Preamble

Preamble is the gateway drug to Surly steel. We chiseled away things that some riders don’t use, like adjustable dropouts or a zillion mounting points, to keep the simplicity factor high and costs low. The resulting bike is everything that is core to Surly without the features you may not need — perfect for approachable everyday city riding. 

We call Preamble a “light gravel” bike. If you plan to hit gravel paths around town from time to time, Preamble handles it no problem. But if your goal is to ride 20+ mile days on gravel roads around your local farms or forests, a bike like Straggler will be a better time due to its greater stability.

Oh, you bet. For some of us, commuting on Preamble is the best part of the workday. Its steel frame smooths out rough mornings. Front and rear rack mounts give you room to stash your lunch box and change of clothes, and to take on side quests like picking up groceries on the way home. Fender mounts make it easier to scurry from A to B without looking and feeling like a wet rat.

We hate to get all “it depends” on you, but…

The flat-bar Preamble is a bit quicker handling with more leverage that can come in handy on city streets and everyday rides. 

The drop-bar Preamble gives you more hand positions (nice for longer rides) and lets you cheat wind resistance a bit.

It’s all about how and where you plan to ride the thing. And at the end of the day, you can switch from one to the other — we wouldn’t box you in like that. Make It Your Own.

If you want to experience the magic of Surly steel on everyday rides around town, the simplicity, durability, and utility of Preamble make a lot of sense. 

If you want to dive straight into longer off-pavement odysseys, Straggler’s stability and larger tire clearance shine on gravel roads.