It's that time again. These are more bikes from our image dump. They are pretty cool, sometimes just cuz of where in the world they are. You'll have to go to the image dump (http://surlybikes.com/gallery) to get all of the build and geographical specifics.
Now go and build your own!!
I felt the need to share this letter we received the other day from some lunatic that wanted a fist full of our "wicked sweet" stickers. I liked this so much I actually sent him some.
Everyone knows we are huge fans of squid-like thingys.
Hand written in pencil. I can't even remember the last time I wrote a letter by hand.
I think the only thing that would have made this better is if it was written in crayon, had a haiku and was addressed to Sov.
The cherry on top was the skeleton in the coffin. I just can't get enough of that shit.
There you have it. We are awesome but you are awesomer.
There’s a whole world out there, but it’s out of reach for most people most of the time. What’s stopping those of us who can’t afford to travel the world indefinitely from making the most of what we’ve got? Routine! Routine makes things comfortable but can make it hard to mix things up in your backyard.
But where to find inspiration? Look around. Good ideas are everywhere and they don’t always have to be yours to work well for you. See those weirdoes at the trailhead with low seats and skate helmets? They might be on to something. See those weirdoes leaning on some crooked sticks off the trail chanting in tongues? They might be on to something. See those weirdoes on the road with the white kits and pointy helmets? They’re probably on to something, too. But those weirdoes rollin’ all clinky-clinky in the cholo flannel and Polish luggage? They’re definitely on to something.
So try it. Try a different line. Drop your seat. Lean back and pin it. Or raise your seat. Lean forward and pedal your brains out. Ride in sneakers, ride in clippy shoes, ride barefoot – hell, ride naked! You might amaze yourself. And after a while you might mix all those styles together into one that is more fun than all the others combined. And maybe you’ll be able to look at somebody’s approach and say “What a weirdo” with a curious and respectful laugh instead of judgment.
Because there’s a real danger in thinking you’re in the middle when you’re not - and the more you try, the more you will understand where you really stand in the world. And in my experience, those who have tried the most things are the last to condemn.
And if life is really just a big motocross track, remember that the haybales are 20’ apart. Don’t get stuck in a rut.
It's cold here. Not like real cold, which it most assuradly will be before you know it. But it's cold enough that after a ride my nipples could cut glass. As a homage to that season (which is my favorite)(it's the most wonderful time of the year), that will be here soon, that promises many awesome bike rides in blizzards...I give you A SNOWY IMAGE DUMP FRIDAY...AY....AY...AY.
To follow up with my blog from last week, How to ask for stickers, I thought I should show you how not to ask for anything-ever.
On my way back from a rather refreshing and thirst quenching lunch, I noticed a letter in my mail box. I always get excited when someone takes the time to send us something. We get some great mail here, the majority of which is NSFW which makes it even stranger (and all together more pleasing) because I am at work. I usually take the letter or package back to my desk and look around to make sure no one is around that could get offended when I open up Pandora's Box. I am rarely disapointed but today happened to be one of those rare days.
This is what I got.
Notice the "stickers" in the return address field, the utter disregard for USPS standards and the insulting lack of personalization.
Then there was this.
You broke my heart with this empty piece of trash. No, those are not my finely manicured digits, Jules gave me a hand.
Inside this nondescript and completly boring envolope there is nothing but a stamped self addressed envolope. No letter, no toys, no coupons for Dairy Queen, not a damn thing. No effort at all. You sir are a lazy bastard and I will do exactly what a lazy bastard would do with your heartless envolope, toss it right in the trash (I recycled it! don't get all bent out of shape).
This is the perfect example of how not to ask for anthing. I'm not asking for too much, it get's lonely here. At least say hello. We want to know who you are, what you've been up to, how you're doing now. After all, you left this morning without even saying goodbye, and you didn't even leave your phone number. It's not that our stickers are the greatest thing since sliced bread; I've seen better. It's the principal of the whole thing. You know what I'm talking about, right?
Now, I'll leave you with this little gem.
Yes.
Last week a few of us went out to Denver to co-host a bike-packing event with one of our dealers Salvagetti. We road (or rather the lucky ones road, I drove the van with the kegs and demo bikes inside), camped, road and then camped some more. It was a blast. Beer, whiskey, campfires, campfire jumping, drunken lap dances, you know: the usual.
The event was pretty sweet and we even got some folks out there who had never bike packed, and some who had never done it when it was so cold (15). I got some great pics from the weekend and thought I would share them with you.
I love working for Surly. I am a kid in a candy store every day. Grabbing bikes to take for a spin when they come back from demos, impatiently waiting for the return or the arrival of a demo or better yet a proto to ride!
I had the pleasure of being the tester of the itty bitty ECR frame when it arrived. First ride was on the Surly retreat which was when it was top secret so no pics. Here it is stripped down for a trail ride day though.
I was asked to set it up with an available wheel set so relax people. I am aware those aren't the wheels you are looking for.
I sat on my hands waiting for the demo crew to check in the demo Stragglers so I could get my chance to see what had been created.
I was so nervous about having this gal out with me I snuck her in and tucked her within eye sight.
The beautiful new Pacer demos came in and off I went! A little too quickly as I forgot my lock.
I made due with what I had.
This works right?
Junk Strap use #1,666
It's a great gig for someone like me who gets emotionally attached to inanimate objects. As long as I don't officially own the rig I can return it and move on to the next. If it's mine, I fall hopelessly in love and cannot fathom parting ways. It took me 10 years to sell my old full sus Stump Jumper even though I had moved on and never rode it. I still think about the good times we had.
I recently have considered purchasing a shiny new street ride. Stragglers should be available soon (whatever that means) and I have taken a liking to the Pacer more than ever. But what about the Long Haul or Disc Trucker or Steamroller or even a slick set 1x1?? So many choices! All requiring the monies. Husband suggested I sell my Cross-Check and replace it with one of these rigs I keep talking about. I thought about this on a recent ride with Lola and I just can't do it. That bike has been bullet proof. It is my go to rig and I can't fathom not having it hanging within reach for an every day ride. It is still set up stock. I have done nothing but ride it and slap the occasional sticker on it.
Bike Dog
Final decision is herd stays in tact. I will count my pennies for my first true Surly MTB ride this Spring because the Instigator and Monkey are calling. Trusty Cross-Check stays. You can't fight love.
Literally, physically, mentally, you name it.
This was recently drawn to my attention. The exact quote was, “That dude Tyler, from Surly, is soft.” The sentence was one of the around the corner sort, wherein the quotee was unawares of my presence. I would love to think that that wouldn’t have made a difference, but alas, in Minnesota (with the niceness) that is the sort of thing one rarely hears to ones face.
I know this is true, cuz the dude who said it about me was of the “hard” sort. And those people out there who are “hard” are always experts at recognizing those outside of their particular hardness. They have an innate hardness about them, which forms a crunchy (or hard) shell around all of their bits, allowing them various feats of awesomeness. One of their bits that is shrouded in “hard” is their mind; and that brittle crust that surrounds the brain and all it’s advanced functions allows them the ability to recognize the “hardness” of all the things around them in the world. People, eggs, pudding, adamantine, chipmunks, lubricant; all of these things have various hardnesses and those who are hard know what they are with a simple glance. It’s a power unlike any that I have every personally experienced, so I can only sit back in awe and wish. I wish. I wish. I wish.
Actually I know it’s true (my softness that is), because I have a mirror and I know myself pretty well. I am soft. There is no doubt about it. Literally I am soft (being a fat dude, if you press upon me it is an experience of softness, rather than hardness). Physically I am soft. I would rather ride flats than up hill, I would rather ride downhill than flats (though if the downhill is super scary, I would gladly go back to the flats). Mentally I am soft (Charlotte’s Web still makes me cry, in any form). The question I have is: What’s the big deal.
How does my softness negatively affect your hardness? Who cares? I’m going to ride when I’m going to ride regardless. And I’m going to get off and push when I’m going to get off and push regardless. That’s how it is for me. I love to be on a bike, and I’m okay with my shortcomings in that arena. Fat dudes who aren’t, don’t ride. Really anyone who isn’t okay with his or her own “softness” when it comes to riding generally doesn’t ride. That’s the worst part of all. There are people in this world who love bikes, and people in this industry whose livelihoods depend on people riding bikes (some of them even love bikes too, but not as many as I’d like), who discourage more people from riding bikes than encourage.
There are whole brands like this out there. They spend so much time trying to reach the hard (and rad)(among others) that they alienate way more people than they can ever reach.
Now those of you who have followed our blog lately might think it’s funny that I rant about brands that alienate their customers. There are lots of folks who think that our mission at Surly is to offend, alienate and piss people off. (Just cuz we’re good at it, doesn’t mean it’s our mission). We don’t want to do any of those things, we just want to ride our bikes and be ourselves.
That’s what I want everyone to do. Every one of you should ride a bike and be yourself. I really and truly believe that bikes make the world better, and that anyone who spends some time getting used to life on the saddle will find that it makes their life and the world that their life is locked to, better; in almost every way.
If you are already a “hard” person, this will be easy for you. But if, like me, you are soft (cuddly my wife says)(fat my neighbor says), then it will be a challenge. Sometimes daily. But it’s worth it. Take it from me. I know. I speak truth.
The world is an incredibly beautiful and wondrous place, and the more you ride the more you get to see. Really see and really experience. Not just fly over, or drive by in a steel capsule, but really be part of.
So if you’re hard, that’s awesome, get out there and ride; and if you’re soft (and that’s okay)(of course I would say that, I’m soft) get out there and ride too. And let any self-righteous, arrogant prick say whatever the hell they want about you. Who cares?
Ride for your own reasons. It’s what all of us at Surly do.
Cheers.
Literally, physically, mentally, you name it.
This was recently drawn to my attention. The exact quote was, “That dude Tyler, from Surly, is soft.” The sentence was one of the around the corner sort, wherein the quotee was unawares of my presence. I would love to think that that wouldn’t have made a difference, but alas, in Minnesota (with the niceness) that is the sort of thing one rarely hears to ones face.
I know this is true, cuz the dude who said it about me was of the “hard” sort. And those people out there who are “hard” are always experts at recognizing those outside of their particular hardness. They have an innate hardness about them, which forms a crunchy (or hard) shell around all of their bits, allowing them various feats of awesomeness. One of their bits that is shrouded in “hard” is their mind; and that brittle crust that surrounds the brain and all it’s advanced functions allows them the ability to recognize the “hardness” of all the things around them in the world. People, eggs, pudding, adamantine, chipmunks, lubricant; all of these things have various hardnesses and those who are hard know what they are with a simple glance. It’s a power unlike any that I have every personally experienced, so I can only sit back in awe and wish. I wish. I wish. I wish.
Actually I know it’s true (my softness that is), because I have a mirror and I know myself pretty well. I am soft. There is no doubt about it. Literally I am soft (being a fat dude, if you press upon me it is an experience of softness, rather than hardness). Physically I am soft. I would rather ride flats than up hill, I would rather ride downhill than flats (though if the downhill is super scary, I would gladly go back to the flats). Mentally I am soft (Charlotte’s Web still makes me cry, in any form). The question I have is: What’s the big deal.
How does my softness negatively affect your hardness? Who cares? I’m going to ride when I’m going to ride regardless. And I’m going to get off and push when I’m going to get off and push regardless. That’s how it is for me. I love to be on a bike, and I’m okay with my shortcomings in that arena. Fat dudes who aren’t, don’t ride. Really anyone who isn’t okay with his or her own “softness” when it comes to riding generally doesn’t ride. That’s the worst part of all. There are people in this world who love bikes, and people in this industry whose livelihoods depend on people riding bikes (some of them even love bikes too, but not as many as I’d like), who discourage more people from riding bikes than encourage.
There are whole brands like this out there. They spend so much time trying to reach the hard (and rad)(among others) that they alienate way more people than they can ever reach.
Now those of you who have followed our blog lately might think it’s funny that I rant about brands that alienate their customers. There are lots of folks who think that our mission at Surly is to offend, alienate and piss people off. (Just cuz we’re good at it, doesn’t mean it’s our mission). We don’t want to do any of those things, we just want to ride our bikes and be ourselves.
That’s what I want everyone to do. Every one of you should ride a bike and be yourself. I really and truly believe that bikes make the world better, and that anyone who spends some time getting used to life on the saddle will find that it makes their life and the world that their life is locked to, better; in almost every way.
If you are already a “hard” person, this will be easy for you. But if, like me, you are soft (cuddly my wife says)(fat my neighbor says), then it will be a challenge. Sometimes daily. But it’s worth it. Take it from me. I know. I speak truth.
The world is an incredibly beautiful and wondrous place, and the more you ride the more you get to see. Really see and really experience. Not just fly over, or drive by in a steel capsule, but really be part of.
So if you’re hard, that’s awesome, get out there and ride; and if you’re soft (and that’s okay)(of course I would say that, I’m soft) get out there and ride too. And let any self-righteous, arrogant prick say whatever the hell they want about you. Who cares?
Ride for your own reasons. It’s what all of us at Surly do.
Cheers.
So it’s true. It would seem everyone and their sister is coming out with a Fatbike this year. We get asked a lot what we think of all this attention that the bikes are getting and more specifically what we think about all the new bikes.
People want the skinny. The dish. The dirt.
There really isn’t much. Of course our sister company Salsa has been making fatbikes for a couple of years, and Mom and Dad (QBP) just shot another fatbike offspring from its proverbial womb, Cogburn. There’s also, 9:zero:7 and Fatback, Borealis and others that I’m forgetting cuz I’m old and stupid or cuz I’m out of the know, heck even Wal-Mart has a fatbike now. (also soft) Now this year, Kona, Trek and Specialized are getting into the game.
What do we think about that? Not much really. Of course we’re giant geeks so we look at pictures on the web, and scrutinize tread patterns, and geometry. We get picky about spec, what self respecting bike nerd doesn’t? But do we tremble? Do we burn with the fury of a thousand suns for being copied? Are we really just apathetic jerks who ride bikes and drink beer?
Meh.
On the one hand it was nice to be the only kid on the block, on the other we sure got tired of being asked if fatbikes were some kind of massive joke. That question eventually went away, and then we started getting tired of people asking us things like: “What on earth would you use a bike like that for?” “Those sure are some big tires.” “Do those wheels weight ten pounds each?” “Why would anyone buy a bike like that?” “Isn’t that bike too heavy to pedal?”
With all the other players entering the game, more people will learn more about the bikes, and we get to spend more time riding them and less time answering questions about them. Which is cool.
The other thing that I think is cool, is that each and every person out there who rides a bike (or who should be riding a bike)(which is all of you) has a type/style/brand of bike they like to ride. With more bikes to choose from, ultimately more people will have a bike they love. That’s what it’s really all about. Surly was never here to “own” the fatbike market. The very idea is kind of silly to me.
At Surly we like to build stadiums and invite folks to come and play inside. So that’s how we see it. Most of us here love our fatbikes. I spend more time on my Pugsley than any other bike I own. I’ve got three wheels for it: cassette, free and fixed (fixed Pug in the snow is hands down the single greatest thing in the world(other than making snuggles with my dear wife that is)(hi hunny). So go get a bike and come play. I think you’ll find that its super fucking fun. We love to play there too, though we’re also busy building new things too.
Now I’m not saying that we invented fatbiking, but I am saying that we invented the bike; and touring, and tires, and the wheel, and 29ers and fatbiking. (also singlespeeds and wool). We invented all that is true and good in this world and if you ride our bikes or wear our t-shirts you’ll be sexy and fast and cooler than everyone else around you. In short you’ll be better. Like us.
Seriously though, whether this whole fatbiking thing is a giant fad that is in its peak (as I was recently told by an industry journalist) or like mountain biking, we’ve really only seen the tip of the iceberg… it’s a blast. And now you’ve got all kinds of choices about which bike to get.
Choose wisely.
Get out and ride.
It’s Friday and I have nothing to say. Well I have things to say, but my old granddad used to say if you don’t have anything nice to say, say nothing at all. (Cuz if you say something the sonofabitch that your sneaking up on to brain will hear you coming and might have time to dodge the blow from your cricket bat)
Look pretty pictures.
Okay, it’s not the bike. The bike can make me anything that I’m not. I know that. How could I not, I seem to not shut up about it. But there are some bikes that seem to bring the Hyde to the forefront, and lock that sweat old Jekyll away in a closet never to be heard from again.
The Krampus is one of those bikes that have that affect.
Some folks call it “confidence inspiring.” That’s the quality that a bike can have that makes you feel like you’re way better a rider than you actually are. So you push yourself a bit extra hard and try to get just a little bit more air, and pedal hard on the downhill to gander just a tiny bit more speed, cuz, how would it be fun if you didn’t. Then out of no where your on your face with a big pointy boulder having made it’s way through your helmet and smashed up your head a bit so it’s bloody and cool and shit. All of this because of that extra bit of confidence that the “bike” magically gives you.
Actually, I don’t think I crashed because of the confidence, it was long gone before I actually crashed. The confidence got me into a situation, then it bailed. But that’s the cool thing about getting back on the horse after face planting on a death rock, you have a tiny bit more confidence than before cuz of not dying the last time.
Thus the cycle is born.
Ride, rinse, repeat (always repeat) and after you fall, get back up (mostly to make sure your bikes okay, that shit’s expensive.)
Creepy, for sure. And the jogger was just in a weird place at a weird time. As she came around the corner, and saw all of us idiots in masks, she was first surprised, then amused, then less amused, then she looked pretty weirded out. Yep. Sorry pink jogger.
This is the latest from Wood. Enjoy
--Gern
I don’t care.
I don’t care what type of riding you do.
I don’t care if you chose dirt or pavement.
I don’t care what bike you chose to ride.
I don’t care what you think of my bike.
I don’t care how much your bike cost.
I don’t care how much your bike weighs.
I don’t care how fat your tires are.
I don’t care how fast you can ride.
I don’t care how far you’ve ridden.
I don’t care about what your rims are made out of.
I don’t care what your frame is made out of.
I don’t care if you commute on your bike.
I don’t care if you race your bike.
I don’t care if you run gears, single speed or fixed gear.
I don’t care if you run suspension or rigid.
I don’t care about who you know.
I don’t care where you’ve been.
I don’t care who you work for.
I don’t care who’ve you worked for.
I don’t care about the races you’ve won.
I don’t care about the causes you’ve rode for.
I don’t care about the components you’ve chosen.
I don’t care if your run hydraulic or cable.
I don’t care how you wrapped your handlebar tape.
I don’t care if you chose wool or Lycra.
I don’t care if you wear a helmet or a hat.
I don’t care about your chainring tattoo.
I don’t care about your fancy sunglasses.
I don’t care if your wear a heart rate monitor.
I don’t care if you use a computer or not.
I don’t care if your “old school”.
I don’t care about your messenger bag.
I don’t care if you ride with a U-Lock stuffed in your belt.
I don’t care how many years you’ve been riding.
I don’t care who you’ve ridden for.
I don’t care who you’ve ridden with.
I don’t care about the teams you’ve wrenched for.
Now please, can't we all just get along?
Nothing huge to report; except...
It's totally awesome!!! My steed today was the Single Speed Cross Check. At work all kinds of folks gave me shit about not riding my Pug or Moony.
Two things.
1) I like fixed in the snow. It's awesome.
2) I ride all my bikes all the yearlong. That's how I do it. So suck it fatbikes!!
Plus after I get home today, I'll take the Moony down to the river bottoms and have at it.
Go ride you weenies!!!
Hey, do you live in the middlewest portion of the country?
Do you love fatbikes?
Are you curious about what this whole "winterbiking" thing is?
You should read about it on the internet, but also you might think about spending some of this weekend is super cold ass Minneapolis.
And come to this.
Maybe we'll see some of you there.
Bundle up and ride!
Racing Sucks.
That’s a new patch we just made.
I guess there’s lots of folks out there who really love this one.
I have also heard there are quite a few folks out there who hate it.
My pappy always told me that you know you’re doing something right when there are only people who love it or hate it.
That means it makes a strong statement, and it’s clear.
That patch is pretty self-explanatory.
By the way, it isn’t suggesting (as if a patch had this power) that if you own a Surly bike that you shouldn't race it. Or any other bike for that matter. If you like racing, if you think it's fun, then by all means you should do that. You should do whatever you want. Here is a dude racing on a Surly.
I believe he is awesome.
If you love racing and think it’s the end all be all, then this patch isn’t for you.
We made this patch for people who don’t like racing. So they can sew it onto their hats and jean-jackets and dungarees and wear it with pride, so people will know what kind of rider they are.
Also it will have the awesome side effect of super pissing of their friends who do love to race.
And who doesn’t love pissing off their friends?
Commies and socialists.
That’s who.
So, if you're super pissed off and you’re looking for someone to blame; then look no further. If you want to get back at me, make a patch that says, "Fat Dudes Who Work at Surly Suck!" That'll teach me.
Go ride.
PS: Racing Sucks!
I am loving the city.
I grew up in Waterloo, Iowa. A small city, 80,000ish people and it doesn’t cover much geographical space. When I first got “serious” about biking everywhere, I was living there. (I had moved away, but every time I tried to get out, they pulled me back in). Though I was born there, I have always felt at home in much bigger cities. (Minneapolis is about the smallest city I could ever imagine myself in.) I must admit though I truly miss riding in Waterloo. They had some nice bike paths, and for the most part the drivers were ok (average, I would say). But what I miss the most about it is its size. The longest ride I ever had to take was about 7 miles. So when I wanted to go for a long ride, it was out into the country. When I was commuting to work in the winter, it was 3.5 miles. Which was nice. I could bundle up (really overdress) because the ride was so short. Then on the way home I would take the “long way” home (10 miles tops) and it didn’t really matter how cold and wet I was, I was home.
It’s this time of year (negative 14 this morning) that I miss Waterloo the most. Here I commute about 14 miles each way, and in extremely cold weather, that can suck if you’re not really prepared, just lazy, or don’t like the cold.
I am at any given time at least one of these things (sometimes all three).
So bundling up in strippable layers to start a long ride with eyelashes freezing together doesn’t fit in with any of those.
I still ride in this weather; I just have to amp myself up for it. My wife and I share a car (which mostly means, she has a car) so I seldom drive in. (though I did today, you bet your ass!)
But (and it’s a big one) when I am feeling lazy or cold in a city this size, I still have some options. Buses, trains, in short: public transportation. And one of the things I love the most about the city; is how these things all take bikes into account. I can get any of my bikes on the train, and many of them (nothing with a tire wider than 2.35) on the buses. That means, if I’m feeling lazy or don’ t want to deal with the cold I can still over dress, ride to a heated transit center and stay warm. Bus it, train it, whatever. With no more than a couple of miles at a time out in the elements.
Worst photo ever, but you get the point.
Not super hardcore, I’ll admit that; (if you read the blog regularly then you know about my softness) but it’s convenient, warm and a great time to catch up on some reading.
That the reason I'm loving the city. Options. They are pretty great. You know what they say about variety.
If you have the option, then try it. Riding public transportation can be peaceful. Also if you’ve got your bike with you; you can get off any time you want and ride.
Stay warm.
13 is my mothers lucky number.
Here are some pictures of cool bikes from the image dump.
Neato.
Is that the last airbender??
Quick, leave work while no one is looking and go ride.
Cheers