Surly Steamroller owners...

I run 28c tyres and spd's, never had a pedal strike issue, can see how it could be an issue with large platform pedals tho

Of course you can get used to it! But sometimes I just like to ride aggressive and feel the limits of the frame! It´s a shame because otherwise the bike feels just right for me :) Maybe I will build up another more trackish frame and use the Steamroller for what is is meant to be used: as an on- and offroad singlespeed/fixed-gear bike

trackish frame and use the Steamroller for what is is meant to be used: as an on- and offroad singlespeed/fixed-gear bike

Exactly why i want to build another, wont be limited by what i can ride on.

Ive checked several carbon forks but havent found one with a reasonable price and a 375mm axle-to-crown distance yet. Any suggestions?

I ran these on my 'roller for 6 months, they are specced at 375mm and are certainly cheap at £65! I got a 28c tyre in there, just.

http://www.rockandrollbikes.com/road/bikes-frames/forks/guess-carbon-road-st-forks-700c.html

On my roller:

Thanks for the information! How did them forks compare to the stock ones when you switched over?

I bought the bike off ebay and it was a funny mix of bits, a bit like a pseudo-FGFS. It had a BMW Cluster fork on it, which weighed 1.6KG! so I was keen to remove that and find something better. The carbon fork was a fun option and I was glad I did it, but unfortunately I cannot compare it to the stock ones. I've since swapped most of the bits onto a CrossCheck and I no longer have the Steamroller, so the best comparison I could offer would be with the stock CrossCheck fork, but I'm not sure that's worth much cos obviously the frame is quite different, plus I went from 53cm to 56cm. FWIW it was a good ride, it felt very nimble, so I would recommend it!

Thank you! I am still confused as some people say less rake means more nimbleness while others say more rake results in easier steering.

Anyway, I will test my new pedals soon and will decide to either buy a carbon fork and pimp the Steamroller to the maximum or buy another track frame and use the Steamroller as an everyday commuter. Both decisions have its advantages :)

I bought the bike off ebay and it was a funny mix of bits, a bit like a pseudo-FGFS. It had a BMW Cluster fork on it, which weighed 1.6KG!

It's closer to 1.2kg rather.

ahh it was the v1 rather than the v2, but I'm still a bit guilty of exaggeration; according to this -- http://brooklynmachineworks.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/clusterfork.html -- it should have been 1360g, but by the time I weighed it I am sure it came it at more - maybe I am remembering the total packaged weight by the time I had it parcelled up for posting.

Anyway, Ed, funny you're here, because I was going to try to begin to discuss the relationship between rake, trail and head angle to try to explain to Kallzer a bit about why the relationship between 'nimble' and fork rake is confusing, but I was a bit worried to try because I am sure more people on this forum know it better than me... on that note, you posted a diagram a while ago that was the first time I'd come across some of the subtleties. Plus, Kallzer, no doubt further confusion arises from subjective opinions of what people mean by "easy" steering!

My take on it:

The key measurement has to be "trail", which is the distance between where the steering axis intercepts the ground and where the front wheel is actually on the ground.

Bigger trail -> "less nimble" steering -> bike is more likely to want to go in a straight line -> "easier" steering

Smaller trail -> "more nimble" steering -> bike is less likely to want to go straight line -> "harder" steering

(deliberate quotes around less/more easier/harder - I think that is where it gets subjective)

The odd thing is, increasing the rake of a fork, which you'd think would make a bike more stable/less nimble will often decrease trail and so make your bike more nimble! but sometimes depending on the design of the fork relative to the headtube angle, increasing rake might conversely increase trail, so so make your bike less nimble.

The diagrams Ed posted made this really obvious and helped me get my head around it.

Otherwise maybe this will help (linked from Sheldon) (and from where I quoted the definition of trail, above) -

http://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/trail.html

It could well be possible that the stock Steamroller fork (versus the Guess fork I used) has more rake (reduces trail) but is longer, so creates a slacker head tube angle (increases trail) ... so overall perhaps the two forks end up pretty similar...

This explains it well;

http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2007/5/4/trail-fork-rake-and-a-little-bit-of-history.html

And as I said earlier, the differences really are marginal and not worth worrying about. If you notice it at all it will only be for 10 minutes.

Rode the roller to work today, after it being off the road for about a month - still lovin it. There is enough of a difference between the roller and CC to justify having both!

When you can justify having an extra bike, life is good.

If anyone happens to find a Steamroller complete setup for less than £450, please let me know!

http://activesport.co.uk/shop/article_293-026/Surly-Steamroller-Complete-bike.html?pse=coa

49cm only.

http://activesport.co.uk/shop/article_293-026/Surly-Steamroller-Complete-bike.html?pse=coa

Appreciate it. That's the place I saw.

What about F&F only? £319 on that site.

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Does anyone have any Surly Steamroller white decals. Mr stupid here only went and ordered some black ones from Jenson USA. #idiot

black on black with a white outline would look proper boss!

black on black with a white outline would look proper boss!

You know what Apollo. Gonna stick these down and see how they look.

This thread being at the top again reminds me that I meant to ask which one of you bastards got this frame over me. I'd had my eye on it all week long!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190884076604?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

Pretty sure I posted on here before but thought I'd add again:
Had a crash at the end of July on my Steamroller so decided to get the majority of the planned finishing done to it (custom decals, paint job, a few new parts). Can't wait till it's done, but in the meantime a photo in it's fixed gear state prior to the paint job.

Wanted 49CM Steamroller frame

I'm after one that is in good nick, paint can be chipped but no dents/dings. Any colour. Forks not necessary but will buy whole frameset if needs be. PM me if you have anything that suits.

I took the plunge and bought a ' roller. What a super ride especially with 32mm
marathon tyres - like sitting in an armchair.
The only problem was a sliding seatpost - any forumongers experiencing a similar problem?

clic the pic 4 moar

changing the stem to a silver X2 asap

easton EC70 riser and racing ralphs for the winter.