Surly Bikes
Welcome to Spring. In the upper Midwest the coming of warm weather means we’re about to get nailed with an ironic shitpile of snow. That happened this past week and it was cool. We like to think it makes us tough, but mostly there’s a lot of solitary weeping and cursing of the heavens. Still, the grass (under the rapidly melting - again - snow) is green, birds are building nests and having sex, and bicycles are more fun given the reduced preparation time for a ride.
Places to Go:
Spring also means it’s time to gear up for going to Fruita. We have attended nearly every Fruita Fat Tire Festival since its inception in the late 1890s and we’re happy to be going again this year. Grand Master Troy and his band of enablers created a network of trails that boggle the mind and stir the groinal juices. You should get out this year and meet us. Jim “I do the purchasing and therefore I might shoot up the place if I don’t get a break” and I will be attending along with our valet Mr. Chewey Q. Moffit and our personal trainer and punishment meter-outer Fiona J. Kickass. Come ride with us. Then we’ll drink beer and eat pizza and drink beer.
Here's a photo from one million years ago. Surly geeks on Fruita trails:
AND, while mulling about the “getting to Colorado” choices, Fiona informed us of this little gem from your new friends at Frontier Airlines:
“Bicycles:
Frontier is removing the flat fee for checked bicycles and will now include them in the standard baggage allowance, meaning customers traveling on Classis or Classic Plus fares can include their bike as one of their two complimentary checked bags and Economy passengers would pay $20 if the bike is one of their first two checked bags. Bikes will be exempt from any oversize fees, but subject to overweight fees and excess bag fees, if applicable. This is similar to the carrier’s current policy for golf clubs and skis.”
When’s the last time an airline did something nice for you? Looks like you won’t need that S&S coupled frame after all – except for that you will when you fly anywhere else with any other carrier at any other time.
New stuff:
Owners of and wistful future procurers of the Rolling Darryl 82mm fat rim can now style up their bits with our new rim tape. It’s made of stuff that good rim tape is made of and it keeps your bulges where they belong. Color choices? Why yes Gertrude, indeed there are.
You can get these through your normal Surly Pieces channel. They are Gigi-approved.
Things to do with your offspring and a Big Dummy:
Well, the Kid is looking down the barrel of turning 4 and that means we’re on the bike in more and interesting ways. Lately, our thing has been to load up with the fishing gear, some tasty snacks, and our mud-stompin boots and head out on the Big Dummy. He seems to enjoy the view of my giant ass and feel the wind in his skate punk helmet. Here’s a shot of one of our favorite spots:
You can find some of these in the stream if you are lucky or they are dumb. We released these guys on their own recognisance.
In closing, ride your bike somewhere today - or don't. Either way.
-Skip