Sorceress: Why (and how) we did it
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When we brought Sorceress into this realm, a lot of you had questions.
Most of them were, “Where can I get one right now?!”. But some were deeper-level bike dork questions about our design and engineering choices. We love that stuff, so we pitted some of your most-asked questions against our most-enchanting employees, product manager Michael and enginerd Thor. Watch the video for their sage answers. Those of you with longer attention spans can read our interview with Michael (“MG”) and Thor (“TS”) below.
What kind of riding is Sorceress for?
TS: It’s meant for modern “trail” riding on a variety of trail types, with a preference for faster, rougher, and steeper terrain than our other mountain bikes.
MG: We make bikes that do a lot of things. With Sorceress we wanted it to be really good at a specific thing: ride trails. Unburdened by gear, it’s playful and capable on many flavors of dirt, from steep and chunky to flowy. If you want a mountain bike you can really load up, Krampus does that well.
Who would ride Sorceress?
TS: Do you feel that your legs are all the rear suspension you need? Sorceress’s ability to fit long dropper posts helps maximize your range of movement. Do you want to go fast? You’ll appreciate the long wheelbase on Sorceress and the stability it provides. Do you seek simplicity, reliability, and beauty in all things? This steel hardtail with single-speed capability checks those boxes.
What the Sorceress’s geometry and how did the product team decide on that?
MG: We wanted to send it (and encourage you to send it) without going over the top. Look, sometimes head tubes are too slack and seat tubes too steep for your terrain and elevation profile. We wanted to balance capability without sacrificing fun on a wide range of trails.
TS: What MG said. Sorceress geometry is tuned for a 140mm-travel fork, but it's capable of 130–150mm travel if you find a different sweet spot. Similarly, the handling balances the needs of multiple types of riders and terrain: whether you pump and pedal on flowy trails, stand up and mash that single speed through techy lines, or methodically pick your way up and then descend with speed, Sorceress will feel right.
We've also focused more on the larger and smaller sizes to give those riders the same ride experience as all those boringly average folks in the middle of the size range. For example, the large Sorceress has an increased front-end height for a more-upright cockpit like the middle size. We also gave the extra-small Sorceress 27.5" wheels and shorter chainstays for a proportional ride feel.
What’s going on with those weird-looking dropouts?
TS: Sorceress uses our new patent-pending DUH dropout system. DUH is a modular dropout that allows for geared UDH and Full-Mount drivetrains as well as single-speed setups.
MG: With DUH, you don’t need to hunt for that goldilocks axle, chain tension, and brake rotor position every time you install your wheel.
What did the wizards at SRAM say when you showed them the DUH dropouts?
TS: SRAM was supportive and they worked with us to ensure DUH was compatible with all their UDH and Full-Mount derailleur technology. They didn’t ask us to stress test it by standing on it, but we did anyway.
MG: SRAM gave us their full blessing to certify our design. Run that Full Mount drivetrain with confidence, my friends. The Surly DUH Dropout System maximizes versatility, allowing select Surly frames to be set up in a geared configuration with a UDH/Full-Mount derailleur or single speed with a bolt on axle. #MakeItYourOwn
Single speed? Who cares?
TS: Single speed rules! While it may not be for everyone everywhere, it’s imperative for some. Single speed nixes the least-fun parts of riding and owning a bike: less maintenance, zero fumbling with gear selection, less noise. Just you and the right (only) gear every time.
MG: Single speed is like…a state of mind, man….
What sort of magic went into making Sorceress?
TS: Sorceress is hand-welded in Taiwan by companies that share our passion for high-quality steel bicycle frames. Every tube on each size frame was chosen or developed based on a balance of strength, weight, stiffness, and cost. The frame is TIG welded, ED coated inside and out, and lab tested for quality and performance.
Why is Sorceress so heavy?
MG: Lead. The tubes are filled with lead. For real though, we chose to spec Sorceress with parts that could cash the check our geometry has written. 36mm stanchion forks, tires that summon traction and hold up in challenging terrain, four-piston brakes to encourage you to brake late and wheels durable enough to take trail abuse.
TS: Bike weight largely depends on how much you want to spend. We tried to balance performance and cost with the frame and components, and we can vouch that Sorceress is ready to hit sweet jumps and blast through the rough stuff.
What do you love about this bike/find exciting?
TS: The Sorceress expands the capability range of the Surly bike line in a direction that gets me excited personally. Much of my offroad riding ranges from Midwest lift runs to Minneapolis metro XC loops, so the Sorceress is a fun rig for nearly all my rides. I can play on mundane trails or grip it and rip it on trails that test my mettle.
Are there any details we haven’t heard about yet?
TS: We designed the seat tube and cable routing for maximum dropper post length. The seat tube has no internal restrictions, and the dropper cable enters from the bottom through the downtube so the seatpost can nearly touch the bottom bracket shell. A long-travel dropper is a must for many riders and the Sorceress delivers.
Oh, cool. What size dropper post fits on Sorceress?
TS: Stock Sorceress complete bikes come with a 200mm dropper on most sizes (170mm on XS). If you want to use your preferred dropper post or you’re starting with a frame, we include maximum seatpost insertion numbers in the Sorceress geometry table to help you find the right size for you. These are the anticipated dropper post sizes that will be used on each size frame size:
XS = 120-200
SM = 150-210
MD = 150-240
LG = 150-240+
XL = 150 – 240+