proper upgrade would be phils to cxp 33, but, whilst being fucking lush, makes little sense having a wheelset worth as much as the frame, on a bike that i just rag around. i mean, sure, if stuff gets nicked now its gutting, but its fucking formula to open sport, hardly anything to cry over. but phil to cxp 33? that shit would be upsetting.

I went for 319 rim on the back with a cxp33 up front. The 319 replaced a tacoed wheel I inadvertently bought. It's nowt fancy, big sturdy touring rim, good for fatties if you want them. Great in London for a big lump like me.
Is it OK to mix rims like this I wonder?

Depends on your OCDs. I can't even mix tyres.

i am considering my next upgrade for wheels also. currently rocking formula to open sports. thinking the only proper upgrade would be phils to cxp 33, but, whilst being fucking lush, makes little sense having a wheelset worth as much as the frame, on a bike that i just rag around. i mean, sure, if stuff gets nicked now its gutting, but its fucking formula to open sport, hardly anything to cry over. but phil to cxp 33? that shit would be upsetting.

Why? I'd say wheels are just as important if not more important than the frame. On my old bike the wheels cost 3x the value of the frame. That was probably a little extreme but if you are skimping I don't think wheels should be the area to do it. Not that I'm saying formula on open sports are a bad wheelset and need replacing.

@jaygee: I'm pretty good on this count. There's no noticeable difference, just a small decal removed from the rear so it looks exactly the same as the front unless you look really REALLY hard.

I got a bad rep a while back on a ride when it was noticed that the tyre decals and rim decals lined up on both wheels, someone thought that was OCD. I think it's just a matter of aesthetics, nothing obsessive at all. To do anything else would be just plain tardy.
However, I do line the mugs up, with handles pointed in, and colours matching at home. My missus gets very jittery when I put-away.

@moog, I couldn't agree more. The frame is just one part of a bike. I would have to, because my Steamroller is hopelessly over specced.

Hippy regularly fails bikes in the porn thread for not having the logos lined up with the valve caps. Not OCD apparently, it is an old mechanic's trick.

Rims should NEVER have decals on them! ; )