For those that like things fat (ish)

http://singletrackworld.com/2017/09/sur ... te-monkey/

Interesting that they say Surly's main market is the bikepacker, I didn't really think that. They're quite niche and make interesting bikes, but I always thought Salsa was more bikepacking focussed (I know they're both owned by QBP)

Surly do moving things about on bikes - things can be people, luggage,pianos, whatever. Bikepacking is a subset of what they do. At the same time it is what they do, packing stuff, on a bike.

LHT is one of, if not the biggest, seller they have ever had. A touring/bikepacking bike.

I have touring as one of their niches - round the world bikes with mounts for panniers

But soft luggage bikepacking into the wilds (I'm intentionally avoiding trying to define 'bikepacking') as more of a Salsa thing. Don't remember seeing as many Surlys as there were Salsa on the TD bikes articles

benp1 wrote:I have touring as one of their niches - round the world bikes with mounts for panniers

But soft luggage bikepacking into the wilds (I'm intentionally avoiding trying to define 'bikepacking') as more of a Salsa thing. Don't remember seeing as many Surlys as there were Salsa on the TD bikes articles

Salsa have always been more about the racing side of things, so probably more likely to be seen when events are "competitive".

Salsa also have a marketing budget directed at PR. Surly folk spend it beer for shops and people. I quite like Surly drunken nights out.

GregMay wrote:Salsa also have a marketing budget directed at PR. Surly folk spend it beer for shops and people. I quite like Surly drunken nights out.

I could easily be convinced to switch brands

In my head ... Surly is the Ramones, Salsa is Bruce Springsteen.

Surly bike testing one day last week.

Bruce Springsteen...ouch.

Could we at least go with something alt nerd like Guided By Voices?

But I digress.

Surly/KP do in Manchester a few years ago gave me one of the worst hangovers I have had in a long time (thanks Shona & Rich) and we lost Trev from Surly for a few hours. He turned up p***ed after going to a random gig and buying a crap load of vinyl. Not a euphemism. Possibly.

GregMay wrote:Surly do moving things about on bikes - things can be people, luggage,pianos, whatever. Bikepacking is a subset of what they do. At the same time it is what they do, packing stuff, on a bike.

LHT is one of, if not the biggest, seller they have ever had. A touring/bikepacking bike.

You want niche? There were three Surlys (that I saw) on the Suffolk Heritage Churches Ride & Stride event. Two LHT and me with wee nipper on the back of the Big Dummy.

So the km has gone from 29er to 27.5+ (and 29er) for a year to 29er+ (and 29er)

27.5+ didn't last long. I wonder how cheap the 2017 frames will be when the 2018 ones come out

that was a funny night, I was with him at the start of the gig, dunno where he went though :-0

Singletrack is out of date, Surly blogged about this months ago KM is 27.5+, Kramp is 29+. I rode with a chap on the YD200 who had a new Kramp and it looks good - a nice update on the old - same front end, slightly lower BB and boost compatible drop outs.

Ah I thought the 27.5+ was very short lived doh...

Those Dirt Wizards would put many a Moto-X tyre to shame

First time I'm really considering a Surly bike looking at the numbers, changes and looks of the 2017 Krampus.

Good job Imo
Edit: not a Surly bike, just a Surly frame

Surly site seems to say that the new Krampus can only take a 30T chainring.... seems a bit restricting to me.

A 29+ is in my future, probably next year but if that is right then it is not going to be a Krampus.

Don't forget, the wheels are bigger, about 31", so I spin out at about 25-27mph......I don't really want to be going quicker than that anyway!

+1 - you don't need bigger than a 30 on 29+ although to be honest you could probalby go bigger with the right chainline - I'm running a 32 on mine single speed and its fine