Should I Convert Surly Steamroller to Gear Bike UPDATED

Should I Convert Surly Steamroller to Gear Bike

A long while back I met the lovely lady who would somewhen agree to bind our fortunes and fates to pursue a life together. Luckily for you this story has zip to practise with that. Except for the fact that before long subsequently we met I helped her pick upwardly a new cycle. Information technology was a "fixed gear" that a friend at a local bike shop had assembled for her from a refurbished frame and used parts. I rode bikes a off-white amount but had no thought what this "fixed gear" thing was all about. I did a little research and became intrigued.

At present this was before those things blew up all over the place and seemed to be bachelor everywhere. If you lot wanted a stock-still gear simply didn't want to pay the toll for a legit track wheel you lot had to become artistic and put it together yourself. I got myself over to the same store where my partner in criminal offense had gone. I roughshod in love with a faded pink Shogun route frame and fork. It was my size. It already had a bottom bracket and crankset installed. I bought it for $25.

Saying that $25 was well spent would be an understatement. For less than the cost of 3 good pints and an honest homo's tip, I was non only hooked on riding fixed but also turned on to the whole unmarried-speed thing.

That Shogun fixie became my main ride. I eventually added fenders and a rack. I commuted thousands of miles year-round on that bike. Information technology served me well until I T-boned a steel fence stake one night while cutting through a construction zone. That left my fork bent and downtube crinkled. Fortunately, my skilful friends, Tuck and Curlicue, helped me up and brushed me off. I was remarkably unscathed, but the frame was toast.

By that time I had begun working at QBP, the parent company of Surly. Instead of seeking out another old road frame I got a Steamroller frame and built it up. I loved it. Only in that location was too much static acquired past working at a big bicycle toy shop. In that location were race bicycle projects. (Yep, I used to do that.) At that place was my first Cross-Check (some other life altering experience). There were mountain bikes. There were all manner of shiny new rigs – many with gears, that is – to distract me.

I'grand not going to lie. I missed that old Shogun fixed gear with its more laid-back geometry, rack, and fenders. Perhaps out of nostalgia I built a fixed-gear Cross-Bank check. My Steamroller got stripped for parts and the frame was bartered to a co-worker. I'll be the showtime to say the Cross-Check makes a damn fine fixie/single-speed. But it's no Steamroller.

Too picayune maintenance over the course of too many winters relegated that Cantankerous-Cheque to the rebuild rack. It'due south embarrassing to admit that rebuild has taken more than two years. In office because during that time along came Krampus, Straggler, and Water ice Foam Truck to keep me sidetracked in my explorations. And I'm no less happy a person for those distractions. Mostly.

When I saw this newest Steamroller complete coming along though, something clicked. It was time to get dorsum to basics. Fourth dimension to write a letter to an one-time friend. I was ready, once more, to have a bicycle that isn't outfitted with frame bags, racks, and all the other fun entrapments that adorn the bulk of my other rigs like Straggler.

Indeed it was time to get back to basics, then I got a Steamroller complete.

I fabricated a few changes to the stock build while assembling this new bike. I will point out just a few. One of the reasons we spec our bikes the way we practise is that we celebrate Surly owners putting their ain special mark on their personal rides. Every bit many of yous know the heaven is the limit when it comes to customizing a wheel. Our stock bikes are a solid foundation of durability and utility for y'all to build upon as you come across fit.

Just get-go, about people never become to see how their Surly bike arrives at their local wheel store. It'southward not all that spectacular unless you actually like paper-thin boxes. However, I am a fan of the new logo that is screened on our bike and frame boxes. It used to be a evidently block font. In fact, yous might see cycle box cutouts transformed into signs at your local bicycle shop!

Once the box is opened something resembling this mass emerges. It takes a little unraveling. The point is to prevent damage during the long journey our bikes make to your local shop. Every bit you lot can run across information technology's a long way from "ready to ride."

Note that forks do not come up installed on our bikes. The steerer tubes are left uncut so the stack pinnacle can be dialed in for optimum fit. Nosotros've been doing this for over five years now.

In addition, some other assembly is required including headsets, cablevision routing, brakes, and derailleur adjustments. Your local cycle store has done a lot by the time you take possession of your shiny new Surly. Tip them a 6-pack won't you?

Here is the finished bike. (Basement mess not included with buy.)

I substituted some parts while assembling the cycle. Outset and foremost I "fixed" it past removing the stock freewheel and utilizing the other side of the flip-bomb hub shell to install a track cog and lockring. That does not come with the Steamroller complete simply it's an easy enough conversion.

I'thousand a Brooks fan, so I opted to switch out our stock saddle and grips. I'chiliad an Open Bar fan, too, after having ridden them on a Karate Monkey for years. I substituted one of these for our stock apartment bar. The hand position is comfy and the rising dials in the fit nicely. Subsequently, if I modify my heed, I can always change the bars back. Pretty absurd how that works.

Pro Tip: Component changes like these are something your local Bearish dealer will be happy to discuss with you lot!

I'd ridden less than a hundred feet on this new bike when information technology hit me why I'd missed it so. I'm not going to get all sappy on y'all. But I have to say one affair. It's about the silence. At that place's no drivetrain noise. No noise at all save for the subtle hum of 32c tires on pavement. No clicking shifters. No reeling sounds. No dangly bits. No baggage.

Just a rider on my bike going anywhere I want to go.

Happy pedaling, folks.

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Should I Convert Surly Steamroller to Gear Bike UPDATED

Posted by: barryabsom1991.blogspot.com