Steamroller

These framesets are only here in limited quantities while supplies last. The fate of the Steamroller remains unknown; the Oracle continues to let our calls go to voicemail.

We’ve added rear brake cable stops (our orthopedic surgeon made us do it). And then there’s that Anxious Lavender color, of course.

Framesets only. For now, it’s up to you to Make It Your Own, choose your own adventure, get wild, surprise us a little.

2026 holds many mysteries. There is potential for more surprises this year...

Sounds like Glen makes his own rules. What a boss! Not all things are created equal, especially bike tires. Different tire and rim combinations will fit differently in the frame and fork. The position of the rear axle also affects the available tire clearance; the further back you scooch that rear axle in the dropouts, the more tire clearance you will get. Surly recommends a maximum 700c x 38mm tire to help ensure you have appropriate tire clearance. If you’d rather be like Glenn and make your own rules, Surly thinks 6mm+ of tire clearance is nice to have and 4mm is the bare minimum. #makeityourown

Chain lines are important on all bikes but can be especially touchy on single-speed and fixed-gear setups. A straight chain line is best for reducing wear and keeping your chain in place and quiet. A good place to start is knowing what crankset you will be installing. Most track and single speed cranksets will have stated BB widths to use as a guideline. They can range from 103mm on the narrow end on up to 112mm depending on where the chainring sits on the crank itself. Using a track cog versus a freewheel can also change your chain line numbers.

Yes, as many variations as you can muster, but only one at a time.

Yes, we sell replacement decals for your new or old Steamroller right here

You will need brakes that use a mid-reach length (47-57mm) like the Shimano BR-R451 or a long-reach length (55-73mm) like the Paul Components Racer or Tektro R559.

Steamroller should not be paired with a fork longer than 375mm axle to crown and 38mm offset — doing so puts additional stress on the frame. Shorter forks are an option, but beware of tire clearance and pedal strike if exploring that route. Also note that shortening the fork will steepen the geometry, decreasing frame stack and reducing mechanical trail.

Yes, larger-volume tires fit fine with smaller-diameter wheels. This may not work if you plan to use brakes, and may impact BB height depending on your tire selection, but we have seen some pretty out-there combinations out there. As always, we recommend 6mm or more of clearance between the frame and tire, with 4mm being the bare minimum.

At some point in ancient Surly history, we consolidated dropout configurations; our track-end style dropout kept its fender eyelets because we were using it on multiple bikes at that time. We didn’t add fender mounts to the Steamroller fork because a front fender on a compact bike like Steamroller can create toe overlap issues. Toe overlap is a bigger problem on a fixed gear because you can’t just stop pedaling in a tight turn to avoid your foot hitting the front tire. Lastly, the Steamroller is meant to be a stripped-down fixie/single-speed — its beauty is in its clean simplicity. You want more mounts? We make plenty of other bikes to scratch that itch.