Matt’s Make It Your Own Misfits Preamble

Hello, Matt Larson here, Creative guy for Surly.

I wanted to share a little about my experience with the Preamble. I’ll admit that I’ve overlooked it for a while. Not intentionally — I just do most of my riding on a few beloved models: Ogre, Karate Monkey, Cross-Check, and Big Dummy.

But I hadn’t given the Preamble a fair shake, and It was time to rectify that.
When the opportunity came up to build one from a frameset we had sitting in our demo fleet, I said, “Hell yeah. Let’s do it.”

This was right around the time we were getting ready to launch our Sorceress trail bike at Sea Otter, so I figured, what better bike to ride back and forth to the event from Seaside every day…

The Build

When I got the frame in hand, it had little more than a headset (a Cane Creek 40, no need to mess with that). I rummaged through my parts bin and started thinking about how I wanted to use the bike and how I wanted it to look.

I knew I wanted to run this bike as a front-loader, partially because it was sans rear rack mounts. So, I put a Surly 8-Pack Rack and a Wald basket up front — a nice balance of capability and simplicity. I generally prefer rear racks vs front, so this. I simply like to be able to see my front wheel when navigating potholes and rutted out gravel.

In the spirit of Make It Your Own (MIYO), I started kicking around a few ideas to add a personal touch to the Thorfrost White frame set. I wanted to lean into the contrast of white frame and black components. I considered a Stormtrooper theme or maybe Space Ghost, Coast to Coast.

I eventually landed on two of my favorite horror punk bands: The Misfits and their stellar Japanese counterpart Balzac. B-Movie aesthetics, raw versatility, deeply loyal cult following, and storytelling melodies with an aggressive punk drive. Sounds right on to me.

The black-and-white aesthetic, iconic type treatment, and fiend face felt like the right starting point for applying some character to a Surly frame like the Preamble.

Parts Bin Archaeology

I wanted to keep the drivetrain simple and use what I had on hand, so I chose a 1x9 with a SRAM PG-990 rear cassette and X0 rear derailleur because this is a Minneapolis commuter rig, and I want to balance function with some style points. I paired that with Rival cranks and a SRAM chain. 9-speed stuff is also relatively durable, reliable, and easy to replace. A good recipe for a commuter.

 
After a chat with Travis at Paul Components, I picked up a set of Klamper disc brake calipers, along with a Boxcar stem, Tall and Handsome seatpost, seat collar, and top cap. Those are easily the nicest pieces on the bike. Paul Components has a blend of function and beautiful industrial design that really speaks to me. The parts felt just right on the Preamble (Thanks Travis!).

From there, I rummaged around for a few unique pieces that had some history and were collecting dust on my parts shelf. Starting with these wild Primal brake levers from the early ’90s that are machined to look like skeleton fingers. These may as well have been made for the Misfits theme.

For my sit bones, I pulled an old WTB Pure V saddle out of the stash. Unfortunately, they don’t make this model anymore, but it’s one of the most comfortable saddles to ever contact my undercarriage. The chrome accents also fit the look nicely.

For shifting, I ended up using an old Dura-Ace thumb shifter that somehow mated perfectly with the SRAM X0 derailleur. The lever throw and cable pull work great with the nine-speed cassette. Simple, reliable, and a little classic flair.

I already had a black Wolf Tooth Morse Cage for bottle duty. I also wanted to expand what I could haul for fluids, so I added a Wolf Tooth Morse Cargo Cage on the downtube to carry a thermos for hot coffee, hot tea, or an iced Arnie Palmer.

The wheelset is straightforward: black Alex rims, DT spokes, and Formula hubs. Nothing fancy – just stealthy, durable, and functional. Hope circular-saw rotors and QR levers will keep me stopping and my wheels attached while subtlety fitting the horror theme.

For tires, I knew I wanted to use Teravail Washburns. I absolutely love these tires. The smooth-rolling, high-mileage center strip, shoulder lugs for cornering, and ability to handle everything from pavement and broken roads to gravel really stood out for the build. They’ve also been incredibly durable for me, which is a trait for a commuter. (Thanks Zane!)

Necessary Accessories

Another fun element of the initial build was a foot horn, inspired by our friends at Express Bike Shop in St. Paul. I loved the idea of a kick horn that you could nudge with your foot to give a little squawk when needed. People are always stepping off the curb or bus directly into the bike lane and I pass several bike path walkers and skiers on the way into work, so a noise maker is essential. I eventually moved the horn up to the front rack and paired it with a Spurcycle bell which is an absolute work of functional art. Long live the bell!

For hands and feet, I wanted something comfortable that worked well with or without gloves, so I went with Teravail Lytho grips (Thanks Jeremy!) – Then later switched out to Ergon grips as I’ve been dealing with some hand pain from an old snowboarding injury. I’m also a big fan of the Wolf Tooth Ripsaw pedals. They’re an amazing flat pedal that gives my wide feet plenty of real estate with great traction, and a look that suits the bike nicely (Thanks Kurt!).

Getting Graphic

For graphics, I leaned into the Misfits theme. I decided to recreate the Surly logo, Preamble wordmark, and fork logos with a custom Misfits typeface. It felt like a proper bit of visual mischief. I’m a typography nerd, so I dove in and spent an evening drawing up the letterforms and cutting vinyl graphics for the frame.

I added a custom red and black Surly head badge up front, the fiend face behind the headtube, and one of my favorite Misfits lyrics, Please Don't Feed My TV Screen to the inside of the chain stays. In an age of increasing digital media consumption and all the ways screens continue to take over our culture, that line really resonated with me. This is a machine for getting outside and unplugging. Fresh air. Open spaces. Blood pumping on the way to work or running errands.

Sea Otter Bound

With the bike built and ready to go, I promptly took it back apart and packed it into my travel case as my flight was leaving the next morning. Once we landed at SFO and drove down to Seaside, I got into my hotel room and started rebuilding the bike for an exciting week at Sea Otter. That’s when I realized I’d forgotten shifter cable housing and cable ends, ugh. Of course, this wouldn’t have been a problem if the Preamble were single-speed-capable. Lookin’ at you, MG. ;)

Concerned that I might not be riding on day one, I called up the crew at AMG Cyclery, conveniently located right down the street in Seaside. They were able to get me the housing and cable ends before closing and even stayed open a few extra minutes to accommodate my brain-fog moment. Not only did they get me rolling, they gave me some great suggestions for test ride routes and told me about a group ride they were hosting later in the week with SimWorks. Noted.

If you’re ever in Seaside, don’t miss AMG Cyclery. Alex and Alisa run a welcoming, inclusive operation. Along with Jarod and Tylor, they can help with just about anything — from building something completely custom to keeping your daily driver on the road or planning your next coastal tour.

They’re big supporters of Surly but more importantly – they do some seriously creative custom work, provide great service, and are simply great people. They’re working hard to strengthen the community fabric through cycling and human connection. IMO, that may be the most important part of running a good, sustainable bike shop. Thanks again, AMG. 

And if you’re looking for a standout custom frame or bike among all the great builders out there, check out Jarod’s work at Bourdeau Cycles. Respect.

Up to Laguna Seca

The next morning was our first ride up to Laguna Seca Raceway, where the Sea Otter event takes place. For a flatlander from Minneapolis, that first climb with our fearless leader Adam got my blood pumping and promptly snatched the breath from my lungs. I made a couple stops and adjustments on the way up, mostly to let my lungs and legs figure out what the hell was going on with the elevation. 

After hanging signage, building bikes, and getting the booth polished up for our big Sorceress launch we were hyped for the start of the show. Before long, it was time to rally the crew for our descent back into Seaside. 

A small group of us started our ride back down via some seriously rutted back roads and fire roads behind Laguna Seca and then some vast stretches of smooth pavement with no traffic. It was a spirited cruise and we hit some pretty good speeds along the way. 35mph on a front-loaded Preamble was an incredibly stable feeling, which took me by surprise. The swift ride down quickly got me comfortable with how the bike handled. 

And the view coming back into Seaside? Incredible. To top it off, a fresh avocado the size of a softball! The most vibrant shades of green and the perfect ripeness. I could quickly get used to this.

The AMG & SimWorks Cruise

After catching wind of the group ride at AMG early in the week, I knew I needed to be there. Coastal ride with a bunch of like-minded cycling nerds? Yes please.

We met in the back lot at the ship and rode the coastal path to Monterey at party pace (my favorite pace). Then we stopped at a beautiful overlook to take in the sunset, watch some fishermen cast lines, and continued meeting some new friends while chatting bikes.

I had a great conversation with Adrian from the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen about the incredible work they do to support their local scene and riders. I have so much respect for the level of commitment and generosity it takes to build up and back up riders from all walks of life. So often the cycling world is filled with race products, KOM’s, fancy parts and bikes, or how many gears we can fit on a cassette. But the real soul of cycling (IMO) is grounded in simple day to day bike use and utility. People that NEED a bike to get them from point A to B. Bikes as freedom. Bikes as tools to make our lives better. End Rant. And before I knew it, it was time to roll back to the shop. 

There was a taco truck out back, so I refueled with some al pastor tacos. And I wasn't going to miss a Sim Works pop-up. I had some coin to spend and it’s rare that they get to the Midwest.

Coming directly out of a Minnesota winter, this side quest was an incredible bonus treat. NorCal sunset, barking sea lions, great people, tasty tacos. Not exactly a hardship.

The Preamble Does Its Thing

I rode the bike all week, making a few little tweaks here and there, but overall it performed flawlessly. Riding up and down to the event was sooooo much better than sitting in traffic. Suckers. Plus, it’s a bike show for God’s sake.

Once the fit was dialed and the brake pads and rotors were bedded in, I didn’t really have to think twice about anything. It was a smooth ride. I admired its simplicity and common-sense versatility. It just worked, and that’s the beauty of the Preamble in a nutshell.

In the spirit of Make It Your Own, it’s a great blank canvas at an attainable price point. You can put whatever you want into it, set it up for how you ride, and make it a reflection of your own personal vibe. That’s a core Surly value, and one that I personally embrace as well.

Back Home

The bike made it home from Sea Otter in one piece, so I put it back together and started commuting on it a couple times a week. We were still in the throes of spring in Minnesota, which can mean pretty much anything from chilly rain to something vaguely resembling summer.

Then I got busy refining the build. I added headlights beneath the front rack and wove some reflective paracord through the basket bars. That gave the basket a protective netting around the outside while adding some useful visibility for commuting. Functional, with a personal touch.

I also wanted a container inside the basket for carrying lunch to and from work This is a commuter after all. I had an old steel Thermos lunchbox sitting in my stash of parts and pieces. It was my grandpa’s and I’d been keeping it around waiting for the right project. Steel lunchbox, meet steel Preamble. I put a pad underneath it and wrapped the handle in paracord to cut down on rattling and strapped it into the basket with a Surly Whiplash strap.

The Teravail Swale bar has also been a standout. I can’t say enough good things about the sweep and hand position. It’s incredibly comfortable and looks great. I have broad shoulders, so I love the width and control it gives me, especially with a front load. It’s functional, understated, and puts me in a nice upright position for the kind of riding I’m doing.

More Graphics to Go

I also wanted to add a couple more graphic embellishments to the frame.
Partly because I’m always experimenting with graphics for our product lines, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of a top-tube stripe — something reminiscent of a muscle-car stripe running down the tube toward the rider.

I added a couple more black accents to the seat stays, right around where the tire and rim cross through. It felt like a nice pairing with the top-tube stripe.
At this point, the bike was starting to feel less like a demo frameset I’d pulled from a pile and more like mine. Which, conveniently, was the whole point.

120-ish Miles In

So far, the Preamble has surprised me with its ride quality and versatility.
It’s stable and fun, comfortable on my ride into work, and handles a front load really well, and it can take on different forms.

I’m 6'3" with a 33" inseam and land somewhere between a large and an extra-large. I went with a large, and it seems to fit me well. I’ve been happy with the reach and saddle-to-pedal length. 

The Stuff I Actually Carry

I’ve added a few other little things to the front basket. There’s a small bag on the outside for personal stuff: wallet, pocketknife, sunscreen, tools, and a couple snacks. It can easily come off and go into a store or into work with me. There’s also a U-lock in the rack and a spare tube strapped to the side.

I keep a little can speaker sitting in the front rack. Sometimes I just want to hear nature, cars, and everything happening around me. I’m a big fan of being aware of my surroundings when riding from a safety perspective. It also gives me space to process thoughts, emotions, creative ideas, and my latest dad joke. But sometimes a soundtrack is nice too — especially on a commute.

If you haven’t investigated the Surly Dugout Bag, it’s probably the Surly accessory I use the most. It’s been on almost every bike I own. It’s accessible, both in price and usability. I also love that you can tweak and repair it easily. I added some leftover reflective paracord from the rack into the drawstring and threw on some studs to really tie the room together. 

The Tire Situation

I also swapped the tires from Teravail Washburns to Surly Extraterrestrials. The Washburn tires were fantastic as stated, but I wanted to spend more time on the 41mm Extraterrestrials to get a better feel for them and how they fit on Preamble. 

I’ve been riding 2.5" Extraterrestrials on my Big Dummy for years, and I’m a huge fan of the tread, traction, and durability. For the record: the absolute best skid sound in the world comes from fully loaded Big Dummy with ET 2.5’s. It is a blood-curdling screech that easily wakes the dead.

So Far, So Good

I’m happy with where the build has landed…for now :)
I’m lucky enough to have a couple options for my commute. I can take an entirely paved bike-trail and road route, or I can take the river bottoms route, which adds mileage but also brings in some gravel, river silt, and more nature. There’s something about getting a little closer to nature on the way to work that helps me center myself before the day starts—and again on the way home to the fam.

I’m at about a 20-mile round-trip commute, and this build feels well suited to that distance and type of riding. So I’m going to keep logging miles on this thing through the end of summer and into fall and see where it takes me.
Maybe I’ll swap some things out for winter and keep it rolling. I’ve got a set of Khava studded tires to claw my way through MN ice plus I would like to check fender fitment with the 41c tires. I’m sure I’ll find something else in the parts bin that absolutely needs to go on it.

I’ll check back sometime in 2027 and share what form it has taken.

Keep the rubber side down.
—Lars

Full Build Spec: 
 
Large Thorfrost White Surly Preamble frameset 
Cane Creek 40 headset 
Paul Comp Black Boxcar Stem – 100mm 
Paul Comp Black Klamper stem top cap with 5mm spacer 
Teravail Swale Handlebar – Aluminum – 18mm rise – 820mm width 
Ergon GX1 grips
Primal Fingerbone brake levers 
Paul Comp Klamper disc brakes 
Spurcycle bell 

Sram Rival 42t Crankset with Sram Bottom Bracket
Sram XO Rear 9sd Derailleur
Sram PG90 Rear Cassette 12-36
Sram PC Chain

Paul Comp Shimano Thumbie 
Shimano Dura-Ace Thumb Shifter 
Jagwire cables/housing/ends 
 
Paul Comp Tall and Handsome seatpost  
Paul Comp Quick Release Seatpost collar 
WTB Pure V saddle 
Pizza Safety Flag in black 
NiteRider Sentry aero brake light 
MSW Headlights 
 
Surly 8-Pack Rack
Wald 1372 basket 
Surly Dugout Bag
Wolf Tooth Morse Cage Ti  
Wolf Tooth Morse Cargo Cage 
Wolf Tooth Ripsaw Silver Pedal – Large

Alex Rims
DT Swiss spokes
Formula Hubs
Hope QR Skewers
Hope Rotors – 183/160
Surly 41c Extraterrestrial Tires