We promised and we're delivering.
Got some Creamroller complete bikes in today - size 56cm and 59cm. Just in time for holiday giving.
Also in stock as we speak, Steamroller framesets in all sizes of the Creamy color. Build one up from the frameset. It's fun and rewarding. I think there's also a merit badge in it for you. Black Steamrollers will be a bit - think Spring. We added them as a bit of an afterthought, so they'll take longer.
Long Haul Trucker framesets in Truckaccino and Karate Monkey framesets in Chum Bucket are also rolling in. Complete bikes in these models will be available by the second or third week of December. Mmmmm... chum.
Cross-Checks are not yet on the horizon, but won't be too much longer. Probably in January at this point.
Does that do it? Does that sate the appetites of the masses? When did we get masses anyway? Who left the door open so the masses could get in? Do we have masses? Speaking of appetites:
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Pal Paul in S. Africa has just purchased a Karate Monkey. He had some questions about Dingle drivetrains (2 rings, 2 cogs, no shifting). I mentioned that his 8 tooth differential was probably overkill, and that in my experience running a 4 tooth total differential (34/32t rings and 16/18t cogs, for example) should be more than enough. Of course, I've never been to his part of the world. Paul writes:
"I know I'm always telling you how extreme stuff is here (and I have a few stories at the moment) but listen here. This time of year our strong southeasters start up. Occasionally we have a Black Southeaster which brings inclement weather too. Today was one of those. Winds up to 75km/h, right into my face on the way to work. I had to dismount and use the sidewalk at one point ‘cos there was so much shit blowing in my face. I thought the ride home would be like stepping out into the road and being blown most of the way home. It was not to be. I had to take a slip road between two parallel main routes, and the wind was channeled right at me between tall buildings. I saw a guy approach me on foot battling to hold his line, and I thought he was hamming it up. Then I was blown to a stop against the sidewalk. I dismounted and tried to walk across the road to cross the intersection on foot. The wind blew the bike right off the ground and I had to hang onto it with my bad hand on the stem as it flapped around like a bin liner. I managed to talk her down though, pointed the nose downwind on the other road and sailed home. True story."
O.K., I stand corrected.
We here at Surly Intergalactic HQ Central Towers and Dog Grooming have been getting a lot more spams lately, most centered around services and products designed (as one spam promised) to "turn your stick into a skyscraper". That's pretty normal, but the last year or two has also shown a big increase in unsolicited sales feelers from people who are not familiar with our company and simply want a piece of the action. Do we need inflatable logo-covered pillars that light up? Do we need attention getting flags that look exactly like everybody else's attention getting flags? You'd think I'd be more open to this stuff because business is all about opportunity, right? Well, right? Ug, I just can't stomach it. So to all those leeches who smell the blood in water, who want to buy us dinner if we'll listen to them convince themselves we need their services, all I can say is everybody wants some, but be careful what you wish for.
On the flip side, however, we also hear from people like Rob, people who DO ride, and who paid good money to find out that we make stuff they like using and did not require logo-covered crap to convince them:
"Hi,
My name is Rob Barton and I recently returned home to Australia after riding my Surly Long Haul Trucker 3000kms through Alaska with two friends. We all had Long Hauls and firstly I would just like to thank you for creating what is probably the most dependable bike in the world. Apart from the expected occasional flat tyre, we didn't encounter even one mechanical problem with our Surlys , even along 666kms (devil number?) of the dreaded Dalton Highway. They are simply awesome.
I am currently putting together a photo exhibition of our trip, to be held as part of the Bicycle Film Festival in Sydney next week. Just thought it could be a way to say thank you for the amazing bike.
Cheers again guys,
Rob"
Thanks Rob! Sounds like a kick ass trip. Beats the crap out of sitting at a desk telling sales people NO.
That's it for today people. Carry on.
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Got this in the mail the other day:
"dude,
remember that awesome steamroller from the shipwreck dude; well, it got stolen a couple weeks ago. at least the the creamroller color looks rad, but it still ain't the same as the old boston baked bean frame with the threaded HS bummer dude,
george"
Bummer indeed. Lucky for George the creamroller is a beautiful shade of Not Stolen. Steamroller framesets should be here in a few weeks, followed shortly thereafter by Steamroller complete bikes. And for those of you who aren't into the cream color, the Steamroller will now come in black too (frames and bikes). The black complete, in fact, we have dubbed None More Black because...well, figure it out.
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Big Dummy Tip O' The Day:
Buy a set of those ratcheting, hook-ended tie down straps and throw them into the pocket of one of the Freeloader bags. Especially when used in conjunction with the Wideloaders (the horizontal plug-ins), these things open up the possibility of what you can carry, and if you always have them it's a no-brainer to grab the bike instead of the car, because, as David Byrne once said, "It's not just driving; it's parking." The straps transform big loads, especially unexpected big loads, from Daunting to Fun. Just make sure you attach the hooks to the frame and not to the Xtracycle plug-ins. This way you maximize load stability, plus you don't risk ripping the plug-ins right out of the frame.
Big Dummy completes are coming sometime in January. BD framesets are in now, in all sizes. When asked what could be hauled on a Big Dummy, New York Doll David Johanson had this to say:
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O.k., before the ugliness: we were sent this link by the Ramstacker. Sort of like watching a home movie, it's mundane and intriguing at the same time.
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Surly In The News
I'm getting to this one a little late but I think it still bears mention. Local "fickle fashion-first hipster" City Pages writer Bradley Campbell articulates better than he may realize why we do what we do colorwise. He even goes so far as to call in expert analysis to figure out why we don't have better taste, though it should be noted that he did not bother to contact us prior to (or after) publishing his opinion.
So, for the record: We don't make stuff with the intent that it will color-coordinate with your ensemble, apartment, townhome, condo, car, or lifestyle. We are not obsessed by the design ethic of Smeg, Wolf, or Apple. Rather we offer bikes and bike stuff by and for people who ride bikes. If you like the color, great. And if you don't we assume you're a big enough person to get past such niggling detail or else have the thing painted some shade of Personal Expression Of Good Taste.
Oh, Ugly. We love you better than the transient tastes of myopic hipsters and retrogrouches alike because you are real. And low maintenance.
Anyway, thanks Bradley and City Pages for the backhanded compliment. This even makes me consider doing a frame in Raspberry Kiss just for you.
Skip covers the rest of the ugliness from here...
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