In some unspecified time in the future I can’t keep in mind when, somebody I can’t keep in mind who requested if I used to be going to touch upon the brand new Surly Straggler:
Properly, I don’t even know something in regards to the outdated Surly Straggler, not to mention the brand new one, however I did watch their irreverent video:
Then I learn an article about it:
It actually looks as if a enjoyable, versatile, and simple bike, which is what you anticipate from Surly, however sadly I’ve reached the purpose in my life the place I can’t respect any of that and as an alternative simply marvel in any respect the stuff that’s disappearing eternally, like quick-release axles:
Tyre clearance is upped from 42mm to 50mm. Surly has achieved the inevitable and transformed from 100mm entrance/135mm rear quick-release dropouts to 100mm/142mm 12mm-diameter thru-axles.
Sure, I do know it’s lengthy been over for the short launch and no person cares, nevertheless it nonetheless amazes me. At some point you’ll inform your children about the right way to take away a bicycle wheel all you needed to do was flip a lever and it popped proper out they usually received’t consider you. It appears too good to have ever been true, like these outdated photographs of children enjoying stickball in the course of the road and doing swan-dives into the East River.
And naturally Surly have added compatibility with stuff like dropper posts and gravel suspension forks, which little doubt it’s essential do in an effort to promote a motorcycle like this in 2025, however being outdated and cranky I can also’t consider the biking world has accepted these large headtubes:
The Straggler nonetheless comes with a metal fork as normal, however the 44mm non-tapered head tube opens the choice to suit a carbon fork or a gravel suspension fork.
Look, I do know it’s a Surly and never some fancy customized, however even the budget-conscious metal bicycle rider shouldn’t be pressured to reside with the “skipping leg day” look:
I suppose the aesthetics shortly power you to improve.
Hey, what would you like from me? I miss the outdated Surlys, and studying in regards to the new Straggler simply made me wish to examine these as an alternative. So I retreated to the 2007 catalog, since that’s the 12 months I began this silly weblog. After all there was the Cross-Verify:
Which was after all killed by “progress:”
Gross.
Then there was the Pacer:
Positive, I’ll settle for it could have been a shedding proposition for Surly to maintain promoting a dirt-oriented bike with rim brakes in 2025. However the full disappearance of the no-frills rim-brake highway body (with bonus fender mounts!) is difficult for me to reconcile. That must be a staple. It’s like if Heinz discontinued common ketchup and solely provided the spicy flavors:
Positive, I suppose there are sufficient steel highway bike frames on the used market to maintain the subsequent 5 generations, nevertheless it nonetheless looks as if a internet loss for humanity.
And the way about that Karate Monkey?!?
Keep in mind when there have been mountain bikes that took both rim brakes or disc brakes? That was wonderful. They have been like these bizarre prehistoric fish that might additionally stroll on land:
After all I say all this having by no means really purchased a Surly. I imply certain, I’ve had Surlys (Surlies?), however due to my fleeting Web fame (this weblog was briefly well-liked through the interval when mountain bikes took each rims and disc brakes) I didn’t need to resort to the indignity of buying them. For instance, there was the Large Dummy, which was my first actual expertise with any kind of cargo bike, and which got here to me once I was a brand new mum or dad:
The bike was completely incredible and it couldn’t have been extra well timed, although finally once I had much less use for it I handed it alongside to a good friend whose youngsters have been youthful than mine.
Then there was the Vacationers Verify, which was mainly only a Cross-Verify with couplers, and which was a tad too small since that was the one dimension that they had left:
That bike accompanied me on a e-book tour and plenty of different journeys and in addition served as what in the present day can be thought-about a “gravel bike,” although you’ll discover that as a recovering cyclocross racer I nonetheless thought a 39×27 certified as a “low gear.” I consider I took the above picture throughout a journey on Mount Tam, a full twelve years earlier than I’d journey it once more with Grant Petersen:
[Photo: Dan Leto]
General I’d say the Clem was much better suited to the duty–although the Vacationers Verify served me very nicely general (particularly as a journey bike, it took a variety of journeys and I by no means paid a single airline price, good luck flying with a Clem), and even went singlespeed in direction of the top of my time with it:
I understand this was alleged to be in regards to the Straggler, however once you get outdated you are inclined to ramble.
